Flash actualités

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

Nasser Bourita receives the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations

Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, received Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on Monday in Rabat, during Lacroix’s second official visit to Morocco. The talks focused on Morocco’s major role and contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, stemming from a Royal Vision that continues the Kingdom’s long-standing commitment in this area since

Morocco ranks 22nd worldwide for tourist arrivals in 2025

Morocco ranked 22nd worldwide for international tourist arrivals in 2025, welcoming 19.8 million visitors, according to the latest edition of the World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy announced. The ministry said the Kingdom gained three places in the global ranking in just one year and has climbed 12 positions compared with 2019. Morocco also improved its

King Mohammed VI honors Nawal Sfendla after Everest and Lhotse ascents

King Mohammed VI received Nawal Sfendla at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Monday, after the Moroccan mountaineer recently completed back-to-back ascents of Everest and Lhotse. During the audience, the sovereign decorated her with the Wissam Al Moukafaa Al Watania, with the rank of Officer. The royal audience reflects the King’s commitment to sport as a driver of human development, inclusion and social cohesion, as well as his attention to issues concerning Moroccan women, a cornerstone of

Morocco arrests 11 suspects wanted under international warrants

Eleven people wanted under national and international arrest warrants were arrested on Monday in coordinated security operations carried out in Marrakech and Tangier, according to a press release issued by Moroccan authorities. The suspects include 10 dual Moroccan-French, Moroccan-Belgian and Moroccan-Dutch nationals, as well as one French citizen. Checks through Interpol databases revealed that 10 of them were the subject of Red Notices issued at the request of judicial authorities in

OMDH urges Moroccan parties to prioritize human rights in 2026 elections

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) has published a memorandum urging political parties to place human rights at the heart of the platforms they are preparing for the September 2026 elections. The document outlines public policy proposals aligned with the Constitution and Morocco’s international commitments under ratified conventions. The OMDH says the proposals should help shape the programme of the future governing party while addressing expectations related to economic,

BCP ends Belgium probe with 175 million euro settlement

After several years of legal uncertainty, the Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) Group has closed one of the most sensitive chapters in its European operations. On Monday, the French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels approved a settlement between BCP, its subsidiary Banque Chaabi du Maroc (BCDM), and Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office, bringing an investigation launched in 2018 to a definitive close. Under the agreement, the two institutions will pay €174.5 million

Oujda police arrest teen seen threatening with bladed weapon in viral video

proofread this and refine and make more native sounding Security services in the city of Oujda arrested an 18-year-old man who appeared in a video circulating on social media carrying a bladed weapon and threatening to use it in a public street, an incident that sparked widespread reaction among users of digital platforms. Investigations launched by security services following the circulation of the footage revealed that the incident is linked to a criminal case currently being handled by the

464,919 candidates sat Morocco’s baccalaureate exams

A total of 464,919 candidates sat Morocco’s unified national Baccalaureate examinations, held from June 4 to 6, with attendance rates reaching 96.5% among school-based candidates and 52.7% among independent candidates, according to the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports. In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said the exams took place under satisfactory pedagogical and organizational conditions, thanks to the mobilization of all stakeholders involved in

Mentally ill man dies at hospital entrance, sparking investigation in Taza

The public prosecutor’s office in Taza has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man suffering from mental health disorders after he died outside the emergency department of Ibn Baja Provincial Hospital. According to local media reports, the man had been taken to the hospital to receive treatment. However, he was neither admitted to the psychiatric unit nor transferred to Fez for specialized care. The incident has drawn strong reactions from human

American Comedian Conan O’Brien films new travel series episode in Morocco

American comedian and television host Conan O'Brien has wrapped filming in Morocco for the third season of his HBO Max travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go. O’Brien announced the end of the shoot in a social media post, Saturday, showing himself and his longtime assistant, Sona Movsesian, riding camels. «Sona and I are taking Ubers back to the airport. Farewell, Morocco!» he wrote. According to José Arroyo, a writer on the show, the crew filmed in Casablanca,