The reasons behind Paris’s change of stance on Western Sahara

Why does this French site, serving Moroccan interests, persist, contrary to reality, in suggesting that Paris’s change of stance on Western Sahara is the result of three years of diplomatic negotiations, and that the credit goes to the king’s advisor, Taieb Fassi-Fihri?

Firstly, it should be noted that the serious diagnostic made on 03.08.24 on Al Jazeera.net by the director of the Institute for Monitoring and Study of International and Strategic Relations in Paris, Leslie Varenne, supports the core of our article published on 01.08.24 by Al24, titled: “French Support for the Alleged Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara: Does It Reflect a Deep Crisis Currently Affecting the French Regime?”

Leslie Varenne unequivocally confirms that “Paris made this decision at the worst moment in its history (a period of complete political instability), while the Élysée continues to make decisions that undoubtedly have harmful consequences for the country.”

Regarding the reasons behind this spectacular reversal, Varenne suggests that the reasons for Paris’s change of stance on Western Sahara could be “Israel’s pressures on Paris to satisfy its own interests related to the normalization issue.”

In the same vein as the academic elite (Leslie Varenne), journalist Quentin Muller of the magazine “Marianne” points out more harshly the weakness of President Macron in the face of pressures for the recognition of the alleged “Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara,” saying: “French diplomacy has once again bowed down before the Moroccan monarchy.”

It is notable that the decline of the French political, economic, and military influence in the Sahel (Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali) is significant, rather began and worsened in Morocco. For this reason, the divergences of interests between France and Morocco are increasingly intensifying.

French media focuses on the Sahel because of Russia’s involvement; however, they turn a blind eye to the emergence of new influential actors in Morocco who use the latter to paralyze the security and defense of the French regime.

Proof of this is provided by the Pegasus spyware scandal. This scandal revealed in 2021 that Rabat was spying on the phones of President Macron and his entire government for the benefit of the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Currently, France finds itself forced to abandon the United Nations Security Council resolutions in exchange for negotiating with the United Arab Emirates and Israel on the future of Morocco after Mohammed VI, who is seriously ill.

In sum, Africa Intelligence evades the truth and misleads the public by highlighting the “diplomatic success” of the king’s advisor, Taieb Fassi-Fihri.

Moreover, this site intentionally conceals the role of André Azoulay, a man of network and influence both in Morocco and France, in swaying the French position. Azoulay’s harmful and dangerous practices that, incidentally, earned him last year the decoration from Israeli President Isaac Herzog for his unique contribution to the Zionist entity.

by Mohamed Lamine Bellili