The French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, has been actively engaging with Moroccan officials as part of his integration into the political and economic spheres of the country. During his visit on Monday, Lecourtier met with the head of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates, Mustapha Terrab, with whom he had “exciting discussions” on issues surrounding food sovereignty, ecological transition, and sustainable agriculture. Lecourtier expressed his satisfaction with the meeting on his Twitter account and emphasized the shared commitment of Morocco and France to tackle these challenges together.
This meeting takes place at a time of quiet tension between Rabat and Paris. However, Lecourtier has been able to engage with several high-ranking Moroccan personalities since his arrival, including the Minister of National Education, Chakib Benmoussa, the Adviser to HM the King, André Azoulay, and the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Mohammed Reda Chami. Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in December 2022, Lecourtier’s mission is to improve relations between the two countries, which a Moroccan source has described as “neither good nor friendly” in an interview with Jeune Afrique.
“Exciting discussions with Mr. Mostafa Terrab, CEO of OCP around the issues of food sovereignty on the African continent, ecological transition and sustainable agriculture”, he welcomed on his Twitter account, adding that “on these challenges for the future, the will of Morocco and France to build together! “.
Indeed, this meeting takes place in the midst of a silent crisis between Rabat and Paris. The French Embassy does not seem as isolated as some media have made it out to be. A few days ago, Afrique intelligence claimed that instructions had been given to Moroccan officials not to receive Lecourtier. Which is far from being the case now.
Since his arrival in Morocco, the representative from Paris has met several high-ranking Moroccan personalities, including the Minister of National Education, Chakib Benmoussa, the Adviser to HM the King, André Azoulay and the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Mohammed Reda Chami.
Appointed in December 2022 by President Emmanuel Macron, Christophe Lecouriter came to Morocco with the aim of melting the ice that exists between the two countries. A difficult mission given the current state of “bilateral relations which “are neither good nor friendly”, according to a Moroccan source who confided in Jeune Afrique.
In conclusion, the meetings between the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, and high-ranking Moroccan officials are a positive step towards improving the strained relations between the two countries. Despite reports of instructions not to receive Lecourtier, his recent meeting with the head of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates shows that he is making progress in his mission to build stronger ties between Morocco and France. With discussions centered on issues like food sovereignty, ecological transition, and sustainable agriculture, it is clear that the two nations are committed to finding common ground and working together towards a brighter future.
