Hollande relies on Morocco as its ally on the Sahel

France has worked closely with Morocco on its intervention inMali,operation Serval and as Le Figaro notes King Mohammed VI was the first head of state received by the President at the Elysee. Morocco's presence on the UN Security Council and the King's support of operation Serval at the OIC conference in Cairo indicate the closeness of the relationship and the mutua  commitment on the issue of security in Mali and the Sahel. Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane praised France's courage inlaunching the intervention in Mali. Now as the initial phase in Mali is over the next stage of containing guerilla warefare and terrorism begins. As well as thanking Morocco President Hollande will also be seeking further support.

France has to maintain a difficult balancing act between Algeria, where it has significant economic interests and Morocco over the Sahara region ,where it supports Morocco's autonomy proposal. Experts are concerned about the manipulation of Tuareg and Sahrawi nationalist aspirations and notes that a number of Polisario fighters have joined Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Mali. The attack on the In Amenas gas complex and the hostage taking has raised profound concerns across the region. Algeria continues its support for the Polisario and the UN special envoy Christopher Ross has emphasised that the security situation makes a settlement of the Sahara issue all the more urgent. His report to the UN is due on 22 April and the role of the UN force MINURSO will come under the spotlight  in the light of  the continuing impasse on the Sahara.The UN is also considering its support for a UN backed African force in Mali.