Morocco expels two Norwegians from Laayoune  (Read more...)

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to be loaned for two years to German club Borussia Dortmund

Moroccan-Spanish World Cup player Achraf Hakimi is to join German club Borussia Dortmund (BVB) in a loan contract, reports German online newspaper Aachener Nachrichten. The 19-year-old right-back will be lent for two years to the German club and would later return to his current club Real Madrid. The financial details of the loan have not been revealed, indicates the same source, adding that the Real Madrid and BVB are still to confirm the deal. The Madrid-born player has been playing for the

Fisheries agreement : Morocco leads another round of negotiations

Rabat hosts from the 3rd to the 5th of July another round of negotiations to conclude a new fisheries agreement with the European Union. Ten days before the expiry of the current treaty, to be invalid on July 14th, the series of talks are closely followed by Spanish fishers. The Spanish government is also keeping an eye on the negotiations taking place in the Kingdom this week. In fact, Secretary-General of the Spanish Fisheries Ministry Alicia Villauriz affirmed on Tuesday, 3rd of July, that

More churches face desacralization in Morocco

Up to date, more than thirty churches are still operating in Morocco. The number seems chocking as it has been steadily declining for decades. In fact, many churches and cathedrals in the Kingdom have been transformed into cultural centers, hotels and mosques. Spanish news agency EFE tackled the issue, putting the blame on a regulatory vacuum. Indeed, Morocco has never set a framework for justice to protect sacred places. «The Catholic church had no legal status in Morocco, from the day

MINURSO’s «partial» communiqué on Horst Köhler’s visit to the Sahara

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has published a communiqué on the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Horst Köhler’s latest visit to the Sahara. The statement, which Yabiladi has a copy of it, mentions the meetings the UN official held with representatives and local authorities from Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as some economic decision makers. Unexpectedly, the document skipped the two meetings Köhler held

Schalke player Amine Harit granted his passport and driving license after the fatal car accident

Moroccan World Cup footballer Amine Harit who was involved in a fatal car accident in Marrakech was handed down his passport and driving license, says German online newspaper NRZ. The Schalke midfielder can leave the country whenever he wants and he no longer needs to accompany his lawyer for court hearings. On Monday, Harit’s hearing was postponed to a later date «leaving way for negotiations with the victim’s parents for a settlement». It is possible for Harit

England’s National Express wins a 1 billion euro contract to run bus services in Morocco

National Express, a British multinational public transport company, has announced that its Moroccan and Spanish subsidiaries won a 1billion euro contract to manage bus services in the North African Kingdom, says Reuters. The contract will cover 61 routes and is expected to last for 15 years, said the National Express on Wednesday 4th of July. Within a year, the British company will run the service through its unit ALSA and with the help of CityBus.   «We have been steadily growing

Russian vehicles to be sold soon in Morocco

Russian automotive conglomerate GAZ and Africa Motors have collaborated to sell GAZelle NEXT chassis for the creation of 100 types of vehicles in Morocco, announced the two firms on Tuesday 3nd of June. The new chassis are equipped with a «2.8-litre diesel engine and offered with a single-row or double-cab», says the same source. «Together with our partner, Africa Motors, we took the first step - we've signed a distribution agreement and launched sales of GAZelle NEXT

Noureddine Amir, the first Moroccan fashion designer to participate to the Paris Fashion Week

Moroccan designer Noureddine Amir is taking part for the first time in the Paris Fashion Week, reports fashion online magazine Emirates Woman on Tuesday. Amir will be representing Morocco because he is the first national to make it to the prestigious fashion event. He was selected by the Chambre Syndicate de La Haute Couture to present his 2018 fall collection. The Marrakech-based designer studied at the Esmod fashion school and his creations were exhibited at the Museum of Fashion in

Nasser Bourita criticizes his Dutch counterpart for interfering in Rabat’s «internal affairs»

Speaking to media on Tuesday, 3rd of July, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that the Netherlands should not intervene in Rabat’s «internal affairs», reports Turkish press agency Anadolu. The minister’s reaction comes as the Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Block brought Hirak protests and the sentences handed down to detainees that led the movement in the Rif region to the parliament. He has even warned Dutch-Moroccan citizens against entering

Al Hoceima’s first instance court postpones the hearing of eight newly arrested Hirak activists

The Al Hoceima first instance court postponed on Monday, 2nd of July, the hearing of eight Hirak activists to the 8th of July, says Arabic-language newspaper Alyaoum 24 on Tuesday. The detainees were arrested in a series of protests that took place recently in the region. They were arrested while protesting against the heavy sentences handed down by the Casablanca Appeal Court, last week, to 53 Hirak detainees. According to the same source, protesters were accused of participating to an

Coach Hervé Renard addresses departure rumors saying «for now, I am here !»

Asked on Monday night by 2M.ma sports journalist Morad Moutawakkil, Atlas Lions’ coach Hervé Renard finally addressed departure rumors. «I was treated in an extraordinary way in Morocco, especially by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa», he clarified. The French former footballer urged Moroccans to not «fall for confusions». «There is nothing to worry about», he added before hailing his experience with the Moroccan

Van Life Disaster : The German vlogger’s alleged harasser arrested by the police

After posting a video, revealing that she was allegedly assaulted by a Moroccan man while visiting Chefchaouen, German vlogger and traveler Susi Cruzz announced that her alleged harasser was arrested by the police. In an Instagram story she published Monday evening, Susi wrote that «the police found that guy because of the video». «He was arrested because of harassment, possession of drugs and illegally working as a tour guide», she explained. An Instagram story by

Amine Harit’s hearing postponed to reach an amicable settlement with the victim’s family

Involved in a deadly car accident in Marrakech, Moroccan World Cup footballer Amine Harit’s hearing has been postponed on Monday, 2nd of July, says AFP. The hearing was initially scheduled for Monday, says the same source, indicating that negotiations are underway to achieve an amicable settlement with the victim’s family. The 21-year-old Schalke midfielder was behind the wheel when his car hit a pedestrian and killed him, Saturday 30th of June, in Marrakech. An investigation was

Brazil to shoot a series called «Jesus» in Ouarzazate

The Brazilian TV channel Record TV has started shooting the first season of an episode called «Jesus» in Morocco, reports online newspaper Prensario. For two weeks, the series’ technical teams will be in Ouarzazate. The series will be shot in the Atlas Studio's location, mobilizing 71 film professionals, most of whom are Moroccans. In addition to that, 150 Moroccans were hired as extras. The company is bringing 85 suitcases to Morocco, carrying costumes to be used in the

Morocco arrests four individuals with alleged links to ISIS

The Central Bureau for Judiciary Investigations (BCJI), under the general directorate for territory surveillance, arrested, Monday, four individuals suspected of being linked to the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) and operating in the cities of Casablanca, Tangier, Nador and Tiznit, says the Interior ministry. In addition to their total adherence to ISIS's destructive agenda and propaganda actions in favor of this terrorist organization, the investigations carried out by the

AU : The Polisario hails the idea of creating a body to monitor the Western Sahara conflict

The Polisario has not left the 31st African Union summit, held currently in Nouakchott, empty handed. Reacting to the report presented by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Front has welcomed the idea of creating a body for the monitoring of the Western Sahara issue. Moreover, the Front’s «Foreign Minister» Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, hailed the establishment of an AU monitoring mechanism. All current members of the pan-African

Van Life Disaster : A German vlogger claims she was harassed in Morocco

Traveling the world in her self-built camper van, German vlogger Susi Cruzz had a disastrous experience in Morocco. In a video she shared on her Youtube channel, on 1st of June, the young girl spoke about how uncomfortable she felt while in the North African Kingdom. In her account, Susi who is also known on the internet as the girl who makes videos on her «Van Life», said she was harassed, and stolen when trying to discover the northern region of the country. «My wallet was

Moroccan-Dutch midfielder Hakim Ziyech to join AS Roma for €30 million

Moroccan-Dutch international footballer Hakim Ziyech, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ajax, is to join Italian club AS Roma for a figure of €30 million, says Moroccan sports channel Arryadia on Twitter, Sunday. According to the same source, the Amsterdam club Ajax will officially announce Ziyech' transfer on Monday. Hakim #Ziyech à l’ @ASRomaFRA pour un montant de 30 M€. L’annonce officielle lundi. @AFCAjax pic.twitter.com/BsLunW2W7c — Arryadia