EU to give Morocco €200 million for quake reconstruction efforts  (Read more...)

Morocco, US discuss security cooperation at 13th Defense Advisory Committee session

On Monday, May 20, Rabat hosted the 13th session of the Morocco-United States Defense Advisory Committee. The Biden administration was represented by Celeste Wallander, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. In the Moroccan capital, she held talks with General of the Army Corps, Inspector General of the FAR, and Commander of the Southern Zone, Mohammed Berrid. The Committee meeting «constitutes a platform for strategic dialogue where crucial

No official representation for Polisario in Switzerland, says Swiss government

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs affirmed that no official representation of the Polisario Front exists either at the United Nations Office at Geneva or with the Federal Council (Swiss government). In a verbal note addressed to the Moroccan Embassy in Bern, the Department specified that the Polisario Front office in Geneva does not benefit from any privileges or immunities in Switzerland. This clarification, which constitutes a new setback for the Polisario, also reminded the

Polisario prevented from holding military parade in «liberated territories»

This Monday, May 20, the Polisario celebrated the 51st anniversary of the launch of its armed struggle. The commemoration was organized in the Tindouf camps, on Algerian territory, under a large tent set up for the occasion, with some foreign delegations present. The traditional military parade in the «liberated territories», such as Tifariti or Bir Lahlou, did not take place. The Front has thus been prevented for the fifth consecutive year from commemorating one of its holidays in

20th African Lion Exercise kicks off in Agadir

The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the U.S. Armed Forces are co-hosting the 20th edition of the African Lion exercise until May 31. An opening ceremony was held on Monday at the headquarters of the South Zone Headquarters in Agadir to announce the official launch of this multinational joint exercise, in the presence of military officials from participating nations. At the ceremony, co-chaired by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the South Zone, and Major General Todd R.

Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali claims victory in 3000m steeplechase at Diamond League

Moroccan world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 15th edition of the Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme, part of the Diamond League, in Marrakech on Sunday. El Bakkali won in 8:09.40s, ahead of Ethiopia's Wale Getnet (8:09.78s) and Kenya's Serem Amos (8:10.82s). This fourth stage of the Diamond League brings together international athletes, including Olympic and world champions.

Italy to help restore 12th-century Tinmel Mosque

The Italian government agency, the Superintendence of Archaeology, has been entrusted with the restoration of the 12th-century Tinmel Mosque. According to Italian media, the agency is sending one of its skilled architects, Aldo Giorgio Pezzi, to Morocco to help restore the historic site, heavily damaged by the September 2023 earthquake.  This restoration stems from a partnership between the Italian Ministry of Culture and Morocco's Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs. The two

King Hassan II Water Prize awarded at 10th World Water Forum in Bali

On May 20th, the 10th World Water Forum was inaugurated in Bali, Indonesia, in the presence of a large Moroccan delegation led by Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, accompanied by Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water. On this occasion, the Kingdom of Morocco presented the 8th Hassan II Grand Prize for Water. This edition, with the theme «Securing water resources for food sovereignty and shared prosperity», received 84 high-quality entries dedicated to water issues.

Thousands march for Palestine in Casablanca

Thousands of demonstrators took part in a march in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Casablanca on Sunday, at the initiative of the Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Normalization. The rally departed from Place de la Victoire in downtown Casablanca towards the American Consulate on Boulevard Moulay Youssef. The demonstrators denounced the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip and raised slogans in support of the Palestinian resistance. They also called for an end to the

Morocco and TripAdvisor partner to reach 5.3 million overnight stays by 2029

The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) announces an unprecedented partnership with the world leader in travel, TripAdvisor, with the aim of boosting Morocco's tourism industry. The official signing took place at TripAdvisor's headquarters in Needham (United States), between Adel El Fakir, Director General of the ONMT, and Matt Goldberg, CEO of TripAdvisor, Inc. Until now, the ONMT had only concluded short-term agreements, generally annual or seasonal, with the giant TripAdvisor. This new

USAID Administrator visits Morocco

The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power, is visiting Morocco from May 19 to 22, according to a press release issued by the agency on Friday. The trip is intended to «underscore the United States' commitment to deepening its relationship with one of its oldest allies», according to the same press release. In Morocco, Administrator Power will meet with government officials, partner organizations, youth, and local

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal could visit Morocco in coming weeks

Gabriel Attal, the French Prime Minister, could travel to Morocco in the coming weeks. French daily La Tribune reported on Sunday, May 19, that Attal will make an official trip to Morocco from July 3 to 5. This trip is seen as symbolizing a new stage in the warming process of relations between Paris and Rabat after a two-year period of strained diplomatic ties. Attal will travel to Morocco from July 3 to 5, accompanied by several of his ministers. This visit is seen as a possible prelude to a

Butane gas prices rise in Morocco starting May 20th

The Ministry of Economy and Finance's Directorate of Competition, Prices, and Compensation announced in a statement published on May 19 that the government is implementing a «removal of the butane gas subsidy». This decision will take effect on Monday, May 20, and will result in «an increase of 2.5 dirhams in the price of a 3 kg gas bottle and 10 dirhams for a 12 kg bottle». The government justifies this change as part of a broader reform to streamline social

New missile attack : Polisario targets Es-Smara again

The Polisario fired three missiles at Es-Smara on Saturday, May 18. «The projectiles landed in an uninhabited area 12 km from the town. There were no casualties», a Moroccan military source told Yabiladi. Audio messages exchanged on Polisario-affiliated social networks confirm the attack. Saharawis claim to have heard explosions, but there is no mention of casualties or of civilian or military targets having been hit by the three projectiles. A Polisario media outlet claimed that

Cannes Premiere showcases Moroccan chikhat tradition in «Everybody Loves Touda»

Nabil Ayouch's latest film Everybody Loves Touda had its world premiere on Friday evening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25, 2024), where cinema worked its magic on an admiring audience. Shown in the Cannes Première category, it received a standing ovation at the end. Actress Nisrine Erradi, who plays the main character, showcased her singing talent by performing a live excerpt of aïta music. In the film, Touda dreams of becoming a chikha. Every evening in the bars of

Italian customs halt shipment of Moroccan-made Fiats

A shipment of 134 new Fiat Stellantis Topolinos was recently seized by Italian customs at the port of Livorno. Italian customs seized the shipment because the Italian flag on the cars indicated the country of manufacture as Italy, which is incorrect – the model is produced by the plant in Morocco. Quoted by the Italian media, Stellantis explained that the flag symbolized the Italian character of the company and that it had been clearly explained that production would take place in

Moroccan asylum seeker jailed for 45 years for stabbing man in revenge for Gaza war

A Moroccan asylum seeker who stabbed a British pensioner to death was sentenced to at least 45 years in prison on Friday, May 17, Associated Press reported. 45-year-old Ahmed Alid stabbed 70-year-old Terence Carney six times in the street in Hartlepool, northeast England, on October 15, 2023. The court termed the stabbing an act of terrorism after Alid told police he'd killed Carney because «Israel had killed innocent children». «They killed children and I killed an old

Morocco's medical cannabis market could reach 6.3 billion dirhams by 2028

On Friday, May 17, the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP) held a workshop exploring the medicinal and pharmaceutical potential of cannabis. Chaired by Mohamed El Bouhamdi, the event highlighted the economic opportunities in this sector. Medical cannabis «could generate an annual market value of 4.2 to 6.3 billion dirhams by 2028, if Morocco captures a 10-15% share of the European market», El Bouhamdi told Le360. His statements reflect the

Trial opens for ex-officials Naciri and Bioui in «Sahara Escobar» drug case on May 23

The trial of Said Naciri and Abdenbi Bioui, former presidents of Casablanca's Prefectural Council and the Oriental Regional Council respectively, will open on Thursday, May 23, at the Casablanca Court of Appeal. The two PAM leaders will appear alongside 23 other defendants in the «Sahara Escobar» international drug trafficking case. Judicial sources, cited by Le360, reveal the charges against the defendants, with around twenty currently in pre-trial detention. Abdenbi Bioui faces