Morocco’s Diplomatic Deception: Bourita’s False Narrative and the Kingdom’s Strategic Manipulation

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 13th, 2024 — In a recent interview with the French magazine Le Point, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attempted to distort the facts surrounding Morocco’s foreign relations, accusing Algeria of meddling in the kingdom’s ties with other nations. His statements came in the wake of a significant diplomatic development: French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco, which has sparked a wave of controversy and debate about the future trajectory of France’s policy in the Maghreb. In a thinly veiled attempt to regain Morocco’s traditional influence over France, Bourita’s rhetoric highlights the depths to which the kingdom is willing to go to manipulate perceptions, obscure reality, and undermine Algeria’s growing position on the global stage.

Bourita’s claims, made in the context of an important question regarding France’s relations with North Africa, aimed to present Morocco as an innocent bystander in the region’s geopolitics. He asserted, “Morocco does not intervene in the relationships between other countries and Algeria. We focus exclusively on our bilateral relations with our partners.” This self-serving narrative, however, is not only a misrepresentation of the current reality but also a cynical attempt to shift the blame for Morocco’s diplomatic failures onto Algeria.

For anyone familiar with the intricacies of recent Maghreb politics, Bourita’s statements appear absurd. Morocco’s diplomatic efforts have been far from passive; the kingdom has aggressively undermined Algeria’s growing influence, especially its blossoming relationship with France. In fact, the last three years have seen Morocco’s political and media apparatus mobilized to block any meaningful Franco-Algerian rapprochement, which has irked Morocco’s leadership. They see the growing partnership between Paris and Algiers as a direct challenge to Morocco’s long-held role as the Western power’s go-to ally in North Africa.

This concerted effort by Morocco to sabotage Algerian-French relations has been manifest not only in the diplomatic realm but also in the media and intelligence arenas. Morocco’s political elite has continually tried to present Algeria’s positive engagements with France as threatening to Morocco’s interests. This was vividly seen when King Mohammed VI ordered the withdrawal of Morocco’s ambassador to Paris, Mohamed Benchaâboun, in early 2023—a rare diplomatic protest in response to the perceived undermining of Morocco’s position in favor of Algeria. While the official narrative claimed the move was in protest of European criticism of Morocco’s human rights record, it is widely seen as a reaction to France’s closer ties with Algiers, which Morocco deemed to be against its interests.

Even more telling is how Morocco has weaponized its extensive network of influential figures within France to influence Paris’s stance on North Africa. Moroccan intellectuals like Tahar Ben Jelloun, a prize-winning writer closely associated with the Moroccan royal family, have used their platforms to warn French leaders against aligning too closely with Algeria. In a series of media appearances, Ben Jelloun painted Algeria as a manipulative and unreliable partner, contrasting it with Morocco, which he portrayed as a steadfast and loyal ally to France.

Morocco’s increasingly vocal critics, particularly within the French right-wing, have also joined the chorus, pressing Macron to “correct” France’s approach to the region. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has even gone so far as to suggest that France risked losing Morocco, a “functional state,” by attempting to cultivate an “artificial friendship” with Algeria. Such rhetoric is not only irresponsible but seeks to manipulate France into adopting a policy of appeasement toward a regime that has long relied on France to preserve its own political and economic standing.

However, the Moroccan government’s attempts to distort the diplomatic narrative go beyond mere political posturing. At the heart of the matter is the growing realization within Morocco that its once-privileged position in France’s North African strategy is now under threat. Morocco has long relied on its historical and strategic ties with France, dating back to the era of French colonialism. But in recent years, as Algeria has made strides toward improving its relationship with Paris, Morocco has increasingly found itself on the outside, desperately trying to maintain its influence over French policy in the region.

What Bourita and his colleagues fail to acknowledge is that Morocco’s own actions—such as its attempt to influence European Union decisions, its media campaigns against Algeria, and its withdrawal of ambassadors—have been far more disruptive to regional diplomacy than any supposed interference by Algeria. The kingdom’s reliance on historical ties and its habitual demands for preferential treatment are becoming increasingly untenable in the face of changing geopolitical realities.

Furthermore, Morocco’s insistence on presenting itself as a “model partner” while accusing Algeria of manipulating France is a blatant double standard. Morocco has long used its strategic location and role as a key Western ally to extract concessions from France and other international powers, all while refusing to acknowledge the complexities and nuances of the region’s politics. Algeria, in contrast, has steadily pursued an independent foreign policy, engaging with a wide range of countries, including France, on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.

In light of these facts, Bourita’s claims appear even more disingenuous. His attempt to deflect blame and paint Morocco as an innocent party in the evolving dynamics between France and the Maghreb is a classic example of diplomatic manipulation at its most blatant. While Morocco may have once been able to dictate terms in its relationship with France, those days are now rapidly fading. The reality is that the strategic interests of France, Algeria, and Morocco no longer align as neatly as they once did—and Morocco’s increasingly desperate attempts to push Paris into a corner will only lead to further diplomatic isolation.

As the Maghreb continues to shift, Morocco must face the reality that its diplomatic approach, based on manipulation and historical leverage, is no longer a guarantee of success. France, for its part, must move beyond the outdated notion of “loyalty” and engage with Algeria on the basis of shared interests, rather than falling prey to the hollow rhetoric of Morocco’s foreign minister. The future of the Maghreb depends on a balanced approach that respects the sovereignty and aspirations of all countries in the region—something that Morocco, under the current regime, seems reluctant to embrace.

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