The Élysée Palace has announced details of President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming state visit to Rabat, scheduled from tomorrow, Monday, to Wednesday. He will lead a high-level delegation aimed at revitalizing the strategic and exceptional partnership between Rabat and Paris.
President Macron and his wife are expected to receive a formal welcome from King Mohammed VI tomorrow evening at Mechouar Square. This will be followed by discussions at the royal palace in Rabat, including a signing ceremony for agreements in the presence of both leaders and several senior officials from France and Morocco.
Key Meetings
On the second morning of the visit, Macron will meet with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch at the royal guest residence, as well as engage in discussions with Rachid Talbi Alami, President of the House of Representatives, and Mohamed Wali Al-Rachid, President of the House of Councillors.
Later that day, the Macron couple will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, accompanied by Mohamed Lyazoubi, the Wali of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. They will then proceed to Parliament to deliver a speech before a joint session of both houses. Following this, Macron will meet with business leaders from both France and Morocco, as well as stakeholders in creative industries at the International University of Rabat. The day will conclude with a dinner hosted by King Mohammed VI in honor of the visiting delegation.
On the third and final day, Macron is scheduled to meet with Moroccan and African students to discuss food security and sustainable agriculture at the Office Chérifien des Phosphates. He will also address the French community residing in Morocco.
Accompanying President Macron will be a high-level delegation of ten ministers, including Bruno Retailleau (Minister of the Interior) and Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister for Foreign Affairs), as well as Sébastien Lecornu (Minister of the Armed Forces) and Rachida Dati (Minister of Culture), among others.
In addition to government officials, Macron will be joined by elected representatives, business leaders, and notable figures from the cultural, sports, and literary sectors.
Agreements and Issues
The newspaper “La Tribune De Dimanche” dedicated significant coverage to this visit, calling it “historic and exceptional.” It emphasized Paris’s recent support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, viewing the autonomy plan as the only serious basis for resolving this regional dispute, despite Algeria’s opposition.
The newspaper reported that President Macron aims to initiate a new, more balanced partnership with Morocco. Alongside economic issues, the agenda will also address environmental, cultural, educational, and technological topics.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that this visit presents a crucial opportunity to forge a new chapter in Moroccan-French relations, raising expectations for cooperation in various fields, including energy, industry, migration, and culture. He emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes to achieve desired outcomes.
The article also highlighted that upcoming international events in Morocco, such as the 2030 World Cup, will encourage closer collaboration between the two countries in infrastructure. A key goal of Macron’s visit is to support and monitor the implementation of Morocco’s strategic projects in transport, energy, technology, and defense, with France participating through the French Development Agency in funding initiatives in the Sahara.
It is anticipated that contracts worth over three billion euros will be signed during this visit, including an agreement for the supply of 12 Caracal helicopters to Morocco, valued between 600 and 800 million euros, along with potential discussions on acquiring French-made submarines for the Moroccan military.
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