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Morocco's cannabis regulation agency granted 2,905 cultivation licenses in 2024

The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (ANRAC) reports a substantial increase in activity for the first four months of 2024 compared to 2023. ANRAC issued 2,905 cultivation licenses in 2024, a significant jump from 609 in 2023. The total cultivated area has also grown to 2,552 hectares (286 Ha in 2023). Over 2,700 authorizations were granted to farmers in the designated regions for cannabis cultivation. Compared to 2023, ANRAC issued more authorizations for

Maroc Telecom customer base grows, sales rise 1.2% in Q1 2024

Maroc Telecom announced positive customer growth and financial performance for the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The company's customer base increased by 2.7% to 77.1 million, while sales grew by 1.2% driven by the strong performance of its subsidiaries, Moov Africa. Notably, Moov Africa saw a significant increase in mobile data sales (+21.7%). Additionally, fixed-line data sales in Morocco grew by 7.6% due to the success of their FTTH (Fiber-To-The-Home)

Rare serval cat spotted near Tangier, Water and Forests agency launches search

Morocco’s National Agency for Water and Forests (ANWF) is investigating the sighting of a serval cat near Tangier, Morocco. The serval is a wild cat species «on the verge of extinction» in the country, typically found in regions like the Guelmim area and the eastern Middle Atlas mountains, the agency said. The last confirmed sightings in the Middle Atlas were in 2013 and 2014. Following reports and online discussions about the serval appearing near the Saloukia forest of Cap

UK rejects UN council proposal on Sahara resources

The British government has rebuffed a proposal from Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle to establish a UN council overseeing Western Sahara's natural resources. In a written response, the government led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak clarified that they «do not consider commercial activity to be illegal in Western Sahara, providing it respects the interests of the Sahrawi people». «The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of

Algerian army holds live-fire exercises near Morocco border

Algerian army commander General Saïd Chengriha visited the 3rd Military Region near the border with Morocco on April 23rd and 24th. According to Algerian media reports citing a Defense Ministry statement, General Chengriha observed live ammunition tactical training exercises in Béchar on Wednesday. The day before, he addressed troops in the region and ordered them to «intensify efforts to combat smuggling activities and organized crime in all forms». This directive

CAF awards RSB win, upholds return match in Berkane

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued, wednesday, its verdict in the case of the cancelled match between Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) and Union Sportive de la Médina d'Alger (USMA). CAF has awarded RSB a 3-0 victory and maintained the return match, scheduled for next Sunday, April 28th, in Berkane at 8:00 PM. The decision follows the Algerian authorities' refusal to allow RSB to play in their jerseys featuring the full map of Morocco, previously approved by CAF.

Morocco’s PJD suffers landslide defeat in Fes

The Justice and Development Party (PJD) has suffered yet another setback in Morocco's ongoing partial legislative elections. Today's vote in the South Fes district resulted in a decisive victory for the Independence National Rally Party (RNI) candidate. The RNI candidate secured a wide margin of 9,767 votes, compared to 3,854 for the PJD candidate who came in second. The PJD's Islamic Training Branch in Fes attributed their defeat to «shameful and anti-democratic practices carried out by

North Africa arms race : Morocco cuts spending as Algeria hits record high

The global arms industry is experiencing a significant upswing, according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Global military spending in 2023 jumped by 6.8% compared to 2022, marking the «steepest year-on-year rise since 2009», notes the Swedish institute. North Africa is a region with particularly notable growth. SIPRI reports a 38% increase in military spending across the sub-region compared to 2022. «Algeria and Morocco

Moroccan business delegation meets New York Stock Exchange executives

A Moroccan business delegation, led by the kingdom’s Ambassador to the united states Youssef Amrani, met with senior executives and major operators of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. This visit underscores the «new impetus given to the strategic relations uniting the Kingdom and the United States in various fields, including the promotion of capital markets», reads a press release by the Moroccan Embassy. The mission, jointly conducted by the Casablanca Stock Exchange

Itzer Trail returns for sixth edition, celebrating sports, solidarity, and Amazigh culture

The Itzer Trail, a sporting event that blends solidarity and discovery amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Atlas Mountains, is back. Organized by the Youth Initiatives Association in Itzer (ASSIJI), this year's edition marks the association's fifth anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to the Itzer region and its inhabitants. From Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19, 2024, running enthusiasts, hikers, and nature lovers will once again gather in the Midelt region to participate in this unique

Africa Finance Corp. joins Morocco-UK subsea power cable project

Africa Finance Corp. (AFC) will join forces with companies working on a massive solar and wind energy project in Morocco that aims to fuel the UK through a subsea power cable network. This announcement was made by AFC's Chief Executive Officer, Samaila Zubairu, during an interview at the International Monetary Fund's Spring Meetings in Washington, Bloomberg wrote earlier this week. «Africa is no longer a continent solely reliant on aid or charity», Zubairu emphasized. «If

Algerian Handball team withdraws from match over Moroccan jerseys

The Algerian under-20 handball team has withdrawn from their match against Morocco on Tuesday, April 23rd, in Casablanca. This occurred on the third day of the sixth edition of the Arab Under-20 Championship, according to Algerian newspaper El Moudjahid. The decision stemmed from the Algerians' refusal to play against the Moroccans, who were wearing jerseys emblazoned with the full map of the Kingdom. Moroccan television channel Al Aoula's evening news broadcast footage showing the Moroccan

Libyan envoy visits Morocco after meeting on alternative Maghreb bloc

Just 24 hours after meeting with the Algerian and Tunisian presidents in Tunis to discuss Algeria's proposal for a Maghreb excluding Morocco, Libyan Presidential Council President Mohamed Younes Al-Manfi sent his brother to Rabat with a written message for King Mohammed VI. Sami Al-Manfi met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Tuesday, April 23rd. Libya's Ambassador to Morocco, Abubakr Ibrahim Attawil, emphasized «efforts aimed at strengthening the Arab Maghreb Union to meet

Sierra Leone reaffirms support for Morocco on Sahara despite Algerian pressure

Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, Timothy Musa Kaba, has confirmed his country's unwavering support for the Moroccan Sahara. This stance, outlined in a joint statement issued after talks with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Rabat on April 23rd, comes despite recent Algerian pressure. Sierra Leone endorsed «the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only reliable, serious, and realistic solution» to the Sahara dispute. Kaba also welcomed King Mohammed VI's development projects in

WIPO and Morocco discuss intellectual property for zellige

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang, met, Tuesday, with Morocco's Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, to discuss intellectual property's role in safeguarding cultural heritage and supporting future innovation. «The project we carried out in 2016 on Morocco's famous Zellige tilework, as well as our ongoing collaborations, demonstrate a comprehensive approach to intellectual property», Tang told MAP

Moroccan artisans unite to protect zellige from cultural appropriation

Moroccan artisans and craftsmen are joining forces to protect the art of tile making, known as zellige, from cultural appropriation. The move is part of a colloquium organized by the Rabat-Salé Regional Chamber of Crafts to discuss strategies for safeguarding Morocco's rich cultural heritage. Held in partnership with the Club du patrimoine et des arts and UNESCO, the event, which started Monday, is a platform for Moroccan artisans to express their frustration with attempts to

Dutch-Moroccan drug lord reportedly released in Spain due to mix-up

Dutch-Moroccan drug lord Karim Bouyakhrichan, believed to be a key figure in the notorious «Mocro Maffia» criminal organization, has been released from prison in Spain due to a bureaucratic error, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Arrested in January in Marbella, southern Spain, as part of a large-scale money-laundering investigation, Bouyakhrichan was initially slated for extradition to the Netherlands after a court in Madrid accepted a request by the Dutch authorities. However, a

Fez police arrest suspect in murder and arson case

On Monday, Fez police officers, in collaboration with the DGST, arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict suspected of involvement in a case of voluntary manslaughter and arson. On April 19th, police discovered the charred body of a 41-year-old woman in the El Marja district. An investigation subsequently revealed that the woman had been murdered and her body deliberately burned, likely in an attempt to destroy evidence. Intensive investigations led to the identification and arrest of the main