Côte d'Ivoire's request for Morocco to reinstate visa requirements for Ivorian citizens wishing to travel to the Kingdom has sparked debate in the West African nation. Notably, the decision targets Ivorians only, while Moroccans can still travel to Côte d'Ivoire without a prior visa.
According to various international media reports, the real reasons behind Côte d'Ivoire's decision, and its request for Morocco to implement it, stem from serious concerns related to human trafficking networks and document forgery rings. These networks might exploit the visa-free travel between Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco to transport large numbers of migrants to the Kingdom.
The same sources indicate that Ivorian authorities fear their country could become a gathering point for a large number of irregular migrants from other countries. These migrants could take advantage of the open borders with Morocco to make direct trips to the Kingdom, thus avoiding the longer and riskier overland journey.
The media reports, including Ivorian sources, suggest that visa-free travel to Morocco for Ivorian citizens could boost document forgery networks. These networks might forge documents for foreign migrants, presenting them as Ivorians to allow them to travel to Morocco without a visa, thereby increasing the activity of both smuggling and forgery rings.
Reaching Morocco is the goal for tens of thousands of migrants across Africa, as Morocco is the closest point to Europe. Therefore, quickly reaching Morocco shortens the route for irregular migrants and gives them the opportunity to attempt to cross to Europe by boat.
According to Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision to reinstate visa requirements for Ivorian citizens will take effect starting September 1st. The measure will remain in place for two years to assess the situation before a final decision is made—either to keep the visa requirement or to lift it.
It is worth noting that the visa exemption between Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire was initially implemented as part of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Côte d'Ivoire is one of the nations that aligns with Morocco on various issues, including the Western Sahara, where Côte d'Ivoire supports Morocco's sovereignty and has opened a consulate in the Moroccan Sahara.
Through its decision to request Morocco to reimpose visa requirements on its citizens, Côte d'Ivoire hopes to curb the influx of foreign irregular migrants onto its territory and prevent smuggling and forgery networks from finding fertile ground for their criminal activities within the country.
