French prime minister begins diplomatic tour in Morocco

The French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrives in Morocco today at the helm of a high-profile delegation, including twelve ministers such as Foreign Affairs chief Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. His agenda features a crucial meeting with Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to strengthen bilateral ties.

This marks the first intergovernmental meeting between the two nations since 2019, underscoring the renewed diplomatic momentum. Following a stopover in Qatar, this visit initiates a series of strategic discussions aimed at deepening collaboration across key sectors.

Bilateral relations between France and Morocco have seen significant improvement since mid-2024, when Emmanuel Macron officially supported Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara—a move that strained relations with Algeria.

Security remains a focal point of the talks. Laurent Nuñez will hold separate discussions with Morocco’s Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit to address judicial cooperation, including potential extradition requests. Among the cases under review is that of Ismaël Benahmed, a Franco-Moroccan national sought in connection with a 2019 Paris murder investigation.