Lead

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu led a delegation of a dozen ministers to Rabat on a two-day visit, marking a significant step in the ongoing rapprochement between France and Morocco. The visit, which concluded with the signing of 14 cooperation agreements, underscored the renewed momentum in bilateral relations following France's 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. However, the trip was also shadowed by fresh allegations that Morocco used Israeli spyware to target French officials, including Lecornu himself.

Coverage Comparison

Across the coverage, the visit was portrayed as a consolidating moment in a rapidly warming relationship. Africa News and France 24 highlighted Lecornu's first official visit since becoming Prime Minister, framing it as part of a renewed momentum that began in 2024. Al Jazeera placed the visit in a broader regional context, emphasizing the rivalry between Morocco and Algeria and how this competition shapes European policies. RFI also noted the strengthening relationship, describing Morocco as a strategic partner for France in North Africa.

The high-level meeting, the first between the two governments since 2019, was described by Lecornu as a "turning point." Morocco's Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch echoed this, saying the partnership was now based on "a shared strategic vision, restored trust and common ambition."

The visit resulted in a flurry of agreements. Reports said the signing of 14 cooperation agreements, covering sectors such as economy, security, migration, and defense. These included deals with the French Development Agency on the Rabat Regional Express Rail project and a loan agreement on water policy. A draft framework agreement on scientific cooperation was also among those signed. The French embassy's website referred to a "reinforced exceptional partnership" between the two countries, resting on pillars of political alignment, economic development, and strategic sovereignty.

Lecornu also said France and Morocco were seeking to strengthen energy ties between Europe and North Africa. According to a briefing document seen by Reuters, a new project aims to identify commercially viable ways to export renewable electricity from Morocco to France.

However, the visit was not without controversy. A consortium of international media, led by Forbidden Stories, published new allegations that Morocco had used Pegasus spyware to target French officials. The allegations, which follow similar reports from 2021, claimed that email traces linked to Moroccan spying were found on the phone of Lecornu himself. Morocco has long denied using such spyware. In response to the revelations, a planned press conference between the two leaders was scaled back to simple statements without questions. The French prime minister's office and foreign ministry declined to comment on the allegations.

Despite this, both sides emphasized the depth of their renewed ties. Lecornu said his visit would pave the way for a future state visit by King Mohammed VI to France. France's president's office said, "Our aim is to strengthen the framework of cooperation and trust with the Moroccans."

Key Claims

  • Strengthening ties: Multiple reports, including from Africa News, France 24, and RFI, confirmed that France and Morocco are strengthening their relationship.
  • High-level meeting: Prime Minister Lecornu co-chaired the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, which had not convened since 2019.
  • Agreements signed: A report by Africa News said France and Morocco signed 14 cooperation agreements covering economy, security, migration, and defense.
  • Pegasus allegations: A media consortium published new allegations that Morocco used Pegasus spyware to target French officials, including Lecornu, following up on claims from 2021.
  • Energy cooperation: Lecornu said France and Morocco are seeking to strengthen energy ties, including a project to export renewable electricity from Morocco to France.

Perspectives

France: The French government, represented by Prime Minister Lecornu, described the visit as a "turning point" and emphasized strengthening cooperation and trust with Morocco, particularly on security and counterterrorism.

Morocco: Prime Minister Akhannouch characterized the partnership as based on "a shared strategic vision, restored trust and common ambition," highlighting the mutual benefits of the agreements.

Algeria: While not directly commenting on the visit, Algeria has been seeking to deepen its own partnerships with Germany and Spain, reflecting a regional competition for Western support in the Maghreb, as noted by Al Jazeera.

Media Consortium: Forbidden Stories and partner outlets allege that Morocco used Pegasus spyware to target French officials, a claim Morocco has consistently denied.