France : «Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara no longer up for discussion»
French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, is set to meet with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, on April 14 in Paris. Last week, Barrot had already mentioned this upcoming meeting with Bourita to MPs, although he did not specify the date. The meeting was confirmed by French authorities during a press conference yesterday, Thursday. This encounter is part of the new Franco-Moroccan partnership, officially relaunched in October 2024 after several months of diplomatic tensions.
?? #France reaffirms its recognition of #Morocco 's sovereignty over the #Sahara pic.twitter.com/cJrHtZZOda
— Yabiladi.com (@yabiladi_fr) April 11, 2025
When asked by a Spanish journalist about the reasons for this visit, the spokesperson for the Quai d'Orsay clarified that the trip had been «planned for a long time» and aimed to «address topics of common interest» between the two countries, without providing further details.
Pressed further by the same journalist regarding France's position on the Sahara issue, Paris made its stance clear. «Now that France has recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, it is no longer a topic of discussion» between the French and Moroccan Foreign Ministers, the ministry's spokesperson stated.
The announcement of the meeting coincides with a United Nations Security Council briefing on the Sahara issue, scheduled for the same day, April 14. France holds the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
40 minutes ago
- Morocco World
France, Morocco Agree on Roadmap to Jumpstart Energy Cooperation
Doha – Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, has held strategic discussions with her French counterpart in Paris to advance bilateral cooperation on major energy projects. Benali met with Marc Ferracci during her working visit to Paris on Friday, with the pair pledging to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries. The meeting focused on accelerating their two countries' partnership in renewable energy, electric interconnection, and low-carbon transition. This high-level encounter builds upon Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco in October 2024, which the French president made at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. That diplomatic milestone resulted in several major agreements, including an ambitious strategic partnership in energy, electrical interconnections, and low-carbon transition. At the center of discussions was the innovative electrical interconnection project between France and Morocco. The bidirectional 'off-grid' underwater connection requires installing a cable at unprecedented depths. Both ministers reviewed the technical and regulatory steps needed to launch an international market test for this groundbreaking project. Holding shared commitments Industrial cooperation featured prominently in the talks. The ministers examined joint investment opportunities in renewable energy sectors, including cable manufacturing, solar and wind energy, battery production, and the development of strategic industrial components. 'Green molecules' such as hydrogen and ammonia were also on the agenda. Officials identified their potential use in land, air, and maritime transport, while calling attention to the need for coordinated industrial integration in these emerging sectors. Both parties stressed the importance of collaborative research and innovation, particularly around cutting-edge technologies like energy storage, electrolyzers, and sustainable mobility. They shared a commitment to developing concrete and competitive solutions. The meeting concluded with renewed political and institutional commitments from both countries. Their stated goal is to develop model projects that will contribute to energy sovereignty, industrial competitiveness, and climate transition acceleration. This partnership aligns with the royal vision of establishing Morocco as a regional clean energy hub and a key player in the international climate response. Read also: Portugal Turns to Morocco Power Link as France Blocks EU Grid Tags: leila benaliMorocco France Relations
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Two Sahrawis from Tindouf arrested in Spain on terrorism charges
In Spain, Basque police arrested two young Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps on Wednesday in the province of Álava. They are accused of «collaboration with jihadist organizations» and «glorifying terrorism». On Friday, the two suspects appeared before an investigating judge specializing in terrorism cases at the National Court in Madrid. Following the hearing, the magistrate ordered that one of the suspects remain in custody, while the other was released under judicial supervision. Notably, most Spanish media outlets covering the arrests, particularly those in the Basque region, did not disclose the origins of the individuals detained. «One of the suspects is reportedly a close associate of the new Polisario representative in Algiers, Khatri Addouh. Since Wednesday, Polisario representatives in Spain have been actively pressuring Basque media not to disclose the alleged terrorists' links to the Tindouf camps», a Moroccan source told Yabiladi. It is worth recalling that for several months, American think tanks and political figures have been lobbying the Trump administration to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization.
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
The UN is preparing a plan to combat Islamophobia
Four weeks after his appointment as the United Nations Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia, announced on May 7, Miguel Ángel Moratinos has unveiled his action plan. In an interview with the UN News website, the Spanish diplomat stressed that hatred toward Islam and Muslims «is not limited to Europe or the United States, but is a global phenomenon». «The Muslim community is one of the largest in the world. Out of nearly eight billion people, 2.5 billion are Muslims», said Moratinos, who served as Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2010. «We already have a UN plan to combat antisemitism, and we will also have one to address Islamophobia. We're setting priorities, first and foremost, tackling the rise of anti-Islam and anti-Muslim hatred that's spreading around the world. We must work with major international organizations and countries that have both the resources and the will to counter this growing hostility». Moratinos acknowledged that «Islam is often misunderstood in the West», making education a central part of his approach. «We need programs to explain what Islam and the Quran are. Many people talk about it without ever having read the Quran». Alongside educational initiatives, Moratinos called for strong condemnation of «any act, hostility, violation, or attack against Muslims or Islamic institutions. We must foster greater respect. That requires integrating specific legal provisions into the judicial systems of Western countries». On March 15, 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, proposed by Pakistan, with 115 votes in favor, 44 abstentions, and none against, calling on the Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. In addition to his new role, Moratinos will continue to serve as High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, a post he has held since 2019. The UN noted that «this dual mandate aims to maximize existing capacity and resources by integrating the new responsibilities into an established position».
