Why Is Morocco the First African Destination of Residency for French Citizens?

Morocco is the first destination of residency for French citizens in Africa and outside Europe and North America. This is what was revealed by a recent report of the French Foreign Ministry regarding French citizens around the world. The current report lists the reasons lying behind French citizens’ tendency of preferring Morocco rather than other African countries to settle in.

A recent report by the French Foreign Ministry said that about 51,500 French were registered as residents of Morocco in 2020, making the Kingdom as the first destination for French residents in Africa, and the eighth globally.

According to the French Foreign Ministry report, about 14 percent of French residents in foreign countries registered in consulates are in Africa, and Morocco is their first destination on the continent.

Morocco was ranked the eighth destination for French citizens, after Switzerland, which topped the list, then the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Canada and Spain.

The number of French citizens residing abroad was estimated at 3.4 million people, spread over five continents. Africa was the third destination for French immigration after Europe and North America, followed by the Middle East and Asia.

Morocco’s beauty, culture, civilization, nice weather and the hospitality of its citizens, all attract many visitors who came only for touristic purposes to settle permanently on it. However, there are other much crucial reasons that explain this fact.

 

Colonization Background

Morocco is the first destination of residency for the French for many different reasons. We must proceed from the fact that Morocco was a French colony before it gained independence in 1956. Nevertheless, the French presence in Morocco continued to be clear, the French hegemony continued at the cultural, political, and economic level, and French penetration continued despite the end of colonialism.

The French institutional presence is depicted through the high number of French consulates in Morocco. There are 6 consulates, this number is an important indicator of the large presence of French citizens in Morocco.

Considering the history of colonialism and the geostrategic position of Morocco as France's gateway to penetration Africa, colonialism paved the way for the French noticeable presence in Morocco. The French can settle in Morocco and find that their culture and language are socially acceptable and even super-dominant.

 

French Language

France bet, according to frequent statements of its political officials, on the Francophone cultural and political dimensions, in order to protect its interests in its old colonies. Therefore, it has been working for a long time to establish the French language as the primary language in many countries, including Morocco.

France was able to consolidate the French culture and language in Morocco and Morocco today tops the list of Francophone countries.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal the inspector of financial administrations in Morocco Mr. Mustapha Khattabi explained: “In economy, education, and everyday life situations the French language is key. The Moroccans, especially the elite, prefer the French language to communicate rather than the Arabic language. This makes it easier for the French to settle without having to make an effort to learn Arabic or Berber Morocco’s two main languages. Whether in cafes, hotels, workplaces, or administrative communication. The French will not find any difficulty in integration.”

The PJD parliament representative El Mokrie Abouzaid pointed out during the opening of the scientific season of the Moroccan center for strategic studies that the best careers in Morocco are reserved for the French-speaking elite.

El Mokrie stressed that Most Moroccans do not master the French language. This is why French speakers in the country hold the best positions and are accepted into the best engineering schools. “Yet they are not so smart! It’s just that they excel in this language.”

He regrets the fact that Arabic-speaking Moroccans shine in several specialties such as mathematics, physics, or science but fail their exams because of the language. “We have always been taught that French is synonymous with success and Arabic with failure,” adding that Arabic is Moroccans mother language, but the French-speaking lobby is trying to crush it.

 

Francophone Elites

The French diploma in Morocco is an opening gate to join Morocco’s ruling elites and intellectual class. In fact, Moroccan students strive to get a diploma from the highly ranked French universities in order to get credit and recognition in their country.

Ironically, even a diploma from the world’s best universities cannot be as valuable as a France diploma in the mind of the Francophone ruling lobby in Morocco.

Philippe Dufourcq deputy general manager of CentraleSupélec explained this fact by saying: “In Morocco, obtaining a French engineering degree is seen as a key to joining the ruling elite. Moroccans who have gone through Centrale or Polytechnique can work there as engineers, but also create businesses, run a large group, and engage in politics,"

Mr. Khattabi stressed that: “The first class in Morocco is a Francophone class dominated by French culture in eating, drinking, language and education. Many Moroccans resort to teaching their children in French mission schools to help them penetrate the elite class.”

There are 44 French mission schools of the same quality of teaching in France. French students in Morocco benefit from the same French curricula and similar teacher profiles. Thus, French citizens can live in Morocco and maintain their identity and the quality of teaching for their children in the institutes and schools of the French missions.

 

Economic Dimension

A large number of companies controlling the Moroccan economy are French, especially in the field of services.

Mr. Mustapha Khattabi pointed out: “It is certain that the top administrative positions inside the French corporations in Morocco are held by the French citizens. As well as important job opportunities, especially for the French who hold degrees from well-known French universities. Even some Moroccan companies prefer to allocate management positions to the French. Thus, it is easy for the French to get appropriate jobs.”

He added: “The dominance of the French elite on the Moroccan economy is clear. The French elite control and direct Morocco’s public and private sector investments. We find that the French lobby is extending its influence in the Moroccan economy. France is the first investor in Morocco. Morocco is a strategic and essential partner for France in Africa.”

He concluded by saying: “Morocco facilitates the French’s access to all what is inaccessible to others and provides exceptional incentives only for the French.”