Morocco prepares to welcome Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa

Morocco is set to host Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the coming weeks, marking a significant step in the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Yabiladi reported on June 27th.

“On the agenda for this official visit: talks with King Mohammed VI and the reopening of the Syrian embassy in Rabat,” a well-informed source told Yabiladi. Syria’s embassy in Morocco has remained closed since July 2012, when Rabat expelled the last ambassador of the Bashar Al-Assad regime.

According to the same source, cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, with both heads of state present. Moroccan and Syrian officials have been working on these agreements for several months, with Rabat identifying specific areas where it can support the new Syrian leadership.

In a message dated February 4th, King Mohammed VI congratulated President al-Sharaa on his appointment as head of state during Syria’s transitional period, according to the government supported Morocco World News. The monarch reiterated Morocco’s support for the Syrian people through “this delicate and decisive stage of their history,” and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s longstanding commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

On May 27, the new Syrian authorities announced the severing of ties with the Polisario Front. According to Moroccan government-friendly Atalayar, the decision to close the Polisario’s offices in Damascus took place in the presence of Moroccan representatives. Syrian authorities assured the Moroccan delegation that they respected Moroccan sovereignty and rejected independence movements in the Westen Sahara – such as those defended by the Polisario Front.

The upcoming visit signals a shift in regional diplomacy and comes as Morocco positions itself to engage with the new Syrian leadership following years of estrangement.

Yabiladi, Morocco World News, Atalayar