The French government has sent a series of positive signals to mend ties with its once longstanding partner in North Africa, Morocco, after relations worsened to an unprecedented level threatening to sap decades of cooperation. This strong message of willingness to foster ties, came following a series of positive remarks by French top diplomats. The new Foreign Minister, Stephane Séjourné, who led last year a campaign against Morocco at the European parliament, said he was tasked by President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen ties with Morocco. French ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier said mending ties requires Paris making its position clear on the Sahara. While French-Moroccan ties were faltering against the backdrop of a French retreat from the Sahel and a failure to strengthen ties with Algeria, Morocco forged ahead, diversifying economic and political ties with Spain unseating France as the main trading partner for the North African Kingdom.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 20, 2024 13:06 UTC