Morocco Pressures France for Clear Stance on Western Sahara Dispute

Despite recent attempts at reconciliation, some Moroccan political circles and analysts are not very optimistic about the normalization of relations between Morocco and France. In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Feast, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated Paris’ willingness to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation with Rabat, reports the media Al-Arab cited by Atalayar. Moroccan political analysts doubt the sincerity of Macron’s message, as he has not given any indication of his long-announced visit to the kingdom.

For seasoned observers, the time for speeches is over. France must prove, through actions, that it is an ally of Morocco. The French president must rectify his position in the Pegasus affair, in which he suspects Morocco of having spied on him using this Israeli software, review the visa restrictions for Moroccans, organize an official visit to Rabat and clarify his "ambiguous" position on the Sahara, says Mohamed Lakrini, professor of law and international relations.

The Sahara is a sensitive issue for Morocco. King Mohammed VI has repeatedly stressed that his "friends" must respect his sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States, Spain, Germany and recently Israel have already recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Several French political figures, including Rachida Dati and Éric Ciotti, have called on Macron to follow in the footsteps of these countries and recognize the Moroccanness of this territory. The lack of clarity from France on this issue contributes to the maintenance of the crisis between the two countries.

At the diplomatic level, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Paris in January and has left the post vacant since then, a sign that the crisis is deep and will not be resolved with speeches and official visits. Rabat wants concrete actions from Paris, particularly that it recognizes the kingdom’s sovereignty over the Sahara, to restore trust between the authorities and bilateral relations.