Paris and Rabat spin perfect love since the normalization of their relations last October, after the French recognition of the Moroccanity of the Sahara and the visit of Emmanuel Macron in Morocco. Since then, the two countries have strengthened their economic cooperation. “We went from the worst crisis in twenty years to a real honeymoon,” said Hamza Hraoui, founder of the Cabinet MGH Conseil, with Challenges. France has even decided to share its experience in the organization of sporting events with Morocco. On April 24 in Maâmora, the French Minister of Foreign Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, announced the creation of a Franco-Moroccan Task Force for the next World Cup that Morocco organizes jointly with Spain and Portugal.
To read: Moroccan Sahara: France confirms
Meanwhile, a crisis was born between France and Algeria which did not digest the Paris decision to support the Moroccan Autonomy Plan of the Sahara. The Algerian authorities accuse the French DGSE of “destabilizing” their country. The tensions were exacerbated with the Boualem Sansal affair, the Franco-Algerian writer sentenced to five years in prison for having criticized the regime, and the arrest in France of an Algerian consular agent, leading to the expulsion by Algiers of 12 French diplomatic agents from his territory. Under the principle of reciprocity, France reacted by also expelling 12 Algerian diplomatic agents. “No emergency measure will now be able to end this crisis,” said a relationship specialist between the two countries.
Morocco finds itself in spite of itself at the heart of this crisis between Algiers and Paris. Relations between the Kingdom and France were cooled after the Pegasus affair and the reduction in the number of visas to the Moroccans, decided in 2021. President Macron, who since 2017 has been trying in vain to get closer to Algeria to the detriment of Morocco, decides to end this long diplomatic crisis. He sets the milestones. Christophe Lecurtier, appointed ambassador to Morocco at the end of 2022, will play a decisive role in the process of reconciliation. As early as February 2024, the first signs of a warming of relations were revealed with the reception at the Elysée of the sisters of King Mohammed VI. A major act that paved the way for a series of official visits to French ministers in Morocco, starting with Stéphane Séjourné (Foreign Affairs), then Franck Riester (Foreign Trade), Bruno Le Maire (Economy) and Franco-Moroccan Rachida Dati (Culture).
To read: Abdelmadjid Tebboune annoyed by the “ostentatious” friendship of France and Morocco
Paris seized the opportunity of the Throne Day on July 30, 2024, to reaffirm its support in Morocco on the question of the Sahara. “France considers that the present and the future of Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty,” wrote Emmanuel Macron in a letter addressed to Mohammed VI. The choice is definitely clear. Paris prefers to tighten its links with Rabat to the detriment of Algeria. “We were losing Morocco and we had to get out of this cycle of crises, regardless of Algeria. However, Western Sahara is the prism through which Moroccans see their environment, ”explains a diplomat. “To resume foot in Africa, France needed its Moroccan ally,” adds Abdelkader Abderrahmane, researcher at the Dakar Security Studies Institute.
As would be expected, Algeria condemned the French recognition of the Moroccanity of the Sahara, denouncing an “unexpected, inappropriate and counterproductive” decision. “This situation is fundamentally different from past crises, France is no longer a partner with which we have disputes on memorial, migratory or economic issues. She joined the enemy club like Morocco, Emirates or Israel, ”notes a former Algerian diplomat. And a current Algerian diplomat to follow up: “France has embedded in the middle of the fire between Rabat and Algiers. “However,” Algiers keeps the door open and awaits a strong gesture, “said an Algerian official. “With Algeria, we are forced to find the way to dialogue,” said the Quai d’Orsay. “Macron’s calculation is that he can finish a five -year term by being friends with Morocco and not angry with Algeria”, analyzes a French diplomat.
