Morocco Slams France’s ’Unjustified’ Visa Restrictions for North Africans

"Morocco has always acted responsibly in the face of the issue of illegal immigration. France’s decision is unjustified for various reasons," said the head of Moroccan diplomacy at a press conference in the presence of his Mauritanian counterpart, Ismaël Ould Cheikh Ahmed, currently on a working visit to Rabat. According to him, it is a "Franco-French affair".

France decided on Wednesday to tighten the granting of visas for Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians on the grounds that these three countries refuse to issue consular laissez-passer necessary for the return of their nationals expelled from France. Nasser Bourita dismantles this argument. He said that the consulates of Morocco in France have issued nearly 400 laissez-passer in recent months.

According to the head of Moroccan diplomacy, the lack of PCR tests for people who are the subject of a refusal of entry into French territory would be the real problem. "France must ensure a PCR before any boarding on the plane. Yet, these people are deprived of it," he said in substance, stressing that the French decision will penalize Moroccan executives and patients.