Flash actualités

French diplomatic mission visits Laayoune to monitor MINURSO operations ahead of UN review

A delegation from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs arrived this evening at Laayoune airport on a diplomatic mission focused on monitoring MINURSO operations. The visit includes meetings with the head of the mission and the commander of the UN peacekeeping forces deployed in the region. The delegation is mainly composed of diplomats specializing in UN affairs, drawn from the ministry in Paris and France’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York. The political

Morocco joins task force for 2026 FIFA World Cup security

The White House has included Morocco in the task force tasked with ensuring security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Embassy in Rabat announced in a congratulatory message posted on X. The move comes «as we look forward to celebrating 250 years of friendship with Morocco. This is another opportunity to further strengthen our security cooperation and share our love of sports», the embassy said. The announcement follows ongoing security cooperation between the two countries. A

King Mohammed VI awards Wissam Al Arch to former Ulema Council Secretary-General Mohamed Yssef

King Mohammed VI received on Tuesday at the Royal Palace in Rabat Mohamed Yssef, former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Ulema, and awarded him the Wissam Al Arch (Grand Officer) in recognition of his services to religion, the nation, and the King, according to a statement from the Royal Cabinet. During the same audience, the Sovereign appointed El Yazid Er-Radi as the new Secretary-General of the Council. He also gave him directives to ensure the institution continues promoting

Polisario allies in the Irish parliament pressure the government

Irish parliamentarians supporting the Polisario Front have called on the Dublin government to put «international pressure to vindicate the right of the Western Sahara to self-determination». This appeal came from Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire of the Sinn Féin party, who raised the issue in a written question. He also urged the government to engage in dialogue with the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)». In response, Helen McEntee, Minister for

French Ambassador to visit Laayoune for French school inauguration

French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier is expected to visit Laayoune on April 15 to attend the official inauguration of the new premises of the Paul Pascon French International School, part of the MLF Morocco network. The ceremony will be attended by several officials, including the network’s president, Christian Masset, according to the French Embassy in Morocco. Opened in 2012, the school is part of the MLF Morocco network (formerly OSUI) and remains the only French

OFPPT: Data of nearly 100,000 users exposed in cybersecurity incident

The Office of Vocational Training and Job Promotion (OFPPT) confirmed on Tuesday a «cybersecurity incident» that allegedly exposed the personal data of nearly 100,000 young users. The breach, which occurred on April 12 affected the My Way platform, with data reportedly circulating on the dark web in a CSV file of approximately 19 MB. «The incident is contained and under close monitoring», the institution said in a statement received by Yabiladi. The OFPPT stressed that

Dutch-Moroccan fighter Ilias Bulaid makes bold UFC call

Moroccan-Dutch fighter Ilias Bulaid has decided to be direct and clear about his ambition to join the UFC. During his LFL debut in Antwerp last Saturday, he claimed the title with a knockout victory before looking straight into the camera and declaring: «Get me my contract, UFC.» Bulaid sealed the win with a decisive knockout, securing a title on his first appearance. Now unbeaten with a 9-0 record, including six finishes, Bulaid has built a reputation as an efficient and

Partnership to develop Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum in Essaouira

A partnership agreement outlining the development, equipment, and management of the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum in Essaouira was signed Monday in Rabat. The deal was inked by André Azoulay, advisor to King Mohammed VI and founding president of the Essaouira Mogador Association, Culture Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Essaouira mayor Tarik Ottmani, and National Foundation of Museums head Mehdi Qotbi. It aims to strengthen the preservation and promotion of the city’s tangible

Morocco to face Norway in World Cup warm-up friendly

Morocco’s senior national team will take on Norway in a friendly match as part of its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The match is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Kick-off is set for 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. in Morocco), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said Tuesday in a statement. Before this Norway clash, Morocco had already played two friendlies in

Gabon reaffirms support for Morocco’s Sahara, backs autonomy plan

Gabon reiterated on Tuesday its support for the Moroccanness of the Sahara, welcoming the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797. During a meeting in Rabat with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in charge of Integration and the Diaspora, Marie-Edith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny, reaffirmed her country’s full backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic solution to the regional

Sao Tome and Principe reaffirms support for Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara

The Republic of Sao Tome and Principe reiterated on Tuesday its steadfast support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and its endorsement of the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as the sole solution to the regional dispute. In a press statement following talks in Rabat with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, Sao Tome and Principe’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and

Delair Africa to establish new drone hub in Morocco

Delair is set to launch a new branch in Morocco, named Delair Africa, as part of its strategy to boost services for regional clients and solidify its foothold on the African continent, where it has been active for more than ten years. The Toulouse-based company, a leader in drone technology, plans to establish Rabat as a central hub for its operations across Africa. Under the leadership of Bastien Mancini, Delair employs 250 people and is targeting a revenue of 75 million euros by

Maroc Telecom warns against fraudulent online offers for free mobile plans

Maroc Telecom has warned against the circulation of fraudulent online offers claiming to provide free mobile plans, stressing that these are in no way affiliated with the company. In a statement, the operator said that certain pages and websites are advertising so-called free subscriptions for numbers starting with 0661, describing these claims as misleading. It emphasized that all official offers are published exclusively on its website, www.iam.ma. Maroc Telecom urged customers to remain

Cannabis seed oil in Morocco is most sustainable through cooperatives

Cannabis seed oil produced through cooperatives delivers the lowest environmental impact in Morocco, outperforming both artisanal and industrial models, according to a recent study based on international ISO sustainability standards. The research, published in the scientific journal Pollutants (MDPI), compares three production systems, artisanal presses, cooperatives, and industrial plants, using a life cycle assessment of 1 kg of oil, examining energy use, resource consumption, and

Spanish Parliament proposes suspension of Morocco trade deal

The joint committee of the Spanish House of Representatives and Senate for European Affairs approved a non-binding proposal on Monday, presented by the People's Party. The proposal urges the suspension of the trade agreement with Morocco if it results in a 5% shift in agricultural trade prices and volumes. The proposal passed with 18 votes in favor from the People's Party, against two abstentions and 15 votes in opposition, including those from Socialist members. In their proposal, the two

GMT+1 in Morocco: Energy Transition Minister questions the benefits

Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leïla Benali has added momentum to calls for a return to Morocco’s standard time. Speaking on Monday in the House of Representatives, she openly questioned the policy in place since 2018, which promotes GMT+1 as a way to reduce electricity consumption. She said her department, in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Public Administration Reform, has launched a reassessment of the government’s study

AFCON 2025 final: Morocco upholds sentences in appeal for 18 Senegalese fans

On Monday night, the Rabat Court of Appeal upheld the sentences of 18 Senegalese fans, ranging from three months to one year in prison, for their involvement in acts of hooliganism during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. The public prosecutor had sought harsher penalties, according to AFP. The fans, who have been in detention since the January 18 final, were charged with violence against security forces, vandalism, storming the pitch, and throwing projectiles. In the initial ruling, nine

Nizar Baraka consolidates power within Istiqlal Party ahead of legislative elections

Nizar Baraka has now secured control over the last stronghold within the Istiqlal Party that had eluded him. After months of sustained pressure, he has succeeded in removing Naam Myara from the leadership of the party’s affiliated union, the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM). The change is expected to be formally confirmed at an extraordinary congress of the union, where Youssef Allakouch, a member of the UGTM executive bureau, is set to replace Myara. In April 2024, Baraka had