Features Headlines Morocco

Saad Eddine El Othmani to Lead Negotiations to End Post-Electoral Deadlock

King Mohammed VI appointed Saad Eddine El Othmani, President of the national council of the Party for Justice and Development, Head of Government in place of Abdelilah Benkirane who failed to form a coalition government after five months of negotiations. The King received Saad Eddine El Othmani, former Foreign Minister, at the Royal Palace in […]

Headlines Morocco

Benkirane to Unveil Cabinet, or Acknowledge Failure Soon

Leader of Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) Abdelilah Benkirane, entrusted by the king to name a new cabinet following his party’s win the October 7 elections, has suggested that he will present his line-up to the monarch upon his return from his current African tour. Speaking to the youth league of his party over […]

Headlines Morocco

Morocco, ‘Budding Success’ in region- The Economist

The Economist magazine described Morocco as a “budding success” in the region thanks to the political and economic reforms it has taken on the backdrop of the Arab Spring. “Morocco rode out the Arab spring better than most countries in the region. Big protests led to constitutional reforms and a relatively free and fair election […]

Headlines Morocco

King Urges Benkirane to Continue Negotiations to Form Coalition Government

After a deadlock in forming a new government that lasted more than three months, Royal Advisor Fouad Ali El Himma visited Abdelilah Benkirane to tell him that the King urges him to continue negotiations on the political composition of the new cabinet. The news was relayed by Moroccan media outlets which said that EL Himma […]

Headlines Morocco

Parliament Clears the Way for Morocco’s Return to AU

The Moroccan House of representatives unanimously adopted the constitutive act of the African Union clearing the way for the Kingdom’s return to the African Union. The adoption of the constitutive act by the Moroccan parliament paves the institutional way for Morocco’s return to the pan-African organization in line with the King’s vision in favor of […]

Headlines Morocco

Election of Parliament Speaker Complicates Benkirane’s Bid to Form Coalition

Leftist MP Habib El Malki of the USFP party was elected Monday Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament amid fears that such a decision may further complicate the stalling formation of a coalition government by Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Islamist PJD party. Benkirane was appointed Head of Government by King Mohammed VI […]

Headlines Morocco

King Mohammed VI to attend AU summit

King Mohammed VI will travel to Addis Ababa to attend the African Union summit on January 30 to make the case for Morocco’s strong determination to regain its natural place within Africa’s institutional family. The announcement was made by Morocco’s designated Head of Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, in a statement to the Press. Benkirane also said […]

Columns Headlines Morocco Opinions

Moroccan Government Formation, Back to Square One

Stalemate is the word that describes the best the sterile negotiations over government formation in Morocco. Three months after the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) won Morocco’s legislative elections with a narrow margin against its arch rival liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), Morocco remains without a government. Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the […]

Headlines Mauritania

Morocco-Mauritania: Benkirane Heads to Nouakchott to Put off Fire Set by Istiqlal Party

Moroccan Premier is expected in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott Tuesday in a move to reiterate Morocco’s full respect of Mauritanian territorial integrity after the verbal blunder of leader of the Moroccan Istiqlal Party who referred to Mauritania as part of Moroccan territory. The foreign affairs ministry has issued Monday a statement rejecting and rebuking in […]

Headlines Morocco

King Mohammed VI Urges Benkirane to form Government

Two senior Advisors to King Mohammed VI met Abdelilah Benkirane at the headquarters of the Head of the Government’s office where they expressed the concern of the sovereign regarding the delay in forming the new government. The Advisors, Abdellatif Mennouni and Omar Kabbage, were sent to visit Benkirane upon directives from King Mohammed VI to […]