Morocco’s Interior Minister Holds Talks with French Peer in Rabat
Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, received, on Monday in Rabat, Minister of State, Minister of the Interior of the French Republic, Bruno Retailleau, and held a working meeting attended by high officials from both countries.
On the occasion of this working meeting, the two ministers reviewed issues of mutual interest as well as the prospects of reinforcing bilateral cooperation, in perfect harmony with the Declaration of reinforced exceptional partnership, signed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, during the State visit in October 2024, the Ministry of the Interior said in a press release.
The two parties welcomed the solid foundation that security and migration issues represent in their bilateral relationship, which both parties said is set to grow stronger in light of France’s reaffirmation that the present and future of the Sahara lie fully within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.
The ministers highlighted that cooperation in security and migration is part of a dynamic of excellence, rooted in mutual trust, shared challenges, a common understanding of the regional and international context, and aligned views on key strategic issues.
In this spirit, and with the aim of further consolidating this dynamic by constructively addressing evolving circumstances, Morocco’s Minister of the Interior proposed the establishment of a new, comprehensive framework for partnership and cooperation. This new framework would involve a revision of all existing agreements between the two ministries, with the goal of transforming them into tools that match the scale of their shared ambitions.
In this regard, the adoption of a Morocco-France roadmap for cooperation between the two Interior ministries marks an important milestone.
On the security front, the ministers praised the effective cooperation between their respective security services. This collaboration, based on close coordination and intelligence sharing, has led to the containment of terrorist threats and several significant achievements, including the dismantling of terrorist and criminal networks.
Laftit recalled Morocco’s holistic and human-centered approach to migration governance, in accordance with the High Royal Guidelines.
He emphasized the vital role of the Permanent Joint Migration Group between Morocco and France, which serves as a key mechanism for addressing operational issues efficiently. He also reaffirmed Morocco’s full commitment to working toward the development of a common framework—both in procedural terms and in reporting practices.
The two ministers finally agreed on the importance of expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of civil protection and the management of major events.