French Minister’s Map Sparks Controversy Over Morocco’s Sahara Territory

Jean-Noël Barrot shared a map of Morocco without the Sahara on his Instagram account. Is this an oversight on his part or a deliberate decision? If it is done deliberately, the relations between Paris and Rabat could once again deteriorate. If it is an oversight, the French Foreign Minister could correct the situation.

In late October 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron had solemnly confirmed his support for Morocco’s "sovereignty" over the Sahara. Afterwards, the French Foreign Minister announced that his ministry had "updated" the map of Morocco and the Western Sahara posted online on its website to take into account this new development.

During a press briefing in Rabat following his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Barrot affirmed that France stands alongside Morocco in the search for a just and lasting political solution, describing the 2007 Autonomy Plan as the "only basis" for such an outcome. He also mentioned projects aimed at strengthening French economic and cultural engagement in the region.

This approach was part of the continuation of a letter sent by the French President to King Mohammed VI. In this letter, Emmanuel Macron had stated that "the present and future of the ’Western’ Sahara must be envisaged within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty." These remarks were reaffirmed during the bilateral discussions between the sovereign and the French president, in Rabat, during a state visit.

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