UN- Sahara : Staffan de Mistura tipped to replace Horst Kohler

The former UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, between 2014 to 2019, is reportedly expected to become the new personal envoy for Western Sahara, media close to the Polisario revealed. The online publication even claims that Morocco and the movement of Brahim Ghali «have approved» the candidacy of the 74-year-old diplomat. De Mistura is used to the conflicts tearing the Arab-Muslim region apart. He was representative of the UN Secretary General in Iraq (2007-2009) and

The Sahara issue at the heart of a phone call between Sabri Boukadoum and Antony Blinken

The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs phoned on Wednesday, April 29, his American counterpart, Antony Blinken. Discussions focused on «ways to revitalize and strengthen the strategic partnership between Algeria and the United States in various fields, as well as to exchange views on regional issues of common interest, particularly the situation in Western Sahara, Libya and Mali», wrote Sabri Boukadoum on Twitter. This phone call comes a week after the UN Security

Covid-19 in Morocco : 421 new infections and 5 deaths on Thursday

421 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Morocco during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 510,889. 4,985,094 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so far, while 4,254,879 people have received the second. 522 new recoveries were recorded during the same period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 497,105. 5 deaths were recorded in Morocco in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19-related deaths

Marrakech : Suspended prison sentence for a man who has publicly broken his fast

The Marrakech Court of First Instance sentenced, on Wednesday, a person who broke the fast in public to two suspended months in prison and a fine of 500 dirhams, writes Omar Arbib, member of the local branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights. This judgment comes a day after the arrest of two individuals in Marrakech accused of having broken their fast in public. According to local media, it is in the Ryad Zitoun district of the old media that neighbors have surprised four

Ceuta intends to expel «as soon as possible» Moroccan migrants who swam to the city

The government delegation in Ceuta wants to repatriate Moroccans who swam to the city on the weekend «as soon as possible». According to sources within the delegation, quoted by Ceuta TV, around 63 people were sent to Morocco, while 50 others are awaiting repatriation. In the past few hours, 40 people were sent back to the kingdom, in addition to the 23 people repatriated on Tuesday, the same source continued. There are no minors among the returnees, recalling that the

Cannabis legalization : The reservations of Moroccan growers

To accompany Bill 13-21, a coordination that brings together cannabis growers and the descendants of farmers met with the parties represented in the Lower House to present its memorandum to them. It calls for authorizing the recreational use of this plant, establishing a general amnesty, defining a reference price and granting more roles to cooperatives.

Dutch-Moroccan novelist Hafid Bouazza dies aged 51

Moroccan-Dutch writer and novelist Hafid Bouazza died on Thursday aged 51 in Amsterdam. According to his editor Querido, the writer had been suffering from health issues for some time, write Volkskrant and NOS. Born in Oujda, he was considered a representative of «migrant literature» in the Netherlands. He immigrated to the Netherlands at the end of 1977 with his family. He grew up in Arkel, South Holland.  In 1996, Hafid Bouazza debuted his career as a writer

Morocco : A delegation of Israeli entrepreneurs visits Nador

An Israeli delegation composed mainly of entrepreneurs arrived on Wednesday April 28 in Nador, a local source told Yabiladi. Once there, its members went to a hotel in Atalayoun, a few kilometers away from the city, where they held a meeting with the authorities in Nador and officials from the Marchica Agency.  The delegation would be interested in investment opportunities in Nador. The program of the visit also includes a trip to the port of Béni Nsar. The same source

Covid-19 in Morocco : 493 new infections and 10 deaths on Wednesday

493 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Morocco during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 510,465. 4,914,145 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so far, while 4,245,154 people have received the second. 552 new recoveries were recorded during the same period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 496,583. 10 deaths were recorded in Morocco in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19-related

Despite the health crisis, the arms race between Morocco and Algeria continues

A recent report issued by the Stockholm Peace Institute confirmed the continuation of the arms race between Morocco and Algeria during the year 2020, as the two neighbors topped the list of countries that spend the most on arms in the African continent.