First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco’s economic geography reveals a tale of two countries: thriving coastal hubs generating most national wealth while interior regions struggle with decline, according to new regional accounts from the High Commission for Planning. Casablanca-Settat remains the undisputed economic powerhouse, contributing 31.4 percent of national GDP and over a quarter of household consumption. Yet this dominance […]
A new step forward in the legalization of cannabis cultivation in Morocco was made Thursday as the government adopted at its weekly meeting a decree regulating the activities related to the culture of the plant and selected three provinces, namely Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate that will grow cannabis legally. This decree, drafted by the […]
The European Union funded project ODYSSEA will launch its North Africa’s first operational sea observatory in Al Hoceima National Park, in northeastern Morocco. The launch of the sea observatory will take place during the third general assembly of the ODYSSEA Project to convene in Tangier October 29-31, said a press release from the European Commission, […]
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Friday summoned the Dutch Ambassador to Rabat to protest against the remarks made the previous day by Foreign Minister Stef Blok, deemed as a direct interference in Morocco’s internal affairs. Bourita made it clear to the Dutch ambassador that Morocco “rejects categorically and vigorously the Dutch Foreign Minister’s statement […]
King Mohammed VI received in Tangier in Morocco’s Rif region Aicha the daughter of Abdelkarim El Khattabii who led a military and political resistance against the Spanish and French occupation. Speaking to the press, Aicha thanked the King for his keen interest in the Rif region saying that the local population is aware of the […]
The 53 people who were arrested last year following the protests and violent events that took place in Al Hoceima were given prison terms ranging from one year suspended sentence to twenty years in prison. The protest leader, Nasser Zefzafi and three of his colleagues were sentenced to twenty years in prison. Zefzafi was arrested […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development has enhanced its presence in Morocco with the opening of a second office in the North African Kingdom. The Bank’s first office is based in Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital, while its 2nd office was opened Wednesday in the Northern city of Tangier. It primary goal is to support […]
Morocco rejected the accusations by Reporters without Borders (RSF) on press freedom in the Rif region, saying that allegations concerning obstacles to reporters are “biased, unfounded and lacking in credibility and proof.” This came in a statement by the Culture and Communication Ministry in charge of accrediting national and international reporters in the country after […]
Ilyas El Omari, Secretary General of Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the main opposition party in parliament, presented his resignation on the backdrop of protests in northern Morocco and ten days only after a critical speech by the King lambasting political parties and public officials for falling short to fulfil their duties in serving […]
Some senior officials of the Moroccan administration, including cabinet members, governors, and local elected representatives may be pushed to step down as a result of the serious warnings expressed by King Mohammed VI in the Throne Day speech he delivered on July 29. The royal speech appears to have sparked a wave of public administration […]