Macron prepares to visit Morocco to turn the page on the chill in relations
The talk of an impending visit by the French President to Rabat coincides with Algeria promoting an upcoming meeting between Tebboune and Macron, while Paris seeks to balance its relations with both countries
French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing for a visit to Morocco in conjunction with discussions in Algeria about President Abdelmadjid Tebboune‘s intention to visit Paris. The French authorities aim to improve relations with both countries after a period of strain.
The specialized newspaper “Africa Intelligence” revealed that Macron is preparing to visit Rabat after a relative improvement in relations in recent times. It indicated that the French presidency plans to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and provide a positive boost to the relationship between the two countries.
Relations between Rabat and Paris have experienced some tension in recent years due to France’s hesitant stance on the Moroccan Sahara issue, interference in Morocco’s internal affairs, and involvement in the immigration and visa crisis.
The intention to visit Rabat reflects the French diplomats’ conviction that Paris needs to address the misunderstandings that led to strained relations with Morocco. This includes Macron‘s actions, such as addressing the Moroccan people after the Al-Haouz earthquake, which was seen as a clear violation of diplomatic norms, drawing international criticism and widespread condemnation from Moroccans who rejected what they considered “arrogance” and a longing for the colonial period.
Morocco also perceives Paris as having underestimated the situation by not declaring a clear position on the Moroccan Sahara issue, similar to several European countries, including Madrid, Germany, and the Netherlands, which supported Rabat’s proposal for autonomy under the kingdom’s sovereignty to resolve the fabricated conflict.
France is currently experiencing isolation in Africa and seeks to change its policies in the region amid a growing wave of hostility towards it. It has lost influence in the Sahel region and West Africa. Consequently, France aims to strengthen relations with both Morocco and Algeria.
Observers believe that Macron‘s visit aims to reassure Morocco, especially after appointing Stéphane Séjourné, known for his hostile positions towards Morocco, as Minister of the Interior in the new French government. This appointment is considered an unfriendly step towards the Kingdom of Morocco, according to the description by the newspaper ‘Le Monde.’
There are indications of an improvement in relations between the two countries in recent months, especially after Morocco appointed Samira Sitail as its ambassador to France, filling the vacancy for about two years. However, the appointment of ministers hostile to Rabat did not contribute to this trend.
On the other hand, France also seeks to overcome tensions with Algeria. Recently, the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, confirmed ongoing consultations with French officials to prepare for Tebboune‘s visit to Paris, which has been postponed several times.
The discussion about Tebboune‘s visit comes amid Algerian concerns about the repercussions of strengthening Franco-Moroccan relations. Macron‘s significant interest in Rabat, especially with the deterioration of the Algerian government’s relations with several countries in the region, especially Spain.
Algerian-French relations have experienced considerable tension recently, with Algeria withdrawing its ambassador from Paris in the past two years in response to Emmanuel Macron‘s statements on Algeria’s history, memory issues, and the file of smuggling Algerian opposition figure Amira Bouraoui.
It seems that Paris is seeking to balance its relations with Algeria and Morocco, especially as it believes that what remains of its interests in the African Sahel region depends on these two countries. Morocco, in particular, has become capable of exerting strong influence in the region.
