Protests, Qatar and Libya discussed in French-Morocco talks

French President Emmanuel Macron began the first leg of his two day visit to Morocco yesterday where battling terrorism, the Libyan conflict and Qatar’s dispute with its Gulf neighbours were discussed.

King Mohammed VI’s wife, Princess Lala Salma, and 14-year-old Crown Prince, Moulay Hassan, greeted Macron and his wife at the airport before they were driven to the royal palace for talks.

The talks on Qatar and several countries come as both Paris and Rabat expressed their keenness to mediate a solution to the crisis.

“President Macron has spoken with all the heads of state of the region and called for appeasement. These efforts could converge with the mediation that Morocco wants to attempt,” the Elysee Palace said.

Read: Isolating Qatar will not solve crisis, Turkey’s Erdogan says

A French diplomatic source said “the priority is to help resolve the crisis”.

On Macron’s agenda was the conflict in Libya where the UN-backed government is still struggling to impose its legitimacy as it tries to maintain its authority in the face of the rival eastern authority.

Paris is also expected to discuss its plans to “intensify” cooperation in the fight against radicalisation and terrorism before the meeting concludes today.

Read: Thousands march in Rabat to demand release of protest leaders

During a press conference Macron confirmed how the king is “concerned” by the protests happening in the Rif which is “a region that is very dear to his heart”.

Responding to questions about the situation in Al-Hoceima, Macron stressed that he has “no right to make a judgment on a matter of domestic policy” but confirmed that the on-going protests in the north of Morocco are a matter of importance to the king.

“The king expressed his wishes to see the situation appeased, and the demands of the citizens to be addressed in a concrete way in terms of public policy.”

The region has seen ongoing protests for the last few weeks with residents calling for more funding and development in the region which is largely viewed as less developed compared to the rest of the country.