TagsMoroccoFrancePoliticsPolitics Morocco
The signing of 14 agreements during the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting includes the launch of a Reinforced Exceptional Partnership based on French support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the development of Africa as a strategic priority
- French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara
- 14 agreements signed across seven key areas
- Africa: a strategic priority for Rabat and Paris
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, held on Thursday 16 July in Rabat, reaffirmed the Reinforced Exceptional Partnership championed by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, ushering in a new phase in bilateral relations based on greater political, economic and strategic convergence.
The meeting provided an opportunity to underline France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, which constitutes not only one of the pillars of this renewed partnership but also a strategic orientation of its foreign policy, aimed at consolidating a bilateral relationship characterised by trust and shared interests.
Furthermore, Africa represents a common strategic priority for Rabat and Paris, as both reaffirmed their commitment to fostering cooperation on a continental scale, aimed at promoting development, regional integration and stability, through an alliance that transcends the bilateral framework to contribute jointly to the future of the African continent.
French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara
Having become one of the pillars of the renewed strategic partnership between Rabat and Paris, France’s support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara marks a new phase in their bilateral relations.
More than a short-term decision linked to a particular government, this position is presented as a strategic orientation of the French state, intended to endure regardless of political shifts and changes in the parliamentary majority arising from future electoral processes.
This commitment redefines the bilateral relationship on the basis of unprecedented political, diplomatic and strategic convergence, consolidating mutual trust and establishing the Sahara issue as a cornerstone of cooperation between the two countries.
In this context, the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, reaffirmed on Thursday in Rabat, at the conclusion of the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, co-chaired with the Moroccan Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, that France’s position on Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is “untouchable”, emphasising that this is a firm and enduring orientation of French foreign policy.
Within the framework of a renewed strategic partnership based on trust, converging interests and a shared vision of regional stability, Lecornu emphasised that “France stands by Morocco, loyally and faithfully”.
The French Head of Government also recalled the clarity of the position expressed by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in his message to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day on 30 July 2024, in which he had officially stated that he considers that “the present and future of the Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”.
14 agreements signed across seven key areas
Morocco and France have given new impetus to their strategic partnership with the signing of 14 agreements and cooperation instruments during the 15th High-Level Meeting, co-chaired by the Moroccan Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu.
The signing of these agreements demonstrates the commitment of Rabat and Paris to taking their cooperation to a new level, underpinned by converging strategic interests and a shared vision for the future of bilateral relations.
The 14 agreements reflect cooperation that goes beyond the economic sphere to encompass diplomacy, security and defence, infrastructure and transport, water management, scientific research, education, culture, digital transformation and institutional strengthening, as follows:
- Diplomacy and institutional cooperation, with a letter of intent on cooperation in feminist foreign policy.
- Transport, infrastructure and mobility, through three agreements: the first on civil aviation; the second, a partnership between the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM) and the Institut supérieur d’études maritimes (ISEM); and the third, a loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) for the Rabat Regional Express Network (RER) project.
- Water, the environment and spatial planning, through two agreements: a loan from the AFD for water policy and a framework cooperation agreement between CEREMA and the Public Laboratory for Testing and Studies (LPEE).
- Education, research and scientific innovation, through a declaration of intent on the teaching of the Arabic language, history and geography within the French education system; and a draft framework agreement on scientific cooperation between CIRAD and the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV).
- Culture, heritage and creative industries, through a strategic partnership agreement between the Arab World Institute and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication; a letter of intent on artist residencies; and another concerning Morocco’s participation in the Fund for African Authors and Producers.
- Digital transformation and public services, with the signing of a cooperation agreement between La Poste Group and Barid Al-Maghrib.
- Defence and strategic cooperation, with a technical agreement on military archives.
The signing of these 14 agreements across seven key sectors illustrates the shared commitment of Morocco and France to taking their bilateral cooperation to a new level.
Africa: a strategic priority for Rabat and Paris
Africa emerged as one of the central themes of the 15th High-Level Meeting between Morocco and France. Both countries place the continent at the heart of their renewed strategic partnership, with the aim of jointly addressing the challenges of development, stability and regional integration.
During this meeting, Rabat and Paris reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a model of cooperation based on investment, innovation, training and sustainable development, prioritising projects capable of generating a lasting impact on the African continent. The aim is to replace traditional aid approaches with a win-win partnership based on equality between the parties.
This African dimension, which characterises the bilateral relationship between Morocco and France, is also underpinned by Morocco’s strategic position as a bridge between Europe and Africa. Indeed, Morocco’s economic, financial and logistical presence in numerous African countries has made it a key partner for driving joint initiatives with France in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, digitalisation and connectivity.
Morocco and France therefore expressed their willingness to coordinate efforts to support economic growth, strengthen regional resilience and foster closer integration amongst African countries, given the two nations’ shared commitment to greater stability and prosperity on the continent, particularly in the Atlantic region and West Africa.
TagsMoroccoFrancePoliticsPolitics Morocco
