Morocco refuses repatriation of migrants who swam to Ceuta irregularly, Spanish media claim

Morocco is reportedly still refusing to return its citizens who swam into the city irregularly, local media in Ceuta claimed. The El Faro de Ceuta website reported that «none of the approximately 70 Moroccans, who entered Ceuta on Saturday, were accepted». The same source added that this position has remained unchanged for more than a month, which in fact forced the Civil Guard to change its procedures. They now transport migrants to Paseo de Colon and not directly to the

Morocco's Islamists divided on Family Code reform

Islamist association Al Adl wal Ihsane and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) appear to be taking divergent approaches regarding the current Family Code reform. Whereas the PJD, led by Abdelilah Benkirane, has chosen a confrontational approach with its opponents, AWI advocates for a «reform that unites and does not divide».

Air Arabia Maroc announces Tetouan to Amsterdam direct connection

Air Arabia Maroc announced on Tuesday the launch of its direct flight program linking Tetouan to Amsterdam, as part of the extension of its travel offers to Europe. This connection will be operational from May 7, 2024, with two weekly flights, on Tuesday and Friday. «For Tuesday flights, the planes will depart from Tetouan (TTU) at 06:10 and land in Amsterdam (AMS) at 10:15, before resuming their flight from Amsterdam at 11:15 for an arrival in Tetouan at 1:20 p.m. On Fridays, the planes

French court upholds deportation of Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen over hate speech

A French administrative court upheld, Monday, the deportation of imam Hassan Iquioussen to Morocco, RFI reported. Iquioussen, a French-born man of Moroccan nationality, had previously challenged the deportation order issued by the French Ministry of the Interior in July 2022. Iquioussen was initially accused of hate speech, with French authorities alleging he made «repeated acts of explicit and deliberate provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence against Jews, women and

Dakhla consulate plans pushed by the Biden administration

The Biden administration is not planning to open a consulate in Dakhla anytime soon. Funding for this project is not included in the 2025 budget of American diplomacy. This announcement was made on Monday, March 11, by Richard R. Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. «I think that some of the planning is still ongoing for the appropriate presence, given the security conditions», he responded to a question on the subject. Verma is the State Department's

Spain coach respects Brahim Diaz's choice to play for Morocco

Commenting on Moroccan-Spanish footballer Ibrahim Diaz's decision to play for Morocco, Spanish national team coach Luis de La Fuente said he respects the young man’s choice. «Everyone has the freedom to choose. For me, there are always three criteria for selection: the player's ability to play for the national team, their desire to play for the national team, and my own selection choice», he explained. He continued, as reported by the Spanish newspaper AS, «The most

Morocco, Algeria arms race persists despite recent downturn

According to SIPRI, Morocco and Algeria persist in an arms race, ranking as Africa's largest arms importers. This is despite a significant decline in their acquisitions during the period 2019-2023, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moroccan girl in Melilla denied education by Spain in UN ruling

The Committee on the Rights of the Child, a body of experts that monitors and reports on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, concluded that Spain had violated the right to education of a young Moroccan resident in Melilla. The violation occurred by refusing to enroll her in school after considering that she had proven neither her residence nor her previous studies. Quoted on March 8 by the Extranjeristas en Red association, the UN body notes that

Polisario threatens legal action at EU court to block transfer of Sahara airspace control to Morocco

After knocking on the door of the UN, the Polisario threatens to derail the Spanish project to transfer control of the Sahara's airspace to Morocco by seizing the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Oubi Bachir, the representative of the Front in Geneva, made the threat in statements to Algeria's state-owned public radio Radio Algerie. «As Spain has not only provided political support for Morocco's expansionist ambitions but has also begun to provide the Makhzen regime with

Russian diplomacy hosts UN Envoy for Western Sahara talks

On Monday, March 11, in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov received the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. The talks focused «on the state and prospects of the settlement process» of the conflict, Russian diplomacy said in a press release. «The stabilizing role of the United Nations Mission for organizing the referendum in Western Sahara was underlined. An exchange of views also took place on the prospects for