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Morocco World
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Niger Honors Outgoing Moroccan Ambassador as Rabat Deepens Sahel Ties
Doha – In a ceremony radiating diplomatic gravity, Niger's authorities bestowed upon Morocco's Ambassador Allal Al Achab the rank of Commander of the National Order of Merit on Wednesday in Niamey. The distinction caps over eight years of diplomatic service that substantially fortified bilateral relations between the two nations. The ceremony, presided over by Niger's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, drew government representatives, accredited diplomats, and international partners. Minister Sangaré pointed to Al Achab's dedication to South-South cooperation built on loyalty, concrete solidarity, and mutual respect. The Nigerien foreign minister specifically underscored Morocco's support during the acute energy crisis that followed the July 26, 2023 coup d'état. 'The provision of power generators by the Kingdom, as well as the training of Nigerien technicians, constitutes a decisive gesture of solidarity at a time when the country was facing unprecedented isolation,' Sangaré remarked, noting King Mohammed VI's personal intervention in this emergency response. Earlier that day, the Moroccan diplomat met with Niger's President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, formally concluding what Nigerien authorities consider an exemplary diplomatic mission. The Moroccan ambassador conveyed his 'sincere emotion' and 'deep attachment to Niger and its people' in his farewell speech. He lauded the quality of bilateral dialogue while reaffirming Morocco's resolve to strengthen its ties with the Sahel region in a spirit of lasting partnership. Visibly moved, Al Achab expressed profound gratitude to the Nigerien people and authorities, stating that he takes away 'an unforgettable professional experience' from this mission. His departure makes way for Mohammed Iboumraten, 61, appointed by King Mohammed VI as the new Moroccan ambassador to Niger. Sahel tilts toward Moroccan vision This recognition from Niamey unfolds amid a rapid transformation of the Sahel's geopolitical landscape. Earlier this week, King Mohammed VI welcomed in Rabat the foreign ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which includes Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, in a diplomatic sequence charged with strategic intent. On April 28, the foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger presented the progress of the Alliance of Sahel States during their visit to Rabat. They unanimously declared their 'total adherence' to the Moroccan sovereign's Atlantic Initiative and their 'commitment to accelerate its implementation.' The Atlantic Initiative, first unveiled by King Mohammed VI on November 6, 2023, aims to provide landlocked Sahelian countries with maritime access to the Atlantic Ocean through Moroccan territory. The project envisions leveraging Morocco's modern infrastructure and strategic ports such as Tanger Med and Dakhla, a deep-water port under construction in Western Sahara, to create sustainable trade corridors for these encircled nations currently facing economic isolation after their withdrawal from ECOWAS. Speaking to Moroccan media outlets, Burkina Faso's minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré asserted he was struck by 'the King's love for Africa and Africans, his perfect knowledge of our countries and the sub-region, and his great availability to co-construct new relationships with his African brothers.' The high distinction awarded to Ambassador Al Achab reflects Niger's recognition of a diplomat whose actions have durably strengthened relations between Rabat and Niamey. This diplomatic pivot crystallizes as Algeria, historically regarded as the natural interlocutor of the Sahel for decades, steadily loses influence. Where Algiers once exerted authority through mechanisms like the Joint Operational Military Staff Committee (Cemoc) or mediation in the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement, Morocco has redrawn regional alignments through proximity diplomacy championed at the highest level by Mohammed VI. In early April, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso recalled their ambassadors to Algiers, accusing Algeria of downing a Malian army drone in northern Mali near the Algerian border in late March. A high-ranking Moroccan diplomatic source clarified the country's approach to reporters: 'This is not a classic influence game. Morocco positions itself as a facilitator and mediator, in a logic of bloc alliances, not domination.' This formula stands in stark contrast to the muscular approaches of certain traditional Sahel partners, whether France previously or Russia currently. Morocco advances with strategic caution, recognizing the region's persistent instability and the fragility of transitional Sahelian regimes. Aware of these volatile dynamics, Moroccan diplomacy maintains distance from military entanglements and refuses alignment with external powers, whether Russian, Turkish, or Western. As a palace advisor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the press: 'The king does not want to be a giver of orders, but a giver of solutions.' Read also: Memory as Strategy: Reclaiming Explorer Estevanico de Dorantes in Morocco's Royal Atlantic Initiative Tags: Morocco Niger RelationsMorocco SahelSahel Alliance
Daily Tribune
16-04-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Macron Honours Notre Dame Restoration Heroes with National Awards
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the dedicated craftspeople and officials who restored the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, presenting national honours to around 100 individuals during a ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Élysée Palace. The event coincided with the anniversary of the tragic blaze that engulfed the Gothic masterpiece on April 15, 2019 — nearly destroying one of France's most beloved cultural and religious landmarks. "In just five years, thanks to you, Notre-Dame-de-Paris was rebuilt to be more beautiful than it was before," President Macron said, addressing the honourees. 'If we are here tonight, it is thanks to the heroism of our firefighters, the generosity of patrons and foundations, and above all, the skill and dedication of thousands of artisans, workers, professionals, police officers, and citizens.' Among those in attendance were Jean-Claude Gallet, former chief of the Paris fire brigade during the fire, Prime Minister François Bayrou, and Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Macron awarded Philippe Jost, who led the public body responsible for overseeing the cathedral's reconstruction, with the title of Commander of the Legion of Honour—France's highest civilian distinction. Jost succeeded General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the restoration's original coordinator, who tragically passed away in 2023. Georgelin was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the order's most prestigious rank. Notable architects Rémi Fromont and Philippe Villeneuve, who played key roles in the restoration's architectural vision, were also decorated. Nearly 100 civil servants, entrepreneurs, and artisans received the Legion of Honour or the National Order of Merit for their exceptional contributions. These honourees represent a larger community of roughly 2,000 individuals involved in the ambitious five-year restoration. They came from a wide range of specialties, including carpentry, ironwork, scaffolding, rope access, organ restoration, and stained-glass artistry. Among them was Aymeric Albert, who scoured forests across France to select the oak trees needed to rebuild Notre Dame's iconic spire, nave, and choir. He was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour. The massive restoration was made possible through an outpouring of global support, with nearly €850 million (approximately $960 million) in donations collected from individuals, institutions, and philanthropists around the world. Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened to the public on December 7, 2024. According to the French presidency, the site now welcomes an average of 30,000 visitors daily — a testament to the enduring legacy of the cathedral and the extraordinary efforts behind its resurrection.
Euronews
15-04-2025
- General
- Euronews
French President Emmanuel Macron to honour Notre-Dame de Paris restorers
ADVERTISEMENT French President Emmanuel Macron will honour 101 craftspeople and public servants who contributed to the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris , exactly six years after the devastating fire that endangered the cathedral. The ceremony will take place today at the Élysée Palace from 6pm, around the same time that the fire broke out on 15 April 2019. Senior civil servant Philippe Jost, who oversaw the conservation and restoration effort following the death of general Jean-Louis Georgelin in 2023 , will be made Commander of the Legion of Honour, one of the highest decorations in France. Architects, entrepreneurs, engineers and artisans will also be awarded with the Legion of Honour or the National Order of Merit. Honourees include stone carvers, stained-glass windows restorers and even an organ builder, who all helped revive the splendour of the centuries-old church. 'In this list, I see rewarded those who have concretely made this restoration a success, hands-on men and women", Philippe Jost told French outlet Le Parisien. Construction workers who took part to the Notre-Dame cathedral restoration visit the cathedral on 29 November 2024 in Paris AP Photo 'We owe this transformation to you', said President Emmanuel Macron during his last visit to the cathedral before its reopening. 'You were the alchemists on the construction site, and you transformed coal into art.' Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after five years of work, in a grandiose ceremony attended by 1,500 guests including heads of states and royal figures. Since then, the cathedral has welcomed about 30,000 visitors per day, who come to admire the monument, rebuilt exactly as it was before the fire. The cathedral's spire and bells have been replaced, and its stained-glass windows were restored to reverse the damage done by dust and smoke. The South Rose window inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris AP Photo 'For five years here, every single woman and every single man was needed to rebuild, every single piece of help was required, even from the other side of the world', said President Emmanuel Macron in his speech during the reopening ceremony. 'We rediscovered what great nations can do: achieve the impossible.'
Arab News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Macron to honor craftspeople who rebuilt Notre Dame
'You have achieved what was thought impossible,' Macron told restoration workersOn Tuesday, Macron will once again speak of France's 'pride' over the operation's success PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday will bestow awards on around 100 craftspeople and officials who helped restore Notre Dame to its former glory after a fire nearly destroyed the beloved Paris cathedral six years ceremony at the Elysee Palace will take place from early Tuesday evening, around the same time the devastating fire broke out at the Gothic masterpiece on April 15, will bestow the awards in the presence of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and government members including Culture Minister Rachida Gallet, who presided over the Paris fire brigade during the disaster, will also be in attendance.'You have achieved what was thought impossible,' Macron told restoration workers and officials after he toured the cathedral last November, days before the cathedral re-opened to the public on December Tuesday, Macron will once again speak of France's 'pride' over the operation's success, according to his team, which said an average of 30,000 people a day now visit the restored will also honor Philippe Jost, who headed the public organization tasked with restoring the cathedral and was elevated to the rank of 'commander' of the Legion of Honour, France's highest national succeeded Jean-Louis Georgelin, the general who had been put in charge of overseeing the restoration but who died in was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest rank of the award established by Napoleon Bonaparte in architects Remi Fromont and Philippe Villeneuve will also be them, nearly 100 civil servants, entrepreneurs and craftspeople will be awarded the Legion of Honour or the National Order of Merit, another top award established by Charles de represent around 2,000 people who took part in the restoration of the come from 'all the trades' and include carpenters, ironworkers, scaffolders, rope access workers, organ restorers and stained glass artisans, the French presidency Albert, who will be made a knight of the Legion of Honour, combed the forests of France to select oak trees needed to rebuild the spire, the nave and the massive restoration project was financed thanks to nearly 850 million euros (around $960 million at today's rate) in donations from all over the world.
Local France
15-04-2025
- General
- Local France
Macron to honour craftspeople who rebuilt Notre-Dame
The ceremony at the Elysee Palace will take place from early Tuesday evening, around the same time the devastating fire broke out at the Gothic masterpiece on April 15, 2019. Macron will bestow the awards in the presence of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and government members including Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Jean-Claude Gallet, who presided over the Paris fire brigade during the disaster, will also be in attendance. "You have achieved what was thought impossible," Macron told restoration workers and officials after he toured the cathedral last November, days before the cathedral re-opened to the public on December 7th. On Tuesday, Macron will once again speak of France's "pride" over the operation's success, according to his team, which said an average of 30,000 people a day now visit the restored cathedral. Macron will also honour Philippe Jost, who headed the public organisation tasked with restoring the cathedral and was elevated to the rank of "commander" of the Legion of Honour, France's highest national award. Advertisement Jost succeeded Jean-Louis Georgelin, the general who had been put in charge of overseeing the restoration but who died in 2023. Georgelin was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest rank of the award established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. The architects Remi Fromont and Philippe Villeneuve will also be decorated. Alongside them, nearly 100 civil servants, entrepreneurs and craftspeople will be awarded the Legion of Honour or the National Order of Merit, another top award established by Charles de Gaulle. They represent around 2,000 people who took part in the restoration of the cathedral. They come from "all the trades" and include carpenters, ironworkers, scaffolders, rope access workers, organ restorers and stained glass artisans, the French presidency said. Aymeric Albert, who will be made a knight of the Legion of Honour, combed the forests of France to select oak trees needed to rebuild the spire, the nave and the choir. The massive restoration project was financed thanks to nearly €850 million in donations from all over the world.
