Morocco and France consolidate their reconciliation
The rapprochement between Morocco and France continues to develop with the aim of overcoming the diplomatic crises of the past and opening a new stage in bilateral relations between the two countries. To this end, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, has travelled to Paris, where he met his French counterpart, Stéphane Sejourne.
According to Le360, this meeting was held at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and focused on improving bilateral relations between the two countries.
This high-level meeting, which follows several visits by French officials to Morocco, reflects the will of both nations to renew ties in different aspects.
Bourita's trip to France also comes on the heels of an agreement reached in Rabat a few weeks ago, in which the two nations pledged to maintain regular diplomatic contacts to revitalise the political, economic and cultural partnership.
In recent months, France and Morocco have been actively working to reinvigorate bilateral relations after years of diplomatic tensions. Some of these challenges relate to France's ambiguity over the Western Sahara dispute for years, a stance that led to a rift with its longstanding African ally.
In recent months, however, Paris has made efforts to develop relations with Rabat. In this sense, the head of French diplomacy, Sejourne, assured last February that France continues to support the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007. He also stressed that a future based on strong bilateral cooperation would not be possible unless France took a clear position on the regional conflict.
France close to backing Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara
Although France has not yet officially endorsed Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, as many other countries such as Spain and the United States have already done, Paris is increasingly close to supporting Morocco's autonomy proposal, according to analysts.
For the time being, France has already announced its support for Morocco's territorial integrity, revealing plans to support the Kingdom's comprehensive development efforts in its southern provinces.
In early April, Franck Riester, the French Foreign Trade Minister, announced in Casablanca that France would support Morocco in the development of infrastructure and investment in the Western Sahara region.
Riester hinted in particular at the possibility of Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Development Agency, helping to finance a high-voltage power line between Dakhla and Casablanca.
As the two countries continue to make progress in reconciliation, various media have speculated about a possible state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, although neither Paris nor Rabat have officially confirmed this supposed trip.