Algerian army kills Mauritanian and Sahrawi gold miners  (Read more...)

Belgium : Theo Francken in Morocco to secure the expulsion of Moroccan arrestees

Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken attended a meeting Wednesday in Marrakech to discuss ways to expulse Moroccan nationals arrested for terror-related offences, says Belga. Francken alongside Interior Minister Jan Jambon held talks with their Moroccan counterparts with the aim of fighting against terrorism. In a bilateral meeting hosted by the 5th Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development, Jambon and Francken discussed with the Moroccan

Morocco-Iran : The Arab League and OIC support the Kingdom

The Arab League lent Morocco on Wednesday its solidarity after it announced that it is cutting diplomatic relations with Iran, says MAP news agency. The League’s spokesman Mahmoud Affifi expressed his solidarity with Morocco following its decision, denouncing Tehran’s interference. Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined on Wednesday the bodies supporting the Kingdom. In a statement, it stressed that Iran should respect Morocco’s sovereignty and

Cutting ties with Iran : Jordan backs the Moroccan decision

Jordan announced on Wednesday its support for Morocco after cutting ties with Iran, citing Hezbollah’s support for the Polisario, said MAP news agency. «We stand with our Moroccan brothers and support them in their struggle, defending their security, stability and territorial integrity», said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on his Twitter account. Jordan and the Kingdom of Morocco have always had good diplomatic relations, maintained by the two monarchs King

Cutting diplomatic ties with Iran : Rabat denies having been pressured by foreign countries

The ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation denied Wednesday that Morocco’s decision to break off its diplomatic relations with Iran was taken under pressure from some countries, reports MAP news agency. «Following the rupture by the Kingdom of Morocco of its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some circles, in need of arguments, claimed that the Kingdom would have taken this decision under pressure from some countries», said the ministry

Donald Trump’s former aide confirms the president called African nations «s***holes»

In an official visit to the United States, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he was not «sure about the validity» of allegations suggesting that President Donald Trump called some African nations «s***hole countries». Two days ago, former White House aide Omarosa Manigault told media that President Donald Trump called some African nations «s***hole countries» in a meeting he attended earlier this year. The woman who is also a television actress

2018 World Cup : FIFA to grant African teams $2 million prize cash

FIFA is to grant African teams qualified for the 2018 World Cup $2 million prize cash, says Reuters on Tuesday. The money is to help national teams from the continent prepare for the international tournament to take place in June, reveals the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia are the only African countries to receive these grants. CAF president Ahmad Ahmad said that the money would be used to «settle beforehand the question of bonuses

Morocco-Iran : The Polisario urges Rabat to «provide evidence supporting its claims»

The Polisario Front said that the Moroccan accusations are a «lie», denying having been supported by Hezbollah, reports EFE. The separatist movement urged Rabat to «provide evidence» supporting «its false allegations», a spokesperson from the Front told the Spanish news agency. According to him, cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran is aimed at «escaping» the UN’s call to start «negotiations». Foreign Minister Nasser

Morocco-Iran : Hezbollah denies Moroccan accusations

Lebanese militia Hezbollah has denied the Moroccan accusations, stressing that it has not been sending weapons to the Polisario. «It is unfortunate that Morocco, pressured by the USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia, makes false accusations», the Shiite organization said in a statement, stressing that «the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs is to be held responsible for not bringing up arguments to back his country's recent decision». Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita

King Mohammed VI and Sassou N'Guesso concerned about the rising of terrorism

King Mohammed VI and President of the Republic of Congo Sassou N'Guesso expressed their concerns regarding the rise of extremism and terrorism in the world and Africa, during a ceremony held Tuesday in Brazzaville, says MAP news agency. The two leaders welcomed the opening of the Moroccan Embassy in the Republic set to promote cooperation between the two countries. They have also stressed on the negative impact terrorism can have on security, culture, society and economy. In his visit to

Sahara : The Polisario withdraws from the Guerguerate buffer zone

The Polisario military troops have withdrawn from the Gueguerate buffer zone, a well-informed source told Yabiladi Monday. «The Front’s twelve elements deployed in Guerguerate joined the Rabouni camp», said the same source. Independent online newspaper Futuro Sahara, known for its opposition to the Front’s leadership, has confirmed the withdrawal of the Polisario’s troops, quoting eyewitnesses. On the other hand, the Front’s official «press

King Mohammed VI and President of the Republic of Congo chair a signing ceremony in Brazzaville

King Mohammed VI and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou N’Guesso, chaired Monday at the People’s palace in Brazzaville the signing ceremony of several bilateral cooperation agreements in various fields, reports MAP news agency. The Moroccan sovereign is in the Congo Republic to attend the Blue Fund for Congo Basin 1st summit, held Sunday in the same city to discuss ways of financing blue and green economy. Earlier this Monday, the Moroccan monarch held

FIFA : Fatma Samoura and Morocco's 2026 bid ambassador Hadji Diouf are not related

The FIFA Ethics Committee announced Friday that there was «no substance» to back a complaint lodged against  the global football body’s general secretary Fatma Samoura, says Reuters. Samoura was accused of having an alleged undeclared family-link with former Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf, who currently serves an ambassadorial role for the Moroccan 2026 World Cup bid. «The investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee has decided to close the case»,

Former Spanish PM José Luis Zapatero backs Morocco’s bid to host 2026 World Cup

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriquez Zapatero has announced the weekend that he is backing Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, EFE says. Zapatero stated that «hosting the international tournament will be a huge achievement for Morocco, adding that he is working with Morocco to fulfill that». Football federations from Africa, Asia, Europe and even the Americas have shown support for the Moroccan bid. For the record, Morocco is the only nation

A Moroccan-Belgian woman claims having been in a relationship with Tariq Ramadan

A Moroccan-Belgian woman has claimed that she has been in a relationship with Swiss scholar Tariq Ramadan for five years, Europe 1 reported on Thursday. The woman identified as Majda Bernoussi says she was one of Ramadan’s victims from 2009 to 2014. She stresses that she has been under psychological influence of the famous lecturer and reveals she has accepted his «financial support to keep quiet», says the same source. «We are really dealing with a predator, an

Sahara : Russia, Ethiopia and China abstain in the Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has just adopted a new resolution on Western Sahara. As planned, the council's fifteen members extended the MINURSO's manadate for another six months. Out of the Security Council's fifteen members, twelve have voted in favor of the draft resolution submitted by the United States while three others have chosen to abstain, namely Russia, Ethiopia and China. To justify the country's choice of abstaintion, the Chinese representative said that the text did not

Morocco reveals the Atlas Lions’ official uniform for the 2018 World Cup

Adidas has revealed Friday, 27th of April, the official uniform the Atlas Lions will wear on the 2018 World Cup, to be hosted by Russia in June, reports sports-focused radio station Radio Mars on its official page on Facebook. The white jersey has red stripes on the shoulders and is very different from the previous designs. The uniform bears the logo of the producing company and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

Ceuta : Moroccan jihadists wanted to reproduce the Paris attacks

Two alleged jihadists arrested in 2017 are accused of having joined a cell located in the El Príncipe district of Ceuta, which housed weapons, planning to reproduce the 13-November attacks which targeted Paris, says the newspaper La Gaceta. During the last session of the trial of Abdelilah CB, a Moroccan national, and Hicham AM, Prosecutor Susana Landeras maintained her request for twenty years in prison for the two men, for being part of a terrorist organization and the

Abdelilah Benkirane reacts to the viral boycott campaign

Former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane finally reacted to the viral boycott campaign, targeting three major companies in Morocco. Speaking to Arabic-language daily newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, the PJD politician said he was «surprised» that the campaign is including mineral bottled water producer Sidi Ali, and diary company Centrale Laitière while their prices have not been increased. On the other hand, Benkirane said he «understands» the reasons