The Francophonie summit wrapped up in Tunisia’s Djerba with Morocco sending a senior director from the foreign ministry instead of ministers as it did in previous editions.
Nadia El Hnot, Director for Cultural Cooperation at Morocco’s foreign ministry, represented Morocco.
The low enthusiasm of Morocco for the Francophonie summit is a sign of tension with Tunis, whose autocratic president sided alongside Algeria in backing separatisms in North Africa, going so far as to offer a state welcome at the Japan-Africa summit.
Morocco had recalled its ambassador for consultation and protested the move which comes as Tunisia gives up to Algeria’s gas blackmail.
President Macron lamented the decline of French in the Maghreb region, while a silently brewing conflict with Morocco was reflected on the summit.
France has doubled down on visa reductions for Moroccans and Algerians. This discriminatory move was described by Morocco as being disconnected from the reality of close consular cooperation.
Jeune Afrique magazine had commented recently that Morocco was disappointed France fell short of expressing a clear-cut position in support of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “sole” solution to the Sahara issue, as Spain and other countries did.
Source: north africa post
