French President Emmanuel Macron told Morocco's parliament on Tuesday the disputed territory of Western Sahara should be under Moroccan sovereignty, reiterating in person a statement made in July that paved the way for warmer relations with Rabat.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during Morocco-France entrepreneurial meetings at the auditorium of the International University of Rabat, Morocco October 29, 2024. Reuters/Abdelhak Balhaki
French President Emmanuel Macron told Morocco's parliament on Tuesday the disputed territory of Western Sahara should be under Moroccan sovereignty, reiterating in person a statement made in July that paved the way for warmer relations with Rabat.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
France and Morocco have had a difficult relationship over the past three years. Paris, keen to control immigration from North African countries, angered Rabat by drastically reducing visas to its nationals in 2021.
By backing Morocco on the Western Sahara issue, France is hoping to win Rabat's goodwill on immigration issues that could impact other European countries - and win lucrative deals for French firms.
KEY QUOTES
ON WESTERN SAHARA:
"For France, this territory's present and future fall under Morocco's sovereignty," Macron said to a standing ovation from Moroccan lawmakers. "This position is what France will advocate to help Morocco in international organisations.
"This position is hostile to no one," he added, referring to Algeria, which considers Morocco's presence in Western Sahara an occupation.
ON FRANCE'S COLONIAL PAST IN MOROCCO:
"Our common history also has dark parts. The time came for unequal treaties, when hubris and the mechanical force of European countries imposed themselves around the world, and when, even disguised as a protectorate, Morocco did not escape the ambitions and the violence of colonial history.
"France broke into (Morocco), first through trade and financial deals, then by the treaty of Fez."
ON IMMIGRATION:
"We can see this is also about mutual trust. Many French people have high expectations on this. We need more results."
ON SOCCER:
"There is one issue where we continue to fight. It's football," he said to laughter in the audience. "Your players are a dream for our championships, they even reconcile (rival French soccer teams) Paris-Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille."
Reporting by Michel Rose
Human Rights Watch has accused an Abu Dhabi-based security company of recruiting Colombian private military contractors and deploying them to fight alongside Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) between 2024 and 2025, adding to what the rights group describes as a growing body of evidence of Emirati military support for the paramilitary group.
Farmers across Sudan say the hike in global fuel and fertilizer costs resulting from the Iran conflict will force them to cut back on planting this summer, restricting food production in a country where war has caused acute hunger.
At least nine people were killed and six others injured when a four-storey building collapsed overnight in the Moroccan city of Fez, about 200 kilometres (124 miles) east of Rabat, local authorities said on Thursday.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.