Before the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, Emmanuel Macron estimated, on Tuesday, October 29, that the “reinforced exceptional partnership” celebrated the day before with King Mohammed VI should refer in particular to “Illegal immigration and the need for natural and fluid cooperation in consular matters”. He was referring to France’s desire for Morocco to more easily welcome its nationals who the French authorities decide to expel. “We need even more results”declared, also referring to the “fight against trafficking of all kinds”whose “drug traffic”WHO “requires very close and even faster judicial cooperation”.
The issue of immigration is a traditional source of irritation between Paris and Rabat, while the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who will meet his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, wants in particular to condition the visa policy to the issuance of consular passes, essential documents for the return of foreigners to their country of origin. At the beginning of October, the minister cited the example of Morocco: in 2023, 238,000 visas were granted to Moroccan nationals for 1,680 forced returns to their soil. The kingdom is according to him. “a safe country” where we can “accelerate a certain number of readmissions”.
Regarding Western Sahara, another diplomatic issue – which opposes Rabat and Algiers – Emmanuel Macron solemnly reaffirmed that “the present and the future” from Western Sahara “They are part of the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”provoking loud applause from elected officials.
“This position is not hostile to anyone”assured the Head of State in response to criticism from Algeria, which supports the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front in this disputed territory. “And I say it here also with great force, our operators and our companies will support the development of these territories through investments, sustainable and solidarity initiatives for the benefit of local populations. »
France “avoided the collapse of several states” in the Sahel
After the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over this territory, Rabat increased pressure on France to do the same. On July 30, Emmanuel Macron ended up considering in a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI that the future of Western Sahara was at stake. “within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”opening the way to a warming up with Rabat and, consequently, to a new crisis with Algiers. This readjustment of the French position had opened the way for this state visit, which had been postponed many times until then.
Beyond the disputed territory, Emmanuel Macron spoke of the need to achieve in the Sahel region “a stability that respects the people”begging for “youth development projects”. Three Sahel countries, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, led by junta, have broken with France, the former colonial power.
France “He has been accused of all evils, quite unfairly, because for a decade he prevented the collapse of several States in the face of terrorism and territorial caliphates”lamented the French president. He assured that he wanted “humbly”, “build a new partnership strategy” in the Sahel region.
Emmanuel Macron also proposed to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI to sign a new “strategic framework” bilateral in 2025 in Paris on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Declaration that sealed the independence of Morocco from France. After the declaration of Celle-Saint-Cloud, on November 6, 1955, this agreement could be signed on the occasion of a “State visit to France that His Majesty [Mohammed VI] accepted » to act, he said.
The Elysée announced that more than 10 billion euros, spread across 22 agreements, in commercial contracts and financial commitments, will be announced at the end of this first state visit of the French president to Morocco.
