Morocco’s Former Finance Minister Appointed Ambassador to France

King Mohammed VI had appointed Mohamed Benchaâboun, previously Minister of Economy, Finance and Public Administration Reform (2018-2021), as Moroccan ambassador to France on October 17. He will have to join his post in Paris this Friday, reports Atlasinfo.fr. This graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications de Paris is a man with a wealth of experience. He has held several positions of responsibility. He was president of the Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) and the International Confederation of People’s Banks from 2012 to 2015. Mohamed Benchaâboun has a solid network and will certainly be able to work for the warming of relations between Paris and Rabat.

These relations are tense after France’s announcement to reduce by 50% the granting of visas for Moroccans and Algerians and by 30% for Tunisians on the grounds that Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia refuse to issue consular laissez-passer necessary for the return of their nationals who have been expelled. On the Moroccan side, the Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, had denounced a "unjustified" decision. According to him, the lack of PCR tests for people who are refused entry into French territory would be the real problem. "France must ensure a PCR before any boarding on the plane. But these people are deprived of it," he had said.