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

Morocco and AU sign Headquarters Agreement of African Migration Observatory

Morocco and the African Union signed, on Monday in Marrakech on the occasion of the Intergovernmental Conference on Migration, the headquarters agreement of the African Migration Observatory, a proposal by King Mohammed VI in his capacity as AU leader on the issue of migration, endorsed by African heads of State. The agreement was inked by minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita, and chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki, who is attending

EP's Committee on International Trade adopts Morocco-EU agriculture agreement

The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted, on Monday evening, by an overwhelming majority, the agriculture agreement between Morocco and the European Union (EU). This decisive vote in this Committee, which decides on substantive issues, is the final step at the level of the European Parliament's specialized committees before final adoption in plenary session, which is expected to take place next January. According to European parliamentary sources in

An MP urges Nasser Bourita to answer questions related to the Geneva round table

In a letter sent to the Commitee of Foreign Affairs and National Defense and Islamic Affairs and MREs, Authenticity and Modernity Party MP Abdellatif Ouahbi urged Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita to meet MPs and answer their questions regarding the round table that took place in Geneva on the 5th and 6th of December. He also called on the minister to share the conclusions that followed the two-day meeting attended by three other delegations from Algeria, Mauritania and the

Global Migration Pact : Chile changes its mind in Marrakech

While a Chilean delegation arrived in Marrakech to adopt the Global Migration Pact, initiated by the United Nations, Chile changed its mind, reports online newspaper Tercera. The three MPs from the Chilean delegation were surprised to know that their government was finally not going to adopt the pact. The information was announced by Rodrigo Ubilla, the subsecretary of the Chilean Interior Ministry, one day before the adoption of the Marrakech pact on migration. «Our position is clear :

Intergovernmental Conference : The «Marrakech Pact on Migration» adopted

The Intergovernmental Conference, held currently in Marrakech, adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, known now as the «Marrakech Pact on Migration». Member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the final draft of the Pact. Agreed upon by UN Member States in July, 2018, the compact is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement to cover all dimensions of international migration. The Conference «recommends that the General

Over one tonne of highly concentrated cocaine seized, seven people arrested

Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) has seized 1.004 tonne of highly-concentrated cocaine concealed in a Morocco-registered truck and arrested seven people suspected of links to an international drug smuggling network active in cocaine smuggling between Morocco, Latin America and Europe. This operation, which took place on the basis of accurate information provided by the general directorate for national territory surveillance, led to the seizure of two rubber

Royal navy assists 185 sub-Saharan Would-be migrants

The royal navy coast guard, while patrolling the Mediterranean, assisted on Dec. 7, 2018, 185 sub-Saharan candidates for illegal immigration, including 23 women, a military source said. The rescued people received the necessary health care onboard units of the royal navy before they were sent safe and sound to the ports and Nador and Tangiers, the same source added.

Marrakech : Dimitris Avramopoulos to lead EU delegation to migration conference

European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos will visit Marrakesh on Dec. 9-11 and will lead the European Union (EU) delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration scheduled in the same city. Avramopoulos will represent the EU, which is participating as an observer in the Marrakesh conference, organized by the UN to adopt the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, said on Friday a statement from the European Commission. EU

Banning Moroccan women from entering Kuwait is fake news, says its ambassador

The information published by a Kuwaiti newspaper and reported by Moroccan media and social networks on the banning of Moroccan women from entering the Kuwaiti territory «is completely unfounded», said Kuwait's ambassador in Rabat, Abdul Latif Ali El Yahya. This information is «completely wrong» and does not represent the official position of the State of Kuwait, Ali El Yahya told MAP, noting that «things are going normally and Moroccans, men and women, travel to

UN Secretary General to participate in Marrakech Intergovernmental Conference on Migration

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Morocco this weekend to take part in the Marrakech Intergovernmental Conference (10-11 December) for the official adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, his spokesman announced Friday in New York. In Marrakech, Guterres will also take part, on Monday, in a high-level meeting to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as will several former United Nations High

Sahara : EU comments on the Geneva round table

The European Union (EU) expressed, on Friday, its readiness to «contribute to measures that can create a positive climate» in the UN process on the Sahara issue, after the «momentum» given to this issue at the first round table meeting, held on Wednesday and Thursday in Geneva. «The participation of all delegations and the announcement of a second meeting in the first quarter of 2019 show that all participants are ready to continue their commitment under the

Accused of defamation, Taoufik Bouachrine fined MAD1 400 000

Fined for defaming Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhannouch and former Finance Minister Mohamed Boussaid, journalist Taoufik Bouachrine is expected to pay 1 400 000 dirhams. The decision was pronounced by the Casablanca Appeal court on Wednesday for an article published on his newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum and online newspaper Alyaoum 24. According to AFP, the journalist was prosecuted in 2015, after accusing the two senior officials of «amending an article of the 2016 Financial Act to

Migration : 1,400 Moroccan minors have arrived in Melilla this year

Melilla’s minister of Social Welfare Daniel Ventura announced that 120 unaccompanied foreign minors entered Melilla during the month of November, 2018, bringing the number of Moroccan underage migrants who arrived in the city this year to 1,400, reports EFE. In order to overcome the situation, the ministry urged authorities in the city to limit the number of Moroccan unaccompanied minor migrants entering the city to 200. The city of Melilla said in a statement that these numbers are

After attending the Geneva round table, Horst Köhler is expected to visit the US

The UN personal envoy for Western Sahara Horst Köhler is expected to visit New York in the coming days, said Spokesman for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric in a daily press briefing on Thursday, December the 6th. At the UN headquarters, Köhler is expected to inform the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the details of the «round table» held in Geneva and attended by four delegations from Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario, stressed

Morocco dismantles six-member pro-ISIS terror cell

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled on Friday a pro-ISIS terror cell made up of six people, who were operating in the city of Beni Mellal, the Interior ministry announced. The suspects, aged between 24 and 37, were preparing terrorist attacks in the Kingdom, the ministry added in a statement. Initial investigations have revealed that the cell's members have recruited several young people with the aim of carrying out attacks against those who are against their

Hiding for 22 years in Morocco, an Italian national finally extradited to his country

Sought by the Italian authorities for 22 years, 74-year-old Italian national Angelo Filippini, was extradited, Thursday, to his country after he was arrested in Morocco, where he was leading a double life, reports local online newspaper La Provincia di Como. Wanted by the police for his links to the clandestine Spinella-Otina clan of the Calabrian mafia Ndrangheta, the man was arrested by the Moroccan authorities, at the request of Italy, in Temara, a city located 15 kilometers away from

King Mohammed VI appoints Amina Bouayach chairwoman of CNDH

King Mohammed VI received on Thursday, December 6th, at the royal palace in Rabat Amina Bouayach, whom he appointed chairwoman of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), said a communiqué relayed by MAP news agency. After recalling the Council's positive contribution to the promotion of human rights in our country, the King gave his «high guidelines to the chairwoman of the Council to continue efforts to strengthen and promote the achievements made by Morocco in this field that

Sahara : The Polisario reacts to the Geneva round table

After four delegations from Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario attended a round table, in Geneva, convened by the UN Envoy to Western Sahara, the Front issued a communiqué calling for a «rapid progress towards a solution». The Front stressed that Khatri Addouh, who was heading the delegation sent by the Polisario, spoke on behalf of the «the Saharawi people». The Polisario reiterated its «commitment to pursuing a just, lasting and