French-Moroccan diplomatic ties in turmoil: Ambassador’s mission involves an finish amid disaster

The mission of Morocco’s ambassador to France has ended and not using a successor being appointed, in a local weather of diplomatic disaster between Rabat and Paris, native media introduced on Friday.

“In accordance with excessive royal directions, it has been determined to terminate the capabilities of Mr. Mohamed Benchaâboun as Ambassador of His Majesty to the French Republic, as of January 19, 2023,” stated a press launch from the Ministry of Overseas Affairs. Overseas Affairs revealed within the Official Bulletin of February 2 and relayed Friday by the media.

The date of the top of the mission of the Moroccan diplomatic consultant in France “intervenes the day when the European Parliament voted a decision calling on the Moroccan authorities to respect the liberty of the press”, writes the Hespress media.

“It could actually’t be a easy coincidence”, notes the Medias 24 information website, which describes “an announcement as sober and chilly as Morocco’s anger will be”.

On January 19, the European Parliament adopted by a big majority a non-binding decision urging the Moroccan authorities to “respect freedom of expression and freedom of the media” and to place an finish to the “harassment of all journalists”.

Moroccan politicians and a few media have accused France of getting “orchestrated” an anti-Moroccan marketing campaign in Brussels.

The chairman of the Morocco-EU joint parliamentary committee Lahcen Haddad has additionally accused “the French deep state” of being on the origin of the decision of the Euro-deputies. This textual content “doesn’t commit France in any approach”, replied Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to Morocco.

Paris had additionally refuted the existence of any disaster with Rabat even when the state go to of President Emmanuel Macron deliberate – and not using a date – within the 1st quarter appears to be shifting away, particularly because the Cherifian kingdom now not has an envoy in Paris and that no substitute has but been appointed.

Formally, the choice to terminate Mr. Benchaâboun’s capabilities is a standard administrative process that follows his appointment by King Mohammed VI on October 18 as the pinnacle of a sovereign funding fund whose mission is to spice up the economic system.