Morocco’s trade deficit widens to 127 billion dirhams at end of April

Morocco's trade deficit exceeded 127.04 billion dirhams during the first four months of 2026, up 18.4% compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. The widening deficit was driven by a stronger increase in imports of goods (+12.7% to 295.9 billion dirhams) than in exports (+8.7% to 168.86 billion dirhams), the Office said in its latest monthly foreign trade indicators bulletin. As a result, the coverage rate fell by 2 percentage points to 57.1%. The

Moroccan diaspora remittances rise to 40 billion dirhams by April

Remittances sent by Moroccans living abroad (MREs) reached nearly 39.98 billion dirhams by the end of April 2026, up from 36.42 billion dirhams during the same period a year earlier, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. In its latest monthly foreign trade indicators bulletin, the office reported a year-on-year increase of 9.8%. The report also highlighted a travel balance surplus of more than 34.55 billion dirhams, up 26.7% compared with the same period in 2025. The increase was driven by

Chemsdine Talbi on Morocco «It's a dream to play the World Cup»

Moroccan international Chemsdine Talbi reflected on his decision to represent the Atlas Lions in an interview with The National published just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. The 21-year-old Sunderland winger, who previously represented Belgium at youth level, said choosing between the two countries was not easy. «At one moment I had to choose between Belgium or Morocco for the first team. Both were asking me which one I would choose. I had to reflect a long time to think

Spanish soldier jailed for abandoning Melilla post and staying in Morocco

Spain’s Supreme Court has convicted a soldier in the Spanish Army and sentenced him to two prison terms of ten months each after he abandoned both his authorized place of residence and his military post for more than a year, spending the period in Morocco without permission or oversight from his superiors. The court’s Military Chamber also dismissed his appeal and ordered his suspension from military service, along with a ban on holding public office or standing for

Moroccan cinema shines in Strasbourg with six landmark films

Moroccan cinema will take center stage in Strasbourg from June 3 to 21, with screenings of six films, «a selection designed to capture the energy that has defined Moroccan productions in recent decades», according to the organizers. The eclectic program is being presented by the Cinémathèque de Tanger as part of the carte blanche series «Fragments of Morocco», at the invitation of the regional digital film archive Mémoire des images

Morocco arrests Deroua drug trafficker wanted on 84 warrants

The Royal Gendarmerie in Deroua arrested a well-known suspect on Saturday on charges of trafficking alcoholic beverages and the drug known as «pouffa», as well as involvement in several violent robberies. The man was the subject of more than 84 nationwide arrest warrants and had been wanted in connection with numerous cases spanning several years, during which he allegedly remained active. According to the daily Assabah, officers seized an SUV, bladed weapons, a large quantity of

Rabid dog illegally brought from Morocco triggers major health alert in Italy

A dog illegally brought to Italy from Morocco tested positive for rabies after developing severe neurological symptoms, prompting a major public health operation in the municipality of Vittorio Veneto, in the northeast of Italy. According to local health authorities, the mixed-breed dog was taken to a veterinary clinic on May 27 after showing symptoms consistent with rabies. Investigations later revealed that the animal had been illegally brought from Morocco several months earlier by a

Soufiane El Bakkali wins Rabat steeplechase with world leading time

Moroccan runner Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3,000m steeplechase at the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting on Sunday in Rabat, posting the fastest time in the world this year with 7:57.25. He finished ahead of Germany’s Frederick Ruppert and Kenya’s Simon Kiprop Koech. Speaking to the press after his victory, El Bakkali said the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting, the third stop on the Diamond League circuit, offers an additional incentive in his pursuit of the

Settat police arrest father suspected of assaulting minor son

Officers from the Settat Police Prefecture arrested a repeat offender on Sunday on suspicion of physically assaulting his minor son. According to a statement from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), police acted after media reports alleged that a 42-year-old man had physically abused a child in the city of Ben Ahmed. Investigators identified the suspect, believed to be the boy’s father, and arrested him in Settat. The suspect is currently the subject of a judicial

Polisario excluded from South Korea-African Union talks in Seoul

Seoul is hosting a ministerial meeting of the South Korea–African Union partnership on June 1 and 2. The gathering is intended to review progress made since the first Africa–South Korea summit, held in the South Korean capital in June 2024. At that summit, Seoul announced major financial commitments to support Africa’s development between 2024 and 2030, as well as measures aimed at facilitating African exports’ access to the Korean market. As was the case at the 2024

Spain to try suspects over illegal Moroccan textile waste imports

Spanish judicial authorities are preparing to try two individuals and two companies accused of importing around 1,800 tonnes of waste and used textiles from Morocco into the Campo de Gibraltar area through the port of Algeciras, without the required environmental and administrative permits, according to Spanish media sources. According to the indictment prepared by the public prosecutor’s office in Algeciras, the main defendant, acting as the sole director of one of the companies,

Driss Chraïbi centenary tribute set for Paris

The centenary of Moroccan author Driss Chraïbi (1926-2026) will be celebrated on June 6 in Paris by the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) and the Arab World Institute (IMA). The tribute aims to «bring his essential works back into the spotlight, so that they can be reread today not only as a testimony to the past, but also as a still-relevant reflection on society, immigration, equality, and relations between Morocco and his host country», according to a

UNESCO and TUI Care Foundation boost sustainable tourism in Aït Ben Haddou

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the TUI Care Foundation have announced the launch of a global partnership to promote sustainable tourism in heritage destinations, including Morocco. The first activities under the partnership, which focuses on UNESCO World Heritage destinations, «will be rolled out in Morocco and Zanzibar, while also feeding into international reflection and exchanges», the UN agency said in a statement. In Morocco,

Hakimi seals PSG second straight Champions League title against Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain were crowned European champions for the second year running after beating English side Arsenal in the final, prevailing in a penalty shootout (1-1, 4-3 on penalties) on Saturday night in Budapest. The defending champions pulled off the feat of winning a second consecutive Champions League title, a first for a French club, matching the achievement of Real Madrid, the last side to claim back-to-back crowns. PSG fell behind early to a well-organised Gunners side, with Kai

Panama aims to be Morocco of 2026 World Cup

Panama national team coach Thomas Christiansen said he dreams of achieving something significant at the 2026 World Cup, stressing that his team is not heading to the tournament merely to take part, but aspires to become “the Morocco of this World Cup” and emerge as one of its surprise stories. He added that Panama will enter the competition with major ambitions and a desire to compete against the world’s strongest teams, drawing inspiration from Morocco’s historic run

Morocco shines at Paris Andaloussiyat festival

The second edition of the Arab World Institute’s (IMA) Andaloussiyat festival opened on Friday in Paris, with Morocco in the spotlight. This year’s program celebrates the richness and diversity of the Kingdom’s Arab-Andalusian musical heritage. Running at the IMA until June 3 and organized in partnership with the Association of Lovers of Andalusian Music of Morocco (AAMAM), the festival showcases musical expressions rooted in Morocco’s Andalusian tradition. The opening

Spain: Podemos exploits the death of a Sahrawi man at sea for the Polisario’s benefit

For Spain’s far-left party Podemos, undocumented migrants who lose their lives trying to reach Spain are not all treated in the same way. That is the message conveyed by a written question submitted to Pedro Sánchez’s government by MP and the party’s secretary-general, Ione Belarra, about the circumstances surrounding the death of Daha Mohamed Fadel Lehbib, a 35-year-old Sahrawi from Laâyoune. The deceased had set off on board a makeshift boat carrying around 60

Morocco cucumber exports to Germany hit new record

Morocco’s cucumber exports to Germany continue to set new records, with the 2025/2026 season already surpassing last season’s peak, according to EastFruit. Germany imported 3,900 tons of Moroccan cucumbers between July 2025 and March 2026, worth more than €8 million. This represents a 10% increase compared with the previous season and a 28-fold rise compared with the 2021/2022 season. German importers now rely on Moroccan cucumbers year-round, with demand peaking between