In 1985, the Polisario shot down the first German airplane to reach the South Pole

In February 1985, the Polisario Front guerilla shot down a German survey-and-research airplane on its way home after an Antarctica expedition.

Behind the scenes of the Spanish ambassador's mandate extension in Rabat

In October, the Spanish government decided to extend the mandate of the current Spanish ambassador to Rabat, Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner Rodríguez, by one year. The latter served for five years as head of the diplomatic representation. The Spanish government has made the decision after the Moroccan authorities were given a list of names. According to El Español, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya has decided to elect a new head of the Iberian

Guerguerate : Mike Pompeo says the conflict has to be resolved through a set of conversations

The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted, Friday, to the military intervention in Guerguerate. Answering a question by Moroccan foreign and public policy analyst Imru AL Qays Talha Jebril on the situation in the Sahara during his opening statement for the start of the IISS Manama Dialogue, Pompeo said that the US’ policy regarding the territorial conflict «hasn’t frankly changed very much from where we were six months or even 24 months

To the Algerian army, Morocco’s military intervention in Guerguerate is an «aggression»

In an article devoted to the military intervention led by the Royal Armed Forces in Guerguerate, El Djeich, the Algerian Army’s magazine, criticized Morocco for launching the operation in November. «By attacking Sahrawi civilians in Guerguerate, Morocco violated the ceasefire agreement», the magazine wrote, adding that it is «time for the international community and the United Nations to assume their responsibilities because this situation can cause a 'state of war'

Was Ramaphosa's speech to the AU in favor of Morocco or the Polisario ?

The 14th extraordinary session of the African Union «Silencing the Guns» Summit, held by videoconference, drew opposite reactions. Morocco and the Polisario were focused on the speech of the South African president who chairs the AU.

The Polisario wants to offer its «assistance» against the coronavirus in Laayoune

While it denied coronavirus infections in the Tindouf camps, the Polisario Front is once again criticizing Morocco’s management of the pandemic in Western Sahara. The separatist movement’s «Health Ministry» denounced, Sunday, «the immoral and unprofessional behavior» of Morocco against Sahrawis in the southern provinces. During an «emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Prevention Committee», held at the request of the Front, its Minister

Moroccan journalists Omar Radi and Soulaiman Raissouni to start hunger strike on the Human Rights Day

Moroccan journalists Omar Radi and Soulaiman Raissouni have announced that they will start a hunger strike on Wednesday evening to protest against their pre-trial detention. Their initiative is part of the Human Rights Day, celebrated by the UN every December 10. Arrested a few months ago, the two journalists consider the measure «punitive for their ideas and positions». It is also an opportunity for them to show solidarity «with all political detainees, journalists

Coronavirus : 2,919 new cases in Morocco, significant drop in the most affected cities

2,919 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Morocco during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 379,657. 3,608 new recoveries were recorded during the same period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 331,301. 61 deaths were recorded between yesterday and today, bringing the total number of deaths to 6,245. 19 of these deaths were recorded in the region of Casablanca-Settat, 15 in Souss-Massa, 9 in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra,

Coronavirus : 4,118 new cases in Morocco, mainly in Casablanca, Skhirat and Marrakech

4,118 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Morocco during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 376,738. 3,879 new recoveries were recorded during the same period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 327,693. 48 deaths were recorded between yesterday and today, bringing the total number of deaths to 6,184. 12 of these deaths were recorded in the region of Casablanca-Settat, 9 in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, 9 in Souss-Massa, 5 in

Diaspo #171 : Ziad Qoulaii, setting reality to music

Montreal-based singer Ziad Qoulaii released in November a new mini-album in which he tells the story of a Moroccan who wants to cross the sea and migrate. The EP includes three songs inspired by a film scenario he wrote and encouraged by his love for cinema.