Macron Urges End to Controversy Over French Earthquake Aid to Morocco

"It is obviously up to His Majesty the King and the Government of Morocco, in full sovereignty, to organize international aid and so we are available for their sovereign choice," said Emmanuel Macron in a video posted on the X (ex-Twitter) network on Tuesday, hoping that "all the controversies that come to divide, that come to complicate things in this moment that is already so tragic, can be silenced out of respect for everyone."

The French president reiterates France’s full availability to help Morocco. "We are at your side, today as tomorrow... We will be there in the long term on the humanitarian, medical, reconstruction, cultural and heritage aid, in all the areas where the Moroccan people and its authorities will consider that we are useful." On Monday, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced a 5 million euro aid for NGOs on the ground in Morocco.

Morocco announced on Sunday that it had accepted aid from four countries, namely Spain, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but not from France, sparking controversy. Relations between Morocco and France have been tense for several years for various reasons, including Macron’s rapprochement with Algeria and his ambiguous position on the Sahara.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 shook the Marrakech region in the night from Friday to Saturday. According to the latest data from the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the provisional death toll stands at 2,901 dead and 5,530 injured.