Olympics : French mayor closes Moroccan stand over Sahara comments

The mayor of Ile-Saint-Denis, Mohamed Gnabaly, ordered the closure of the Moroccan stand at Station Afrique, a fan zone within the Olympic Village. The decision followed comments made by Moroccan singer Saida Charaf, of Saharan origin, expressing support for Morocco's position on Western Sahara.

In a press release, the ecologist mayor justified terminating the agreement with the Moroccan embassy due to a breach of neutrality commitments. He stated, «International politics have no place at Station Afrique. The city remains neutral on the Western Sahara issue and rejects any attempt to exploit its position».

The Moroccan Consulate General in Villemomble condemned the mayor's decision as «isolated» and «arbitrary». It questioned the mayor's motives and adherence to contractual obligations, asserting that Saida Charaf's personal opinion did not constitute a breach of neutrality. The consulate emphasized that the mayor's actions deprived the Moroccan community of planned concerts.

The closure prevented the Moroccan community in Paris from enjoying concerts by Moroccan singers, which were scheduled as part of the Moroccan stand at Station Afrique during the 2024 Olympics.

It's worth noting that the Communist Party, Europe Écologie Les Verts, and the Socialist Party have previously criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.