France and Morocco Sign 11 Accords, Strengthen Ties on Sahara

The 15th high-level meeting between France and Morocco concluded in Rabat on July 16, 2026, with the signing of 11 bilateral agreements aimed at deepening cooperation across strategic sectors. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu led a delegation of 12 ministers, marking the first such official meeting since 2019 Source: Euronews.

Key Outcomes

The accords cover transportation, aviation, water management, education, and an electrical interconnection project via a submarine cable between Nador and Marseille Source: Infobae. Lecornu also confirmed progress on security cooperation, highlighting "exceptional operational successes" in counterterrorism and drug trafficking Source: Euronews. The two sides announced plans for a future security agreement and a bilateral treaty—the first France will sign with a non-EU country Source: Infobae.

The Western Sahara Issue

Lecornu reiterated France's "immutable" support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a stance that ended a diplomatic crisis between the nations from 2021 to 2024 Source: Infobae. He stated, "Our position is clear and will not change" Source: Euronews. Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch noted that the dialogue "had never reached such amplitude or structuring" Source: Infobae.

Next Steps

The agreements complement 22 strategic accords worth €10 billion signed in October 2024 during President Macron's state visit . A state visit by King Mohammed VI to France is expected in the coming autumn, potentially including the signing of a friendship treaty .