“`html
THE AFRICA TIMES | MOROCCO — General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR), received a prestigious French award. The Commander of the Legion of Honor insignia was presented during a ceremony in Paris on Tuesday.
Award Ceremony in Paris
General Fabien Mandon, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, bestowed the honor. He presented it to General Berrid on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron. High-ranking civil and military officials attended the ceremony.
Joint Military Commission Meeting
The decoration coincided with the 23rd meeting of the Morocco-France Joint Military Commission. The meeting took place in Paris from December 9-10. General Berrid led the Moroccan delegation, acting under royal instruction.
Heureux d’accueillir pour la seconde fois à Paris le général de corps d’armée Mohammed Berrid, inspecteur général des Forces armées royales du Maroc, à qui j’ai eu l’honneur de remettre l’insigne de commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur.
La coopération de nos armées 🇲🇦 et 🇫🇷 se… pic.twitter.com/ytf0n2Z9ST
— Chef d’état-major des armées (@CEMA_FR) December 9, 2025
Statements on Military Cooperation
General Mandon highlighted the extensive cooperation between the two armies. He mentioned the training of officers as a key area. The partnership is historic, rich, and built upon mutual trust, according to Mandon.
Furthermore, both forces are building a mutually beneficial relationship, strengthening security. This cooperation occurs across diverse environments. The balanced relationship fosters shared security goals.
Additional Honors
Two other Moroccan military officials received honors during the same ceremony. Medical General Mohamed Abbar and Air Force General Fouad Moumen were decorated. They received the Medal of the National Order of Merit at the Officer grade.
Recognition of Bilateral Efforts
The decorations acknowledge efforts to enhance bilateral military relations. King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander, leads these efforts. The FAR General Staff released a statement detailing this recognition.
This visit marked General Berrid’s second trip to Paris recently. He previously met General Mandon on September 5. During that trip, he attended tributes to General Thierry Burkhard.
Strategic Dialogue and Future Cooperation
Both military leaders conveyed satisfaction with the level of military cooperation. Positive outcomes were noted, especially throughout 2025. They agreed to expand cooperation into new sectors of mutual interest.
A military cooperation program was established for 2026, ensuring continued collaboration. The Morocco-France Joint Military Commission serves as a strategic dialogue platform. It focuses on mutually beneficial cooperation.
The commission coordinates strategic approaches to security and technological challenges. It aims to strengthen military cooperation in training and joint exercises. This covers all fields.
Legion of Honor Significance
The Legion of Honor, created by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest decoration. It recognizes individuals who have provided eminent services to France. These services can be civilian or military.
These events represent renewed momentum in Morocco-France relations. This reflects the strategic ambitions of King Mohammed VI and President Macron. Their landmark visit in October 2024 solidified this ambition.
These developments build on France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara in July 2024. This recognition reoriented bilateral ties. The ties now focus on deeper, long-term partnership, trust, convergence, and shared priorities.
Read also: Morocco and France Sign Joint Security Action Plan, Hammouchi Receives Legion of Honor
“`
