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"Relations are neither good nor friendly": Rabat's icy response to Paris

2023-03-03T13:41:14.385Z


Emmanuel Macron had described his personal relations with the king of Macron Mohammed VI as "friendly". Rabat replied curtly.


Times are tough for relations between France and Morocco.

During the press conference which followed his speech devoted to relations between France and Africa, on February 27, Emmanuel Macron described

his personal relations with King Mohamed VI as "

friendly ".

The French president was responding to a Moroccan journalist who spoke of the "

tense

" relations between the two countries.

My desire is to move forward with Morocco, his majesty the king knows it, we have several discussions, personal relations are friendly, they will remain so,

” he assured.

Rabat reacted curtly on Thursday.

"

Relations are neither friendly nor good, any more between the two governments than between the Royal Palace and the Elysée

," said an official source in the Moroccan government, quoted by the newspaper

Jeune Afrique

.

Read alsoIn what diplomatic game has the kingdom of Morocco engaged?

Relations between France and Morocco have deteriorated in recent weeks, particularly following the vote in the European Parliament at the end of January on a resolution condemning the deterioration of press freedom in Morocco.

The Moroccan political class and the media close to the power, headwind, accuse Paris of being at the origin of this resolution.

Moving forward despite the controversies

The Elysee has so far refuted the existence of any crisis with Rabat, even if the announced prospect of a state visit by President Emmanuel Macron to the Cherifian kingdom seems to be moving away.

"Afterwards, there are always people who try to highlight incidents, scandals in the European Parliament, listening topics that have been revealed by the press", had also declared the French president, referring to

the Pegasus case where Morocco is accused of having tapped French political figures.

“Is it the doing of the government of France

?

No

!

Has France thrown oil on the fire

?

No

!

We must move forward despite these controversies

.

Beyond these recent setbacks, France and Morocco have maintained an icy relationship for several years.

In particular, France is accused of dragging its feet on the question of Western Sahara, unlike the United States and Spain, which have recognized the “

Moroccan nature

” of this territory, a “

national cause

” in Morocco.

In addition, the recent rapprochement between France and Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, materialized in particular with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Algiers in August or the visit to Paris of the Algerian Chief of Staff, Saïd Chengriha, in January, continues to arouse bitterness in Rabat.

To this point of hooks adds the "visa war", since France had decided to halve the entry permits granted to Moroccans, arguing the reluctance of the kingdom to readmit its nationals in an irregular situation in the country. 'Hexagon.

A similar measure had been decided with regard to neighboring Algeria.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, visiting Morocco, announced in December the end of the visa crisis that was poisoning relations between the two countries.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-03-03

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