Maghreb countries grumble over France’s new Foreign Minister
Tensions rise between Maghreb countries and France due to unresolved political conflicts, according to The National and agencies.
Morocco has been angered by France’s choice of new Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, as he previously offended Moroccan authorities accusing them of corruption and human rights abuse.
The two condemned acts raised in the European Parliament are allegedly what led to the deteriorating relations between France and Morocco.
The first allegation accused Moroccan authorities of fabricating evidence against independent investigative journalist Omar Radi for exposing corruption. The second implied that Moroccan authorities were bribing former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri to put forward pro-Moroccan requests in the European Parliament.
Tunisian political analyst Mohamed Bououd, told The National, “France’s relations with Morocco have been apathetic for a while now…the newly appointed [French] government and it’s Prime Minister (Gabriel Attal), does not have any known friendly positions towards Morocco.”
However, France’s known and un-friendly positions towards Morocco include a significantly reduced visa quota. In September 2021, the Moroccan and Algerian granted visas were cut by 50 percent whilst acceptance for Tunisians was down by 70 percent.
READ: France blocks visas to students from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger
With additional political conflicts, such as France’s support of Israel’s war in Gaza – which has so far eradicated over 25,700 Palestinian lives – France’s influence in Maghreb diminishes.
Analysts disclose that the widening cracks in the France-Maghreb relationship allow for the possibility of China and Russia establishing their influence in the resource-rich region.
After years of dependence on France, Morocco and Algeria have begun to entrust Russia and China as alternative allies.
Decreasing French Influence
Since 2019 Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune, has requested that France apologise for their 132 years of colonisation that devastated Algeria with wars and conflicts. However, former French PM, Emmanuel Macron neglected the request, telling Le Point magazine, “The word [apology] will sever all ties.”
Algeria is currently seeking to rid its educational curriculums of all French influence and introduce English instead.
In November 2022, Macron admitted the declining status of the French language during the francophone countries summit that was held by Tunisia. Meanwhile, a growing number of Tunisia’s national baccalaureate students (around 7,000) are failing their French exams but excelling in English.
Professor Bououd states “the partnership with France is no longer tempting with the new powers that are sweeping the region.”
Alternative allies
Morocco has reportedly expanded its partnerships including free-trade deals with the US in 2004. More recently, Morocco has signed a 2021 fishing agreement with Russia and a Belt and Road Initiative Joint Implementation Plan with China in 2022.
Professor of International Studies at Rabat’s Mohamed V University, Mohamed Zakaria Abou Dhahab says “Morocco is aware that it is very risky to make its interests the hostage of a sole partner.” Hence the country’s recent turn towards Spain and Portugal in addition to its current partnerships.
Abou Dhahab further suggests that “it is in [Morocco’s] interests to have relations with countries that are influential in international decision-making.”
Algeria-Russia relations were cemented since the Soviet Union supported Algeria in its fight for independence. Their alliance has only grown stronger due to the signing of the strategic partnership pact in June 2022.
READ: Algeria’s military chief of staff to meet Shoigu in Russia
Concerned for “Algeria’s close political and economic ties” with Russia, members of the US senate requested sanctions in Algeria’s $7 billion purchase of Russian weaponry in 2021. In December 2022, Russia and Algeria participated in joint naval drills in the Western Mediterranean.
The National/AFP/Reuters
