After the earthquake, the King of Morocco took four days to get there.

Four days is a long time. Why such a delay in getting started? Simple: His Highness was in France for medical treatment. And it was not the first time: in 2018 he had already come to France for a heart operation.

Other satraps in the region are doing the same thing. For example, we remember that former President Bouteflika also used to make the trip. Let's bet that a good part of the nomenklatura of the Maghreb and Africa does not deprive itself of these small health trips, encouraged by France, as shown by thisThe booklet from the French Embassy in Rabat.

This homage paid by local leaders to French medicine does not prevent them from saying all the bad things they think about France. We would not be surprised to discover, in the coming months, that the putschists of Mali or Niger, after having declaimed their hatred of France, will in turn discreetly go to a French hospital.

In the case of Morocco, the problem takes another turn after the king's refusal of the French proposal to send aid to the victims.  

As usual, the French media remained very silent on this strange paradox. We are not going to start asking the king for accounts, especially if he is ill. Faced with the royal refusal, President Macron took it without flinching, arguing that Morocco is a sovereign country.

The argument could be accepted if it were about another country. But it has been learned that the French volunteers who, listening only to their conscience, had decided to go to Morocco on their own initiative, were forced to keep a low profile in removing their tricolour flag.

France remains a hated country. That it dares to offer its help is unbearable. Rather die. Here, honor comes before life. Moroccans seem to accept it. So we will not see them in the streets to protest against a regime that is visibly doing the minimum to protect its population. Yes, Your Highness: we accept to die in atrocious suffering rather than harm the honor of His Majesty and our country.

Seen from France, this hierarchy of values ​​does not pose a problem. It has been a golden rule since decolonization: we are not going to start judging these countries by our Western criteria. These countries have suffered so much because of us that it would be inappropriate to lecture them. And it is obviously not the decolonial movement, so quick to denounce France in all circumstances, that is going to launch itself into this field.

One question remains, however, which inevitably resurfaces on the occasion of such dramatic events: dear former colonies, what have you done with your independence?