Newly appointed head of Quai d’Orsay Stéphane Séjourné is taking interest in bringing about a rapprochement between France and Morocco, after the recent strains in the relationship between the two countries, wrote French news outlet “Le Figaro” on Saturday.
The French foreign minister, in office since Jan. 12, said that President Macron asked him to get involved “personally” in the revival of the French-Moroccan relations, and start “a new chapter” in bilateral ties.
Séjourné said that “France always stood by Morocco’s side on the Sahara issue”, through its clear and constant support for the Moroccan autonomy plan.
He went on to say that it is high time to move forward, and bring France and Morocco closer.
The past two years have been marked by extraordinarily high tensions between Morocco and France, a former colonial state with a sizable Moroccan diaspora, according to “Le Figaro.”
At the heart of these problems is French President Emmanuel Macron’s agenda of rapprochement with Algeria, which severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021.
In September, a new controversy arose when France offered aid to earthquake-stricken Morocco but got turned down. Relations have reached an impasse until a recent relative thaw with the French ambassador to Morocco making a public mea culpa in November, and the appointment of a Moroccan ambassador to France.
Tensions between the two countries had peaked last year due to the 50% slashing of visas granted to Moroccans and France’s ambiguous position over the Sahara issue.