Pakistani man's irregular Europe crossing via Morocco thwarted  (Read more...)

Mahia, Morocco's traditional spirit, makes its way to UK market

A new version of Morocco's traditional fig-based spirit, Mahia, is entering the UK market under the brand name Sahara. The spirit, whose name translates to «water of life» in Moroccan Arabic, is traditionally made from figs or dates and infused with aniseed. According to The Drinks Business, the initiative is led by Omar Oualili, who aims to revive this historically significant beverage. The spirit was traditionally associated with Morocco's Jewish communities but saw declining

Chinese automaker BAIC set to enter Moroccan market in 2025

BAIC vehicles are about to make their entrance into the Moroccan market. Comicom, a key player in the distribution of tractors and agricultural equipment throughout the Kingdom, as well as the exclusive importer of Mahindra vehicles, is embarking on the importation of the Chinese automobile brand BAIC. Comicom, with over 120 years of expertise, has signed an exclusive import and distribution contract with BAIC for the Moroccan market. This initiative allows Comicom to expand its offerings and

Morocco's tourism office partners with Norwegian to connect Tangier to Copenhagen

Good news for Moroccan tourism is coming from Norway. The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) has announced a partnership with the airline Norwegian. This collaboration will allow, starting in May 2025, the launch of a direct air route between Tangier and Copenhagen. This development marks a first for Tangier, which will benefit from a direct connection with a strategic Scandinavian airport. This initiative plans for a weekly flight during the first season, thus connecting

Algeria challenges Morocco for influence in Central American Parliament

After obtaining observer member status with PARLATINO (Latin American and Caribbean Parliament) in September, Algeria has now set its sights on PARLACEN (Central American Parliament). This is evidenced by the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday, December 4, in Panama City between the Algerian Chamber of Deputies and PARLACEN, a body that brings together El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. «This agreement represents an important

Morocco secures €344.7m in financing from AfDB

On Thursday in Rabat, Morocco and the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed three financing agreements totaling €344.7 million (over MAD 3.6 billion). The funds are aimed at supporting programs to strengthen economic governance, enhance resilience to climate change, optimize drinking water production, and develop the industrial zone at the Nador West Med port. The first agreement, worth €120 million, was signed by Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah and AfDB President Akinwumi

AfDB announces €650 million support for Morocco's 2030 World Cup preparations

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged a €650 million (approximately 7 billion dirhams) financing package to support Morocco's preparations for the 2030 World Cup, announced the Bank's President, Akinwumi Adesina, in Rabat on Thursday. «To assist Morocco's preparations for the 2030 World Cup, the AfDB will soon submit for approval a €650 million financing project focused on developing rail and airport infrastructure, thereby boosting Morocco's competitiveness»,

Morocco and Belgium forge security partnership with joint action plan

The Director General of National Security (DGSN) and Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, made a working visit to Belgium on Thursday. This trip aimed to strengthen the mechanisms of joint cooperation in various areas related to security and intelligence work, according to a statement from the DGSN-DGST Pole. The Director General held working sessions with the Commissioner General of the Belgian Federal Police, Eric Snoek. The discussions between the two parties focused on

Highway company ordered to compensate driver in donkey collision case

The Administrative Court of Casablanca has ruled that the National Motorway Company of Morocco must compensate an individual for damages to his car after he collided with a donkey on the highway. The incident occurred on August 29, 2022, when the driver unexpectedly encountered a donkey crossing the highway, resulting in material damage to his vehicle. In his complaint, the driver argued that the company was responsible for protecting road users and requested compensation for the

Marrakech shuts down 31 hotels and guest houses for three months

Farid Chourak, the governor of the Marrakech-Safi region and the governor of Marrakech, ordered the closure of 31 hotels and guest houses in the city for three months due to serious legal violations and non-compliance with the regulations governing the tourism sector, according to local media sources. The decision followed inspections carried out by joint committees comprising local authorities, the urban community, and the security department in Marrakech, during which violations were

EBRD grants €50 million loan to support Moroccan MSMEs affected by earthquake

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a €50 million local currency loan to Crédit Agricole du Maroc, aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Morocco. The initiative will primarily focus on areas affected by the September 2023 earthquake, with 65% of the funding allocated to these regions. The loan agreement was signed in Rabat by EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and CAM President Mohammed Fikrat, with Agriculture Minister Ahmed

Tetouan : Rapist of minor schoolgirl sentenced to 5 years in prison

The Court of Appeal in Tetouan has sentenced a man accused of raping a minor schoolgirl,  to five years in prison and imposing a fine of 50,000 dirhams as compensation for the victim. The incident dates back to last June, when the victim's family filed a complaint against the accused, who had lured her, sexually assaulted her, and filmed her with the intent of blackmailing her. The Karama Association for Human Rights in Tetouan also intervened in the case, which led to the arrest of the

Morocco : Chamber of Councillors approves first part of 2025 Finance Bill

At a plenary session on Thursday, the Chamber of Councillors adopted the first part of the Finance Bill (PLF) 60.24 for the 2025 financial year, as amended, by majority vote. A total of 48 councillors voted in favor, 7 voted against, and 9 abstained. The session was attended by Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the budget. The House of Councillors received 231 proposed amendments to this part of the PLF, of which 66 were accepted, 55

Algeria resumes support for Polisario following Oran Diplomatic Forum

With the close of the Oran Diplomatic Forum, Algeria promptly resumed its traditional stance on the Sahara issue. This was evident in the statement made by the Algerian Foreign Minister following his talks with his Namibian counterpart in Algiers on Wednesday, December 4. After highlighting Algeria's support for Namibia's liberation movement (SWAPO), Ahmed Attaf emphasized that both countries «defend the legitimate rights of justice and freedom and just causes, particularly in Western

High-profile rape case in Morocco takes a new turn as plaintiff withdraws complaint

The case of the four men accused of rape, kidnapping, assault, and battery, known as the «Bennis-Alj-Slaoui affair», has taken a new turn. Mohamed Amine Naguib, one of the plaintiffs in the case, withdrew his complaint on Thursday, December 5, according to Le360. Naguib, who holds a position in committees within the CGEM (Moroccan Employers' Association), headed by the father of one of the accused, is also the partner of the 27-year-old French lawyer who filed rape complaints in

Fundraising campaign launched to repatriate young man's body from Spain to Morocco

The family of a young man named Amin, who passed away on November 29 after being stabbed during a fight in the «Los Vinos» area of the city of Ourense, Spain, has launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate his body to Morocco. The campaign was initiated through an Instagram account, aiming to collect donations to cover the victim's funeral costs. The campaign's appeal stated: «Let us unite our efforts to support his family in this difficult ordeal. Any contribution, no

BDS : Tanger Med port allows docking of new ships bound for Israel

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel in Morocco stated that a ship loaded with military equipment from the U.S. Army and heading to the Zionist army's warehouses docked at the Tanger Med port. The movement added in a statement that this is the fifth ship of its kind to dock at the port, noting that the MAERSK CHICAGO ship arrived at the port on Monday, December 2nd, from teh US, «and unloaded its cargo at pier number 2». It added that currently, a «sixth

Moroccan man expelled from Italy for domestic violence

A Moroccan man has been expelled from Italy for domestic violence. The individual was repatriated on November 28 by the Italian State Police, according to local media reports. The expulsion came after a series of offenses prompted the Prefect and Police Chief in Udine, a city in northeastern Italy, to order his immediate expulsion. The man had been living in Italy since August 2015, having moved to reunite with his wife, who is legally residing in the country. However, during his stay, he

€50 million AfDB-Bank of Africa partnership to boost African trade

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and BANK OF AFRICA SA signed a 50 million euro (~530 million dirhams) risk-sharing agreement on December 4, 2024, in Rabat, aimed at supporting the private sector and boosting intra-African trade. The agreement, formalized on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum (December 4-6 in Rabat), will enable BOA to strengthen its support for local African banks in their international transactions. This notably involves expanding their financing and