First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco has emerged as Spain’s leading natural gas export destination, receiving 858 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first half of 2025, representing 35.5% of total Spanish gas exports and signaling a fundamental shift in Mediterranean energy dynamics. The North African kingdom’s dominant position, ahead of France which imported only 354 GWh or 14.6% of Spanish exports, […]
British financial technology powerhouse Revolut is positioning itself to disrupt Morocco’s traditional banking sector, with regulatory approval applications submitted to Bank Al-Maghrib signaling imminent market entry into North Africa’s growing digital economy. The London-based neobank, valued at approximately 41 billion euros with nearly 60 million global customers, has appointed its first Morocco country director and […]
The success story of Bouchra Boustani is inspirational for all Moroccan, Arab and African women. Her professional achievement proves that perseverance always pays off despite challenges. Bouchra’s impressive journey from the small coastal town of Mohammedia, near Casablanca in Morocco, to a senior nuclear security officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency has been celebrated […]
Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF) has secured a $225 million loan from German development bank KfW to modernize Casablanca region railway network. The German funding follows a $350 million loan approved by the World Bank in June, both supporting the “Service Intra-métropolitain Rapproché” (SIR) program. The SIR seeks to establish an electrified passenger rail service, […]
Morocco is rapidly emerging as a global automotive manufacturing powerhouse, challenging traditional European players and poised to surpass Italy in vehicle output. Once considered a peripheral actor, the North African kingdom has leveraged its strategic location, competitive labor costs, and aggressive industrial policy to attract billions in foreign investment, particularly from China and Europe, Spanish […]
Morocco has emerged as the United Kingdom’s top supplier of blueberries, setting a new export benchmark with a record-breaking performance in the 2024/25 season, according to data from EastFruit. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Moroccan exporters shipped 19,000 tons of blueberries to the UK, valued at $144 million, marking a 44% year-on-year increase. The […]
The European Union issued more than 606,000 visas to Moroccan citizens in 2024, marking a significant increase and reflecting a notable improvement in diplomatic relations between Morocco and its European partners, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said. In a written response to a parliamentary question regarding visa reciprocity, Bourita emphasized that Morocco’s approach to visa […]
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met with French President Emmanuel Macron’s Special Envoy to Libya, Paul Soler, on Sunday to review the ongoing security operation in Tripoli and set priorities for the next stage of stabilization efforts. The talks disclosed on August 18 by the Prime Minister’s office, addressed bilateral relations, Libya’s political trajectory, […]
A joint counterterrorism operation between Spain and Morocco has led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of jihadist activity in Catalonia, underscoring the role of Morocco’s security services in pre-emptive action against terrorist cells. On Thursday, Spanish National Police, with critical support from Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), detained two men aged […]
In a landmark move to boost its influence in Africa, Russia last week hosted its first official military consultations with the defense chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — members of the recently formalized Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The high-level talks in Moscow, led by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, concluded with the […]