News Flash

New York : Morocco calls for reforming the African Union's Peace and Security Council

During a ministerial meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on September the 24th in New York, Morocco called for reforming the African Union. «It is crucial to reform the Peace and Security Council, the main pillar of the African Peace and Security body which is important to the stability of the African continent», said Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The minister was inspired by some of the suggestions mentioned in Rwandan President Paul Kagame's report to

Royal navy foils an illegal emigration operation

The Royal Navy in collaboration with the Royal Gendarmerie foiled an illegal emigration operation from Martil beach, according to a press release issued Sunday by the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces. A fighting unit of the Royal Navy operating in the Mediterranean tracked, on Saturday night, a very high-speed boat, which was trying to reach the beach of Martil to carry illegal immigrants, according to the same source. The coordination between this unit and two fast boats of the Royal

French-Moroccan footballer Mattéo Guendouzi dreams of joining the French team

Son of a Moroccan father and a French mother, international footballer Mattéo Guendouzi seems to have already made his choice regarding the national team he wants to join. Indeed, the young Arsenal player told sports newspaper, L'Equipe, that he has always played for several French clubs before, so wearing the blue jersey is one of his goals. «It's a dream I have in the back of my head». The 19-year-old has declined Hervé Renard's offer in 2017 and can be chosen to

The president of Melilla doesn't want «Moroccan students» in the city anymore

Six months ago, the president of Melilla proposed the construction of a school for 200 Moroccan students who were unable to benefit from national education. However, Juan Jose Imbroda changed his mind lately stating that these kids must be schooled «in their country», reports El Faro de Melilla. Imbroda believes that «it is absurd to enroll undocumented children in public centers in Melilla». «The city takes care of its students and of thousands others who have

Moroccans involved in illegal immigration attempts foiled late Aug. 2018 down to 13%

The number of Moroccans involved in illegal immigration attempts that were foiled by the end of August 2018 decreased from 20% to 13%, said minister delegate in charge of relations with parliament and civil society, government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi. During a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting, chaired by head of government Saad Eddine El Othmani, El Khalfi said the number of Moroccans involved in foiled attempts of illegal immigration decreased from 8,200 people at

Political disagreement between Morocco and Algeria blocks counterterrorism cooperation

Political disagreement between Morocco and Algeria over the status of the Sahara «remained an impediment to bilateral and regional counterterrorism cooperation in 2017», the US State Department pointed out in its annual Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2017. Morocco, a Major Non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, is a stable security-exporting partner that trains security, military, and law enforcement officials from sub-Saharan Africa and participates actively in

Mauritanian Foreign Minister visits Morocco as part of a working trip

Mauritania's minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, is visiting Morocco on September 20-21. According to the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this visit is part of the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in several areas. The visit will be an opportunity to examine the means to develop bilateral economic relations as well as coordination and consultation on issues of common interest in the context of the exceptional situation in the

Novares opens a new production plant in Kenitra

French global plastic solutions provider Novares opened on Wednesday its first production plant in North Africa, in Kenitra, Morocco. The move is part of Novares’ global expansion, coming just one year after Mecaplast-Key Plastics rebranded as Novares and following the opening of new plants in Mioveni, Romania and Chihuahua, Mexico. First Novares plant in North Africa, the new factory is in Kenitra, Morocco only 15 km from the newly-opened PSA facility and close to the Renault facility

US film director James Gray to head the jury of the Marrakech International Film Festival

US film director James Gray will be the president of the jury of the 17th Marrakech International Film Festival, to be held from November 30 to December 8, 2018, organizers said in a press release. “The Marrakech Film Festival is truly a very special place where the language of cinema unites people from all over the map. It’s a tremendous honor to be named President of the Jury and to be returning to this great festival for a third time,” James Gray said in a

FIFA ranking : Morocco jumps to 45th spot

Morocco's national football team has moved up by one spot from 46th to 45th in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Thursday. With a total of 1425 points, Morocco ranks fourth in Africa after Tunisia, Senegal and Congo DR. Belgium have joined World Cup champions France as joint leaders of the FIFA world rankings, while Brazil, Croatia and Uruguay make up the top five.

Morocco's former Prime Minister Mohamed Karim Lamrani passes away

Former Prime Minister Mohamed Karim Lamrani died on Thursday at his home in Casablanca at the age of 99, his family has announced. The deceased will be buried this Thursday after Aduhr prayer at Achouhada cemetery in Casablanca, according to the same source. Born on May 1st, 1919, in Fez, Lamrani served as Prime Minister for three times. His times at the head of the government were marked by major reforms, including the structural adjustment programme, the budget reform and the tax

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita meets with eminent members of US Senate

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita held talks, on Tuesday in Washington, with eminent senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Todd Young, in the presence of Morocco's ambassador to Washington Lalla Joumala Alaoui. In a statement to MAP, Bourita said that these talks are part of maintaining contacts with influential members of the Senate concerning mainly financial and military cooperation, in addition to the national issue. The minister, who had met on Monday at the Department of State with

India and Morocco discuss the opening of a direct air link

Morocco and India discussed on Tuesday in New Delhi the possibility of opening a direct air link between the two countries in order to develop tourism and establish a link with Africa. Such a direct air link will boost economic exchange and tourism between the two countries and will bring India closer to the African continent, Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicraft and Social Economy, Mohamed Sajid, said during his meeting with Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, Pradeep Singh

France places Saad Lamjarred in pretrial detention

Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred was placed in pretrial detention Tuesday by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal. The decision was taken after the prosecutor's office appealed against putting him under judicial supervision, reports Radio France International. Indicted for «rape», the Moroccan pop star was arrested on August 26 in Saint-Tropez after a young French woman lodged a complaint against him. The Liberty and Detention judge then placed him under judicial supervision,

Morocco arrests 12 people suspected of belonging to a terrorist cell

The Central Bureau of Judiciary Investigations (BCIJ), under the General Directorate for National Territory Surveillance, in close collaboration with national police (DGSN) and on the basis of accurate information provided by the directorate general for territory surveillance (DGST), has arrested twelve people accused of belonging to a terrorist and criminal network operating in the cities of Tangiers and Casablanca. Among these people are individuals with criminal record for common law crimes

Morocco and the US agree to hold strategic dialogue next year in Washington

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed, Monday in Washington, to hold the next session of the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue next year in the U.S. federal capital. Bourita and Pompeo, who met at the State Department, discussed "opportunities to expand our strong economic and security cooperation, including joint efforts to end Iran's support for terrorism and counter its negative influence in the region," said

A plane coming from Morocco gets escorted by the Italian army

A Vulkan Air Antonov An-26, a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, that was flying from Morocco to Italy had a communication blackout on Sunday, which required military intervention. According to media Terzo Binario, two F-2000 Euro fighters from 4 Wing Italian Air Force took off Sunday morning to control a charter flight from Tangier (Morocco) to Rome Fiumicino airport. The two fighter planes reached the civilian plane to determine the nature of the problem.

Zero Zbel expresses concern over beach pollution in Morocco

85% of the waste collected in Moroccan beaches is plastic. Bottles, ropes, fishing nets, sticks and plastic bags are objects that pollute these precious places, reported Zero Zbel, an association that fights against pollution, in a report conducted to commemorate the World Day for Beach Cleaning (September the 15th). The NGO explains that from March to August 2018, 36 280 have been thrown in the beaches. Backed by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Zero Zbel managed to track the origins of these