French President Emmanual Macron on Saturday told a crowd in Northern France that he is expected to make a visit to Morocco in October, as French-Moroccan relations reach an edge over Western Shara and ties with Algeria.
???? FLASH | De retour d’Algérie, Macron révèle à des MRE au Touquet qu’il effectuera une visite d’État au Maroc vers fin Octobre. pic.twitter.com/nf3xXzyKsx
— Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) August 28, 2022
Macron spoke after a three-day official trip to Algeria where he announced a “new, irreversible dynamic of progress” with the former French colony. Together with Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune, the two leaders agreed “to open a new era … laying the foundation for a renewed partnership expressed through a concrete and constructive approach, focused on future projects and youth.”
Renewed relations with Algeria risk leaving France’s other Maghrebian ally, Morocco, at bay amid pressure from King Mohammed VI on the issue of Western Sahara.
In His latest speech, the King called on his country’s partners to “clarify” their position and offer “unequivocal” support to Morocco’s Sahara.
The republic has long adhered to the “neutral” stance when it comes to its positions on Western Sahara, and the King’s speech was addressed to all the allies who, until now, have been reluctant to take the step of full recognition of the Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara.
The royal messages came only days before French President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet announced he will be on a two-day official visit to Algeria starting on Thursday.
With dwindling influence in the Sahel and Africa as a whole, France is further pushing away its traditional partner by imposing regulations that severely hurt its reputation and popularity among Moroccans.
In addition to its uncertainty on the Sahara issue, France has been the target of multiple critiques since it has decided to cut back visas granted to Moroccans by 50%.
Nearly 70% of visa applications from Morocco are rejected by French consular authorities without clear justification since last year, causing anger among both applicants and civil society.
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