King Mohammed VI oversees Family Code reform: 100 proposed amendments under review  (Read more...)

FC Sevilla women to face SC Casablanca in friendly showdown in Morocco

Women's clubs FC Sevilla and SC Casablanca are set to face off in a friendly match on Saturday, August 24, at 7 pm in Casablanca. This match will pit the current runners-up of the CAF Women's Champions League against the Spanish side, which recently signed left-winger Fatima Tagnaout for two seasons. The friendly follows «an invitation from Sporting Club Casablanca to participate in the Women's Cup of Morocco 2024», according to a press release from Sevilla, sent Thursday to

Morocco-Algeria border reopens briefly to repatriate 60 Moroccan ex-convicts

The Zouj Beghal land border crossing between Morocco and Algeria was exceptionally opened on Tuesday to facilitate the repatriation of dozens of Moroccans who had served prison sentences in Algerian prisons. The Moroccan Association for the Assistance of Migrants in Difficult Circumstances in Oujda (AMAM) reported that 60 Moroccans, including a young woman, were returned in three groups of 20. These individuals had been incarcerated in various Algerian prisons, including Oran, Tlemcen, Ain

Casablanca-Settat to assume full ownership of Lydec following government approval

The Moroccan government has authorized Société régionale multiservices Casablanca-Settat to acquire all of Veolia's shares in the Lydec company. Decree 2.24.737, signed by Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance, was published in the latest edition of the Official Bulletin. In July, the French group announced in a press release that it had sold its entire stake in Lydec, acquired when Suez took control in 2022, to Société régionale

French-Moroccan rugby player Mehdi Narjissi missing at sea during training in South Africa

Mehdi Narjissi, a 17-year-old French-Moroccan rugby player, has been missing at sea since Wednesday while training with the French U18 rugby team in South Africa for the International Series. Mehdi, a rising star at Stade Toulousain since 2022 and a member of the French U18 team, was «swept away by a wave as he and his teammates were leaving the water after a seaside swim at the Cape of Good Hope», according to the French Rugby Federation (FFR). Emergency services, including

Football stars meet young Moroccans at Hassan II Foundation event

As part of the 25th edition of its cultural stay program, organized from July 6 to August 20, 2024, the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad will host a meeting with national football team players on Sunday, August 11, at its socio-cultural center in Kenitra. The program is divided into three sessions: the first from July 6 to 19 (245 children), the second from July 22 to August 4 (240 children), and the third from August 7 to 20 (255 children). According to a Foundation

Ireland's Aer Lingus expands winter sun options with Marrakech flights

Irish airline Aer Lingus has announced the launch of a new air service linking Dublin to Marrakech, operating three times a week from October 26, 2024. The new flight is part of the Irish carrier's expanded program aimed at providing customers with diverse and exciting travel options to enjoy the sun during the winter season. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Aer Lingus invites its customers to «visit the Jardin Majorelle or explore the beauty of the Bahia

King Mohammed VI congratulates Soufiane El Bakkali on Paris Olympic gold

King Mohammed VI congratulated Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who won the 3000m steeplechase gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Wednesday. In this message, the King expressed his warmest congratulations to Soufiane El Bakkali for winning the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, thus allowing Morocco to retain this title for the second consecutive time after the Tokyo 2020 Games. The King commended his sincere patriotism, strong determination,

Soufiane El Bakkali wins first gold medal for Morocco at Paris Olympics

Reigning world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3000-meter steeplechase final on Wednesday at the Stade de France, clocking a time of 8:06 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A tricky race in which the risk of a fall had to be carefully managed. Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma stumbled over a hurdle on the last lap. Moroccan Mohamed Tindouft launched an attack to disrupt the leading pack. American Kenneth Rooks responded with a blistering acceleration. But Soufiane El

UK's new left-wing government clarifies stance on Sahara issue

Following its victory in the general election on July 4, Britain's new left-wing government is facing scrutiny over its stance on the Sahara issue. In a written question, Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake inquired whether the Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer would consider approaching the UN Security Council to propose extending MINURSO's mandate to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Western Sahara. In its response, the UK government stated that «the UK supports

Spain's Checkin Hotels expands in Morocco with two new properties

On Wednesday, August 7, Spanish group Checkin Hotels announced the opening of two new tourism establishments in Morocco as part of its strategy to expand its presence in the kingdom. The first, the DWO Marrakech Ennakhil, is a 5-star hotel located in Marrakech with 230 rooms, the group said in a press release. The second, the DWO Golden Camp Merzouga, is situated in the heart of the desert amidst the Erg Chebbi dunes and offers 32 luxury tent accommodations equipped with modern

France, leading investor in Morocco in 2023

France was the leading investor in Morocco for 2023, with a net flow of 6.8 billion dirhams (MAD), up from MAD 3.8 billion in 2022—an increase of 79.5%, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. This investment represents 61.4% of the total net flow of foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the Office's 2023 annual report on Morocco's balance of payments and international investment position. Net FDI inflows from the United Arab Emirates totaled MAD 2.3 billion in 2023, compared

Atlas treasures : Morocco's heritage on display in Qatar

From November 2024 to March 8, 2025, the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar will host «Splendours of the Atlas: A Voyage Through Morocco’s Heritage». This extensive exhibition will showcase over 200 artworks, offering a comprehensive exploration of Morocco's rich culture. Organized as part of the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture 2024, the exhibition features a remarkable collection of loaned pieces from Moroccan institutions like the National Foundation of Museums and the National

Moroccans abroad send record 115.3 billion dirhams home in 2023

Remittances from Moroccans living abroad (MRE) reached a record level in 2023, standing at 115.3 billion dirhams (MMDH) compared with 110.8 MMDH in 2022, an increase of 4.1%, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. The average annual growth rate (AAGR) of these revenues over the period 2020-2023 is 19.2%, says the Office in its annual report on Morocco's balance of payments and international investment position. The increase in MRE revenues is recorded in Saudi Arabia (+47% or +3.9 MMDH),

Elderly Frenchman accused of child sex abuse in Essaouira

Police in Essaouira arrested an 80-year-old French citizen on charges of sexually assaulting minors. According to media reports, the arrest followed a tip-off that the man was in a parked caravan with two girls, aged 10 and 11. Responding to the tip, authorities apprehended the suspect and presented him to the public prosecutor in Safi on August 2. The prosecutor ordered the man's immediate detention and charged him with «assaults and violence against minors». A subsequent

Morocco's Ex-PM Benkirane congratulates Yahya Sinwar on Hamas leadership

PJD Secretary General Abdelilah Benkirane has welcomed the appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the new head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas movement, following the assassination of Ismaïl Haniyeh last week in Iran. In his letter, published on Wednesday, August 7, Benkirane extended his sincere congratulations on behalf of himself and the members of the Justice and Development Party in Morocco. «We are delighted with this successful choice», he wrote. The Secretary

Algeria defies France with mass return of expelled nationals post-Sahara policy shift

Since the official recognition of the Moroccan Sahara by Paris, Algeria has opened a new front against Emmanuel Macron and his government. After withdrawing its ambassador in Paris, the Algerian government is now opting for the systematic return of its nationals expelled from France. In its Wednesday, August 7 edition, Le Canard enchaîné reports that «the situation has deteriorated since the Elysée Palace's recent stance in favor of Morocco on the subject of Western

Africa's sole representatives Moroccan break-dancers Mallakh and El-Mamouny make Olympic debut

Moroccan b-boy Bilal Mallakh and b-girl Fatima El-Mamouny are making history as the first-ever Olympic breakdancers. This marks Morocco's debut in the sport and Africa's sole representation at the Paris games. The duo qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the World DanceSport Federation's (WDSF) African Championship in Rabat last May. «Representing Morocco is a beautiful thing», Mallakh, also known as «B-Boy Billy», told CNN. «The Olympics are

Fez high school principal sentenced to 5 years for harassing a student

The Fez Court of Appeals on Monday convicted the principal of a high school in the Ain Chekf community, affiliated with the Moulay Yacoub province to five years in prison and a fine of 1,000 dirhams after a video of him harassing a student at the school went viral, according to al3omk. The regional directorate of the Ministry of National Education in Moulay Yacoub suspended the principal last April after the harassment video circulated on the internet. The directorate confirmed that upon