The French Prime Minister, accompanied by a delegation of over a dozen ministers including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, is set to engage in high-stakes diplomatic discussions with Morocco’s top leadership. This marks the first intergovernmental meeting of its scale between the two nations since 2019.
Following an initial diplomatic stopover in Qatar, this visit underscores the beginning of Sébastien Lecornu’s tenure as Prime Minister, with a packed agenda dedicated to deepening bilateral cooperation. Multiple working sessions and bilateral talks are scheduled to address pressing issues and strengthen economic, political, and security ties.
The visit comes at a pivotal moment as France and Morocco have seen a significant thaw in relations since mid-2024. This shift followed France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a move that notably strained relations with Algeria.
Security and judicial cooperation high on the agenda
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will hold separate discussions with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, to explore avenues for enhanced judicial collaboration. A key topic on the table is the potential extradition of Ismaël Benahmed, a dual French-Moroccan national sought in connection with a 2019 murder investigation in Paris. This case has been a persistent point of contention, and the visit presents an opportunity to resolve it.