July 16, 2026

The African Tribune

Bold, independent reporting on Africa's most important stories, in English, every day.

French prime minister visits Morocco to strengthen ties

The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, arrived in Morocco today accompanied by a delegation of over a dozen ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The high-level intergovernmental meeting marks the first of its kind between the two nations since 2019.

Following an initial diplomatic engagement in Qatar, this visit underscores the beginning of Lecornu’s tenure at the helm of France’s government. The agenda includes multiple discussions and working sessions aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

The diplomatic thaw between France and Morocco has gained momentum since mid-2024, when the French President officially acknowledged Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara—a move that significantly altered regional dynamics and strained relations with Algeria.

On the security front, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez is set to meet with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit. Central to their discussions will be judicial collaboration, particularly the potential extradition of Ismaël Benahmed, a Franco-Moroccan national wanted in connection with a 2019 murder investigation in Paris.