Historical relations between France and Morocco are at a delicate juncture. The North African country has not hosted an ambassador in Paris for nearly two months, and Rabat’s criticism of the French government has grown markedly. Positions on Western Sahara and actions by the European Parliament in January have further strained ties. Paris has been slow to acknowledge a visible diplomatic rift, despite several deep disagreements between Paris and Rabat.
In early March a Moroccan government source told Jeune Afrique that relations are neither friendly nor smooth. The source described a gap between the two governments and between the Royal Palace and the Élysée, suggesting that President Emmanuel Macron wishes to downplay the standoff when questioned about Africa at a late February press conference.
France’s ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, denied a formal crisis, speaking instead of misunderstandings and minor turbulences in an interview with a Saudi publication. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna expressed a desire to ease tensions before a National Assembly committee.
Macron reportedly had a planned visit to Morocco at the end of last year, which was postponed first to the first quarter of this year and then to the end of April at the latest. There is no official confirmation on the exact date or whether the visit would include a meeting with the Moroccan government or King Mohammed VI. The Spanish-Moroccan summit, the first high-level conference in eight years, has already stirred controversy due to the absence of the Moroccan monarch.
QatarGate and Visas
The current turbulence reflects not only cyclical strains but also structural tensions. Moroccan authorities reacted strongly when the European Parliament passed a January 19 resolution criticizing Rabat over the jailing of journalists and concerns about corruption. As part of a broader dispute, the Moroccan ambassador to Paris was dismissed on the same day, with no successor named yet, a move viewed by some observers as a signal from Paris linked to internal European politics led by Stéphane Séjourné, a prominent French figure who heads Macron’s liberal group in the European Parliament. Macron has rejected the idea that the Strasbourg resolution represents a government act.
Diplomatic ties showed signs of fraying as early as September 2021, when France halved visa rights for Moroccans traveling to France. Rabat had resisted deportations of Moroccan migrants in irregular situations, and although Paris later reversed the visa restriction, the relationship had already eroded significantly.
Western Sahara
In the early 2000s both nations enjoyed a close partnership, but that cooperation has evolved as each country seeks greater autonomy. A respected historian, Pierre Vermeren, described this shift in a 2021 conversation for El País, noting that Morocco has moved beyond a period of especially close ties with the French state. The relationship shows a clear trend toward Morocco pursuing new alignments while France questions the feasibility of recognizing Western Sahara as a Moroccan region. Paris adheres to United Nations resolutions and remains cautious about provoking Algeria. In recent years, French diplomacy has focused on balancing ties with Algeria while Morocco emerges as a regional actor willing to act assertively toward traditional European partners. Reports of Moroccan intelligence activities and surveillance, including alleged operations implicating prominent figures, have added a layer of tension to the bilateral relationship.
This diplomatic strain arrives at a moment when French influence in Africa appears to be waning. A growing number of African leaders question the authority of former colonial powers, and Morocco, with its regional ambitions, is positioning itself within this shifting landscape.