Emmanuel Macron in Morocco for a reconciliation visit

Emmanuel Macron arrived in Morocco on Monday, where he was received with great fanfare by King Mohammed VI, for a state visit aimed at rebuilding historical ties deeply weakened by three years of estrangement.

Accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron, and a plethora of delegations of ministers, businessmen, intellectuals and entertainment personalities, the French president was received when he got off the plane at the Rabat-Salé airport with a long handshake from the monarch, dressed in a dark suit and leaning on a cane. Also present were Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid, the king’s brother.

Next, the two heads of state would travel aboard a ceremonial car to the royal palace, traveling through the streets of Rabat, the capital, decked out in the colors of France and surrounded by a large crowd.

After a solemn welcome ceremony at the Place du Mechouar, they will have a tête-à-tête followed by the signing of agreements in the fields of energy, water, education and internal security. “We intend to rebuild [notre relation] but also project ourselves into the coming decades” placing the “very high bar”promised the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, in an interview with Sunday’s Tribune.

“Historical visit”writes the editorial writer of the Moroccan newspaper AsabahKhalid El Hourri. “Difficult topics will be discussed, in particular the question of immigration, which has become an obsession in France. (…), But this difficult discussion is surmountable.”adds Mokhtar Laghzioui in the newspaper Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.

No less than nine ministers are on the trip, among them those of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, of Economy, Antoine Armand, of National Education, Anne Genetet, and of Culture, Rachida Dati, of Moroccan origin. The leaders of the French groups Engie, Alstom, Safran, TotalEnergies, CMA CGM, Suez, Veolia and Thales Alenia Space will be present. The Franco-Moroccan cultural world will also be in the spotlight, from writers Tahar Ben Jelloun and Leïla Slimani to comedian Djamel Debbouze and actor Gérard Darmon.

“Sacred Cause” of Western Sahara

The two heads of state aim to end a series of disputes, from suspected phone hacking by Emmanuel Macron to the halving of the number of visas granted to Moroccans in 2021-2022. Paris is also seeking to pressure Rabat to authorize the repatriation of its illegal citizens expelled from France. The priority given by the French president to Algeria after his re-election in 2022 has also caused chills, while the two Maghreb powers fuel a deep rivalry. The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara, considered a “non-autonomous territory” by the UN, has confronted Morocco with the separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algiers, for half a century. After Washington recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over this territory, Rabat increased pressure on France to do the same.

These multiple shocks have constantly caused the postponement of Emmanuel Macron’s state visit, scheduled for early 2020, after a first trip in 2017 and another in 2018. The French president finally decided in July in favor of a rapprochement with Morocco, where France has important economic advantages. interests, asking for a solution to the Sahrawi conflict “within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”.

“The cause of the Sahara is a sacred cause in Morocco (…). France was delayed because of Algeria, of course.”said Tahar Ben Jelloun on France Inter on Monday. Emmanuel Macron has “I almost lost everything”said. “You can’t be friends with both, it’s very difficult, the other French heads of state have been there. »

Contracts at sight

Rabat hopes that this readjustment of the French position will translate into strong investments in this country with enormous fishing, solar, wind and phosphate resources. The visit could also lead to a flurry of contracts, although both sides have remained tight-lipped about the negotiations. In this way, Airbus Helicopters could sell between 12 and 18 Caracals to the Moroccan armed forces, according to constant sources. France also hopes to remain Morocco’s preferred service provider for the expansion of the high-speed line between Tangier and Agadir, after the grand opening of the first section in 2018.

In terms of immigration, the new French Government wants to force Morocco to welcome its nationals detained in an irregular situation, but, after the visa crisis, Paris promises to move forward in a spirit of dialogue. “In the countries of origin of immigration to France, Morocco occupies first place”stressed the former prefect and figure of the Les Républicains party Patrick Stefanini on BFM-TV, hoping that this visit will not result in “due to a sharp deterioration in our relations with Algeria”.