El nuevo embajador de Francia en Marruecos aterriza en Rabat
France once again has an ambassador to Morocco three months later. The diplomat Christophe Lecourtier landed in Rabat on Monday afternoon to begin his journey as Paris' top representative in the Kingdom. This was confirmed in a tweet by the deputy head of mission of the French embassy in the country, Arnaud Pescheux.
His arrival comes in the midst of a period of détente in Franco-Moroccan relations.
Lecourtier succeeds diplomat Hélène Le Gal, the first woman to hold the post, who ended her stay in Rabat to return to the European level in September. The French authorities did not announce a replacement after her departure and, in response, Morocco withdrew its ambassador in Paris, former economy minister Mohamed Benchaâboun, who was appointed to head the Mohamed VI Fund for Investment.
Le nouvel Ambassadeur de France au Maroc, @clecourtier, est arrivé aujourd’hui à Rabat. L’équipe de @AmbaFranceMaroc était réunie pour lui faire bon accueil. Bienvenue, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur ! pic.twitter.com/tS3W0fS598
— Arnaud Pescheux (@ArnaudPescheux) December 26, 2022
The recent visit to Rabat by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna seems to have served to at least partially restore consular relations. The French government took the decision to appoint Lecourtier at the Council of Ministers on 23 November, according to Africa Intelligence. Morocco, for its part, has not yet made a move, but could do so in the coming weeks.
France agreed on the name of its next envoy to Rabat with the Moroccan authorities, who approved Lecourtier at the beginning of the month. The former ambassador to Australia announced the news on his Twitter account in mid-December.
"After 5 years as director general of Business France, my mandate is coming to an end. President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna have appointed me ambassador of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Morocco," he wrote on the social network.
Lecourtier's profile is of interest in Rabat. He comes from directing the French agency in charge of export development and international investment, and has diplomatic experience. Qualities that could boost relations after a period of cooling.
"It will probably suit the Palace, which wishes to focus the relationship between Paris and Rabat on economic cooperation and investment, particularly in the field of technology and renewable energies," notes Africa Intelligence in a recent publication.
Point de presse conjoint entre M. Nasser Bourita et son homologue française, Mme Catherine Colonna. pic.twitter.com/QH8ipxITNt
— Maroc Diplomatie ?? (@MarocDiplomatie) December 16, 2022
The head of Moroccan diplomacy, Nasser Bourita, received his French counterpart on 16 December in order to relax bilateral relations, which have been strained in recent months over the Western Sahara dossier. The unequivocal support of the United States, Spain and Germany on the issue has not been matched by that of France, which, while welcoming the proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, is trying to preserve a certain ambiguity so as not to irritate Algeria, with which it also wants to strengthen its ties.
Added to this issue are the alleged Pegasus wiretaps, which, according to the accusations, have even affected President Emmanuel Macron, and the controversy over the visa restrictions imposed by the French government on citizens of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia as a result of the reluctance of these three countries to readmit their nationals in an irregular situation in France.
The dialogue between Colonna and Bourita ironed out the differences. Now, Lecourtier's arrival in Rabat is a step towards normalising bilateral relations. The next step is scheduled for early 2023, when Macron is expected to visit Morocco for the second time since he arrived at the Elysée.
