Why Did France's Macron Make Moroccans See Red?

French President Emmanuel Macron caused a wave of anger among Moroccans because of a tweet he wrote on his Twitter account, calling on the Moroccan authorities to “Do what is necessary as soon as possible to transfer the French”, who are stuck in Morocco after the Moroccan authorities had closed the air borders as part of precautionary measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

Macron's tweet drew widespread criticism among hundreds of Moroccans, who saw it as an expression of the order, to the authorities of a country that enjoys full independence, considering it a dialect reminiscent of the French Mandate period.

In a post on Twitter, Emmanuel Macron addressed the French citizens: “To our citizens in Morocco who are in trouble: New trips are being organized to return home to France.”

In the same tweet, he wrote: “I ask the Moroccan authorities to do whatever is necessary as soon as possible.”

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1238864601082728448

The Moroccans criticized the wording of the speech, considering that it carries a condescending tone, reminding the French president that Morocco is not a province of France.

https://twitter.com/AryazAziz/status/1239617598385541120

In this regard, one of the followers responded to Macron's tweet, and said: ”Mr. President, do you think you are a president of a French territory so you can make orders in this way?”

Macron's tweet comes a few hours after Morocco had announced the suspension of flights to and from France due to the spread of the new coronavirus. As a result, many French nationals became stuck inside Moroccan soil.

https://twitter.com/souadmekkaoui1/status/1238935662943928323

One of the Moroccans asked whether the French president would address the United States in the same tone, when U.S. President Donald Trump decided to stop the flights between his country and Europe, adding that the latter did not even bother to consult with the French presidency on that decision.

https://twitter.com/BMoon_bee/status/1238896135919546368

It’s noteworthy that Morocco decided to suspend all air and sea flights to and from a number of countries, including France, while the decision was followed by another measure to stop all flights with all countries until further notice, as part of a set of measures to address the new coronavirus epidemic.