French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Morocco on Monday for a three-day visit focused on strengthening relations and addressing key issues such as trade, climate and immigration. During his visit, Macron will meet with King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and address the Moroccan parliament in Rabat.
The visit aims to mend relations, particularly after diplomatic tensions over France’s stance on the Western Sahara dispute. In a move away from France’s long-standing neutrality, Macron approved Morocco’s autonomy plan for the region in July. The move was welcomed by Rabat, which secured US recognition of its claim to the region in 2020 as part of a deal to normalize relations with Israel. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is largely administered by Morocco but is still contested by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front.
Morocco remains a primary destination for French investment, with more than 900 French subsidiaries operating in Africa, while Macron’s visit is expected to further strengthen economic partnerships. France remains Morocco’s most important trading partner, and new economic agreements are expected during the visit.
Macron addressed ongoing migration issues on Tuesday, calling for “even more results” in addressing illegal immigration and improving consular cooperation. He stressed the importance of a streamlined process for Morocco to take back its citizens facing expulsion from France. Migration has long been a bone of contention between the two countries.
On Western Sahara, Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Moroccan sovereignty, stressing that French companies would contribute to the region’s development. He pledged investment and initiatives to support local communities and stressed that Western Sahara’s “present and future” should be under “Moroccan sovereignty.”
