July 30, 2024: under the auspices of the “Triumph of Love” – one of the frescoes adorning the sumptuous ceiling of the Imperial Salon of the Westin Hotel, a stone’s throw from Place Vendôme in Paris -, guests of the Moroccan embassy in France crowd before the banquet. On the menu: chicken pastilla, couscous, carrots with chermoula… and a deluge of pastries. A festive atmosphere to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the reign of the sovereign Mohammed VI. And not just any anniversary. “It’s a historic day! I only have one word on my lips: EU-PHO-RIA!” says a Moroccan diplomat, smiling from ear to ear. “My heart raced when I heard the news!” whispers a guest. The news? A letter from Emmanuel Macron to King Mohammed VI, a few hours earlier, ratified the reconciliation between France and Morocco, which has been on bad terms since 2021. The president acknowledged that the 2007 Moroccan plan for autonomy in Western Sahara (also claimed by the Polisario Front separatists, supported by Algeria) is “the only basis for achieving a just, lasting and negotiated political solution”. A decisive victory for Cherifian diplomacy.
“We are living a historic moment today,” the Kingdom’s ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitail, told her audience. In his letter to His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne, the President of the French Republic announced France’s intangible support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.” Thunderous applause, loud ululations. At the foot of the stage, a gathering of French ministers gave their opinions. Gérald Darmanin (Interior) and Stéphane Séjourné (Foreign Affairs) were in the front row. “Mr. Minister, dear Stéphane,” resumed the host of the evening. “We are convinced that this important step forward will not only strengthen an already exceptional bilateral relationship but will also open the way to unlimited, even unprecedented, possibilities by projecting the relationship into a renewed exceptional partnership.”
The appointment of Samira Sitail last October, after a nine-month vacancy as Morocco’s ambassador to France, had started to warm up relations between Paris and Rabat. Never had the “exceptional partnership” so dear to Jacques Chirac – a great friend of the Kingdom – been in such bad shape. Among the subjects of dispute: the Pegasus spy scandal, the visa war and Rabat’s resentment over the rapprochement between Paris and its long-time rival, Algiers. “A few misunderstandings”, euphemized a dignitary of the Kingdom on July 31, once the storm had passed. “Between the two heads of state, it was a war of egos!” said a guest, swallowing a gazelle’s horn. “But Emmanuel Macron forgot that he was ‘only’ president… facing a king!”
French companies in Western Sahara?
The sovereign ended up winning the battle on a crucial issue: Western Sahara, or “the prism through which Morocco views its international environment,” declared “M6″ (the nickname of Mohammed VI) on August 20, 2022. It is also clearly and simply the yardstick that measures the sincerity of the friendships and the effectiveness of the partnerships that it establishes.” The die was cast. It took years for France, which has supported the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat since 2007, to take the next step: “The present and future of Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty,” wrote Emmanuel Macron in his missive. His head of diplomacy went further on July 31: “The economic development of the Sahara must continue […] and France will use all the levers at its disposal to support Morocco in this development policy that we want to co-construct with you” declared Stéphane Séjourné, invited to take the microphone after the ambassador. Large French companies are delighted, like Suez, already a partner of the holding company of King Mohammed VI on several projects. Its development director, Wilfrid Pailhes, was there at the Westin Hotel.
There is no doubt that this enthusiasm exasperates the Algerian neighbor, who recalled his ambassador to Paris as soon as he was informed of Emmanuel Macron’s letter to Mohammed VI. “Emmanuel Macron has come to the realization that there is nothing to be gained from the relationship with Algiers, and everything to be lost by falling out with Rabat,” summarizes a supporter of the Moroccan cause. In fact, the Franco-Algerian relationship seems to be at an impasse and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was due to visit France, has postponed this trip several times. “Beware of Algeria,” whispers a French parliamentarian invited by the embassy. “We cannot cut ties with this country… We need them for security cooperation, particularly against terrorism.”
“Our neighbors will come to their senses!” mocks a Moroccan emissary. In the meantime, the embassy is savoring the consecration… While the resigning French ministers are taking selfies with the day’s guests. Everything is going well on the Paris-Rabat line! For the moment.
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