After Assad’s fall, Morocco reconnects with Damascus

In a major diplomatic development, Morocco and Syria announced on Saturday the reopening of their respective embassies, marking the restoration of ties after more than a decade of severed relations due to the Syrian civil war. 

The move signals a growing wave of regional support for Syria's new authorities in Damascus following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The announcement was made during the Arab Summit in Baghdad, where King Mohammed VI of Morocco reaffirmed his country’s support for the Syrian people and emphasized the importance of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Morocco has decided to reopen its embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012,” declared the King in a speech delivered by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and published by Morocco’s official news agency, MAP.
“This step will help unlock broader prospects in the historical relationship between our two nations.”

In response, Syria’s Foreign Ministry stated it would begin procedures to reopen its embassy in Rabat, formalizing the normalization of diplomatic ties.

Morocco closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012, shortly after its premises were attacked by pro-Assad demonstrators. In July of the same year, Morocco declared the Syrian ambassador persona non grata, prompting a reciprocal move by the Assad regime. 

The rupture reflected the broader Arab and international isolation of Damascus at the height of the Syrian civil war.

The conflict, which erupted in 2011 following the violent crackdown on anti-government protests, has left over 500,000 people dead, displaced millions, and fractured the country into zones of competing control.

A New Chapter in Syria

The resumption of ties comes in the wake of the collapse of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, following a rapid offensive by a rebel coalition now in control of Damascus. This political shift has triggered a wave of embassy reopenings, as Arab and Western governments begin to cautiously reengage with Syria’s new leadership.

At the Baghdad summit, Moroccan and Syrian foreign ministers reportedly met and agreed to reestablish full diplomatic relations, according to an official statement.

This move not only restores a historic relationship but also positions Morocco as one of the first North African nations to recognize Syria's new leadership, in what may become a broader realignment within the Arab world.