French Culture Minister plans groundbreaking visit to Morocco's southern regions
France's Minister of Culture Rachida Dati will embark on a three-day visit to Morocco starting February 16, including a notable stop in Laayoune in southern Morocco. During her visit to Laayoune, Dati is scheduled to inaugurate a French cultural institute.
The ministerial visit comes amid strengthened Franco-Moroccan relations, particularly following France's support for Morocco's territorial integrity. This diplomatic stance was reinforced by President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces during his state visit in October 2023.
The visit builds on recent cultural cooperation initiatives between the two nations. Last year, Morocco and France signed 22 agreements covering various sectors, including cultural heritage preservation and video game development. A bilateral agreement at the Cannes Film Festival further enhanced their cultural and cinematic collaboration.
However, this diplomatic alignment has strained France's relations with Algeria. Following France's position on the Sahara issue, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris. Tensions escalated due to Algeria's detention of activists, including author Boualem Sansal, and allegations against French intelligence services.
The minister's upcoming schedule includes meetings with senior Moroccan officials to discuss further bilateral cooperation opportunities.
Lire aussi
Latest News
- Ayer 17:20 Sahel alliance unveils new flag as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso strengthen ties
- Ayer 16:45 German elections: far-right surge and Trump’s influence reshape political landscape
- Ayer 16:15 Why 'career catfishing' is disrupting recruitment processes
- Ayer 15:40 Algeria accused of cultural appropriation over Morocco’s Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
- Ayer 15:00 Morocco’s avocado and tomato exports: A billion-euro success amid a water crisis
- Ayer 14:30 CasaTourat: A new app transforms how Casablanca’s heritage is explored
- Ayer 13:30 Morocco ranks among the top 50 most influential countries in global soft power index