News Flash

SAREX Detroit 2024 : Morocco simulates maritime crisis to test Response teams

Agriculture Minister Mohammed Sadiki led the launch of «SAREX Detroit 2024», a maritime search and rescue exercise, Wednesday, May 29th. Running until May 31st off the Tanger Med port, the event is part of the operation for the transit of Moroccans residing abroad. It mobilizes significant human and material resources to simulate a crisis at sea and assess the responsiveness of Moroccan intervention teams, according to a press release. Various high-ranking personalities attended

Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi secures first European trophy for Olympiacos

Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi led his team Olympiacos to victory in the inaugural Conference League final, scoring the winning goal against Fiorentina of Italy (1-0) in extra time at the Hagia Sophia Stadium in Athens. El Kaabi netted the winning goal in the 116th minute, delivering Olympiacos and Greece their first European club football title. The Moroccan international finished as the competition's top scorer with 11 goals in 9 matches. He became the first player to score 11 goals in a

Yassine Bounou named top keeper in Saudi Pro League

Moroccan footballer Yassine Bounou, who currently plays as goalkeeper for Al Hilal, was named the best goalkeeper in the Saudi Pro League for the 2023-2024 season. He had a great season, keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding only 20 goals in 31 appearances with his club. Bounou was also named goalkeeper of the month three times: October 2023, November 2023, and February 2024, according to Al Hilal Saudi Club. ? #AlHilal’s Great Wall “Yassine Bounou” Wins the Best GK in

Oracle and Morocco announce $140 million cloud investment

American multinational computer technology company Oracle plans to open two cloud regions in Morocco to stimulate and support the digital transformation of businesses, universities, investors, and, more generally, the national economy. The project is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed Wednesday in Marrakech, Morocco, during GITEX 2024, by the Moroccan Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform,

AFRICOM chief visits Morocco for African Lion 2024

General Michael Langley, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), arrived in Agadir, Morocco, on Wednesday, May 29th. At the headquarters of the Southern Zone of the Royal Armed Forces, General Langley, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Rabat, held talks with the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone, Major General Mohammed Berrid, according to a statement published by the FAR on social networks. The visit of the AFRICOM chief comes as the military exercise

Spain's Constitutional Court reviews complaint against Polisario leader

Following the rejection on Friday, May 24, by the Spanish Supreme Court of its complaint against Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADEH) held a videoconference meeting on Wednesday, May 29. ASADEH plans to appeal the decision. The association's defense intends to file an appeal with the Constitutional Court in Spain in the coming weeks. A favorable verdict from the Constitutional Court could lead the National Court to re-examine the case.

Germany hosts conference on Moroccan women's migration

A conference on migration and integration strategies for first-generation Moroccan women in Marburg, Germany, was held on Tuesday, May 28th, by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Philipps University. The conference, led by Nadia Yakin, a researcher specializing in women's issues and migration in Germany, was part of a series organized by the (Arab Academic Circle). Yakin focused on the various aspects of this migration, highlighting pre-migration factors such as social conditions,

Morocco seeks to attract more Chinese tourists with ITB China participation

For the first time, Morocco’s National Tourism Office (ONMT) is taking part in the ITB China 2024 trade show in Shanghai, from May 27 to 29, with a delegation of Moroccan operators. Under the theme «Thrive in Transformation, Reach New Heights. Together» this leading trade show in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry brought together over 800 exhibitors from over 80 different countries, according to a press release. During the event, ONMT renewed partnerships with key

Morocco's digital strategy 2030 to be launched soon, Head of Gov't

The Moroccan Digital Strategy 2030, developed by the government, was announced on Wednesday in Marrakech by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch. «This strategy is the outcome of intense synergy and collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders», said Akhannouch, speaking at the opening of Gitex Africa 2024. He added that the government prioritizes digital transition. The Moroccan Digital Strategy 2030 focuses on two main axes: digitalizing public services and

Amazon Web Services, Orange to offer cloud computing in Morocco

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, announced on Wednesday that it plans to offer cloud computing in Morocco. AWS will offer these services through its AWS Wavelength platform in partnership with telecommunications company Orange. According to Reuters, Orange will be tasked with housing the services in its data centers. The move is driven by the growing demand for secure local data housing from banks, telecoms, and healthcare companies. This partnership will also cover

Morocco- Italy : New tannery project to create over 260 jobs

On Tuesday, May 28th, an agreement was signed in Rabat with the Italian NUTI IVO group to establish a second modern tannery in Morocco. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, and the group's CEO, Fabrizio Nuti. This memorandum of understanding, valid from 2025 to 2029, covers an investment of 131.2 million dirhams, with forecast annual sales of 300 million dirhams. Over 90% of these sales are expected to be generated by exports, and the project

Italy : 22 Moroccan start-ups to benefit from a training project

The Italian Foreign Trade Agency (ICE/Ita) is launching an internationalization training course for Moroccan startups focused on innovation, from July 1 to 4 at the Casablanca Technoparc and at the end of October 2024 in Italy. In collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Rabat, this initiative is part of the Lab Innova for Africa program, initiated by ICE in 2019 and involving 275 African companies focused on agribusiness. According to the Ansa news agency, this project is being implemented

Morocco's FM holds talks with Chinese counterpart

Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita held talks here Wednesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, also member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. During the meeting, the two countries reaffirmed their clear, constant and mutual support on fundamental issues pertaining to the vital interests of the Kingdom of Morocco and the People's Republic of China. The two Ministers also lauded the depth and richness of the friendship and

Moroccan-French footballer Khalil Fayad opts for Atlas Lions

Born in Montpellier on June 9, 2004, Khalil Fayad, the Moroccan-French midfielder for Montpellier, announced on his official Instagram account that he has chosen to represent the Moroccan national team. After playing for various French youth teams, Fayad has opted to switch allegiances. «After many months of reflection, I am honored to announce that I am joining the Moroccan national team», Fayad stated. «I will always remember the years I spent with the French national team,

Moroccan man arrested in Italy for ISIS propaganda

Italy's Division of General Investigations and Special Operations (DIGOS) arrested Moroccan-Italian Elmahdi Halili on Tuesday morning, May 28. Halili is considered the author of the first jihadist propaganda texts in Italian. Arrested in Turin, the 29-year-old is accused of terrorist association and was believed to be an ISIS ideologue in Italy, according to investigators. Halili was arrested twice before, in 2015 and 2018, on charges of terrorism and links to ISIS. He was accused of carrying

Algerian army kills Sahrawi gold miners in Tindouf

The Algerian army killed Sahrawi gold miners on Tuesday, May 28, near the «camp Dakhla», located on Algerian territory about 200 km from the Tindouf camps, the Forum de Soutien aux Autonomistes de Tindouf (FORSATIN) has announced. Relatives of the victims confirmed the attack in audio messages obtained by Yabiladi. They also cited the names of those killed. The exact death toll from the strike, believed to be carried out by drone, is not yet known. Testimonies estimate the number

US investors look to back Morocco's tech startups at US-Morocco Venture Capital Forum

The United States Mission in Morocco and the U.S. government's Prosper Africa initiative co-hosted a two-day U.S.-Morocco Venture Capital Forum in Marrakech on May 27-28. The forum aimed to strengthen U.S.-Morocco commercial ties and encourage investment in the region. Held ahead of GITEX Africa 2024, Africa's Biggest Tech & Startup show (May 29-31), the forum attracted U.S. and regional venture capital (VC) investors, Moroccan government officials, and Moroccan startup founders, according

Air Arabia inaugurates new airport base in Rabat

Air Arabia has announced the opening of its new airport base in Rabat. The inaugural ceremony, held on Tuesday, May 28, at Rabat Salé Airport, was attended by Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, and ambassadors from several countries. The opening of this base aims to strengthen connections between Morocco and attractive European cities, while stimulating tourism and economic development in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra