French Ambassador to Morocco Steps Down, Joins EU Foreign Affairs Team

Appointed director of the North Africa department with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Hélène Le Gal is leaving the head of the French embassy in Morocco. She will take up her new position on October 1, 2022 in Brussels. The French diplomat will have spent three years in the kingdom without meeting the expectations of the Moroccan authorities. On the political front, "she had to manage the sanction of travel visas imposed clumsily on Morocco by the French Ministry of the Interior," it was observed in some political circles. Only the development of technical and economic cooperation has seen progress, reports Le360.

Hélène Le Gal’s departure comes in a context marked by a crisis between France and Morocco. Relations between the two countries have cooled, particularly due to the Sahara issue. Until now, France has not followed in the footsteps of the United States and Spain, who have recognized the Moroccanness of this territory. A subject that King Mohammed VI had also mentioned in his speech delivered on the occasion of the Revolution Day. The sovereign called on his "traditional or new partners whose positions on the Sahara issue are ambiguous, to clarify and review their position." Remains to be seen whether the next visit of French President Emmanuel Macron will change the situation.