Strengthening Franco-Moroccan Relations
On Thursday, France and Morocco took significant steps to reinforce their partnership, which has seen considerable growth over the past two years. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited Rabat, where he characterized the bilateral relations as "exceptionally positive". This high-level engagement comes at a time when a media consortium has released new findings indicating that Morocco allegedly employed Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to surveil French officials during a period of heightened tensions between the two nations, following earlier allegations that surfaced in 2021.
During his visit, Lecornu commended the diplomatic progress that Paris and Rabat have made, particularly since President Emmanuel Macron affirmed Morocco's sovereignty claim over the contentious Western Sahara region in 2024. He described the relationship between the two countries as being at a "turning point," emphasizing France's intention to enhance cooperation in areas such as security and counterterrorism. His Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, echoed these sentiments, stating that their partnership is now founded on a "shared strategic vision, restored trust, and common ambition." The visit culminated in the signing of a series of agreements, establishing an "enhanced exceptional partnership" between the kingdom and France.
Espionage Allegations Cast a Shadow
Despite the optimistic developments of the visit, the newly released reports from the media consortium, led by Forbidden Stories and including prominent outlets like Le Monde, threatened to overshadow these diplomatic advances. The articles detail evidence suggesting that Morocco's use of the Pegasus spyware extended to targeting domestic political adversaries, with traces of surveillance reportedly discovered on the phones of French ministers, including Prime Minister Lecornu himself. Although Lecornu and Akhannouch were scheduled to hold a press conference following their discussions, they opted for a more subdued approach, providing only brief statements to reporters without engaging in a question-and-answer session.
The Pegasus spyware, notorious for its ability to stealthily infiltrate smartphones, allows users to access messages, track locations, and even activate the device's camera and microphone, effectively transforming the phone into a surveillance tool. The consortium first raised concerns regarding Morocco's extensive use of this technology back in 2021, which included allegations of targeting French officials.
In response to these accusations, Morocco has staunchly denied any wrongdoing and has called for substantiated evidence to be presented. Reports also indicated that France had contemplated acquiring the surveillance software. The French foreign ministry has yet to provide a comment on these emerging allegations, while Macron’s office reaffirmed France’s commitment to fostering a cooperative framework built on trust with Morocco. The relationship between the two nations has faced strains due to various issues, including a visa dispute and ongoing allegations surrounding Moroccan espionage.
As reported by arabnews.com.
