Though the al-Qaeda has been decimated at its epicenter and its leader killed, its regional affiliates such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram in Nigeria are still active, hatching terror plots and committing various criminal offenses, including smuggling, drug trafficking, robbery and kidnapping in the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa and other parts […]
Tag: Morocco
Sources of Wealth Inequality in MENA Region
Simon Kuznets’ inverted U-shaped curve representing the hypothesis that with economic growth country’s inequality level initially increases and then decreases after reaching certain average income level has not yet found much support among the MENA economies. The MENA region has traditionally belonged to the most equal parts of the developing world as supported by the […]
China’s Presence in North Africa: A Win-Win Relationship?
In 2010, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for approximately 68 billion USD, as compared to 2001, when China invested only 911 million USD overseas. The rapid increase in FDI between 2001 and 2010 was also facilitated by China’s ‘going global policy’ of 2002 that promoted competition for the share in global markets and natural […]
Juan Carlos in Morocco to boost confidence-based relations
King Juan Carlos I of Spain started on Monday a four-day official visit to Morocco, the first in more than two years as his latest dates back to May 2011. Beyond the exceptional historical personal relations binding the two sovereigns, the visit of King Juan Carlos holds much symbolic and political significance and is seen […]
IBM to Set up Global Delivery Center in Morocco
U.S. computer technology and IT consulting company IBM has announced lately its intention to open a global delivery center in Casablanca (Morocco’s major business center & economic capital). The center, which will employ 400 IT professionals over the next three years, is expected to deliver a wide range of high value innovative technology services to […]
Morocco : Towards a Cabinet Reshuffle or Early Election ?
After almost two months of shilly shallying, the ministers from the Istiqlal Party, the main component of the coalition government, led by the Islamist Party for Justice and Development (PJD), have handed in their resignation to the head of government on Tuesday. The resignation may pave the way to ending the political crisis either through […]
MENA: Arab Spring transitional countries boosted
A statement released by United Kingdom’s foreign ministry has stated that the government, in partnership with several international financial institutions, will be holding a Deauville Partnership Investment conference in September. The conference is aimed at promoting investments, trade and supporting new investors in transitional countries marred by the Arab Spring. The European Bank for Reconstruction […]
Libya to become OCSE Partner
Libya has applied to become a partner of the Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) in a bid to receive support from this international security body and benefit from its assistance in matters of security, arms & border control, promotion of human rights, freedom of the press and polls’ organization. The Libyan application […]
Morocco: will the King’s arbitration defuse the governmental crisis?
The Istiqlal Party on Wednesday handed over to King Mohammed VI a memorandum expounding the reasons behind the decision it made last May to withdraw from the coalition government led by the Islamist PJD (Party for Justice and Development). The audience granted by the sovereign to the Istiqlal Party’s Secretary General Hamid Chabat is placed […]
Asthon: Morocco is key EU partner
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton has described Morocco as “a key partner of the European Union” and hailed the constructive role played by the North African nation on the international scene “to resolve instability in the Sahel and in Syria”. Ashton, who met lately in Brussels with Moroccan […]









