Was Algerian writer Boualem Sansal arrested over Eastern Sahara and Polisario remarks ?  (Read more...)

Dakhla to host 18th congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World

The city of Dakhla is hosting the 18th congress of the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World from November 27th to December 1st, reads a press release sent Thursday to Yabiladi. Initiated by the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab with the support of the local authorities, and in partnership with the World Association, this congress will include a dialogue, debate, and exchange of experiences on various themes related to the preservation and conservation of bays and

Strong winds and dust storms expected Thursday in Morocco

Strong wind gusts with probable dust storms are forecast for Thursday in several of the Kingdom's provinces, announces the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM). These strong wind gusts (75-90 km/h) will affect the provinces of Figuig, Jerada, Oujda-Angad, Taourirt, Boulemane, and Midelt from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, the DGM said in an «orange» alert bulletin. In addition, strong gusts of wind (80-100 km/h) are expected on the relief above 1,500 m, from Thursday at 5 p.m.

Nabil Ayouch's «Everybody Loves Touda» makes history with multiple Oscar nominations

Nabil Ayouch's latest film, «Everybody Loves Touda», has qualified in all the main sections of the Oscars, including Best Director and Best Actress. The film's Moroccan producers are delighted with this «great first for Morocco, which has never before been represented in these major categories». The film is now running multiple campaigns, including for the Oscar for Best International Film, the Golden Globes for Best Foreign Film, the Spirit Awards, the Critic's Choice

Morocco and Saudi Arabia strengthen criminal cooperation with new agreements

Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi and Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif Al Saud signed three agreements in Riyadh on Wednesday to enhance criminal cooperation between the two countries. This move reflects the depth of historical relations and the strong partnership between the two kingdoms. The agreements cover mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the transfer of convicted persons, and extradition. They aim to enhance the effectiveness of judicial and

Moroccan documentary on Sahara «Um Echgag» screened at London Arthouse Film Festival

The documentary film «Um Echgag», by Moroccan director Ahmed Bouchalga, was screened in London on Tuesday evening as part of the 5th London Arthouse Film Festival (LAHFF), giving British film buffs an insight into Moroccan Hassani cinema. This production turns the spotlight on an important period in the history of the Sahara, recounting the events leading up to the Um Echgag congress, which brought together notables and representatives of all Saharan tribes in 1956, culminating in

Casablanca hosts pioneering Esports Summit

Mastercard organized its first Africa Esports Summit in Casablanca on November 12, 2024. The event gathered financial and gaming sector representatives, including officials from the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communications. The summit featured discussions on payment technologies and regulatory frameworks for the gaming sector. Speakers included Hicham El Khlifi, President of the African Esports Confederation, and Mohamed Benomar, Mastercard's Country General Manager of North West

Morocco and Mauritania boost military ties

On Tuesday, November 12, Morocco and Mauritania held the 5th session of the Joint Military Commission in Rabat. This has been an annual event since it was launched in the Kingdom's capital in January 2020. At this latest session, the FAR Inspector General, General Mohammed Berrid, and the Mauritanian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces emphasized the «need to further consolidate cooperation between the two Armed Forces in terms of border security and the fight against immigration and

Morocco participates in Global Forum to Combat Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism

Morocco is participating in the high-level meeting to launch the US initiative of Global Forum to Prevent Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism, or Global (FTPRNT). At the meeting, held November 13-15 in Bucharest, Romania, by the US State Department and Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Redouane Houssaini, Director of United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad, highlighted the security challenges facing

Morocco surpasses 2023 tourism record in just 10 months, with 14.6 million arrivals

Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Traditional Industry, Social Economy and Solidarity, revealed that the number of tourists reached 14.6 million by the end of October, surpassing the entire year's record for 2023 in just 10 months. This exceptional performance represents a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with 2.3 million additional arrivals. This remarkable growth concerns both foreign tourists, up 22% (1.3+ million), and Moroccans living abroad, up 16% (1+

Morocco to establish railway carriage factory, Minister announces plan

Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Qaiouh said on Monday in the House of Representatives that a project to set up a railway carriage factory in Morocco is expected to be implemented. In response to a question posed by the Istiqlal Team for Unity and Equilibrium during an oral question session, Qaiouh explained that this factory will be able to supply the National Railway Office with these wagons and export them to a number of African countries. The minister highlighted that the

Space station captures Morocco's desert marvel

An International Space Station astronaut has documented one of Morocco's most striking desert landscapes, photographing the Erg Chebbi dune field from orbit on December 21, 2023. The image provides a detailed view of this southeastern Moroccan landmark, situated near the Algerian border northeast of the Little Atlas mountains. SciTechDaily magazine reports that the photograph, taken during ISS Expedition 70, reveals the complex structure of the region's star dunes, also known as pyramid

Morocco's first PCR test for mpox endorsed by Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, through its Diagnostic Advisory Committee (DAC), has recommended the first locally manufactured Real-Time PCR test for mpox from Morocco. In a press release published on Tuesday, the body described the Morocco-made PCR test as a «major milestone» in line with «the African Union's continental effort to strengthen the self-sufficiency of African public health systems towards enhancing the continent's efficiency in

CDG, Gotion High-Tech ink MoU to support electric battery gigafactory in Kenitra

The Deposit and Management Fund (CDG) and Gotion High-Tech Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday in Hefei, China, to support the electric battery gigafactory currently under development in Kenitra, Morocco. The agreement was signed by CDG's CEO, Khalid Safir, and Gotion High-Tech Chairman, Li Zhen. It outlines that CDG Invest, the investment arm of CDG, will acquire a stake in Gotion Power Morocco through its NAMA industry fund, according to a press release from the

ONEE finalizes desalination project to ensure water for Sahara fishing village

The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has completed a project to secure the drinking water supply for the Amgrew fishing village in the province of Tarfaya, utilizing a seawater desalination plant. This desalination plant is ONEE's 12th and its 10th in the Kingdom's southern provinces, according to an ONEE press release. Financed by ONEE and the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Regional Council, at a total cost of approximately 26.1 million dirhams, the project involves

Strong wind gusts and dust storms expected Thursday in Morocco

The General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) has issued an orange-level alert, warning of strong wind gusts and likely dust storms expected to affect multiple provinces on Thursday. The alert spans the regions of Figuig, Jerada, Oujda-Angad, Taourirt, Boulemane, and Midelt, where winds reaching speeds of 75 to 90 kmph (47 to 56 mph) are anticipated from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ryanair to launch new routes connecting Dakhla to Madrid and Lanzarote

Ryanair will connect Dakhla airport to two Spanish destinations: Madrid and Lanzarote. This new service, set to launch in January 2025, aims to boost the Moroccan city's connectivity. The announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday between the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and the Irish low-cost carrier, with Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Crafts and the Social Economy, and Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, in attendance. According to an ONMT

IMF grants $415m to boost Morocco's green transition

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has approved a second disbursement of $415 million to Morocco under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. «The authorities continue to demonstrate strong commitment to Morocco’s transition toward a greener economy», the IMF stated in a release issued Monday from Washington. This additional funding brings the total disbursed under the program to approximately $747 million. Back in September 2023, the IMF’s

UN urged to preserve lives of Sahrawis killed in «pointless war»

The Saharawi Movement for Peace (MSP) has expressed its frustration over the ongoing «war» initiated by the Polisario Front against the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) on November 13, 2020. This sentiment was conveyed in a letter sent yesterday by the MSP's Secretary General, Hach Ahmed Bericalla, to the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. Bericalla called for «urgent intervention» to prevent «young Sahrawis from being used