In Rabat, U.S. Embassy celebrates America’s 250th Independence Day, friendship with Morocco almost as old

The U.S. Embassy in Rabat marked the 250th anniversary of American independence on June 9 during its annual National Day reception, held for the first time at the historic Chellah site in Rabat. The event brought together senior Moroccan officials, diplomats, and representatives from the public and private sectors, highlighting nearly 250 years of friendship between the United States and Morocco. The embassy recalled that Morocco was the first country to recognize U.S. independence, laying the

Swedish aerospace supplier Trelleborg opens new manufacturing plant in Morocco

Swedish group Trelleborg, a global leader in polymer-based solutions, inaugurated a new aerospace sealing systems manufacturing facility on Tuesday at Midparc in Nouaceur. The project represents an investment of nearly 130 million dirhams and is expected to create between 150 and 200 jobs in the long term. It will expand Morocco’s aerospace value chain, increase sourcing from local suppliers, strengthen the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers, and generate highly skilled employment

Polisario blames Moroccan infiltration after Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz death

Once the initial shock subsided, the Polisario leadership moved quickly to shape its own narrative around the death of Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, who was killed on Sunday in an airstrike attributed to a drone operated by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). From his exile in France, Mahmoud Kenti has openly pointed the finger at Sahrawis who returned to the Tindouf camps following the securing of the El Guerguerat crossing on November 13, 2020, accusing them of playing a role in the death of the son

Death of Mohamed Abdelaziz’s son: Polisario denounces Spain’s «silence»

The Polisario Front seized on the death of Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, which occurred on Sunday in an area east of the Sand Wall, to renew its criticism of the Spanish government. Its representative in Spain made this clear in statements to an Iberian media outlet. Abdellah Arabi denounced «the double standards that today characterize the Spanish government’s foreign policy on the Sahrawi issue». He also argued that «when the victims are Sahrawi, the government’s

PFL Africa chooses Casablanca for major MMA event

The Professional Fighters League Africa (PFL Africa) is set to step up its expansion across the continent with a major event planned in Casablanca, organized in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Federation of Mixed Martial Arts (FRMMMA). According to Africa Intelligence, PFL Africa director Elias Schulze is expected to officially announce in the coming days that Morocco will host the event, marking a significant milestone in the development of mixed martial arts in the Kingdom. Led by

Operation Marhaba 2026 opens June 10 with 1,400 staff and 26 reception centers

Under the directives of King Mohammed VI, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity will launch Operation Marhaba for Moroccans living abroad (MREs) on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The Foundation, which is involved in implementing the operation alongside all national stakeholders, will activate its comprehensive reception system at midnight simultaneously in Morocco, France, Spain and Italy, according to a statement. The 2026 edition builds on the reinforced framework introduced during the

Bourita calls for Africa to be at the heart of global counterterrorism efforts

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said on Tuesday that King Mohammed VI’s vision for Africa provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the continent’s security challenges, stressing that development, stability and security are closely interconnected. Speaking at the opening of the fifth High-Level Meeting of Heads of Counter-Terrorism and Security Agencies in Africa, held in El Jadida under the co-chairmanship of Morocco and the United Nations Office of

Brazil FA President calls World Cup opener against Morocco an «honor» for the Seleção

The president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, has described Brazil’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Morocco as an «honor» for the Seleção, saying his team will face a side that has «impressed the world with its organization, composure and footballing identity». In an exclusive interview with the Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP) in Brasília, Xaud praised Morocco’s rise on the global football

British Moroccan Society marks 50 years of UK-Morocco friendship

The British Moroccan Society (BMS) marked its 50th anniversary on Saturday in Marrakech, celebrating five decades of friendship and strengthened ties between the United Kingdom and Morocco. The event brought together prominent figures from the diplomatic, business, academic and cultural spheres. All funds raised during the celebration will support education initiatives in the High Atlas Mountains, particularly the learning centers in Talatast and Ijoukak, which were inaugurated in September

Report flags challenges to electoral stability ahead of Morocco’s 2026 vote

Fifth Marrakech platform meeting of African counterterrorism chiefs opens in El Jadida

The fifth edition of the High-Level Meeting of African Heads of Counterterrorism and Security Agencies, known as the «Marrakech Platform», opened on Tuesday in El Jadida under the co-chairmanship of Morocco and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). The two-day event brings together representatives from around 40 African intelligence and security services, as well as 90 observer delegations from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Representatives of

Morocco ONEE secures 250 million euros from EBRD for water infrastructure

Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) is set to receive €250 million in financing, nearly 2.8 billion dirhams, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the EBRD’s annual meetings, held from June 5 to 7 in Riga, Latvia. The funds will be disbursed in two tranches and will be accompanied by technical support. The package is intended to help ONEE modernize its drinking water

Podemos urges Spain to cut ties with Morocco after death of Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz

Podemos MEP Isa Serra has called on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to condemn the Moroccan drone strike that targeted members of the Polisario militias two days ago as they were reportedly preparing to launch projectiles toward the western side of Morocco’s sand wall. She also urged him to sever relations with Rabat «once and for all». «This is extremely serious. The Moroccan dictatorship is killing Sahrawis in order to continue the occupation», Serra

Belgium: More than one in ten Brussels residents is of Moroccan origin

The Belgian association Les Amis du Maroc held its annual gathering on Monday evening in Brussels, focusing on relations between Morocco and Belgium. The event brought together political leaders, diplomats, elected officials, and representatives from the cultural, academic and non-profit sectors of both countries. Guest of honor Boris Dilliès, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, highlighted the importance of the Moroccan community in Belgium. «In 2025, more than one

Morocco social aid reaches nearly 4 million households

The Direct Social Assistance (ASD) program has benefited 3.9 million households, including 5.5 million children and 1.7 million elderly people, according to the National Social Support Agency’s (ANSS) 2025 activity report. Around 60% of beneficiaries live in rural areas, highlighting the close correlation between multidimensional poverty and the geographic distribution of recipients. According to the report, this distribution reflects the effectiveness of the Unified Social Register in

Morocco’s parliament reviews military agreements with African states recognizing the «SADR»

The Moroccan government has submitted a series of draft laws to the House of Representatives seeking ratification of military cooperation agreements signed with several African countries, including some that continue to recognize the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» (SADR). The announcement was made on Monday, June 8, by the chamber’s quaestor at the opening of a session devoted to Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s responses to lawmakers’

Sahara: Polisario reiterates its old demands to De Mistura

Staffan de Mistura arrived in the Tindouf camps on Sunday. On Monday, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara held talks with the Polisario’s «foreign minister», Mohamed Yeslem Beissat. In the absence of an official UN statement on the meeting, the Polisario official said he had reiterated his movement’s commitment to a «just, impartial and transparent» solution that guarantees what the Front describes as the Sahrawi people’s

United States: Polisario ally John Bolton expected to plead guilty to avoid prison

The U.S. case against John Bolton has taken a new turn. Prosecuted by American authorities for «alleged mishandling of classified information», the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term «has reached a deal to plead guilty in his classified documents case», the BBC reports. He will also be required to pay a $2.25 million fine, the same source said. A new arraignment hearing, scheduled for June 26, is expected to allow John