France acknowledges Morocco’s counter-terrorism efforts
France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited Morocco, who officially gained their independence from the French in 1956, and acknowledged the North African country’s strong efforts in tackling terrorism in France on April 22, the AFP reported.
The kingdom has been assisting France in counter-terrorism operations ahead of the highly anticipated Olympics in Paris – starting in late July.
Preparation for the Olympic Games is all but done, in what will be the first time the country has hosted the sporting event since 1924, however charities aiding migrants and the homeless have raised concerns at the targeting of those groups by the authorities.
Earlier this month, migrants sleeping on the capital’s chilly streets were removed from the city hall plaza and shipped onto buses taking them out of Paris.
This angered French migrant aid group Utopia 56 as one of their members noted that what is happening is “nothing short of social cleansing of the city”.
Mr Darmanin wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Thank you to my Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit for his services and for the cooperation between our two countries: security, fighting against terrorism, civil security and aid for the Olympic Games in Paris.”
READ: French Interior Minister woes Morocco over security
Morocco will also host a major sporting event in the near future – the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2025. The French official noted that his country would return the favour to the kingdom by cooperating with them in battling security threats before and during the continental football tournament.
The two countries’ relations had dwindled over the past two years due to Macron being accused by Rabat as well as French opposition lawmakers of cozying up to the Algerian leadership as the two North African countries have long been at loggerheads over the contentious issue of the disputed territory of the Western Sahara, 80% of which is under Moroccan rule and outgoing US President Donald Trump recognised the territory as Moroccan as part of the Abraham Accords – signed in December 2020.
Over two years ago France had also decided to cut the number of visas granted to Moroccans, much to the chagrin of Moroccan officials.
French media reported just two weeks prior to Darmanin’s visit that he would jet off to the kingdom to “strengthen security collaborations” just two months after the pair officially resolved their two-year long diplomatic woes over the Western Sahara issue.
AFP
