“New chapter” for French-Moroccan ties, $10bn deals signed
Macron and Mohammed VI have opened a new chapter in French-Moroccan relations after signing $10bn worth of deals during a French state visit to the Kingdom on October 28th.
According to TheArabWeekly, the visit marks the continued positive development between the two countries following years of diplomatic tension over immigration policies and the Western Sahara issue.
A series of business agreements were signed on the first day of the trip involving high-speed trains, renewable energy and shipping.
In a rare honour to a foreign guest, King Mohammed VI, came to greet Macron and his wife Brigitte at Rabat airport.
With the French president travelled a dozen ministers including French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Economy Minister Antoine Armand and Culture Minister Rachida Dati – herself of Moroccan origin – and some 40 business executives.
During the signing ceremony, Morocco’s rail operator ONCF agreed to buy 12 high-speed carriages and an option for a further six from French company Alstom.
Morocco seeks to expand its high-speed train network further south, with a goal of replacing the existing line to Marrakesh by 2030.
French energy firms Engie and EDF signed agreements allowing them to grow their existing businesses in Morocco’s renewable energy sector
Oil giant TotalEnergies also signed a deal on hydrogen, while shipping company CMA CGM announced investments in a Moroccan container port terminal.
French officials said contracts for both sides were worth more than 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) overall but did not disclose a precise breakdown.
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Moroccan international affairs expert Mohammed Bouden told The Arab Weekly that Macron’s visit will give new life to their countries ties and hailed it as “symbolic of a new chapter”.
He said: “The visit will strengthen the three bridges of Moroccan-French relations, namely the bridge of history and common values, the bridge of economic relations, and the bridge of working for the future.”
Friendships gained a new momentum in July after Macron came out in support of Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan for Western Sahara, recognising Moroccan sovereignty over the region.
In a letter sent to King Mohammed VI he said: “For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved.”
“Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and constant. For France, it now constitutes the only basis for achieving a just, lasting and negotiated political solution in line with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.”
The Moroccan Royal Palace welcomed the announcement as a “significant development in support of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.”
Another burning issue that is expected to be discussed is immigration, which is particularly important to Macron domestically, according to TheArabWeekly.
His government is under intense pressure from right-wing parties to send back more unwanted migrants to countries like Morocco.
The issue is prickly, as in 2021 Paris decided to drastically cut the number of visas it awarded North African visitors in a bid to pressure their countries to return them.
The policy deeply aggrieved affected nations, including Morocco, and France eventually had to end the restrictions in 2022.
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While French-Moroccan relations appear to blossom, Morocco’s rival and neighbour Algeria has been left out in the cold.
Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front, who are fighting against Morocco in Western Sahara.
Macron’s rapprochement efforts following his signaling on Western Sahara seem to have reached a dead end.
A state visit to Paris by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was rescheduled multiple times before being called off by Algiers earlier this month.
After Macron endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan, Algeria promptly withdrew its ambassador to Paris and has yet to send a replacement.
They also blocked deportations from France and threatened Paris with economic sanctions, according to Maghrebi.org.
Some observers believe that aggressive economic options are not on the table for Algeria, which may not want French firms, especially those belonging to the oil giant TotalEnergies, to leave the country.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reacted to Macron’s letter to King Mohammed VI containing the affirmation by stating that “the French decision will not change anything” regarding Western Sahara’s status as “a non-self-governing territory, according to the UN”.
TheArabWeekly, Maghrebi.org and Agencies
