Macron’s Moroccan Odyssey: Can a New European-African Era Emerge from the Desert of Disconnection

Today, Wednesday, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, ends an “unprecedented” visit to Morocco, returning to Paris carrying with him an “exceptional and strong partnership”, but the ambition expressed by both countries aims to what can be called “reformulation. the new relations between Europe and Africa.”

The prestigious French newspaper Le Monde wrote in its editorial today that Macron, before Parliament, proposed that the two countries commit to a “new strategic framework” whose aim is to coordinate the two countries in order to “face the challenges of the twenty first. century.”

The newspaper opined that Macron had “greatly raised the level of his ambitions,” before noting that a document is expected to be signed by the two countries next year (2025) in Paris, to coincide with the French celebrations of its National Day.

The French newspaper compared the envisaged document to an agreement signed by the two countries in 1955, which paved the way for Morocco to gain its independence and departure from French protection, a year later (1956).

The bridge to Africa

One of the most obvious results of Macron’s visit to Morocco was the signing of a portfolio of various agreements, the financial volume of which reached 10 billion euros, in which France is expected to invest in Morocco in the coming years, in essential sectors, most notably. the production and transport of green energy, the high speed train, and the aviation industry AND the desalination of sea water.

But this clear French bias towards Morocco stems from the idea that decision-makers in the Elysee Palace see Morocco as an indispensable “bridge and link” to reach the African continent, especially after the decline of French influence in its former colonies.

For years, Morocco has become the African country that invests the most in African markets It has also become a strong competitor for foreign investors on the continent ‘Ivory, Senegal, and Gabon.

Here, experts point out that Morocco’s investment in strategic projects that connect north and south on the African continent reinforces France’s confidence to be the inevitable European gateway to African markets.

In this context, experts highlight the gas pipeline that will connect Morocco and Nigeria, and cross 11 African countries, as well as the Port of Atlas in the city of Dakhla, which is expected to be the most important crossing point on for goods and goods coming. from European countries towards the markets of Sub-Saharan African countries, during the next decades.

Morocco’s investments over the last two decades in Africa, infrastructure projects of a strategic nature to connect South-South, and Morocco’s approach based on cooperation with African countries according to the win-win principle, are things that explain the interest of the French, and justify the presence of more than 100 investors alongside Macron as he visits Rabat.

Irregular migration

The areas put on the table for discussion between the officials of the two countries were many and varied, but it is clear that the French are interested in the issue of illegal immigration, as much as Macron announced today, Wednesday, before he left about Rabat. , that he concluded a “stronger partnership” with Morocco to fight “clandestine immigration” and “all forms of smuggling” include a “commitment to deliver results.”

Macron added in a speech to the French community in Morocco: “We and Morocco want together to fight all forms of smuggling, to fight against clandestine migration and the networks that exploit it, organized crime and trafficking drugs (…) We have a strong partnership, with a very strong commitment, trust and respect for the rules of each party.”

The immigration file was discussed during the visit of the interior ministers of the two countries, with the French Interior Minister, Bruno Rotayo, announcing that the two countries would work together to “identify people whose roots are not available,” in order to “reduce the timescales ” for deporting them.

Regarding his counterpart in Morocco, Abdel Wafi Laftit, he emphasized that “the issue of the commitment to leave French territory is receiving special attention from both sides.”

Map of Morocco including the Sahara, as published by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The matter of the desert

The most prominent file during this visit was the “Sahara File,” where Macron, in a speech before the Moroccan Parliament, renewed his country’s position in support of Morocco’s thesis regarding autonomy, and its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

But the French did not stop there, instead, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noel Barrot, announced that his country “intends to strengthen its consular and cultural presence in the Sahara in order to create a French bond.”

Barrow added during a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita: “We have already attached the statement, and I am honored to announce to you that the map of Morocco has been updated and published on the Ministry’s website (French). Europe and Foreign Affairs.”

This means that the map of Morocco, which includes the Sahara region, has been officially approved by the official authorities in France, and published on the (official) website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As for the Moroccan Foreign Minister, he appreciated the French move when “the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on its official website yesterday the official map of the Kingdom of Morocco that includes its desert.”

Bourita added, “France, given its position within the Security Council and its knowledge of the emergence and development of this conflict, has an important role to play in this context.”

The Moroccan Foreign Minister emphasized that the two countries have entered “a new stage and station for this deep and rich relationship, in the context of this new era which was established the day before yesterday, Monday, by His Majesty the King and President of France. ,” as he said.