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In a climate of diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Paris, the mission of Morocco’s ambassador to France has ended without a successor being appointed, local media announced on Friday. The latter specify that the date of the end of the mission coincides with the day when the European Parliament voted a resolution calling on the Moroccan authorities to ‘respect the freedom of the press'”.
“In accordance with high royal instructions, it has been decided to terminate the functions of Mohamed Benchaâboun as Ambassador of His Majesty to the French Republic, as of January 19, 2023,” said a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. published in the Official Bulletin of February 2 and relayed Friday by the media.
The date of the end of the mission of the Moroccan diplomatic representative in France “comes the day when the European Parliament voted a resolution calling on the Moroccan authorities to ‘respect the freedom of the press'”, writes the media Hespress.
“It cannot be a simple coincidence”, estimates the Medias 24 information site, which describes “an announcement as sober and cold as can be the anger of Morocco”.
“Respect freedom of expression and freedom of the media”
On January 19, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority a – non-binding – resolution urging the Moroccan authorities to “respect freedom of expression and freedom of the media” and to put an end to the “harassment of all journalists”.
Moroccan politicians and some media have accused France of having “orchestrated” an anti-Moroccan campaign in Brussels.
The chairman of the Morocco-EU joint parliamentary committee Lahcen Haddad has also accused “the French deep state” of being at the origin of the MEPs’ resolution.
This text “does not commit France in any way”, replied Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to Morocco.
Paris had also refuted the existence of any crisis with Rabat, even if the state visit of President Emmanuel Macron, scheduled for the first quarter, seems to be moving away, especially since the Cherifian kingdom no longer has a ambassador in Paris and that no replacement has yet been appointed.
Officially, the decision to end the functions of Mohamed Benchaâboun is a usual administrative procedure. It follows his appointment, on October 18 by King Mohammed VI, at the head of a sovereign investment fund whose mission is to boost the economy.
With AFP
