Morocco has implemented significant migration policy reforms over the past decade, positioning itself as a key player on the continent. A major initiative was the launch of two large-scale regularization campaigns for undocumented migrants, in 2014 and again in 2016, which granted residency permits to tens of thousands of individuals, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa.
This policy shift is widely analyzed as part of a broader strategic re-engagement with Africa, championed by King Mohammed VI since Morocco's return to the African Union in 2017. The kingdom has since pursued an aggressive diplomatic and economic offensive, opening dozens of embassies across the continent and becoming one of the largest African investors in West Africa.
Experts note that managing migration flows is a complex aspect of this strategy, balancing humanitarian considerations, domestic security, and regional leadership ambitions. Morocco faces ongoing challenges, including managing its borders and addressing the status of migrants in transit, while using its migration policy as a tool of soft power and pan-African solidarity.
