France's President Emmanuel Macron will finally make a state visit to Morocco after years of tensions and cancelled trips, as the two nations reconcile their differences over Western Sahara.
From 28 October, President Macron will embark on a three-day state visit to Rabat, aimed at reviving a relationship that has been strained for three years, according to a statement from Morocco's royal cabinet on 21 October.
"[This visit] reflects the depth of the bilateral relations, founded on a deep-rooted and strong partnership with a shared will to strengthen ties uniting the two countries", the royal cabinet affirmed in its statement.
Macron's trip follows an invitation from King Mohammed VI, spurred by Paris' recent shift on the Western Sahara issue.
In July, France endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for the territory "within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty," adding itself to a growing list of countries to align with Rabat's stance while the UN-mediated peace process remains in limbo.
This move marks a significant departure from France's long-held position. While Paris had initially nodded to Morocco's plan when it was first presented to the UN in 2007, it had since avoided making waves on the matter—keen to keep Algeria, a key African ally, on its side.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is still considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the UN due to the lack of a final settlement.
Morocco has been locked in a decades-long conflict with the Polisario Front, an independence movement backed by Algeria. While Rabat champions an autonomy plan under its sovereignty, the Polisario demands a UN-backed self-determination referendum—agreed upon in 1991 but never held.
Macron's visit to Morocco, his first since 2018, will see him joined by First Lady Brigitte Macron. The trip, long discussed but repeatedly postponed, aims to reset relations after years of diplomatic friction.
Earlier this year, several high-ranking French officials, including Foreign Trade Minister Franck Riester, and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, visited Morocco to lay the groundwork for Macron's tour.
From Pegasus to EU ruling: tensions between Morocco and France
France and Morocco have been at odds since 2021, partly due to the Pegasus spyware scandal, where Macron's phone was listed as a potential target of surveillance by the Israeli-made software. According to the French daily Le Monde, the client was an unidentified Moroccan security service. Rabat has denied the allegations.
Relations soured further after France slashed visas for North African countries in late 2021, though those restrictions were lifted by the end of 2022.
Macron's attempts to build bridges with Algeria also ruffled feathers in Rabat, particularly after a 2022 trip to Algiers aimed at reconciliation.
The European Parliament's 2023 vote condemning the deterioration of press freedom in Morocco deepened the rift, with some in Rabat accusing Paris of meddling in "Moroccan's national affairs."
Soon after, Rabat declined to host Macron following an announcement by his foreign minister about a scheduled visit to Morocco.
Morocco had been waiting for France to finally take a stand on Western Sahara after Germany and Spain both supported Rabat's plan for the territory.
Since the US recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory—in exchange for normalising ties with Israel—Rabat urged a clear position on the territory as "the only measure of true friendship with Morocco."
However, Macron's pivot has cost him diplomatic ties with Algeria and might jeopardise Paris' gas supplies, an issue several French parties have flagged.
Still, the thaw in relations with Morocco is already paying economic dividends. French engineering firm Egis recently landed a contract to extend Morocco's high-speed rail line between Kenitra and Marrakech, following France's shift.
French companies, including energy giant Engie, are already eyeing further expansion in Western Sahara, with projects like a desalination plant and a wind farm on the horizon.