Othman Benjelloun slams Saham for its $1.1 billion deal with South Africa

Moroccan billionaire and CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa, Othman Benjelloun is not pleased with the $1.1 billion deal South African insurance company Sanlam concluded with the Kingdom’s Saham. Speaking to reporters, Tuesday, Benjelloun slammed the Moroccan insurance company for accepting the acquisition, citing the political positions of Pretoria which he see as «hostile» to Morocco, Bloomberg reports. «We end up with a South African investor, owning a company that was

Spain dismantles a gang that steals vehicles and ships them to Morocco

Police in Spain managed to arrest members of a gang that specialized in motor vehicle theft, Euro Weekly News reported on Wednesday. The network in question is accused of selling the rubbed vehicles in Africa, after shipping them to Morocco. Police arrested eight people and seized 57 vehicles, in addition to tools used to falsify number plates in Paracuellos del Jaram, the same source said. Investigators found out that these vehicles with the same license plate were sent to Morocco through

Algeria : «Moroccan» Abdelkader Bensalah to take over as interim leader

On Tuesday, Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he is leaving office, following weeks of protests. The speaker of Algeria’s upper house is expected to replace the 82-year-old politician as interim leader, amid questions related to his «Moroccan citizenship».

A veiled woman stabbed by a man in Belgium

A veiled woman was stabbed, Tuesday, in Anderlecht, a municipality in Belgium. Laila H.G., 32, was attacked by a man who stabbed her, when she was taking her two kids to school, RTBF reports. The spokesperson for the Brussels Prosecutor Denis Goeman said that an investigation was launched. «The attack might have been racist but other things must be considered. You have to be very careful until you have all the elements», he said. The attacker is still on the run, but he was

Charged with terror-related counts, a Moroccan national appears in court in Portugal

A Moroccan national who was arrested in Germany and extradited to Portugal appeared in court, Monday, in the Iberian country, where he was accused of terror-related crimes, EFE reports. The suspect is charged with eight counts, including joining an international terrorist organization, forgery for the purpose of terrorism and using fake documents to finance terrorism. During the hearing, the man identified as Abdessalam T. denied all accusations. The same source indicates that the accused

Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigns from presidency in Algeria

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday, April 02, 2019, Algerian press agency APS reports as quoted by the HuffPost Maghreb. The Algerian president officially notified the head of the Constitutional Council of his decision to end his term as head of state, APS indicates. Earlier today, the army had urged President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave office, explaining in a statement that «there is no need to waste any more time». «We believe that there is no longer any

Morocco, Spain's second largest destination for automotive components

Morocco establishes itself as the second destination of Spanish exports of automotive components after the European Union (EU), according to data made public by the Spanish Automotive Equipment and Components Manufacturers Association (Sernauto), quoted by French-language newspaper L'Economiste. In 2018, the Kingdom's imports of automotive components reached 913 million euros, or 4.3% of total Spanish sales. Moroccan imports rose by 1.9% year-on-year. The European market accounted for

History : When Moulay Ismail put Christian slaves to hard labor in Meknes

In the seveteenth century, sultan Moulay Ismail grouped Christian slaves in Meknes to build him a palace that would outshine «Louis XIV’s at Versailles». Trying to escape hard labor, these slaves paid smugglers to flee the powerful Alaouite sultan.

A committee that prepares for the Polisario’s next congress turns against Brahim Ghali

After setting up a 27-member «committee of wise men» to establish a «roadmap» for the Polisario Front’s upcoming congress, Brahim Ghali found himself in a difficult situation. The Committee established to prepare for the Polisario’s next congress has submitted several suggestions, aimed in particular at creating a «presidential council» and a position for a «vice president», reports pro-Polisario online newspaper Futuro Sahara

Moroccan international player Noussair Mazraoui renews contract with Ajax

Dutch professional football club Ajax Amsterdam announced, Monday April the 1st, in a Facebook post that it is extending the contract of 21-year-old Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui to 2022. Speaking to reporters, Moroccan international footballer said that he was «very happy to sign with this wonderful club». Meanwhile, the Dutch club said that Mazraoui won’t be able to play for three games, after receiving a red card during a game against PSV Eindhoven, another