French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday arrived in Rabat on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The French president was received by the King of Moroccan, Muhammed VI and his Crown Prince, Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid and Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem.
Macron on the other hand was accompanied on the state visit by his wife, Brigitte.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Macron’s visit was on the invitation of the Moroccan king after Paris threw its support for Moroccan sovereignty on the Western Sahara.
The visit is expected to witness signing of agreements between the countries in the areas of economy and culture.
The visit would also see to the inauguration of the Grand Theatre de Rabat, known as Rabat Théâtre, a multimillion dollar performing arts centre.
The centre has a 7000-seat outdoor amphitheater and 1800-seat interior theatre for intimate performances.
Macron’s visit was the first since 2018 after strained relations between the two countries over the Western Sahara and migration issues.
Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956.
Macron’s visit is expected to restore the diplomatic and business relations between the two countries.
France and Morocco have historically partnered on issues ranging from counterterrorism to Western Sahara.
Morocco has the largest French investment in Africa and it imports French cereals, weapons and renewable energy infrastructure like turbines.
France imports goods from Morocco including tomatoes, cars and airplane parts.
Moroccans constitute a large population in France and command a political force on the roles of Islam and immigration in French society.
On Macron’s last visit to Morocco, he and King Mohammed VI inaugurated Al Boraq, Africa’s first high-speed rail line, manufactured by the French firm, Alstrom.
In 2021, Morocco suspended consular relations after France momentarily reduced the number of visas offered to Moroccans.
France’s suspension was due to Morocco’s refusal to provide documents needed to deport people who migrated to France without authority. (NAN)
