French prime minister sebastien lecornu visits Morocco amid free speech concerns

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrived in Rabat on July 15 for a two-day official visit, during which multiple agreements are set to be signed. The visit also paves the way for an upcoming official trip by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to France.

A dozen ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, accompanied Lecornu to finalize accords focused on economic cooperation, judicial collaboration, and defense. “Regional security remains an absolute priority for both Paris and Rabat,” observers noted, emphasizing the shared concerns over the growing instability in the Sahel and the persistent threat of terrorism.

This diplomatic mission marks the first international trip abroad for Sébastien Lecornu since assuming office at the Hôtel de Matignon. Just the day before, on July 14, he was in Qatar, where he conveyed France’s condolences following the passing of the country’s former emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The significance of this visit to Morocco is further heightened by the context of strained relations between the two nations in 2021 and 2022, a period marked by diplomatic friction.