Dutch-Moroccan ex-anti-terrorism official denies «spying for Morocco», seeks PM's testimony  (Read more...)

Polisario leader departs Mauritania without meeting President El Ghazouani

After forty-eight hours of waiting, the Polisario leader left Nouakchott on Saturday afternoon without having been received by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. Brahim Ghali was the last guest at the investiture ceremony, held on Thursday, August 1, to leave Mauritania. He had tried to secure an audience with the Mauritanian president, according to a local media report, but to no avail. Ghali arrived in Nouakchott on Wednesday, July 31, aboard an Algerian presidential plane made

Three tons of chira seized in massive El Jadida drug bust

In a joint operation on Friday, August 2, the Judicial Police and the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance arrested two brothers in El Jadida for attempting to smuggle three tons and 18 kilograms of chira. The DGSN announced the arrests on social media platform X on Saturday, August 3. One of the brothers, aged 38, has a criminal record and is suspected of being involved in a drug smuggling network operating international maritime routes. The operation took place in the village of

Chefchaouen ranked 8th most beautiful city in the world by AD

Chefchaouen has just been featured in a list of the «20 Most Beautiful Cities in the World» by Architectural Digest (AD), an American monthly magazine founded in 1920 and specializing in interior design and landscaping. The list was compiled by AD based on a city’s architecture, cultural treasures, historical relevance, and natural appeal. «The best cities offer something that can’t be found anywhere else», wrote AD in July. And Chefchaouen checked all the

Royal Air Maroc launches new Casablanca-Toronto route

Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc will launch a new direct route connecting Casablanca to Toronto, Canada, starting December 8, 2024, as part of its strategy to expand its international network. The airline will operate three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This marks Royal Air Maroc's second direct route to Canada, complementing its existing Casablanca-Montreal service. The new route aims to cater to the growing Moroccan

Moroccan U23 team qualifies for Olympic semi-finals with 4-0 victory against USA

In a match full of twists and turns, the Moroccan U23 soccer team qualified for the semi-finals of the men's tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games (JO 2024) by defeating the USA 4-0 on Friday at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris. This qualification is the first of its kind in the team’s history. The Atlas Cubs' opening goal came from Soufiane Rahimi in the 28th minute, who converted a penalty he had won himself. Ilias Akhomach doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, before Achraf

Entrepreneur sues Morocco over canceled cultural center opening in Amsterdam

Moroccan entrepreneur in the Netherlands is suing the Moroccan government over the canceled opening of a cultural center in Amsterdam. Organizational consultant Khalid Boutachekourt claims he has not been paid for his services despite multiple attempts to recover the debt after he was hired by Morocco to plan a grand opening for the center in 2015. The Moroccan government has long-held plans to establish a cultural center in Amsterdam, to be housed in a building it owns near the Artis

Spanish Interior Minister highlights Moroccan community's role in Spain's development

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska highlighted the role of Moroccan migration in Spain's development, noting that «it is an example and a model of success in the field of integration and cooperation». «The Moroccan community, numbering more than one million people, is a model of success in Spain in terms of integration and cooperation, and plays a fundamental role in the development of our country and the strengthening of relations between our two

Morocco and Australia unite with new business network to enhance trade

Morocco and Australia have created their first organization dedicated to promoting bilateral trade between the two countries. Named the Australia Morocco Business Network (AMBN), the organization was launched in Adelaide, South Australia, according to a press release sent Friday to Yabiladi. The newly established platform is led by Moroccan Soufiane Rboub, who previously served as President of the Arab Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a board member of an advisory committee

Morocco's ex-PM Benkirane attends Hamas leader Haniyeh's funeral in Doha

The Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, attended the funeral ceremony of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Hamas, on Friday. Haniyeh was assassinated by Israel last Wednesday in Tehran, Iran. The ceremony took place in Doha, Qatar. In addition to Benkirane, Mohamed Réda Benkhaldoun, head of the party's International Relations Committee, also attended the funeral. Tens of thousands performed funeral prayers for Haniyeh at the

Morocco-Argentina parliamentary friendship group officially established in Buenos Aires

The Morocco-Argentina Parliamentary Friendship Group was officially established on Thursday in the Congress of Argentina. The ceremony was attended by Morocco's ambassador in Buenos Aires, Fares Yassir, and the group's president, MP Maria Emilia Orozco. The Morocco-Argentina Friendship Group consists of 12 deputies representing the entire political spectrum of the Argentine Congress. On this occasion, the group's president highlighted the Congress of Argentina's commitment to strengthening

Moroccan skateboarder Aya Asaqas makes Olympic debut with stylish twist

Moroccan skateboarder Aya Asaqas is making history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming the first African and Arab woman to qualify for the event. To celebrate this milestone, the Royal Moroccan Federation of Urban Sports has partnered with fashion designer Samira Haddouchi to create unique skateboards adorned with traditional Moroccan motifs. Adorned with traditional Moroccan motifs such as zellij and caftan, this collaboration is exhibited from July 27 to August 12 at La Villette, as part of

National march in Rabat to commemorate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

The National Action Group for Palestine has announced a national march to commemorate Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed by an Israeli raid in Iran. The march will be held on Saturday, August 3, starting from Bab al-Ahd Square in Rabat at 11 am. The group stated that this march is being organized «as a continuation of the overwhelming popular mobilization that the Moroccan people have engaged in across the country in support of the Palestinian resistance and against

Consortium led by Aegis to manage Morocco's high-speed rail expansion

A French-Moroccan consortium comprising Aegis (main contractor), Systra, and Novick has secured a contract to provide project management assistance to Morocco's National Railway Office (ONCF) for the high-speed rail infrastructure between Kenitra and Marrakech. The consortium will support ONCF in constructing 430 kilometers of new high-speed lines, 130 kilometers of conventional lines around Casablanca, and new stations. «As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain

US exports to Morocco soar to $610.17 million in 2023, led by soybean meal exports

The United States exported goods worth $610.17 million to Morocco in 2023, according to recently released data by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This figure is the highest in the last ten years, showing a compound average growth of 3.9% from 2014 to 2023. In 2022, total US exports to Morocco amounted to $603.43 million. The value of US exports to the Kingdom was $564.34 million in 2021 and $477.06 million in 2020. In 2019, US exports to Morocco totaled $298.64 million,

Moroccan financial sector shows resilience in 2023 despite economic challenges

According to the 11th Annual Financial Stability Report, jointly published by the Central Bank of Morocco, the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC), and the Insurance and Social Reserve Supervisory Authority (ASRS), the Moroccan financial sector demonstrated resilience and solidity in 2023 despite an unfavorable economic climate. The sector's size, measured by the total assets of its components, surpassed 3,000 billion dirhams in 2023, reflecting a growth rate of 6.8 percent and equating

Newly re-elected Mauritanian President receives Morocco’s gov’t. head

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani received Morocco’s Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, on Thursday in Nouakchott. This meeting followed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s investiture ceremony for his second five-year term, during which Akhannouch represented King Mohammed VI. In a statement to MAP following the meeting, which was also attended by Morocco's ambassador to Nouakchott, Hamid Chabar, Akhannouch said that he informed the Mauritanian President of the

Morocco's new Consulate General in Miami celebrates Throne Day

The Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Miami hosted a grand reception to mark the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne. This was the first major event since the recent opening of the diplomatic representation in Miami. Held on Tuesday evening at a grand venue in Miami, the ceremony was attended by Moroccans living in Florida, as well as local dignitaries including mayors and elected officials from Miami, Boca Raton, Orlando, and Hollywood, as well as

Morocco approves Fortescue-OCP green hydrogen joint venture in Morocco

Australian metal mining company Fortescue Ltd and Moroccan fertilizer producer OCP Group have received approval from the Kingdom’s Competition Council to create a joint venture. This partnership will establish a large-scale renewable energy, green hydrogen, and ammonia production hub in Morocco. The equally owned joint venture was approved by the Moroccan regulator during a meeting held on July 24. According to an April press release by OCP, the partnership aims to supply green