French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin embarked on a visit to Morocco yesterday, Monday, April 22nd. The visit was marked by a spirit of reconciliation after two years of strained relations between Paris and Rabat. As the Paris Olympics draw near, the two countries announce plans to bolster their security cooperation.
In recent months, numerous gestures have been exchanged between the two nations. These include the appointment of a new ambassador in October 2023 following a prolonged vacancy, and a visit by Stéphane Séjourné, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in February.
In this atmosphere of renewed friendship, Rabat and Paris pledge to support each other in light of the upcoming major sporting events in both countries. Morocco is preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while France is set to host the Olympic Games in July and August this year.
As part of this collaboration, and based on our information, Morocco is among the fifty countries solicited by France to provide security assistance. Moroccan police officers and gendarmes could be deployed on French soil to assist their counterparts, particularly during football matches involving Morocco (which will face Argentina).
Longstanding allies in intelligence sharing, both countries also aim to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Despite France’s reduced presence in the Sahel, where several Islamist armed groups operate, Gérald Darmanin remains attentive to intelligence provided by Morocco in the region.
Furthermore, the Interior Minister confirmed the resolution of the visa crisis that had strained Franco-Moroccan relations. In September 2021, Paris decided to halve the number of visas granted to Algeria and Morocco as a means of pressuring governments deemed insufficiently cooperative in readmitting their nationals expelled from France. Darmanin explained that France now grants 300,000 visas annually to Morocco, making it the second most welcomed nationality in France.
This visit and the agreements reached mark a significant step forward in strengthening the Franco-Moroccan partnership, paving the way for enhanced security cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.