France’s relationship with Morocco is “essential”, said French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné on Wednesday, emphasizing his “desire” to renew a bond of trust.
“The will is there. I resumed the link with Morocco. There were misunderstandings which led to a difficulty,” declared Stéphane Séjourné during a hearing at the National Assembly.
“Our link with Morocco is very important and it is even essential,” he also commented. Recent years have been punctuated by extremely strong tensions between Morocco and France, a former colonial power where a large Moroccan diaspora lives. At the origin of the tensions: the policy of rapprochement with Algeria desired by French President Emmanuel Macron, while Algiers broke off its diplomatic relations with Rabat in 2021.
Furthermore, a vote by the European Parliament in January 2023 – when Stéphane Séjourné chaired the Renew Europe group and condemning the degradation of press freedom in Morocco – had deeply irritated Rabat. Moroccans then denounced an anti-Moroccan campaign “orchestrated” by the French president’s party in Brussels.
“I will build this confidence little by little. It is the interest of France and the interest of Morocco,” said the head of French diplomacy, hoping for “the construction of a new political agenda”. “I think we can do better and differently,” he said, adding his wish to dialogue with Moroccan political leaders “in a transparent manner while respecting all parties.” On Saturday, in an interview with the regional daily Ouest France, he indicated that he would do “everything in the coming weeks and months to bring France and Morocco closer together”, and this “with respect for the Moroccans”.