Morocco’s trade deficit grows in the first nine months of 2018

From January to September 2018, Morocco’s trade deficit grew to 152.2 billion dirhams, raising to 8.2 percent compared to last year, reports Reuters quoting the foreign exchange regulator. The country’s imports increased by 9.7 percent, reaching 353.8 billion dirhams while exports accounted for 201.5 billion dirhams. Energy imports, on the other hand, rose to 19.4 percent, 60.5 billion dirhams in the Kingdom. Automotive sector heads Morocco’s exports, raising to 14.6

Un individu présentant des troubles mentaux s'immole par le feu à Rabat

Un individu âgé de 31 ans, présentant des troubles mentaux, s'est immolé par le feu à l'aide d'une substance extrêmement inflammable, mercredi matin au quartier administratif de Rabat, au niveau de l'intersection des avenues «Tarik Ibn Ziad» et «Franklin Roosevelt». C’est ce qu’indiquent les autorités locales de la wilaya de la région Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, citées par l’agence

Sahara : Algeria agrees to attend talks in Geneva

Algeria will attend the talks on Western Sahara, convened by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara Horst Köhler in Geneva, in December. Algiers' confirmation was announced, Tuesday 16th of October, by the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations Sabri Boukadoum, reports APS. «Algeria, as a neighboring country and an official observer of the peace process, responded immediately and positively to President Köhler's invitation

Morocco’s BCP to expand activities in Africa by acquiring a Mauritius bank

Morocco’s Banque Centrale Populaire wants to acquire banks in four African nations, said Bloomberg on Wednesday. The bank’s objective is to boost the «region’s income contribution», added the same source, indicating that it also wants to generate 30 percent of its income from the African continent in the next two years. «We’re looking for opportunities in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana and Tanzania in the medium-term. We’re on the right track to reach 30

Amnesty International urges Morocco to overturn the conviction of Nawal Benaissa

In a note published on Wednesday, 17th of October, London-based non-governmental organization Amnesty International urged the Moroccan authorities to «overturn the conviction of Nawal Benaissa», a female figure of the Hirak movement in Al Hoceima. The NGO indicates that Benaissa was «intimidated and harassed» for being part of the unrest which started in Ocober 2016, following the death of fishmonger Mohcine Fikri. Nawal Benaissa was prosecuted for calling Al

Moroccan footballer Hamza Mendyl apologizes after insulting an Atlas Lions fan

Moroccan player Hamza Mendyl has apologized on Sunday on his Instagram for insulting an Atlas Lions fan, reports Belgian daily 7 sur 7. Mendyl who plays as a left-back for Schalke 04 got angry at a fan who criticized his playing techniques at the game that brought the Morocco national football team and Comoros on Saturday, 13th of October. H.Mendyl qui présente ses excuses pic.twitter.com/pbuAhrHjc9 — hafyane.hamid (@hafyanehamid) 14 octobre 2018 The player’s remarks

Migration : A European Union delegation arrives in Morocco

A European Union delegation of senior officials has arrived in Morocco, according to Europa Press. For two days, 17th and 18th of October, the delegation will meet Moroccan officials. The delegation is expected to evaluate the additional help the Kingdom needs to manage the migration crisis. On Monday, by the end of the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy head Federica Mogherini said that the number of migrant arrivals

Maroc : Le trafic sur une seule voie entre Salé et Kénitra devrait reprendre mercredi

Le trafic devrait être rétabli partiellement mercredi vers 10 heures entre Salé et Kénitra sur une seule voie, a annoncé mercredi l’Office national des chemins de fer (ONCF). Les équipes de l’ONCF «sont mobilisées avec la logistique nécessaire depuis hier soir pour effectuer le relevage du train déraillé au niveau de Bouknadel», a indiqué l’Office dans un communiqué, assurant

The 4th committee must part with Moroccan Sahara issue, says Omar Hilale

Maintaining the Moroccan Sahara issue on the agenda of the 4th Committee is in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and it is for this reason that this UN body must part with this issue, Morocco's permanent representative to the United Nations, ambassador Omar Hilale, said Tuesday in New York. «The Moroccan Sahara is indeed the only issue that continues to be discussed and to be subject to a resolution by the 4th Committee, while the Security Council has been engaged with this issue

Danone’s third quarter sales affected by the Moroccan boycott

French multinational food-products Danone said its sales growth fell in the third quarter because of the boycott campaign that was initiated by consumers in Morocco, reported Reuters on Wednesday. The results of the current quarter were affected by dairy sales that fell by 40 percent in the second quarter of the same year. To limit the loss in the Kingdom, Danone has taken a series of measures to «regain consumers trust», said the British news agency. Indeed, Emmanuel Faber, CEO