News Flash

Morocco, Tunisia, Libya qualify for CHAN 2025

Teams from Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya have automatically qualified for the final phase of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for Local Players, scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28, 2025 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) made this announcement on Wednesday in Cairo during the competition's draw. The CHAN qualifiers will consist of two rounds of knockout matches. The first round will be played from October 25 to 27 and November 1 to 3,

Morocco shares expertise with Mauritania in vocational training

The Moroccan Minister of Economic Inclusion, Microenterprise, Employment, and Skills, Younes Skouri, and the Mauritanian Minister of Vocational Training, Handicrafts, and Crafts, Mohamed Maalainine Ould Eyih, met in Rabat on Wednesday to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in vocational training. Their meeting focused on exploring specific and concrete ways to advance cooperation in this area, which is crucial for both countries. The discussion built upon the framework agreement signed

France arrests Moroccan key member of the Mocro-Maffia

A leading member of Mocro-Maffia, a criminal organization in the Netherlands, was arrested on Tuesday, October 8, in Paris after leaving a restaurant. According to AFP and Le Figaro, citing information from the Gendarmerie, the Moroccan man in his thirties was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by the Netherlands. The arrest was carried out by the Gendarmerie's elite unit GIGN in collaboration with investigators from the Paris research section. The man was apprehended at 3 p.m.

Morocco ready to repatriate minors immediately, says Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Tuesday expressed Morocco's willingness to repatriate unaccompanied Moroccan minors from European Union countries «starting tomorrow». However, he criticized the complexities surrounding their return, attributing them to «gaps in laws and procedures» within the EU countries rather than Morocco. During a joint press conference in Rabat with Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo, Bourita urged EU countries to address these

Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture launches Dar Al Maghreb pavilion

The Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture has unveiled the Dar Al Maghreb Pavilion, a temporary cultural space in MIA Park, Doha. The 1,300-square-meter pavilion, inspired by the UNESCO World Heritage site Ksar Aït Benhaddou, opened to the public on October 9, 2024. The pavilion offers visitors a chance to explore Moroccan culture and heritage through informative exhibitions and on-site cultural activations. It includes a souvenir shop and tea salon, where visitors can purchase unique

CAF fines Algerian club for withdrawing from match over Morocco map dispute

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday fined Algerian club USM Alger $40,000 for withdrawing from the two semi-final matches of the CAF Confederation Cup against Renaissance Sportive de Berkane last season. The Algerian team refused to play due to the Moroccan team's shirt featuring the full map of Morocco, a move that the African Union considered a forfeit. USM Alger's management has since appealed the CAF sanctions committee's decision.

Spain pledges «stable ties» with Morocco amid CJEU trade Ruling

Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, reaffirmed Madrid's commitment to maintaining «stable relations» with Rabat on Tuesday, following the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling on the EU-Morocco fisheries and agricultural agreements. Speaking at the inauguration of the 16th edition of the Fruit Attraction Fair, with Morocco participating, Planas emphasized that the agricultural agreement remains in force for another twelve months. Last

Moroccan-Italian woman's epic cycling journey from Italy to the Sahara

Latifa Benharara, a young Moroccan-Italian cyclist, has taken on the challenge of cycling approximately 4,500 km from the Maiella massif in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy to the Sahara. The journey, which started on Sunday in the town of Sulmona, will take her through France and Spain before concluding her sporting adventure at the end of November in Erg Chigaga, one of the major ergs in Morocco's southern provinces. In a statement to MAP, Benharara shared that through this

Morocco condemns Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon

At a press briefing with the President of the Canary Islands on Tuesday, October 8, in Rabat, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita addressed the situation in the Middle East. «We want to shift away from crisis management and towards laying the groundwork for a lasting solution through the two-state solution, with a Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders, and East Jerusalem as its capital», he said. Bourita also emphasized that «extremists on both sides should not be allowed to

Canary Islands President's support for Pedro Sanchez's position on Sahara angers Polisario

In Rabat, the President of the Canary Islands significantly altered his stance on Morocco. After praising the kingdom's cooperation in combating irregular immigration, Fernando Clavijo surprised everyone with an announcement on Western Sahara. With Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, «we discussed the Sahara issue. The government of the Canary Islands fully adopts the policy of the Spanish government, because it could not be otherwise. This support has fostered a climate of trust and

Morocco rejects partnerships threatening its territorial integrity, says Bourita

During a joint press conference with the President of the Canary Islands on October 8 in Rabat, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita reaffirmed Morocco's stance on the recent European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling. «Morocco will not participate in any partnership that compromises its national sovereignty and territorial integrity», Bourita stated. He emphasized that the CJEU's decision is a matter for the European Union to address, adding, «It is up to them to

China's Sentury launches production at Morocco plant, promising 6 million tires annually

Sentury, a leading Chinese tire manufacturer, has officially commenced production at its new plant in Morocco. The factory, located near Tangier, began operations on September 30th. To mark the occasion, Sentury held a commissioning ceremony where the first batch of tires rolled off the production line. Qin Long, the company's chairman, was in attendance. In April, Sentury announced that it would redirect the 2.8 billion yuan (approximately 360 million euros) initially allocated for a plant

Moroccan streamer Ilyas El Malki to captain team at Kings League World Cup

In a groundbreaking announcement, Gerard Piqué, former FC Barcelona player and the founder of the Kings League, has revealed that Ilyas El Malki, Morocco's top streamer, will lead the Moroccan national team in the inaugural Kings League World Cup. The international tournament, set to kick off in January 2025, will feature 16 teams, with Morocco joining Spain and Mexico as the third confirmed participant. Now, as the chosen leader of Morocco's Kings League World Cup team, El Malki is

Jet2 expands Morocco flights from multiple UK airports

British low-cost airline Jet2 has announced plans to expand its operations in Morocco, offering year-round access to the North African country from several major UK airports. The first flights were operated on Thursday, October 3. The initial routes include flights from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, and Manchester to Agadir. Services from Bristol (October 6) and Glasgow (November 3) are also scheduled, reports Express. Starting October 4, Jet2 has expanded its offerings with

Spain deports 21 Sahrawi asylum seekers to Morocco

The Spanish Interior Ministry has deported an additional 21 Sahrawi asylum seekers, some of whom had been detained in rejection rooms at Barajas Airport in Madrid for a month. According to Spanish media, the 21 individuals, including two women and one child, were deported on a commercial flight to Marrakech that departed from Madrid airport at 11:50 PM. Two days earlier, the Spanish Interior Ministry deported two other Sahrawi activists who had attempted to halt their return through legal

Siga Technologies to supply Morocco with Mpox therapy

American pharmaceutical company Siga Technologies announced on Tuesday that it would provide Morocco with its therapy for Mpox. The decision follows a request from the Moroccan Ministry of Health to address any possible outbreak of the disease, according to Reuters. This marks Siga's first commercial sale of the therapy in Africa. The therapy is approved in the United States and Canada for the treatment of smallpox and is also authorized in Europe for smallpox, mpox, cowpox, and

Air Arabia Maroc launches new route from Tetouan to Rotterdam

Moroccan low-cost airline Air Arabia Maroc has announced the launch of a new non-stop flight route from its base at Tetouan Saniat Airport to Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands. The new route will begin on October 28, with flights operating every Monday. With this addition, Air Arabia Maroc now serves seven cities from its Tetouan base, including Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Madrid. The airline operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, known for their

UM6P students protest Israeli lecturer, call to end academic ties

Students at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco have released a press statement voicing strong opposition to the university's decision to host a lecture by Michael Bronstein, described as an «Israeli national» and «Zionist lecturer», scheduled for October 8th at the Faculty of Pharmacy. More than 1,300 students and alumni have signed a petition condemning the university's ties with Israeli academic institutions, which they accuse of being