France-Morocco Ties Strengthen as Algeria Visit Canceled

Disrupted agenda or continuation of the diplomatic rift between Algeria and France to the great benefit of Morocco? French Prime Minister was to visit Algeria as part of a High-Level Inter-Governmental Committee on April 11, but this visit was canceled at the last minute. This is a meeting of the dialogue body between the two governments that has not been held since 2017. According to the French authorities, this postponement is explained by health reasons, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghrebia. On the Algerian side, the nature of Jean Castex’s delegation explains this postponement.

Another reason mentioned: a coincidence of the date of the visit with several diplomatic actions, including a meeting of the Franco-Moroccan joint parliamentary committee in the Senate, the decision of the French president’s party, LaREM to open a branch in Dakhla and the meeting between the heads of diplomacy of the two countries, Nasser Bourita and Jean-Yves Le Drian. The categorical refusal of the French authorities to extradite two Algerian nationals, the web influencers Hicham Abboud and Amir Boukhris, for their alleged involvement in terrorism cases would also justify the postponement of this visit.

During a videoconference interview with Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, welcomed the quality of the security cooperation between France and Morocco. For the record, Morocco recently helped France thwart an attack in Béziers. The French Foreign Minister also reaffirmed his country’s position of support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara. For Jean-Yves Le Drian, bilateral relations between the two countries are "very dense".