King Mohammed VI has decreed in January that Mohamed Benchaaboun, Moroccan ambassador to the French Republic, be relieved of his duties.
The decision was revealed in the most recent edition of Morocco’s Official Bulletin as a communiqué from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs published, dated January 19.
The timing of the decision coincides with the day of the European Parliament’s vote on a resolution deemed hostile to Morocco by many.
“Following royal instructions, it has been decided to end the mission of Mohamed Benchaaboun as ambassador of His Majesty to the French Republic and this, from January 19, 2023. This statement will be published in the Official Bulletin.”
Mohamed Benchaaboun had presented his credentials to President Macron on July 23, 2022. On October 18, 2022, he was appointed Director General of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment.
The position of ambassador now is officially unfilled.
The EP’s resolution against Morocco has caused a large wave of condemnation from Moroccan officials, highest institutions and citizens.
The resolution prompted the Moroccan Parliament to create an ad-hoc committee to revaluate and review relations with its relations with its European counterpart.
Claiming that some journalists’ trials before Moroccan courts were instrumentalized to silence public opinion and censure the professionals reporters, the resolution was met with significant backlash, with many calling it out as part of “an orchestrated smear campaign against Morocco.“
Morocco’s closest European partners have voted against the resolution, which the Moroccan Parliament assures “is the work of anti-Morocco lobbies with an interest in hindering the Kingdom’s growth and development.“
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