News Flash

Passengers stranded in Marrakech after last-minute EasyJet flight cancellation

Passengers at Marrakech airport on Monday evening were caught off guard when their EasyJet flight to Lyon was canceled at the last minute. According to those contacted by Le Progrès, the decision was made without any explanation, leaving passengers in a state of confusion. «No one from EasyJet was there to inform or assist us. We had to book a flight with another airline, departing Tuesday evening, just to finally get back to Lyon», one passenger told the French media

Melilla mayor : «Morocco can curb migrant influx if willing»

According to Juan José Imbroda, the Spanish mayor of Melilla, Moroccan authorities have shown their «ability to prevent the mass entry of migrants when they have the will to do so». In an interview with Radio Canal Sur, the People’s Party member made these comments in response to recent arrests on the Moroccan side aimed at thwarting attempts to enter Ceuta and Melilla. «If Morocco has the will, it can act, as demonstrated in recent days in Ceuta and

Italian woman rams Moroccan man to death over alleged handbag theft

A 52-year-old Moroccan national, identified as N.N., was killed in the Italian coastal city of Viareggio after allegedly stealing a handbag from a 65-year-old Italian businesswoman and socialite, C.D.P. Local Italian media reports indicate that CCTV footage shows the Moroccan man walking past a shop when the woman's Mercedes SUV suddenly rams into him at high speed. The vehicle then reverses back and forth over his body four times before she exits the car, retrieves her handbag, and drives

Moroccan forces thwart another migrant entry into Ceuta on Monday

Moroccan security forces thwarted a new attempt by migrants to enter Ceuta on Monday evening. During the third day of tension in the city of Fnideq and its surroundings, hundreds of young migrants threw stones at the security forces monitoring the border with Ceuta, prompting them to use water cannons and detain several individuals. This latest mass migration attempt follows efforts by hundreds of young people from various Moroccan cities on Sunday to swim to Ceuta, in response to a social

Thunderstorms and hail expected Tuesday in Morocco

Several Moroccan provinces in the northern region are bracing for thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds on Tuesday, according to the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM). The DGM issued an orange alert warning that showers, ranging from 20 to 35 millimeters, are expected to affect the provinces of Taza, Guercif, Sefrou, Taounate, Ifrane, Boulemane, and Figuig from 1 PM to 11 PM.

OPE Strait Crossing : Over 1.7 million passengers traveled

The OPE strait crossing operation ended on Sunday, September 15, with a record number of departures and arrivals, totalling over 1.7 million passengers registered on board. Since June 13, the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa have welcomed almost 75% of travellers, Spanish media report. The return phase, which began on July 15, ended with an increase in the number of passengers and vehicles of 5.3% and 7.2% respectively compared with 2023. There was also a 4.8% increase in the number of boat

Polisario accuses Spain of using Moroccan interpreters to block asylum claims

The Polisario has accused Moroccan interpreters working on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior of failing to accurately convey testimonies of asylum seekers of Saharan origin. Spanish media and radical left political players allege that these interpreters omit mentions of «statements of torture and human rights violations committed by the Moroccan authorities». They believe this «bad» translation directly contributes to the rejection of asylum applications

Moroccan MP questions government on recent youth exodus to Ceuta

Fatima Tamni, a member of parliament for the Democratic Left Federation (FDG), has submitted a written question to the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, regarding the collective exodus of young Moroccans to Ceuta. The opposition FDG MP attributes this wave of «forced migration» to «poverty, unemployment, marginalization, and the pursuit of unpopular policies that only impoverish and make the poor poorer and the rich richer». Tamni argues that «poverty,

Three ISIS supporters arrested for suspected terrorist plots in Morocco

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), acting on precise information provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGTS), arrested three individuals affiliated with the terrorist organization «Daesh» on Tuesday. The suspects, aged between 18 and 39, are suspected of involvement in planning several terrorist attacks aimed at seriously harming public safety and order. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to neutralize terrorist threats, according

NASA satellite images capture rare heavy rainfall in the Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert experienced an unusual heavy rainfall event this September, bringing significant precipitation to parts of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer captured the resulting runoff and floodwaters in satellite imagery, showing dark blue areas where water had accumulated. While most of the rain fell in sparsely populated areas, several villages in Morocco were hit by destructive flash floods, causing infrastructure damage,

IFC grants €100M to Morocco's OCP for cross-country water pipeline

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an international financial institution and a member of the World Bank Group, has granted Morocco's OCP Group €100 million to build a cross-country water pipeline. The project consists of a 219-kilometer water pipeline and a pumping station to transport desalinated water from OCP Group's desalination plants in Jorf Lasfar to Khouribga, according to a press release by IFC. Construction works are already underway, with the pipeline's total

Spain praises Morocco's efforts to curb Ceuta mass migration attempt

The Spanish Interior Ministry expressed its gratitude for Morocco's «great efforts» along the border perimeter to prevent irregular entry into Ceuta, emphasizing that cooperation with Moroccan security forces is «ongoing». The EFE news agency cited sources from the ministry, stating that no irregular entries into Ceuta were recorded on Sunday. The entire border perimeter is under surveillance by state security forces and agencies, with Morocco ensuring the immediate

Heavy showers expected in Morocco Monday

Locally heavy thundery showers are forecast for Monday in several of the Kingdom's provinces, announced the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM). These showers (15-30 mm) will affect the provinces of Khénifra, Jerada, Ifrane, Figuig, Tinghir, Azilal, Errachidia, Boulemane, and Midelt on Monday from 12 PM to 11 PM, the DGM said in an «orange» alert bulletin.

King Mohammed VI grants pardon to 638 inmates on Eid Al-Mawlid Al-Nabaoui

King Mohammed VI has granted pardon on the occasion of Eid Al-Mawlid Al-Nabaoui to 638 people convicted by various courts in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Justice announced in a statement. The beneficiaries of the royal pardon who are currently in detention number 481 and are categorized as follows: 25 inmates received a full pardon for their remaining prison term or confinement. 453 inmates had their prison terms reduced. 3 inmates had their life sentences commuted to fixed-term

Low turnout of Rif separatists at Brussels demonstration

On Saturday, September 14, the Rif nationalist party organized a demonstration in Brussels to protest against «the European Union's support for the Moroccan occupation of the Rif». However, the expected turnout did not materialize, with a Polisario media outlet estimating the number of participants at «500 people». In addition to the Front's media, the official Algerian channel AL24 News covered the event and gave the floor to the party's leader, Yuba El Ghadioui. In

Polisario seeks MINURSO protection for return to «liberated areas»

The Polisario is requesting MINURSO to ensure the return of its members to «its liberated territories», located east of the Sand Wall. The request was made by «Saharawi civilians» in a letter addressed to the UN mission, reports a Front media outlet. The authors of the letter claim that «Saharawis who enter these areas do so in search of pasture for their camels and sheep». They point out that «the presence of Saharawi civilians in these territories is

Will Moroccan forces secure Gaza's Philadelphi Corridor?

Abu Dhabi has proposed to Cairo the deployment of Arab forces to secure the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Egypt from the Gaza Strip and is currently controlled by the Israeli army. The United Arab Emirates are considering the participation of Morocco, Mauritania, and Djibouti to form this coalition of Arab forces. According to the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, based in London, the project has already been discussed with these countries. Since the start of the war in Gaza on

Mauritania boycotts a Polisario conference in Geneva

Mauritania declined an invitation from the Polisario to a conference titled «From occupation to self-determination: a comparison between Western Sahara and Palestine», reveals a media outlet in Nouakchott. The meeting, organized on September 10 in Geneva on the sidelines of the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, notably saw the presence of the ambassadors of South Africa and Namibia. Mauritanian parties had already ignored, on June 6, an invitation from the