French President Emmanuel Macron is set to arrive in Morocco on Monday afternoon, where he will be met by both nationalist parades and pro-Palestine demonstrations critical of France’s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
On October 28, large flags lined Rabat’s main streets, marking Macron’s first visit in three years after a period of diplomatic strain with Morocco. His visit will start at 5 p.m. with an official welcoming ceremony at the royal palace, hosted by King Mohammed VI.
By midday, crowds had already gathered by the barricades, eager to see Macron and King Mohammed VI, who were previously at odds politically and rumored to have personal tensions.
“We’re here to see our King—may God grant him victory—and Macron is welcome as long as he supports the Moroccan Sahara,” said one onlooker, alluding to France’s recent shift in policy supporting Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
School buses from nearby cities have brought students to Rabat, hopeful for a rare opportunity to see the King—and possibly even shake hands.
Since 2021, France and Morocco have faced tensions, partly due to the Pegasus spyware scandal, which implicated Macron’s phone as a possible target. French newspaper Le Monde reported that the surveillance was possibly linked to a Moroccan security agency, though Morocco has denied this. Reports suggest Macron’s firm response to the King on this issue strained their relationship further.
Tensions grew when France cut visa quotas for North African nations in late 2021 and adopted a neutral stance on Western Sahara in pursuit of closer ties with Algeria, a supporter of the separatist Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the region.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Polisario Front, which declared a “self-defense war” in 2020. Although the UN does not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, Morocco’s autonomy proposal has received increasing international backing, including from the UN.
Macron’s visit overlaps with pro-Palestine demonstrations
Macron is visiting Morocco at King Mohammed VI’s invitation, in part to show support for Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan “within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” aligning France more closely with Morocco amid a stalled UN peace process.
During his three-day stay, Macron’s first since 2018, he will have private discussions with the King and oversee agreements in energy, water, education, and security.
Along with his wife Brigitte, Macron will also meet with French and Moroccan investors and address African students in sustainable development fields. However, the Élysée has announced that there will be no press conference in Rabat.
Hundreds are expected to protest outside the French consulate in Tangier this evening, voicing opposition to France’s support of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
“Macron is not welcome in our country for supporting Israel and cracking down on pro-Palestine activism,” stated the Moroccan Front for Palestine, a local anti-normalization group. Macron has said Israel has the right to defend itself from “terrorism” as long as it follows international laws.
Last year, activists attempted a sit-in at the French embassy in Rabat but were dispersed by police.
The Rabat-based Moroccan Group for Palestine, another anti-normalization group, stated that Macron’s visit will not disrupt their regular Tuesday protests, usually held outside Parliament. Macron is also scheduled to speak at the Moroccan Parliament on October 29.
Initially, France banned pro-Palestine demonstrations when the Israel-Gaza conflict began, but the country’s highest court soon overturned the decision. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti later issued guidelines requiring that any remarks portraying Hamas as “resistance” be condemned.
Macron has previously stated that anti-Zionism is equivalent to antisemitism and should be considered a hate crime.
Recently, however, Macron advocated halting arms shipments to Israel and urged Israel to follow UN resolutions, pointing out that Israel’s formation was rooted in a UN mandate. This stance has put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
