Morocco-France relations: What went wrong ?

The quiet year-long Morocco and France diplomatic feud has now become very loud.

Despite tensions boiling beneath the surface, the recent Morocco earthquake has brought it all to the forefront.

Here’s a detailed account of the events that have transpired in this perplexing narrative, from Macron’s canceled February visit to his speech addressing Moroccans amidst the Al Haouz earthquake tragedy.

Complicated Franco-Moroccan relations:

The Franco-Moroccan political relationship has been teetering on the edge of tumult for some time now. 

In late August, Macron sought to deflect responsibility for the deterioration of relations between France and Morocco, as well as other Maghreb nations. 

Macron blamed the overarching regional circumstances and structures for the tension, pledging to “initiate bilateral endeavors in the coming months” with these countries. 

However, his promises have yet to materialize into substantive action.

Post-quake shakeup

As Moroccans grappled with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck the Al Haouz region on September 8, French media managed to transform this tragedy into a political affair by framing the narrative as “Why are Moroccans not accepting our assistance?”

Amidst this tumult, Macron conveyed a video message expressing solidarity with Morocco, which evoked mixed reactions. 

This message was seen as Macron’s attempt to mend relations and demonstrate France’s willingness to support Morocco during this challenging period. 

Despite the president’s call for compassion towards the quake victims, French media has continued to dissect the issue, inviting Moroccan figures like comedian Gad El Maleh and journalist Samira Sitael to offer their perspectives and further feed the debate.

French diplomate’s Morocco visit 

In a surprising twist, news of Macron’s visit to Morocco went viral towards the end of last week. 

During an interview with a news channel, France’s top diplomat, Catherine Colonna, declared that a visit by the French President to Morocco had been arranged, seemingly at the invitation of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.

However, an official Moroccan government source swiftly countered this statement, affirming that the visit “neither featured on the agenda nor was scheduled.” 

The Moroccan government was surprised by Colonna’s declaration of the French president’s visit, which has raised questions about why a French diplomat would make such an announcement without it being in the plans.

Sarkozy’s Intrusion

Amidst this unfolding drama, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy interjected himself into the narrative, expressing concerns about the potential deterioration of relations with Morocco. 

He did so while France was actively trying to reconcile with Algeria, cautioning that this focus on Algeria might lead to distancing from Morocco, possibly jeopardizing the progress achieved in their bilateral relationship.

Sahara sovereignty saga

At the core of these tensions lies the issue of Sahara sovereignty. 

In August, three French senators, joined by 94 politicians from diverse political backgrounds, issued an open letter to President Macron urging a reevaluation of France’s stance on Africa. 

The letter, endorsed by influential parliamentarians, underlined Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara region.

These senators critiqued France’s handling of the Sahara crisis, contrasting it with Spain and Germany’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty. 

They contended that France’s ambiguity on this matter, coupled with nuanced policies towards Algeria, compelled Morocco to seek economic and military alliances beyond French influence.

Visa controversy and more canceled visits

Among the factors exacerbating tension between Morocco and France is the 50% reduction in visa issuance to Moroccan citizens. 

According to statistics from the “Visa Schengen” program, France leads in rejecting Moroccan visa applications. 

Various organizations have denounced the “discriminatory” treatment and “humiliation” faced by Moroccan visa applicants in European countries, particularly France.

Additionally, Macron canceled a visit that was slated for February, leaving lingering questions about the true nature of the Franco-Moroccan relationship. 

Macron’s statements appear to be leading towards a seemingly closed door, as they all end up taking a different turn, indicating that tensions are far from being resolved and that both countries have substantial work ahead of them, in light of Morocco’s clear stance in the Sahara file as opposed to France’s ambiguous stance.