On Monday, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the formation of a joint task force with Morocco to verify the nationality of irregular migrants subject to deportation decisions from French territory. This step opens the door to further security cooperation between Morocco and Paris.
Retailleau, speaking to journalists following discussions with his Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit, emphasized that this task force will allow for investigations into the Moroccan nationality of several illegal migrants and foreigners in an irregular situation. “I believe that having French and Moroccan joint teams to carry out this verification will make a significant difference and double the effectiveness of the deportation procedures, which is a sensitive issue in France,” he said.
The French Interior Minister arrived in Rabat for an official visit where he will discuss cooperation between the two countries on migration, combating organized crime, and drug trafficking, as announced by the French Ministry of the Interior.
Retailleau’s visit reflects a French desire to benefit from Morocco’s experience in addressing security threats, especially as relations between Paris and Rabat have improved significantly since France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara in the summer of 2024, ending years of tension, particularly regarding migration.
Laftit underscored the importance of the permanent mixed migration group between Morocco and France, describing it as “the reference mechanism for addressing operational challenges.” He also emphasized “Morocco’s full commitment to establishing a common reference in this regard,” according to a statement by the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior.
This visit follows a meeting between Laftit and Retailleau during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco in October 2024. During that visit, Macron announced a “strengthened partnership” between the two countries to combat irregular migration and human trafficking.
La France et le Maroc avancent ensemble pour bâtir un espace de sécurité commun. Nos échanges renforcent une confiance mutuelle essentielle. Je resterai engagé à faire vivre cette dynamique partagée. pic.twitter.com/LHejyWS61q
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) April 14, 2025
The two sides had previously discussed the issue of Moroccan nationals without residence permits in France, whom Paris wishes to deport. However, their return is often delayed due to the lack of consular permits issued by Rabat for their repatriation.
Retailleau announced his visit to Rabat on Thursday with the aim of “reinforcing the progress made with this country, particularly concerning consular permits,” as well as the speed at which these permits are issued and the number of deportations.
In 2021 and 2022, France halved the number of visas granted to Moroccans in an attempt to pressure Morocco to take back more of its citizens slated for deportation, leading to severe diplomatic tensions.
Last month, Rabat and Paris strengthened their judicial and security cooperation by signing a joint declaration between Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdelatif Ouahbi and his French counterpart Gérald Darmanin during the latter’s visit to Morocco. The declaration aims to combat terrorism and organized crime.
Both countries pledged to intensify efforts to address all security threats from a legal and judicial perspective. This declaration is part of an action plan that began in May 2024, prioritizing the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
France is counting on Morocco’s extensive security experience, particularly in tackling cross-border crime and dismantling drug trafficking networks, as Morocco is a key pillar of security and stability in North Africa.
The Global Terrorism Index for 2024, issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace, concluded that Morocco was the only country in the region that did not experience any terrorist activity in the past year. This success is attributed to Morocco’s ongoing vigilance, high readiness, and relentless efforts to combat terrorism.
According to the index, Morocco gained six ranks compared to the previous year, indicating a significant improvement. Meanwhile, countries in the region, such as Tunisia and Algeria, face increasing risks.
