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

A Moroccan-Belgian woman claims having been in a relationship with Tariq Ramadan

A Moroccan-Belgian woman has claimed that she has been in a relationship with Swiss scholar Tariq Ramadan for five years, Europe 1 reported on Thursday. The woman identified as Majda Bernoussi says she was one of Ramadan’s victims from 2009 to 2014. She stresses that she has been under psychological influence of the famous lecturer and reveals she has accepted his «financial support to keep quiet», says the same source. «We are really dealing with a predator, an

Sahara : Russia, Ethiopia and China abstain in the Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has just adopted a new resolution on Western Sahara. As planned, the council's fifteen members extended the MINURSO's manadate for another six months. Out of the Security Council's fifteen members, twelve have voted in favor of the draft resolution submitted by the United States while three others have chosen to abstain, namely Russia, Ethiopia and China. To justify the country's choice of abstaintion, the Chinese representative said that the text did not

Morocco reveals the Atlas Lions’ official uniform for the 2018 World Cup

Adidas has revealed Friday, 27th of April, the official uniform the Atlas Lions will wear on the 2018 World Cup, to be hosted by Russia in June, reports sports-focused radio station Radio Mars on its official page on Facebook. The white jersey has red stripes on the shoulders and is very different from the previous designs. The uniform bears the logo of the producing company and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

Ceuta : Moroccan jihadists wanted to reproduce the Paris attacks

Two alleged jihadists arrested in 2017 are accused of having joined a cell located in the El Príncipe district of Ceuta, which housed weapons, planning to reproduce the 13-November attacks which targeted Paris, says the newspaper La Gaceta. During the last session of the trial of Abdelilah CB, a Moroccan national, and Hicham AM, Prosecutor Susana Landeras maintained her request for twenty years in prison for the two men, for being part of a terrorist organization and the

Abdelilah Benkirane reacts to the viral boycott campaign

Former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane finally reacted to the viral boycott campaign, targeting three major companies in Morocco. Speaking to Arabic-language daily newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, the PJD politician said he was «surprised» that the campaign is including mineral bottled water producer Sidi Ali, and diary company Centrale Laitière while their prices have not been increased. On the other hand, Benkirane said he «understands» the reasons

King Mohammed VI is expected to visit the Congo Republic over the weekend

King Mohammed VI is expected to sign a number of investment agreements in the Congo Republic, said Bloomberg Thursday quoting the Congolese Environment and Tourism Minister Arlette Soudan-Nonault. According to the same source, the Moroccan sovereign is to attend a summit of leaders, hosted by the Central African nation on the 28th of April, to discuss the Congo Basin Blue Fund, an initiative designed to help the countries of the Congo Basin finance a shift in their economies from reliance on

Marrakech : A woman gives birth to sextuplets after seven years of waiting

It’s a happy day for a Moroccan couple who, after seven years of marriage, gave birth to sextuplets, reports EFE. The 30-year-old woman delivered the babies Thursday, April 26th, in a clinic in Marrakech. Married since she was 23 years old, the mother who lives in Safi with her husband, had to be taken to «a more sophisticated clinic» to assure the safety of the babies. The young woman had a caesarean section after seven months of pregnancy; she is currently in good health.

King Mohammed VI chairs a working session to review progress in renewable energy projects

King Mohammed VI chaired, Thursday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a working session to review the progress in renewable energy projects led by Masen, said a statement by the Royal Office. During this meeting, which was attended by head of Government, Saadeddine El Othmani, the King's advisor, Yassir Zenagui, minister of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development, Aziz Rabbah, director general of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining, Amina Benkhadra and director general of the National

Terrorism : Despite political differences Morocco and Spain manage to collaborate

The former head of the Spanish intelligence services, Jorge Dezcallar, who served from 2001 to 2004, praised the collaboration between his country and Morocco in the fight against terrorism. Cooperation «has always been excellent even during moments when the two countries have political differences», he said in an interview with Elconfidencial. In fact, collaborating to fight against radical islamist groups, he said, offers politicians «reliable channels» to

Mustapha El Khalfi : Reporters Without Borders’ report on Morocco lacks balance

Minister delegate for relations with parliament and civil society and government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi, said Thursday that the latest report issued by Reporters Without Borders on freedom of press in Morocco is «unfair and lacks balance», reports MAP news agency. «The report doesn’t take into account the multiple steps taken by Morocco», he said responding to journalists during a press briefing held today in Rabat. Moreover, the minister was surprised

Mustapha El Khalfi thinks it is too early to comment on the Western Sahara draft resolution

Minister delegate for relations with parliament and civil society and government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi, said Thursday, 26th of April, that it was too early to comment on the Western Sahara draft resolution to be voted by the UN Security Council. «Discussion are underway at the UN Security Council», he said responding to a question asked during a weekly briefing held in Rabat. For the record, the draft resolution on the Western Sahara conflict and which is expected to

Iraq : A German-Moroccan woman sentenced to life imprisonment

Lamia K., a German woman of Moroccan origin who was sentenced last January to death for being a member of the terrorist group «Islamic State in Syria and Iraq», was sentenced to life imprisonment by Central Criminal Court of Baghdad, confirmed the accused's family lawyer to the German weekly Der Spiegel. In Iraq, a life sentence is equivalent to 15 or 20 years in prison, says L’Economiste. Lamia K. left Germany and Iraq to join the terrorist organization in Syria with her

300 imams from Algeria and Morocco expected in France for Ramadan

About 300 foreign imams from Algeria and Morocco are expected to go to France in mid-May, to lead Muslim prayers in mosques during the month of Ramadan, said Franceinfo. The initiative is part of a bilateral agreement. During the holy month, Muslim communities have special needs. They seek religious scholars capable of reciting the Koran, explained daily newspaper 20 Minutes. «Around 250 and 300» of them are expected in France, «through a one-month-long visa», a

Five migrants die near the Moroccan coast and 180 others rescued

Five migrants have died near Morocco’s northern coast, trying to reach for Spain, reports AFP on Thursday quoting the Spanish coastguard which has recued 180 others. This rescue operation is the second of its kind carried out by the Spanish authorities which managed to rescue 14 migrants who were on an inflatable boat near the Gibraltar territorial waters heading to Cadiz, a coastal city in southern Spain. The deceased migrants were found dead in the waters located 40 kilometers away

Colombia denies having a Polisario diplomatic representative

In a communiqué published Tuesday evening, 24th of April, the Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that «the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has neither diplomatic representation nor ambassador accredited to Colombia». The announcement came after a person has presented himself as a diplomatic representative of the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» accredited by the Government of Colombia. The country clarified its position regarding the Western

Fisheries agreement : The first round of negotiations concluded in Rabat

The first round of negotiations held by Morocco and the European Union to conclude a new fisheries agreement, was concluded Wednesday, April the 25th, in Rabat, said EFE. «Each party has submitted its amendments, asking questions related to the future agreement. This will lead us to a second round that will be dedicated mainly to answers», a diplomatic source told the Spanish news agency. In a previous article, EFE announced that talks will be carried on Thursday, April the 26th,

France : Jawad Bendaoud receives a six-month suspended prison sentence

Jawad Bendaoud, who was released on February 14th by the Paris Criminal Court for hosting of terrorist criminals, has received a suspended six-month sentence after threatening to kill his girlfriend last March, said Franceinfo. The 30-year-old French Moroccan man was «tried in the Bobigny (Seine-Saint-Denis) court on Wednesday», after being placed in police custody yesterday. The victim claims that Jawad Bendaoud was threatening her through calls and text messages telling her that

Ghanaian president backs Moroccan bid for the 2026 World Cup

Morocco’s Royal Football Federation announced Wednesday, 25th of April, in a tweet that Ghana supports the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup. On Tuesday, April the 24th, the Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, received a Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) delegation headed by CAF president Ahmed Ahmed, and head of the Moroccan federation Fouzi Lekjaa at the presidential palace in Accra. استقبل السيد نانا أكوفو أودو، رئيس