Morocco absorbs 3.6 million kilos of surplus bananas from the Canary Islands

In 2025, Morocco imported around 3.6 million kilograms of bananas from the Canary Islands, emerging as the top destination for surplus exports outside of Spain. This shift is particularly notable during times when prices plummet at the source. This pattern stems from an almost complete dependence on the Spanish mainland market, which absorbed 87% of the production (329.1 million kilograms out of a total of 374.7 million). Meanwhile, exports remained minimal, not surpassing 5.2 million

Nantes: Notorious drug trafficker tried in absentia after fleeing to Morocco

Considered by the French judiciary to be the mastermind behind a major international cocaine trafficking network based in Nantes, Issam Lahrach, known as «The Plume», is being tried in absentia starting Monday, May 4. The specialized interregional jurisdiction (JIRS) in Rennes suspects him of heading a «financial empire» built on illicit activities allegedly «managed from Morocco». According to Franceinfo, citing the PressPepper agency, Lahrach has been on

Ceuta and Melilla: U.S. signals spark concern in Spain

Statements and reports attributed to U.S. officials are rekindling debate over Spain’s «sovereignty» of Ceuta and Melilla. Against a backdrop of rising tensions between Madrid and Washington, these signals are fueling growing concern in the Spanish media.

Spanish National Court investigates Civil Guard's role in Ceuta-Morocco drug tunnel

The Spanish National Court has launched an investigation into the potential involvement of Civil Guard members in the operation of a second drug-smuggling tunnel discovered in Ceuta. This tunnel, located within a warehouse in the Tarajal area, was used to transport significant quantities of hashish from Morocco. This investigation, conducted under strict confidentiality and assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit, comes on the heels of the dismantling of a first tunnel during Operation

Guardia Civil intercepts vessel with up to 45,000 kilos of cocaine off Dakhla

Spanish authorities intercepted a record cocaine shipment off the Moroccan coast of Dakhla, on Friday, seizing between 30 and 45 tonnes of the drug from a vessel navigating under the Comoros flag. According to Canal Sur, the operation, carried out by Spain’s Guardia Civil under orders from the National Court, took place in the Atlantic waters near Dakhla after the ship Arconian departed Sierra Leone on April 22 en route to Libya. Authorities recovered around 1,500 packages, each weighing

Saad-Eddine El Othmani defends government record amid criticism from Aziz Akhannouch

Saad-Eddine El Othmani has stepped back into the political spotlight, breaking his «retirement» to robustly defend the track record of his administration (April 2016 - October 2021) amidst criticism from the current head of government, Aziz Akhannouch. «Despite the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 health crisis, citizens' purchasing power remained stable, unlike the situation under the current administration,» El Othmani asserted on social media. «Inflation

Sahara: Tebboune recognizes Resolution 2797 after Algeria’s UN abstention

Pressure from the Trump administration appears to have prompted Algeria to reassess its stance on the Sahara conflict, as suggested by recent remarks from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in an interview with local media. «There is a UN resolution (Security Council Resolution 2797, editor’s note) that is progressing smoothly between us and them (the Moroccans, editor’s note),» he said when asked about the issue. Algeria had abstained from voting on Resolution 2797 on

French Minister to visit Morocco for development and francophonie initiatives

French Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Citizens Abroad, Éléonore Caroit, is set to visit Morocco from Monday, May 4 to Tuesday, May 5, 2026. This visit underscores the strong bilateral ties between France and Morocco, particularly in development cooperation. The French Embassy in Morocco announced that on Monday, May 4, Minister Caroit will tour projects funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), focusing on water and sanitation,

American soldiers missing during African Lion may have fallen into ocean

An American defense official told Reuters that initial reports on the disappearance of two American soldiers during the African Lion 2026 exercises near Tan-Tan indicate they «may have fallen into the ocean». The official further stated, «I can confirm this incident is not linked to terrorism.» The New York Times provided additional insights, revealing that an American military official mentioned the soldiers were taking an evening walk within a training area, and

Moroccan diplomats #9 : Mohammed Ben Ali Abgali, an ambassador who loves science and art

In the 1720s, Mohammed Ben Ali Abgali was sent to England as Moulay Ismail’s ambassador to the English court. Once in London, he attended arts events and visited the country’s prestigious educational institution.