Morocco's Arrabet and Skaleet partner for a new neo-bank offering in Africa  (Read more...)

Moroccan Honorary Consulate opens in Gioia Tauro, Calabria

A new Moroccan Honorary Consulate has been established in Gioia Tauro, Calabria, southern Italy. On Thursday, a delegation from the Moroccan Honorary Consulate, led by Consul Domenico Naccari, and officials from the municipality of Gioia Tauro, led by Mayor Simona Scarcella, met at the new premises of the diplomatic mission. The prestigious Palazzo Sant'Ippolito has been designated to house the Moroccan Honorary Consulate, following the signing of Resolution No. 122 of 2024, which grants the

Moroccan expatriate council embraces royal reforms to empower diaspora

The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) has welcomed King Mohammed VI's speech marking the 49th anniversary of the Green March. The CCME expressed its full commitment to implementing the royal guidelines outlined in the speech. In a press release, the CCME praised the King's recognition of the patriotism and contributions of Moroccans living abroad. The Council also welcomed the King's decision to restructure institutions governing Moroccan expatriate affairs to better serve their

Atlas Lions goalkeeper Yassine Bounou honored among legends at Madrid's Football Museum

At the Museum of Football Legends in Madrid, Atlas Lions goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has earned his place among the icons of world football. Located in Puerta del Sol, in the heart of the Spanish capital, the Legends: Home of Soccer museum offers an exceptional collection celebrating «the greatest passion created by man: soccer». Spanning 4,200 m² over seven floors, the museum allows football enthusiasts to admire jerseys worn in official matches by players such as Diego

Morocco announces 26-player squad for crucial AFCON qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho

National coach Walid Regragui has called up 26 players for Morocco’s upcoming matches against Gabon in Franceville on November 15 and Lesotho at Stade d'Honneur in Oujda on November 18, according to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday. These matches are part of the 5th and 6th rounds of Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers for Group B, with the tournament set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The FRMF also announced that

Morocco elected vice president of Interpol for Africa

In a landslide vote on Thursday, November 7, 2024, Morocco secured the position of vice president of Interpol for the African continent during the organization's 92nd General Assembly session held in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 4-7. Morocco's candidate, Mohamed Dkhissi, Director of Judicial Police, secured the support of 96 member countries, far surpassing other contenders. The candidacy was driven by Morocco's commitment to developing African police structures and strengthening

British pedophile dies in Moroccan Prison

A British national, Robert Bill, who was serving a 20-year sentence in a Moroccan prison, has died. Bill, a former teacher and playground designer from St Asaph, was convicted in 2014 for attempting to kidnap and rape three Moroccan girls. According to the ECHO Newspaper, Bill was arrested in June 2013 at a petrol station in Tetouan, northern Morocco, after witnesses heard screams from a young girl in his Spanish-registered car. He was subsequently found guilty of attempting to abduct and

France’s AFD to start investing in the Sahara, says group’s CEO

The French Development Agency (AFD) will begin investing in the Sahara, announced its CEO, Rémy Rioux, who plans to visit the Kingdom’s southern provinces. «The AFD Group will invest in the Sahara, a link between Morocco and its neighboring countries. I will soon visit Laayoune and Dakhla to meet with the local population», Rioux told MAP, emphasizing that this decision aligns with AFD's «all-Africa» approach, which it shares with Morocco. «We share

Morocco's BCP Group appoints Naziha Belkeziz as new CEO

Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) has named Naziha Belkeziz as its new Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman, effective November 5, 2024. The appointment follows the retirement of Mohamed Karim Mounir, who has served the bank for nearly three decades. According to the official press release from BCP's Board of Directors in Casablanca, Belkeziz was co-opted as a board member before being named to the top position. The Board expressed confidence in her leadership, citing her professional

Fire erupts at a Casablanca office building

A fire broke out at an insurance office on the FAR avenue in Casablanca on Thursday morning. According to multiple sources, the fire caused no casualties. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, it sparked panic among office workers. Civil protection teams responded promptly to the incident and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings.

Morocco invests 210 million dirhams to expand Laayoune fishing port

Work began Tuesday on expanding the Laayoune fishing port, with a total investment of 210 million dirhams. Launched to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Green March, this project aligns with the 2030 port master plan and aims to foster regional socio-economic development by increasing berthing capacity and supporting coastal and artisanal fishing activities. The extension involves demolishing existing guano berths, constructing a new 350-meter-long, five-meter-deep fishing dock, a

Algeria imposes trade curbs on France over Sahara recognition

In the first half of 2024, trade between Algeria and France saw a slight dip after three years of steady growth. According to Le Figaro, the Algerian Association of Banks and Financial Institutions, a public entity that acts on behalf of the government to oversee trade, gathered local banks on Monday, November 4, to communicate a new directive: Import and export transactions with France are to be halted in response to France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. The

Moroccan national extradited to France on suspicion of rape and murder of French girl

Taha Oualidat, arrested last September in Switzerland, was extradited to France on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of 19-year-old Philippine. The undocumented Moroccan national was detained at the Annemasse border and taken to Paris to appear before an examining magistrate, according to sources cited by BFMTV. His extradition reportedly proceeded without incident. The 22-year-old had initially resisted, but later consented to a simplified extradition process after

King Mohammed VI congratulates Donald Trump on his re-election

King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to Donald J. Trump following his election as President of the United States for a second term. In his message, the Sovereign expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes for Trump's success in his presidential duties and his continued efforts to serve the American people. The King emphasized that Trump's resounding success in the elections is a testament to his patriotism and his dedication to upholding the best interests of the

Morocco crowned «most welcoming destination» at WTM London

On Tuesday evening, the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) was awarded the «Most Welcoming Destination» prize at the Arab Travel Awards, held alongside the World Travel Market (WTM) in London from November 5 to 7. This recognition underscores Morocco's commitment to hospitality, enhancing its appeal and strengthening its position as a leading tourist destination in the UK market. At the 2024 WTM, the ONMT showcased Morocco's offerings with an expansive 800 m² pavilion,

Moroccan football coach Rachid Taoussi to defend doctoral dissertation on leadership

On November 18, 2024, Moroccan football manager Rachid Taoussi will defend his doctoral dissertation in Business Administration at Éklore-Ed School of Management in France. His dissertation is titled «Characteristics of the Ideal Leader-Coach: A Contextual Analysis Based on Storytelling Methodology». Since last September, Taoussi has been coaching Tanzania's Azam FC and is currently performing well with the team. Previously, he coached several Moroccan clubs and led the

Amid genocide in Gaza, Moroccan journalists visit Israel

At the invitation of the Israeli government, a group of Moroccan journalists is visiting Israel from November 4 to 9, with the trip organized by the Israeli liaison office in Rabat. The visit comes as the Israeli army extends its military operations from Gaza to Lebanon. So far, there has been no official statement from Tel Aviv regarding the visit. The Israeli army’s spokesperson for Arab media, Avichay Adraee, has also remained silent about his «meeting» with the Moroccan

FAR drone strike kills armed Polisario members east of sand wall

On Tuesday, November 5, a Royal Armed Forces (FAR) drone struck four Polisario vehicles in the locality of Gleibat El Foula, east of the Moroccan defensive wall known as the Mur des Sables. «Once again, the militiamen used vehicles with Mauritanian license plates and wore civilian clothing to evade FAR detection», a Moroccan source told Yabiladi. The preliminary toll from the airstrike is reported as two dead and three wounded. In audio messages, Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps

CAF approves RS Berkane's jersey with full map of Morocco, sparking anger in Algeria

The Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Competitions Committee has approved Renaissance Sportive de Berkane's jersey, which features a map of Morocco, including the Sahara. This decision has drawn condemnation from the Algerian sports press, with some outlets labeling it a «CAF scandal» and a «blow» to Algeria. The Algerian reaction stems from a previous incident in August 2023, when RS Berkane was denied permission to wear their traditional jersey with the full