Acold welcomes for a visit supposed to end a long cold spell. Stéphane Séjourné, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, was entitled to a minimum welcome during his trip to Morocco this Monday, February 26.
The visit of the head of French diplomacy comes after several successive crises between Paris and Rabat since 2021. In the Moroccan capital, he was received by his counterpart Nasser Bourita with whom he had a long one-on-one interview then in the presence of the two delegations before hosting a joint press conference.
Séjourné was not received by King Mohamed VI who, on February 21, received the President of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez in his palace. For a visit to reestablish contact, a meeting with the sovereign could not be on the menu.
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It’s all in the expression on the faces of the French minister and his Moroccan counterpart. The two countries are barely resuming contact and it is not yet the time for broad smiles and warm hugs.
Morocco – France: what Stéphane Séjourné said about Western Sahara
It must also be said that Séjourné was preceded in Rabat by the reputation of being the one who got the European Parliament to vote on two resolutions unfavorable to the kingdom in less than a month at the start of 2023, which had never happened before. For precisely this reason, his appointment last January at the Quai d’Orsay was poorly received in Morocco.
In his statements during his visit this Monday, Séjourné does not seem to have offered the Moroccans more than what France has granted them since 2007 on the question of Western Sahara, namely support for the Moroccan autonomy plan.
On this issue, of which he recognizes the “ sensitivity ” for Morocco, the French minister reiterated his country’s “ clear and constant ” support for the autonomy plan.
The question of Western Sahara is “ an existential issue for Morocco and we know it. France has supported the Moroccan Initiative since the origin of this autonomy plan. Morocco could count on the constant support of France and we have already confirmed this,” he said.
The novelty perhaps consists of France’s availability to support Morocco in the development of Western Sahara.
In addition to this clear support which is nothing new to the autonomy plan, Stéphane Séjourné declared that “ it is now time to move forward and I will personally see to it ”. “ Move forward taking into account the interests and needs of the inhabitants of this territory,” explained Stéphane Séjourné, recalling the existence of two French schools in Dakhla and Laâyoune, two occupied Sahrawi cities.
“ Morocco has invested a lot in development projects for the benefit of local populations. We will support the development of this region in support of Moroccan efforts,” added Stéphane Séjourné, who proposed to Rabat an “ avant-garde partnership ” over 30 years, without giving details.
Stéphane Séjourné pleaded for a “ just and mutually acceptable solution ” for the Western Sahara conflict, and at no time was there any question of recognition of “ Moroccan sovereignty ” over the occupied Sahrawi territories as the States did -United and Israel.
