Stéphane Séjourné in Morocco, Emmanuel Macron expected this summer

Stéphane Séjourné will meet on this occasion his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, reports Africa Intelligence, specifying that this visit comes as a prelude to that which President Emmanuel Macron should make by next summer. This visit is part of the recent and numerous initiatives of Paris to warm up relations with Rabat. The latest to date is the luncheon offered on Monday, February 19 to Princesses Lalla Meryem, Lalla Asmae and Lalla Hasnaa at the Élysée, at the invitation of Brigitte Macron.

In an interview with the French daily Ouest France on February 10, the head of French diplomacy expressed his desire to work "personally" towards the rapprochement and strengthening of ties between France and Morocco. "The President of the Republic has personally asked me to invest myself in the Franco-Moroccan relationship and to also write a new chapter in our relationship. I will devote myself to it," said the one who has been installed at the Quai d’Orsay since January 19.

"Our link with Morocco is very important and it is even essential," Séjourné declared last week, during a hearing at the National Assembly, reaffirming his "will" to rebuild a relationship of trust with Morocco. "I will gradually build this trust. It is in the interest of France and the interest of Morocco." The minister "thinks we can do better and differently," expressing his desire to "build a new political agenda" and engage in a "transparent" and "respectful" dialogue with all Moroccan political leaders.

Meanwhile, Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to Morocco, and Samira Sitaïl, the Moroccan ambassador to Paris, are active on this project of warming up relations between the two countries. Catherine Colonna was the last French Foreign Minister to visit Rabat. It was in December 2022.