The French president arrived Wednesday night on Moroccan soil, where he must perform for 24 hours visit “of friendship and work.” By choosing Morocco for his first trip to the Maghreb, the French president of 39 years broke with his predecessors at the Elysee who had preferred Algeria.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Wednesday afternoon in Morocco for a visit“friendship and working” 24 hours .
On the tarmac at Rabat airport, the French head of state, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, was greeted at the descent of the presidential Falcon by King Mohammed VI himself alongside his wife, Princess Lalla Salma and her son, Prince Hassan.
Guard of honor
Fifty soldiers of the Royal Guard, dressed all in white and bayonets formed a guard of honor.
Both men slowly walked the red carpet, before Mr Macron will greet an array of officials, under the gaze of the sovereign, dark suit and sunglasses.
The two wives also were side by side, Ms. Macron dressed in a white dress just above the knee.
The group then entered an official pavilion, where the two men were to have a first interview, before traveling by road to the Royal Palace, in the center of the capital.
This is the first meeting of the president with the sovereign Macron, for this first visit to the kingdom since his mid-May election.
Lay the foundation of the Franco-Moroccan relationship
After the official talks, Mr Macron is invited with his wife to the meal breaking the fast of Ramadan hosted by the king in his personal residence. He spent the night there, the palace hosts, before leaving Thursday morning to Paris.
This visit “friendship and working” is the first visit of French President in the Maghreb, and the second in Africa. The goal is to give it a personal dimension “for the president and the king do better knowledge and lay the foundations of the Franco-Moroccan relationship” , according to the Elysee.
Several topics will be at their talks menu, first cooperation -already very strongly between the two countries, the fight against terrorism, and, on the international agenda, the current crisis in the Gulf, Libya, Africa or yet the Sahel.
