Summary:

On 28 October 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a state visit to Rabat, Morocco with a delegation of more than 120 French figures from the political and cultural fields, in addition to representatives of private firms. 

The visit included the signing of twenty-two contracts and investment agreements totaling 11 billion euros. The agreements cover multiple sectors including transport, water desalination, wastewater management, green energy and communication technologies.  

The French firms that participated include satellite giant Thales Alenia Space, TotalEnergies, Alstom and Safran. 

The visit was also an opportunity to highlight France’s agenda for cooperation with Morocco as President Macron advocated for more consular cooperation to help address irregular migration and for aligning strategies in the face of economic fragmentation and austerity.  

Macron also recalled France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in international organizations according to the 2007 UN resolution.  

Outlook: 

President Macron’s visit to Morocco is the second bilateral meeting between French and North African heads of state after the visit of the Tunisian Prime Minister to France in late February this year. This activity highlights France’s intention to promote its economic interests in North Africa through strategic relationships with both public and private entities that could move toward a revival of relations with Morocco. 

The relations between the two states were badly impacted following the Pegasus Affair concerning allegations of Moroccan surveillance of French diplomatic phone calls, in addition to France’s visa reductions for Moroccans due to Morocco’s reluctance to give consular permits for the deportation of illegal migrants.  

The visit also comes as France has failed to maintain good relations with Algeria which recalled its ambassador to France in July 2024. The new rapprochement between France and Morocco is likely to be considered by Algeria as a strategically calculated maneuver by both France and Morocco given the tensions that remain between Algiers and Rabat over the Western Sahara issue. 

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