Macron to Make State Visit to Morocco, Aiming to Mend Ties

Invited by King Mohammed VI, Emmanuel Macron should take advantage of this trip to give new impetus to bilateral cooperation in many strategic areas. The two countries thus wish to turn the page on recent tensions, particularly related to the Sahara issue.

In July, France had lent its support to the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, considering it the only basis capable of resolving the conflict with the Polisario Front. This position, however, provoked the displeasure of Algeria, which recalled its ambassador to Paris for consultations, thus cooling the already complex relations between the two countries.

Macron’s visit to Rabat is part of a context of warming relations between the two countries. It comes after a period marked by diplomatic frictions, particularly related to migration policy and espionage affairs.