“I think that having French and Moroccan mixed teams to carry out this identification work will change things a lot,” said the Minister of the Interior.
The French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, announced this Monday in Rabat the creation of a Franco-Moroccan working group responsible for verifying the nationality of migrants in an irregular situation in France, with a view to facilitating their readmission in their country of origin.
At the end of an interview with his Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit, Bruno Retailleau praised an agreement on “A number of points” aimed at “Improve cooperation for readmissions” Between the two countries. This mixed group will allow “To instruct Moroccan nationality or not of a certain number of illegal immigrants, foreigners in an irregular situation”said the French Minister. “I think that having French and Moroccan mixed teams to carry out this work of identification will change things a lot”and will allow “Increase efficiency in matters of readmissions”he added. Abdelouafi Laftit reaffirmed, in a press release, “The total commitment of the Moroccan part to work for the development of a common repository”.
“A strengthened partnership”
Relations between Paris and Rabat have been clearly warmed since the recognition by France, in the summer of 2024, of Moroccan sovereignty on the disputed territory of Western Sahara, ending several years of tensions, including the migratory question. France had divided by two the number of visas granted to Moroccans in 2021-2022 to push the Kingdom to take over more of its nationals expelled by the French authorities, resulting in strong diplomatic tensions. This trip follows the meeting between the two ministers during the visit of Emmanuel Macron in Morocco last October, during which the French president had announced a “Reinforced partnership” Between France and Morocco to combat illegal immigration and the various traffic.
At the heart of the October discussions were the readmissions of Moroccan nationals in an irregular situation, which France wishes to expel, but whose dismissal is often blocked due to the absence of a consular pass delivered by Rabat. While relations with Morocco are in good shape, those with neighboring Algeria are constantly deteriorating. Bruno Retailleau’s visit intervenes as a revival of tension, Algiers having asked 12 French officials to leave his territory according to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
