Dutch-Moroccan ex-anti-terrorism official denies «spying for Morocco», seeks PM's testimony  (Read more...)

Tindouf : The «Sahrawi Initiative for Change» resumes its activities

Opposition in the Tindouf camps is resuming its activities. Days after Futuro Sahara rebuked the «discourse» of the Polisario leadership, the Sahrawi Initiative for Change (SIC), created last year, announced that it is back on track. The movement’s representation in Spain hosted a meeting last week, inviting several Spanish politicians, NGOs and reporters. «During this meeting, attendees discussed the recent round table that was held earlier this month in Geneva

According to US first lady Melania Trump, Santa Claus is in Morocco

Every year, US President and the first lady reply to phone calls on Christmas Eve answering from children's questions on Santa’s location and their gifts. This year, first lady Melania Trump told children on the phone that Santa was in Morocco, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. On one of her phone calls, Melania Trump told a kid that «Santa was in the Sahara». «Several minutes later, she reported that Santa was far away in Morocco but would be at the

Amazigh New Year : 130 MPs ask El Othmani to make January 13th a national holiday

Imazighen are expected to celebrate Yennayer, the first month of the Berber Year, on January the 13th. 130 MPs have signed a petition addressed to the Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani, reports Alaraby. These MPs are asking El Othmani to make of January the 13th a national holiday in the Kingdom, stressing that the people of the Maghreb region have been celebrating the day for centuries.

Thanks to Algeria, a Polisario delegation takes part in an «African» sports event

Last week, Algeria hosted the first edition of the African Games of Sports and Work (20-23 December). The event was organized by the Africa sports and work organization, created in Gambia in 2001 and headquartered in Yaounde. The sports event was marked by the participation of «Sahrawi sportsmen» from the Tindouf camps, report pro-Polisario newspapers. On Monday, the Front’s news agency wrote that the Polisario «team» won gold medals in the event, during which

Libya : A Moroccan woman killed in the Tripoli bombing

A Moroccan woman is among the three people who lost their lives in a terror attack that targeted, Tuesday December the 25th, the Libyan Foreign Affairs Ministry in Tripoli. Quoting Libyan officials, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that 21 people were injured in the attack, stressing that a Moroccan national was one of the three people killed today in Tripoli. The Moroccan victim is believed to be a cleaning lady who worked for the governmental department. According to the same source, a

A deadly car bomb explosion targets Libya’s Foreign Ministry in Tripoli

At least one person was killed in a «terrorist» attack that targeted Libya’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, a security source told MAP news agency. The deceased was an official whose car exploded, the same source added quoting local newspapers. After the explosion, «three of four attackers» opened fire outside the building, said the same source, adding that the second explosion was «caused by a kamikaze» on the 2nd floor of the building. Anonymous

Presence of SADR at TICAD meeting in Tokyo was a big problem, Japanese Foreign Ministry says

The presence of the so-called «SADR» at the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) «was a big problem» that Japan has overcome «to avoid embarrassment,» Spokesperson of the Japanese Foreign Ministry Mitsuko Shino said Monday in Rabat, reiterating that her country does not recognize this puppet entity. «We have good intentions to settle this issue,» she said at a press briefing, adding

Illegal migration : Royal navy assists 202 would-be immigrants in Mediterranean

The Royal Navy coast-guards, sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, assisted 202 immigrants, mostly sub-Saharans, including women and children, onboard unsafe boats, on 22 and 23 December 2018, a military source said. Five bodies were also found in these boats, said the same source, adding that the rescued people, who were in a bad health condition, received the necessary first aid on board the units of the Royal Navy before being transported to the ports of Nador, Tangier and Al Hoceima.

Imlil murders : Reprehensible acts against Moroccan values and traditions, says Laftit

All segments of the Moroccan society condemn the heinous criminal act that occurred in the region of El Haouz and claimed the lives of two Scandinavian tourists, since it is an action that runs counter the Moroccan values and traditions, said on Monday Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit. Laftit, who was speaking at the House of Representatives, stressed that regardless of its degree of effectiveness, the approach adopted by the state in the fight against terrorism is constantly questioned by

Japan does not recognize «SADR», says Japanese Foreign Minister

Japanese Foreign minister Taro Kono reiterated, Monday in Rabat, his country's stance on the Sahara issue, saying that Japan does not recognize the pseudo «SADR» as a state. The Japanese official was speaking at a press briefing after his meetings with minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita. He reiterated a position clearly expressed at the ministerial preparatory meeting for the 7th Summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African

Spain launches a manhunt for a Moroccan national who could commit a terror act

The US State Department issued a notice on social media warning Spain against a potential terror attack targeting Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, reports local online newspaper Libertad Digital. The Mossos Esquadra, the Catalan police has issued an arrest warrant against «a Moroccan national born in Casablanca who intends to commit a terror attack using a vehicle (like the one that took place on August the 17th, 2017) in Barcelona», says ABC. The

Over 47,000 psychotropic pills seized at Bab Sebta crossing point

Customs and security services foiled on Monday morning at Bab Sebta crossing point an attempt to smuggle 47,250 psychotropic pills into the occupied city of Sebta. The drug was concealed inside a Spain-registered car, a customs source said. The driver is a Moroccan national who lives in Sebta, the source added. The driver was transferred to Tetouan judicial police to complete the investigation led under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor's office.

Morocco-EU agreements : The Polisario wants to resort to European justice

The Polisario Front said on Friday, December the 21st, that it would resort to European justice to protest against the two agreements Morocco concluded with the European Union, reports SPS. This weekend, the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front said that it would take all «available means, including the European justice to defend the rights of Sahrawi people and sovereignty over their wealth». The Front urged EU governments to «put an immediate halt to this

Moroccans in Denmark pay silent tribute to the two Scandinavian tourists killed in Imlil

Moroccans living in Denmark gathered Sunday, December the 23rd, in Copenhagen to pay silent tribute to the two Scandinavian tourists killed in Imlil. This gathering, initiated by activists in the country, was a way of showing compassion to the families of the victims and denouncing terror. Men, women and young people took to the cold streets of the Danish capital to express their condolences. Many Danish citizens participated to the gathering carrying both the Danish and Moroccan flags. For

Imlil murders : The four suspects were arrested in a professional manner

The arrest of the four suspects, allegedly involved in the killing of the two Scandinavian tourists in Imlil, was conducted in a professional manner, national security spokesman Boubker Sabik said. The security services made sure, during the operation, to avoid any potential risks for the lives of citizens, Sabik told 2M Sunday during the show «Confidences de presse». Authorities waited for the bus that was carrying the three suspects to leave the Bab Doukkala bus station in

Moroccan-Chinese cultural year officially announced

Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicrafts and Social Economy Mohamed Sajid and Chinese Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Lo Jinzao recently presided, in Rabat, over a signing ceremony of a bilateral agreement on the organization of a cultural and tourist year of Morocco in China and another similar event about China in Morocco, in 2020. According to a statement from the ministry, the ceremony was marked by the presence of Minister of Culture and Communication Mohamed Laaraj, Secretary

Peter Cherif placed in police custody on his arrival in France

French jihadist Peter Cherif, arrested in Djibouti on the 16th of December, was placed in custody when he arrived in France on Sunday morning announced French Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner. Peter Cherif, suspected of being involved in Charlie Hebdo attacks, the French satirical newspaper in 2015, «had fled the French justice», said the minister in a tweet. According to the Djibouti presidency, Peter Cherif, 36, was arrested on the 16th of December in Djibouti, he arrived

Spain arrests a «dangerous» Moroccan terrorist who returned from Syria

Spanish National Police arrested on Friday, in Mataro, a Moroccan national, considered as a «dangerous terrorist» who has just returned from Syria. According to Europa Press, which quotes a statement issued by the Interior Ministry, the Moroccan man left his country in May 2014 to settle down in Iraq and Syria. Investigations revealed that the man in question entered Spain in June 2018, after returning from Syria through several countries, including Turkey. The alleged terrorist