Morocco dominates Gabon 5-1 in Afcon qualifiers  (Read more...)

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

Morocco to host the 2021 International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings

Morocco has been officially selected to host the 2021 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the end of a long process of evaluation of the applications initially submitted by 13 countries, the Ministry of Economy and Finances announced on Tuesday. This choice, the second of its kind for the African continent since 1973, coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Kingdom's accession to these two institutions on April 25, 1958 and attests to

12 Moroccan migrants rescued off the Spanish coast

Spanish civil guard rescued, earlier this morning, 14 migrants who were on an inflatable boat near the Gibraltar territorial waters heading to Cadiz, a coastal city in southern Spain, said EFE on Wednesday. Twelve Moroccan nationals were among the 14 migrants rescued this morning. «Six to eight of them are minors», said news agency Europa Press. The other two passengers, who are believed to be Spanish smugglers, were arrested. According to sources from the Civil Guard, the boat

Vladimir Putin appoints a new ambassador to Morocco

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed on Tuesday, 24th of April, Valerian Chovaev as new ambassador to Morocco, said Russian news agency Sputnik quoting the Kremlin. The decision was made public by a statement published on the official website of Russian legal information, said the same source. The diplomat was named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Morocco. For the record, the diplomat held several diplomatic positions before.

King Mohammed VI visits the DGST headquarters

Mohammed VI visited the Directorate General for Territory Surveillance (DGST) headquarters in Rabat on Tuesday 24th of April. King inquired about units of the rapid reaction group under the DGST and reviewed the equipment, vehicles and logistics used in intervention operations to deal with the dangers of the terrorist threat and the various forms of organized crime, including cross-border crime. He then inaugurated the new specialized training Institute and visited its various components.

OCP wants to diversify its financing sources by raising 5 billion dirhams

OCP, a global market leader of phosphate since 1920, announced Tuesday that it is planning to raise 5 billion dirhams through a domestic subordinated perpetual bond to uplift its financing sources, financial markets regulator AMMC told Reuters today. According to the same source, through this decision, the phosphate group is trying to «diversify the financing of the 2008-2030 investment programme worth 200 billion dirhams». The step will be taken from 2nd to the 4th of May,

Ivry-sur-Seine mayor leaves Betz without meeting King Mohammed VI

Ivry-sur-Seine mayor Philippe Bouyssou has not met King Mohammed VI, this Tuesday in Betz (Oise), reports Le Parisien. «Despite undergoing a 140-kilometer trip, wearing a colorful scarf and having the strongest determination, no one has bothered answering the door when the Communist mayor knocked on Mohammed VI’s door in Betz. He simply left after spending one hour waiting outside», the newspaper writes. The politician hoped, however, to be received by the Moroccan

A Moroccan man arrested in Spain for spreading ISIS propaganda on social media

A Moroccan man was arrested Tuesday, 24th of April, in the Basque region northern Spain for publishing jihadist propaganda and trying to recruit people for ISIS, said EFE and Xinhua quoting the Spanish Interior Ministry. The Spanish Civil Guard arrested the 24-year-old suspect in the city of Andoain after searching his place «in order to recover all of the evidence of his intense activity in internet and social media», said the same source. Born in Al Hoceima, the

Belgium : 600 unaccompanied minor migrants have disappeared in one year

Based on recent data compiled by the Belgian authorities, 618 unaccompanied minor migrants have disappeared in one year. Compared to 2015 and 2016, the numbers have grown significantly, reports Belgian news agency Belga. In fact, only 277 unaccompanied minors were missing three years ago, while 284 others disappeared two years earlier. The newly released figures are worrying as they have reached 618 disappearances in 2017. 124 cases were reported by Child Focus. Moreover, the foundation