Morocco: Fake news outlet claims Russia to come in from the cold
Frosty relations between Morocco and Russia might be heading for a thaw, allowing mega contracts for nuclear power plants to begin and calmer relations with Algeria, according to the government’s own propaganda outlet MAP and new media start up ‘Barlaman Today’.
The new agency on the government payroll whipped an informal meeting at the UN between Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita into quite a frenzy, linking a recent EU court ruling against Morocco over its inclusion of Western Sahara in a trade deal to Morocco’s existing fisheries deal, with Moscow.
The article, which featured a photo both foreign ministers in an office together but which failed to mention the location or basis of their meeting, appeared to be a press release of Morocco’s foreign affairs office (or a “source” within its annals), targeted at the EU and US over the direction now where Rabat will be heading after the EU court ruling: towards Russia.
“The source referenced the fishing agreement between Morocco and Russia, noting its inclusion of the Moroccan Sahara provinces” it gushed. “The recently renewed agreement forges a promising path forward for collaboration between Rabat and Moscow in the fisheries sector.”
The poorly written article did not clarify however whether advancement in the fisheries sector would impact other areas which have been put on hold since the Ukraine war placed Morocco in an uncomfortable position with both the US and EU. Recently, pressure from the Biden administration has forced Rabat to adopt theatrical measures where Rabat pretends that Russia is persona non grata, despite it having a functioning embassy in Rabat and selling Morocco cut price oil.
Barlaman Today, like the foreign ministry it dutifully serves with its public relations, is confused however and so the validity of the article is unclear as the shifting narrative of Rabat is mirrored in the sloppy copy.
Morocco’s foreign minister earlier said that the country “would not be commenting” on the EU court ruling, raising further questions as to whether such meetings of foreign affairs ministers are merely media stunts and nothing more, or that sources close to Bourita are briefing against him. In reality, the foreign minister made a number of comments about the case on the day of the judgement.
Perhaps this explains some confusion from Barlaman Today? An earlier version of the article on October 8th had a headline which suggested that Morocco and Russia were about to turn a page (““Morocco adopts strategy of diverse partnerships”) but this was later toned down to a more sober “Morocco, Russia Celebrate Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations” which succeeded only in making both the foreign ministry and the propaganda outlet it pays both unsure of themselves at best and inept at worst.
MAP/agencies/Barlaman Today
