Wealthy Moroccan heirs detained for alleged rape of French lawyer  (Read more...)

Algerian army kills Mauritanian and Sahrawi gold miners

Algerian army personnel have reportedly killed Mauritanian and Sahrawi gold miners in an operation conducted on Thursday in the locality of El Kouissi, within Algerian territory. The provisional toll stands at four gold miners dead and one seriously injured. The soldiers also seized the victims' equipment and vehicles. So far, the Polisario has remained silent on the incident, as have Mauritanian media, particularly those in the Zouérate region. This is not the first such incident.

Hot weather and strong winds expected in Morocco from Saturday to Monday

Hot weather is expected from Saturday to Monday, accompanied by strong wind gusts on Sunday, in several Moroccan provinces, the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) announced. Temperatures ranging from 28 to 33°C are forecast during this period in the provinces of Sidi Bennour, Kenitra, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Agadir-Ida-Ou-Tanane, Chtouka-Ait Baha, Inezgane-Ait Melloul, Sidi Ifni, Tiznit, Benslimane, Berrechid, Essaouira, Casablanca, Mediouna, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, Rabat, Salé,

Polisario-aligned NGO warns French companies against investing in Sahara

Following French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier's visits to Laayoune and Dakhla, an association aligned with the Polisario has issued a warning to French companies considering investments in the region. In a press release, Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) accuses French President Emmanuel Macron of «dragging his own companies into a legal quagmire» and turning them «into cannon fodder in a territory where international law is being violated». This striking

Sahara : The Biden administration reaffirms support for the autonomy plan

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, received the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, on Friday, November 22, in Rabat. Following these talks with the head of diplomacy, Leaf reaffirmed «the United States' support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a serious, credible, and realistic solution to the Sahara issue», indicated the Moroccan ministry. She emphasized that «the United States welcomes Morocco's crucial role in

Morocco's Arrabet and Skaleet partner for a new neo-bank offering in Africa

Arrabet, a major player in digital transformation in Morocco, has partnered with Skaleet, a leader in next-generation core banking solutions in Europe and Africa, to launch a new neo-banking offering dedicated to the African market. This partnership aims to transform access to digital financial services and address the growing need for banking inclusion on the continent, Arrabet said Wednesday in a press release announcing the deal. This union comes as the number of fintechs on

Morocco set to launch tenders for first phases of Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project

Morocco is preparing to launch tenders for the construction of the first phases of the gas pipeline project with Nigeria within the next year, according to a report by Asharq Business based on the «2025 Action Plan» issued by the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). The project will stretch across 16 African countries—mostly along the Atlantic coast—connecting Nigeria to Morocco, where the pipeline will be linked to the Moroccan-European gas network and

MP Industry inaugurates first Moroccan factory with a 437.62 million dirham investment

The first factory of MP Industry, a subsidiary of MEN Industry Group specializing in manufacturing plastic components for the automotive industry in Romania, was inaugurated on Friday at Automotive City, part of the Tanger Med Industrial Platform (TMZ). The inauguration ceremony was led by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, with the participation of TMZ Director General Ahmed Bennis; President and CEO of Metaplast and MP Industry, Jean Drugescu; General Manager of MP Industry in

Chinese President Xi Jinping concludes brief visit to Morocco

Chinese President Xi Jinping departed from Morocco's Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca on Friday afternoon following a brief visit to the Kingdom. At the airport, President Xi was seen off by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. The Chinese leader also reviewed a detachment of Morocco's Royal Navy that rendered honors during the farewell ceremony. The President was further bid farewell by Wali of the Casablanca-Settat region and Governor of Casablanca Prefecture Mohamed Mhidia,

European Commission still analyzing CJEU rulings on Morocco-EU deals

The European Commission «continues to analyze» the European Court of Justice's rulings of October 4, which excluded the Sahara from the agricultural and fisheries agreements concluded in 2019 between Morocco and the EU. The announcement was made by a member of the European Commission at a meeting of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee, in response to MEPs who called for a total revision of the association agreement with the kingdom, according to an Iberian media

Spain : PSOE's 41st congress ignores Polisario

Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is holding its 41st congress on November 29 and 30. The PSOE leadership has presented delegates with a 171-page document addressing national and international issues, titled «Spain 2030: Socialism Moving Forward, a Leading Spain», which includes a set of recommendations. The document, reviewed by Yabiladi, notably omits any mention of the Western Sahara issue, drawing criticism from Spanish media aligned with the Polisario. These outlets have urged

Morocco's CMGP Group to launch initial public offering on Casablanca Stock Exchange

CMGP Group, a Moroccan company focused on agriculture and water infrastructure, has been authorized to launch an initial public offering on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) said on Friday. The company, which operates in both Morocco and Africa, plans to raise 1.1 billion dirhams ($110 million) through this offering, reads a statement by AMMC. The company envisions a capital increase and a share sale, with the issuance of 1,500,000 new shares.

Morocco's RAM and GOL partner to enhance Africa-Latin America connectivity

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and GOL Linhas Aéreas, Brazil's leading airline, have formalized a code-share agreement, strengthening their respective networks in Africa and Latin America. This agreement will enable passengers to benefit from increased connectivity between Morocco and Brazil. Direct flights between Casablanca and São Paulo, operated three times a week by RAM with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, will form the backbone of this collaboration. GOL customers will have access to 20

BIM opens new logistics platform in Marrakech, announces 1 billion dirham investment

Turkish hard discount retailer BIM, a key player in Morocco's mass retail sector, has opened its fourth logistics platform in the Kingdom, in Marrakech. The event, marked by the presence of Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Haluk Dortluoğlu, CEO of the BIM Group, illustrates the brand's determination to strengthen its strategic foothold in Morocco. With an investment of 150 million dirhams, this 16,000 m² infrastructure located in the Marrakech-Safi region aims to meet

Morocco : Ryanair flights diverted due to wind gusts at Nantes Airport

A Ryanair flight was forced to divert to Morocco on Thursday due to strong wind gusts at Nantes Airport in France. Flight #FR6969, initially scheduled to connect Agadir to Nantes, was unable to land at the intended destination. The flight returned to Agadir, completing nearly four hours in the air, AirLive reports. Earlier the same day, Ryanair flight #FR3982 from Agadir was also diverted, landing in Marseille instead, due to storm Caetano affecting the Atlantic coast. Other flights

Morocco fines Viatris 7.58 million dirhams over Mylan-Pfizer merger

American global pharmaceutical and healthcare corporation Viatris Inc. has been fined 7.58 million dirhams (approximately $760,000) by Morocco's competition regulator for failing to notify it regarding its merger, two official sources told Reuters on Thursday. The fine relates to the 2020 merger between Mylan, which has a subsidiary in Morocco, and Pfizer's Upjohn division, forming Viatris. Amounting to 2.5% of the company’s sales in Morocco for the previous year, the fine has already

Four minors sentenced to three years in prison for harassing girl in Tangier

A Tangier court, in a closed session on Thursday, sentenced four defendants to prison for harassing a girl on the Tangier Corniche. Each of the four defendants received a three-year prison sentence, as reported by al3omk news site. The defendants were charged with violently assaulting the victim, participating in the act, and drug consumption. Two additional suspects were prosecuted for their involvement in the assault. The case dates back to September when a video circulated on social media

Morocco and Spain dismantle Daesh-linked terrorist cell in joint operation

In a joint and coordinated security operation, Moroccan and Spanish authorities successfully dismantled a Daesh-affiliated terrorist cell operating in the Sahel region. The operation, conducted on Friday by Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), affiliated with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), and the General Intelligence Directorate of the Spanish National Police, resulted in the arrest of nine individuals. Three were apprehended in Tetouan and

Was Algerian writer Boualem Sansal arrested over Eastern Sahara and Polisario remarks ?

After six days without contact, alarming news emerged this Thursday in France regarding French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, aged 75. Sansal, known for his criticism of the Algerian regime, has been reported missing since arriving at Algiers airport on Saturday, November 16. According to Le Point, he was allegedly arrested by Algerian police upon his return from Paris. Le Figaro reported that French President Emmanuel Macron is «deeply concerned» and closely monitoring the