Flash actualités

US to establish African drone training center in Morocco by 2026

The United States plans to establish a training center in Morocco for African drone operators. The initiative was announced by General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa, according to an American media outlet. The first phase of the project is expected to launch during the 2026 edition of the Africa Lion exercise. A dedicated drone training module will be offered to around fifteen participants, Donahue said at the African Land Forces Summit held last week in

UN Security Council to hold key meetings on Sahara under Bahrain's presidency

This month, the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, held by Bahrain, has scheduled two closed-door meetings on the Sahara issue in its provisional agenda, set for April 24 and 30. The first meeting will focus on briefings by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, his personal envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura, and the head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko. The second meeting is expected to address the «strategic review» of the UN mission’s

Belgian report finds Muslim Brotherhood more influential than perilous

The Belgian Standing Intelligence Agencies Review Committee has recently shared updated insights on the Muslim Brotherhood's presence in Belgium during a confidential parliamentary session held on Wednesday. According to the newly released data, the Brotherhood is characterized as «neither a terrorist organization nor indicative of Belgium being under any form of control», as reported by the news agency Belga. This latest investigation by Committee R builds on the 2024 intelligence

Morocco increases butane gas subsidy to shield citizens from Middle East tensions impact

The Moroccan government has confirmed the implementation of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East on energy markets. Speaking on Thursday at a press conference following the government council meeting, Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa said the state will maintain the price of multi-use butane gas, particularly for household consumption, unchanged. To do so, the government will increase the subsidy to 78 dirhams per 12-kilogram

Video of clashes in Morocco linked to «Jews stealing land»: what’s true?

Videos showing clashes between villagers and law enforcement have circulated online, falsely presented by some users as «Israeli Jews stealing land» in Morocco or «taking back land from before they emigrated». Taken out of context, the footage shows confrontations between residents and security forces, but not in relation to any alleged land seizure by Jews. Instead, it captures the enforcement of a court ruling authorizing the opening of a quarry project in the El

Spain upholds dismissal of Moroccan-origin intelligence employee over security concerns

The Spanish National Court upheld the decision to dismiss an employee of Moroccan origin from the National Intelligence Center, rejecting the appeal he filed against the termination of his duties. The court considered that the decision was based on security considerations linked to a loss of trust within a sensitive agency. The dismissal decision dates back to August 2023, when the center decided to terminate the employment of the individual, who had been working as a temporary employee for

Middle East crisis: Morocco secures diesel and petrol stocks for 51 to 55 days

Morocco has secured enough diesel and petrol to cover 51 and 55 days respectively, while coal and gas supplies are guaranteed until the end of June, the energy ministry said on Thursday. As global prices surge amid tensions in the Middle East, Morocco, fully reliant on fuel imports, has seen diesel and petrol prices rise by around 30% since late February, following a spike in crude prices in March triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. «Morocco's policy of diversifying supply

Former Wydad player Reda El Hajhouj detained on multiple charges in Casablanca

On Wednesday, the investigating judge at the Casablanca Court of Appeal ordered the pre-trial detention of former Wydad Athletic Club player Reda El Hajhouj at Oukacha prison. He is being prosecuted in custody on several charges, including theft and complicity and the use of a vehicle in the commission of criminal acts. The indictment also includes assault resulting in permanent disability, property damage, and incitement to commit a felony. On Tuesday, the public prosecutor at the same court

Moroccan tennis players Bennani and Baadi exit GP Hassan II

Moroccan players Taha Baadi and Karim Bennani were knocked out on Wednesday in the second round of the 40th edition of the Grand Prix Hassan II, which runs until April 5 at the Royal Tennis Club of Marrakech. Karim Bennani narrowly lost to Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, ranked 64th in the world, in three sets (6-4, 6-7, 6-2). The Moroccan showed resilience and determination in a tightly contested match, but Hanfmann’s efficiency at key moments proved decisive, earning him a place in

Royal Air Maroc receives first Boeing 737-8 MAX from ACG to modernize fleet

Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG) announced on Tuesday the delivery of the first Boeing 737-8 MAX to Royal Air Maroc (RAM). In a statement, the global aircraft leasing company said five additional aircraft will be delivered to the national carrier as part of its fleet modernization and expansion efforts. Described as a «next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft», the plane is powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines. Quoted in the statement, RAM CEO Abdelhamid Addou described the delivery as

Algeria deports 37 Moroccans through land border

On Tuesday, Algerian authorities handed over a new group of 37 Moroccan nationals via the Colonel Lotfi border crossing, known as «Zouj Bghal». The individuals were either attempting irregular migration or were present in Algeria without legal status, according to the Moroccan Association for Assisting Migrants in Difficult Situations in Oujda. In a statement, the association said all those deported were men, noting that this marks the third such group since the beginning of the

World Cup 2026: How to buy tickets for Morocco matches

This Thursday, April 2, FIFA’s «last-minute» ticket sales phase has opened, allowing Moroccan fans to secure seats on a first-come, first-served basis. The sales phase will remain open until the end of the tournament, with tickets released on a rolling basis, including occasional same-day availability, FIFA said. Fans can now select specific seats via FIFA’s official platform and receive instant confirmation upon purchase. How to buy tickets: - Go to FIFA’s

PJD backs call to scrap daylight saving time introduced in 2018

The General Secretariat of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) said it is closely monitoring the public debate over daylight saving time, highlighting the «clear and tangible relief» experienced by citizens when Morocco returned to standard time during Ramadan. In a statement, the party noted that despite eight years of implementation, the additional hour has yet to gain public acceptance and continues to generate widespread dissatisfaction. The PJD argued that the measure

11 Moroccan NGOs appeal to the UN over Israel’s death penalty law targeting Palestinians

Eleven Moroccan civil society coalitions and organizations have urgently reached out to the UN Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) concerning Israel's introduction of the death penalty for Palestinian detainees. In this international plea, released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the signatories call for the immediate suspension of this measure recently passed by the Israeli parliament. In a letter obtained by Yabiladi, the organizations denounce

Europe: Soft fruit shortage driven by supply issues in Morocco

A shortage of soft fruit is being observed across European markets, where traders report strong demand following quality issues affecting produce from Morocco, alongside Spain and Portugal. In Belgium, Antwerp-based wholesaler Sebrechts Groenten en Fruit says supply disruptions have led to reduced volumes and inconsistent quality, especially for strawberries and raspberries. «You really notice that there is a lot of demand for local soft fruit, because there were many quality

Choufli.ma, a platform for the used car market in Morocco

Choufli.ma has emerged as Morocco’s first data intelligence platform for car valuation, leveraging artificial intelligence and a comprehensive national market database. Developed by tech firm GENDEV, the platform aims to «fill the void left by Argus’s exit from Morocco in 2019,» according to a press release. It provides a reliable benchmark for the country’s «700,000 annual vehicle transactions.» The creators note that «the national used car

Amina Bouayach and Volker Türk discuss strengthening global human rights institutions at UN Geneva

Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), held talks on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with Volker Türk at the Moroccan pavilion at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to «launch joint initiatives and advocacy actions», according to a statement received by Yabiladi. The objective is to «encourage states to establish and

New Amazon Moses series filmed in Morocco

Morocco served as a key filming location for The Old Stories: Moses, a three-part biblical epic produced by Amazon MGM Studios and American studio The Wonder Project. Although set in ancient Egypt, production relied heavily on Ouarzazate’s desert landscapes and Atlas Studios, often dubbed the «Hollywood of the Desert», to recreate Egyptian palaces, temples, and key scenes, including parts of the Nile. Expected to premiere this spring, the series stars Ben Kingsley and is