From Algiers, Rif separatists reach out to Polisario

After opening a representation in Algiers, the «Rif Nationalist Party» urged the Polisario to coordinate their actions «in order to confront the Moroccan occupation». This announcement was made during a press briefing hosted by its representative in Algeria. He also expressed the party's readiness to «establish an office» in the Tindouf camps and in other countries. The Polisario may welcome members of the separatist party to train them in the use of

After closing H&M in Casablanca, AlShaya lays off 2,000 Starbucks employees

AlShaya Group, a Gulf retail firm that owns the operating rights of Starbucks in the Middle East and North Africa, will be laying off 2,000 employees of the franchise due to financial difficulties stemming from Gaza war-related boycotts. According to Reuters, which quotes unnamed sources close to the matter, the layoffs will account for 4% of AlShaya's total workforce of almost 50,000 people. Most of the impacted employees are concentrated in the company’s Starbucks franchise in the

Spanish farmers renew protests over Moroccan strawberries, allege presence of Hepatitis A

Spanish farmers are once again protesting the import of Moroccan produce, alleging fruit contamination with Hepatitis A, El Mundo reported on Wednesday. This follows a notification from the European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) warning of the alleged presence of Hepatitis A in Moroccan strawberries. The Spanish agricultural association AVA-ASAJA has expressed its «concern» and called on the Spanish government and the European Union to take «urgent

Icelandic budget airline PLAY to launch first-ever direct route to Morocco

Icelandic budget airline PLAY will launch the first-ever direct route to Morocco, Simple Flying reported on Tuesday. Starting in October, the new route will link Reykjavik to the popular Moroccan city of Marrakech twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. «This is a magical city that is rich in history and culture. Everywhere we go, we give the competition a run for their money. We want to make travel more affordable and I am sure our Marrakech services will be well received by people who

Why Michael Jackson's Casablanca concert never happened ?

In the 1990s, music legend Michael Jackson planned to bring his HIStory World Tour to Casablanca, Morocco. Following a promotional visit by Michael Jackson himself, Moroccan authorities unfortunately canceled the concert due to alleged security concerns.

Polisario leader warns against handing Sahara airspace to Morocco

Polisario leader Ibrahim Ghali sent, Sunday, a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, regarding recent Spanish media reports. The reports claimed that the Spanish Prime Minister offered to transfer management of the Sahara's airspace to Morocco during his visit to Rabat. In the letter, Ghali warned that if Spain confirms its intention to transfer airspace management to Morocco, «this would constitute a violation of the international status of the territory as a

Leader of Melilla's party popular with Moroccan community arrested

Spanish police arrested Mustapha Aberchan, the leader of the opposition political party Coalition for Melilla (CpM), on Tuesday. Aberchan is accused of «electoral fraud» (during the 2023 municipal elections campaign), «influence peddling, and embezzlement in the awarding of public contracts», according to Iberian media reports. Police also arrested six other CpM members and conducted searches of their homes and offices. CpM was previously part of a coalition government

Spain installs anti-drone systems on islands claimed by Morocco

The Spanish army has installed anti-drone systems on islands also claimed by Morocco, according to Spanish online publication El Confidencial Digital. The islands include Chafarinas (Jaâfarine Islands), located 3km off the coast of Ras el Ma in the Mediterranean. Other small islands, such as Vélez de la Gomera and Alhucemas, could also receive these systems, the publication adds. The Spanish army has declined to comment on the details of the deployment, citing security reasons.

Morocco’s Islamist party PJD slams France's «hesitant» stance on Sahara

Morocco's Islamist party, the PJD, has refused to endorse the visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, to Morocco on February 26. The party expressed «disappointment» with what it perceives as France's «hesitant and ambiguous position on the Moroccan Sahara question». Despite this criticism, the visit was preceded by «the sending of signals on France's desire to open a new page in its relations with Morocco, in

To isolate Morocco, Algeria seeks Mauritania's participation in its Maghreb initiative

Algeria is actively promoting membership in its North African project, a political and economic initiative aimed at regional integration. Following a tripartite meeting on March 3 in Algiers between Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, President Abdelmajid Tebboune discussed the project with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Cheikh Ould El Ghazouani, on Tuesday, March 5. Notably, Mauritania was not present at the aforementioned meeting held in the Algerian capital. «The President of the