2.9 million requests submitted in Morocco to receive direct social funds

Nearly 2.9 million requests were submitted to the direct social assistance program via the portal www.asd.ma for government allocation. At the end of its weekly Council, held Wednesday, the government announced that more than 64% of these monthly funds requests were for children in school and out of school, while more than 34% are for government subsidies. Furthermore, 273 of these requests were for birth allowances, government spokesperson Mustapha Baïtas said during a press briefing

Afcon is a «complicated tournament», says Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui

Days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco national football team coach said that the continental competition is «a complicated tournament». Walid Regragui, who led the Atlas Lions last year to the semi-finals of the World Cup, told British news agency Reuters Wednesday that last year’s achievement in Qatar «has given [them] the experience of the big competitions». «But for us the reality is that the Cup of Nations is

Morocco becomes president of UNHRC, winning vote against South Africa

Morocco won, Wednesday, in its race to head the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The vote took place this morning in Geneva. Morocco received 30 votes while South Africa only collected 17 votes. No abstentions were recorded during the vote. In a speech, the now president of the UN Human Rights Council, Moroccan Ambassador Omar Zniber, congratulated the countries which voted for Morocco. He also expressed his commitment to favoring «consensus» and «dialogue»

A lion wandering in Morocco forests, national agency rules out claims

The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) ruled out, on Tuesday, the hypothesis of lion attacks in the regions of Khenifra and Oulmès, following an in-field inquiry. In a press release, the agency indicates that it has launched, with the help of local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie, an in-depth prospecting mission on the ground. This comes following several reports claiming the sighting of a lion in the region of Khenifra (commune of Sebt Ait

600 doctors leave Morocco every year upon graduation, Health Minister says

The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Khaled Ait Taleb, revealed Tuesday at the House of Councilors that 600 new doctors leave Morocco each year, immediately after graduating. He referred to a brain drain that adds to «the lack of human resources in the sector which framework law n°06.22 relating to the national health system, promulgated in December 2022, attempts to fill». Ait Taleb indicated that the government decided

A Moroccan-Spanish meeting to discuss relaunching of sea route linking Canary Islands to Tarfaya

Members of the Canary Islands government and businessmen from the Spanish archipelago are expected to meet this week with members of the Moroccan government to discuss the relaunching of a sea route linking the Islands to Tarfaya, Spanish media reported. A Moroccan delegation headed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Khalid Charkaoui, will head to the Canary Islands, on Thursday, and a meeting will be held with the president of the

Far-right party Vox submits draft law urging Spain to defend its sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla

A Vox party parliamentary group has submitted a draft law for discussion to the Spanish Congress, urging the government to defend the territorial integrity of Spain, referring to Ceuta and Melilla. The party claims that the presence of the two Spanish cities in North Africa constitutes one of the main problems in bilateral relations between Spain and Morocco. The draft law stresses the need of taking a firm stance in the face of the

Africa Eco Race ignores Polisario threats and crosses El Guerguerate

After a stop-over in Dakhla, drivers participating to the Africa Eco Race 15th edition crossed the El Guerguerate yesterday to continue their rally through Mauritania. Despite the Polisario’s protest, the passage went smoothly without signaling any incident. Indeed, well before arriving in Western Sahara, the separatist movement tried to disrupt the progress of the sporting competition. This is evidenced by the high number of human losses recorded in the ranks of

Atlas Lions aware of high expectations ahead of Africa Cup of Nations, team’s captain says

The Atlas Lions, who have arrived Sunday in Côte d’Ivoire for the 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, are aware of the expectations of fans following their unexpected performance during the Qatar World Cup. «It doesn't feel like pressure, more like a responsibility. We've had a taste and now we want more», the Moroccan national team captain Romain Saiss told BBC Africa in an interview published Tuesday. «When you reach a

Morocco team narrowly escaped death during the 1976 African Cup of Nations

The Moroccan national football team has a single continental title, which it won in 1976 in Ethiopia. Before winning the title, the Moroccan delegation’s plane almost crashed over Ethiopian territory.