Sahara: The Trump administration announces a strategic review of MINURSO

The Trump administration is stepping up its involvement ahead of the April deadline at the UN Security Council concerning the Western Sahara issue, with a significant announcement. «We are conducting a strategic review of the peacekeeping force deployed in Western Sahara for the past 50 years», declared Mike Waltz, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, during his testimony before Congress on UN reform. This stance is in line with the policy unveiled by Marco

Oman appoints Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui to lead national squad

The Oman Football Association has announced the appointment of Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui as head of the national team, replacing Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz. In a statement posted on X, the federation said Sektioui will lead “the first national team during the upcoming phase, as it prepares for its future commitments.” The association also confirmed that Carlos Queiroz’s contract was terminated “by mutual consent,” thanking him for his work during his

Morocco's FAR reach CAF Champions League semi-finals after historic win over Pyramids

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) knocked out defending champions Pyramids to reach the CAF Champions League semi-finals, Reuters reports. FAR secured a 3-2 aggregate win after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Rabat, with Rida Slim and Mohamed Rabie Hrimat scoring in Cairo. Pyramids reduced the gap but failed to force extra time. “This is a historic win and a historic qualification for the club,” said Youssef El Fahli. “We have the determination to fight for the title this

Inside fish models: 3.9 tons of cannabis resin thwarted at Tangier Med

On Thursday evening, March 19, police officers at the Tanger-Med Port, in coordination with customs authorities, thwarted an international drug smuggling attempt, resulting in the seizure of three tons and 932 kilograms of cannabis resin. This operation followed a joint border inspection targeting an international transport truck registered in Morocco. The drug shipments were discovered carefully hidden within cavities of chilled fish models, which had been meticulously prepared and wrapped to

Senegalese Football Federation faces backlash over new jerseys with missing star

On Friday, March 20, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) released a statement addressing the uproar among fans over the new jerseys of the Lions of Teranga. The jerseys, which feature only one star despite the team's continental triumph, have stirred controversy, especially in light of the CAF appeal jury's decision that complicated the matter. The federation clarified that the jersey production commenced in August 2025 by their supplier, Puma, long before the latest Africa Cup of

Sultana Khaya breaks her silence and denies any «split» with the Polisario

After a prolonged silence, Sultana Khaya has emerged to quell rumors of a «split» with the Polisario Front. Speaking from Alicante, Spain, where she has been living since her departure from the Sahara to Las Palmas in June 2022, Khaya released a video accusing Moroccan agents of fabricating her alleged «defection». She firmly reiterated her «loyalty» to the Front. Recently, Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps have taken to social media to accuse her of

South Africa offers legal support to Senegal following the loss of its AFCON title

South Africa has announced its willingness to assist Senegal in reclaiming its title as the champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and to offer legal support, according to South African Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. In an interview on SABC News Morning Live, McKenzie criticized what he termed Morocco's «bullying» of African football and the other 53 CAF members. This statement follows the CAF appeals commission's decision to strip Senegal of its

Moroccan organization condemns Algeria's closure of SOS Disparus headquarters

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) has vehemently denounced the Algerian authorities' decision to close and seal the headquarters of the Association of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria (SOS Disparus). The OMDH characterizes this move as part of a «systematic policy of harassment» directed at the families of victims of enforced disappearances and human rights advocates. In a statement, the OMDH condemned the decision as «arbitrary», highlighting that

Eid al-Fitr to be celebrated in Morocco on Friday

Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced in a statement.The ministry said it observed the crescent moon marking the start of Shawwal 1447 AH on the evening of Thursday, March 19, corresponding to the 29th of Ramadan, and confirmed its sighting in accordance with Islamic law.As a result, the first day of Shawwal, marking Eid al-Fitr, will fall on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Dijon court upholds ban on religious symbols in council meetings

The administrative court of Dijon on Wednesday upheld a decree issued by the mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône, Gilles Platret (formerly of the LR party), banning «conspicuous religious symbols» during municipal council meetings. Two LFI elected officials who challenged the measure, one of whom wears a veil, saw their case dismissed. According to AFP, the judge in interim proceedings held that «the freedom of conscience of an elected member of a municipal council must be

UN distances itself from Ted Cruz's initiative to classify Polisario as terrorist

The United Nations has distanced itself from a recent initiative spearheaded by U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, which seeks to label the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. «The UN has regarded the Frente Polisario as one of the key parties involved in the Western Sahara conflict, and we continue to deal with them, as we do with the Governments of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and other involved regional parties», stated the deputy spokesperson for the UN

European Commission clarifies Western Sahara exports to EU markets

The European Commission on Wednesday provided clarifications to Members of the European Parliament regarding products originating from Western Sahara and exported to EU markets. «Most imports concern fish products, both in terms of volume and value,» a senior official told members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development during a presentation. «Out of 200 million tonnes imported, around 130 million come from fishing, notably canned

Football: Called-up players can make a significant medium-term impact, says Ouahbi

National team coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed confidence on Thursday in his squad selection for the upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay, saying the players called up are «capable of making a significant contribution in the medium term». «I am satisfied with the mindset shown by the selected players ahead of the upcoming fixtures», Ouahbi said during a press conference at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, where he unveiled the squad for the two matches

Ouahbi names 28-man Morocco squad for Ecuador, Paraguay friendlies

National team coach Mohamed Ouahbi on Thursday called up 28 players for two friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay, scheduled for the end of March. The squad list was unveiled during a press conference held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora, near Salé. Ouahbi will begin his tenure with the national team with a friendly against Ecuador on Friday, March 27, in Madrid, Spain, followed by a second match against Paraguay on Tuesday, March 31, in Lens, France. Both

Morocco’s belated AFCON victory causes double payout confusion among bettors

CAF’s decision to award the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco following Senegal’s walk-off in the final has left both bettors and betting platforms in confusion. Two months after the controversial match, several operators have begun paying out on Morocco as winners. Firms including Paddy Power, BoyleSports, Betfair, Sky Bet and Betclic have confirmed they are settling wagers in line with CAF’s ruling, treating it as the official result. This comes despite the fact that many

Virgin Limited Edition to open new luxury hotel in Marrakech in 2027

A new luxury hotel by Virgin Limited Edition is slated to open its doors in 2027, nestled within a sprawling 10-hectare agricultural estate just 25 minutes from Marrakech. This upcoming retreat will boast 37 suites and aims to embody the essence of Moroccan nature, culture, and craftsmanship, as revealed in a recent announcement by the group founded by Richard Branson. This venture marks Virgin Limited Edition's second foray into Morocco, following the success of Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas

Zagora: Three-year-old dies after falling into 120-meter well

A three-year-old child tragically lost his life on Wednesday evening, March 18, after falling into a deep well in  the Beni Zouli commune in Zagora province. His body was recovered several hours after he was reported missing. The child’s family alerted authorities following his disappearance earlier in the afternoon. In response, units from the Royal Gendarmerie and Civil Protection, assisted by local residents, launched an extensive search operation that ultimately led to the

Sahara products: EU defends labeling agreed with Morocco at European Parliament

The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development reviewed on Wednesday, March 18, the agricultural agreement reached on October 3 between Morocco and the European Union, with a particular focus on tariff preferences granted to products originating from Western Sahara. During the meeting, the European Commission firmly defended the labeling system agreed with Rabat. Brigitte Misonne, Deputy Director-General in charge of agriculture, described it as a