King Mohammed VI appointed the Ambassador of Morocco to France, Mohamed Benchaaboun, as Director-General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund during the Ministerial Council he chaired and in accordance with Article 49 of the Constitution.
By withdrawing the Ambassador of France in a brilliant manner and appointing him to this new post, King Mohammed VI’s move paints a picture of the cold relationship between Rabat and Paris.
This is further proof that the Kingdom of Morocco’s relationship with France is not well, with Morocco’s appointment of a new ambassador to Paris pending, which may be delayed longer under the current situation.
These cooling relations are perhaps illustrated and reflected in the relations between Rabat and Paris. Mohamed Benchaaboun returned after he was appointed ambassador for one year only. The diplomatic tradition between Morocco and France has been the appointment of an ambassador of excellent caliber, often a former minister for an important sector.
Mohamed Benchaaboun, a Moroccan politician and economist, served as Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform in Saad Eddine El Othmani’s government. He was also previously Minister of Economy and Finance. Currently, he is Chakib Benmoussa’s successor as Ambassador of Morocco in Paris.
He was also appointed in August 1996 as Director of Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes, charged with coordinating cross-sectoral projects for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Benchaaboun is also an IMF-accredited expert since 2005. King Mohammed VI appointed him as Banque Populaire Group’s Director-General in 2008.
Benchaaboun has also served as a director of public and private companies operating in Morocco and abroad, mainly in the finance sector, and chaired the Supervisory Board of Maroc Telecom.
In April 2010, he was awarded the Wissam Al-Arch by King Mohammed VI.