French Senate reaffirms support for Morocco over Western Sahara
Within the framework of the good relations between Rabat and Paris since the French recognition of the Moroccanity of Western Sahara on 30 July 2024, the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, met with the Prime Minister of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, to strengthen the cooperation of the legislative institutions of the two countries.
The meeting was also attended by Mustapha Baitas, Morocco's Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, and Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the Moroccan House of Councillors.
This state visit is a continuation of the momentum in bilateral relations. As in the case of the French Minister for Culture, Rachida Dati, last week, part of Larcher's itinerary also included a visit to the Saharan city of Laayoune, where he witnessed the development of the city in all areas and visited the new University Hospital Centre (CHU). In addition, Larcher visited the mausoleum of the late King of Morocco, Mohammed V.
A new parliamentary chapter
Tensions with Algiers are getting worse. In this context, the French Senate made no secret of the purpose of the visit: ‘To reflect France's new position that the present and future of Western Sahara is part of Moroccan sovereignty’.
The meeting addressed France's support for the Moroccanity of Western Sahara, recalling the visit of the president, Emmanuel Macron, as ‘the turning point’ that reinforced bilateral cooperation considered as ‘an exceptional partnership’.
Larcher emphasised that the common objective of the visits of French authorities to Morocco, and vice versa, is to open a ‘new parliamentary chapter’ in relations in all areas, whether commercial, legislative, cultural, economic, industrial development, security, etc.
Likewise, Gérard Larcher emphasised the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for strengthening the reinforced partnership between France and Morocco. ‘Our visit to Laayoune confirms once again that the present and the future of the southern provinces can only be built within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,’ said Larcher.
‘The unity and indivisibility of the French Republic are echoed in the unity and indivisibility of Morocco. This development does not reflect the policy of a particular government or a specific moment in time, but the way in which the French Republic sees politics,’ added the President of the French Senate.
On the other hand, Akhannouch pointed to the renewed momentum in relations and reaffirmed the North African country's firm determination to collaborate closely with the French Republic at all levels: bilateral, regional and international.
Co-operation between Paris and Rabat has already resulted in 47 joint projects in key areas such as energy, infrastructure, transport and the fight against water shortages, with a particular focus on the development of human capital.
