EU to give Morocco €200 million for quake reconstruction efforts  (Read more...)

Morocco's inflation falls to lowest level in over two years

Inflation in Morocco has continued its downward trend, reaching its lowest level in over two years in the first quarter of 2024 (1.1%, down 2.7 points from the previous quarter), according to the Higher Planning Commission (HCP). This easing in prices is attributed to a marked slowdown in food prices (to 1.4% year-on-year) and a smaller increase in non-food prices (back to 0.9% year-on-year), as detailed in the HCP's note. The report further details that underlying inflation, excluding

Another Sahel country at odds with Algeria

A new diplomatic crisis is erupting between Algeria and yet another Sahel country. After Mali in December, Niger is now at odds with Algeria. On Wednesday, Niamey authorities summoned the Algerian ambassador to «protest» against the «violent» deportation of thousands of Nigerien migrants. The Algerian government and media remained silent on the issue. Only on Saturday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, in a press release, that it had summoned the

Strong wind gusts, heatwave expected in Morocco from Monday to Friday

Strong wind gusts (70-90 km/h) are expected in several Moroccan provinces from Monday to Tuesday, according to an announcement made on Sunday by the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM). The phenomenon will primarily affect the southern provinces of Assa-Zag, Sidi Ifni, Tan-tan, Guelmim, and Es-Semara. These regions can expect strong winds from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Monday, as indicated by the DGM's orange alert bulletin. The wind gusts will then spread to the central provinces of

Moroccan PM attends 30th commemoration of 1994 genocide in Rwanda

Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch represented King Mohammed VI on Sunday in Kigali at the ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda in 1994. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in the presence of several Heads of State and Government, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, kicked off the National Mourning Week by laying a wreath at the Gisozi memorial in the Rwandan capital, where the bodies of over 250,000

Polisario denounces French investment in the Sahara

The Polisario Front has finally commented on France's decision to invest and finance projects in the Sahara through the French Development Agency (AFD). In a statement issued on Saturday, April 6, the Front condemned France's «provocative decision (...) which constitutes explicit support for the illegal Moroccan occupation (...) and a clear violation of international law and of France's international obligations as a permanent member of the Security Council». Polisario denounced

Morocco dismantles international car trafficking network, arrests 16 suspects

On Saturday morning, police in Nador arrested sixteen suspects involved in a criminal network specializing in international trafficking of stolen cars, forgery, and the use of forged documents. This security operation, conducted in several rural localities near Nador, Driouch, and Ben Tayeb, led to the arrest of the suspects for their alleged involvement in falsifying documents, serial numbers, and license plates. The suspects are accused of selling stolen cars to criminal networks, according

Morocco votes for a resolution calling for a cessation of arms sales to Israel

At the United Nations Human Rights Council, Friday, Morocco voted in favor of a weapons ban on Israel. The text, approved by 28 votes, and rejected by the USA, Germany, Argentina, Paraguay, Bulgaria and Malawi, «calls upon all states to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel... in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights». 13 states, including France,

Spain rejects ban on arms exports to Morocco

The Spanish government has rejected an initiative by its allies in a party called Sumar to impose an embargo on arms sales to Morocco. «Spain's defense exports comply with national, European, and international regulations, all of which prioritize international humanitarian law and peace and security», said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, in his response to a written question from Sumar MPs. In Spain, parties are taking turns to call for the suspension

Sahara : A new Moroccan drone strike near the buffer zone

A Royal Armed Forces (FAR) drone targeted three Polisario vehicles in the buffer zone. The operation took place on Friday, April 5, in the locality of Mijek. The Polisario's media have not yet commented on this latest air strike by the FAR. On the other hand, audio messages exchanged between Polisario supporters confirmed the attack, indicating that it targeted «civilians in the Polisario-controlled territory of Mijek», but without giving a death toll in the ranks of the separatist

Polisario denounces Morocco's conditions for Sahara talks

The Polisario has reacted to the conditions demanded by Morocco to resume the political process, which has been halted since March 2019. The Front has «strongly condemned the language of rejection and intransigence contained in the communiqué», published at the end of the meeting, held on Thursday in Rabat, between Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and UN envoy Staffan de Mistura. The separatist movement believes that through its «conditions», Morocco

The king of Bahrain sends message to King Mohammed VI

Following royal instructions, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, received on Friday Khalid bin Salman Al-Musallam, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Rabat. During the meeting, Bourita was handed a written message from King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain to King Mohammed VI.

Heatwave and strong winds forecast for Morocco Friday and Saturday

Hot weather (34 to 39°C) and strong wind gusts (75-90 km/h) are forecast for Friday and Saturday in several Moroccan provinces, according to an «orange» alert bulletin issued Thursday by the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM). The southern provinces, including Fquih Ben Salah, Béni Mellal, Settat, and Marrakech, will experience temperatures ranging from 34 to 39°C throughout the period. The heat will also be felt in inland areas like Azilal and Al Haouz, as

Morocco’s transport company CTM acquires 51% stake of AML

Moroccan transport company Compagnie de Transports au Maroc (CTM) announced the acquisition of Bank of Africa's (BOA) majority stake (51%) in the shipping company Africa Morocco Link (AML), BOA said on Friday. The transaction, between entities owned by the same O Capital Group under Othman Benjelloun, will allow AML to leverage CTM's expertise in passenger and freight transport. This acquisition also marks the beginning of a new growth phase for CTM, solidifying its recent diversification

11 Moroccan women arrested for staging assaults to obtain residence permits in Spain

11 Moroccan women were arrested, Thursday, in Lleida, a city in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region, for «pretending to be victims of domestic violence in order to speed up the process of legalizing their stay in Spain». According to Spanish media, the suspects were allegedly hiring men in financial trouble to stage assaults in public and then report them. The investigation into the case began several months ago, following suspicions of a criminal network dedicated to obtaining

Pfizer vaccine shows strongest antibody response in Moroccans, local survey finds

A new study, conducted by a group of Moroccan scientists, has investigated the immune response in people who got vaccinated against Covid-19. Findings suggest that 96% of the vaccinated community in the Casablanca-Settat region had signs of their body fighting the virus. Published on April 3 by the scientific journal Nature, the study explains that all vaccines studied worked almost equally well, except for the Pfizer vaccine which created a stronger antibody response than the others. The

Madrid rejects calls to grant Spanish citizenship to Saharawis

The Spanish government continues to ignore calls to naturalize Saharawis. «Proposals to reform the nationality law in order to grant Spanish citizenship to Saharawis pose technical, security and legal problems», said the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, answering a written question from a group of far-left MPs (SUMAR). José Manuel Albares justified his refusal, citing the ongoing negotiation process under the auspices of the United Nations to reach a settlement of the

DNA helps identify four victims of boat tragedy in Nador

A month after a boat capsized off the coast of Nador province, near the Beni Chiker community, operations are underway to identify the victims. Their bodies are currently in the morgue of the Hassani hospital in Nador. According the Nador branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), DNA analysis matched the bodies with those of families searching for missing persons, allowing the identification of four victims. AMDH announced on Facebook, earlier this week, that four bodies out

Morocco, France discuss promoting economic cooperation

Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, and the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness, Francophony and French Nationals Abroad, Franck Riester, discussed on Thursday in Rabat the promotion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the two ministers examined the sharing of experiences with a view to developing joint strategies for tackling trade challenges. On this occasion, Mezzour noted that the meeting took place in the context of