First Independent Mena Newspaper
As the diplomatic row continues between Rabat, Madrid and Berlin over the Sahara, and as the Kingdom’s relations with France are facing destabilisation attempts over espionage allegations, German Institute for International & Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik/SWP) step in to add fuel to the fire. In an analysis published by SWP, which advises Bundestag […]
Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sanchez will start this week an African tour designed to build up new alliances in the continent after failing to solve lingering diplomatic crisis with neighboring Morocco over the Sahara. According to press reports, Sanchez will travel to Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. Rabat has not been included in this tour, […]
Recently appointed Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said restoring relations with Morocco was a top priority. Speaking at his first media comments after taking office, Albares described Morocco as “a friend of Spain.” Albares replaces Arancha Gonzales Laya whose tenure saw one of the worst crisis between Madrid and Rabat in recent history. Laya […]
Morocco has added France, Spain and Portugal to the B list which requires non-vaccinated travellers to self-isolate in a hotel for ten days. The new directive was relayed on the health ministry’s website and caused disarray among travellers who booked their flights prior to the announcements. France, Spain and Portugal have been in the A […]
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez excluded foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya following a government reshuffle that left key portfolios intact. Jose Manuel Albares was named new foreign minister, while Isabel Rodriguez will become the new government spokesperson and territories minister. Laya was rebuked for triggering and mismanaging a crisis with Morocco after she was found […]
After the army has thrown the ball into the foreign ministry’s court, Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya is under fire from the Spanish media and intellectuals as well as the opposition for her responsibility in letting a man enter her country using an Algerian passport and a false identity to shun justice. El Espanol […]
Spanish far-right party Vox has pushed hate speech to an alarming level asking Madrid to forfeit Moroccans in Ceuta of Spanish nationality and expel them to Morocco. Vox leaders in Ceuta in particular, including local spokesman Carlos Verdugo, have been calling Moroccans in the occupied city a “fifth column,” in reaction to calls by senior […]
The Pedro Sanchez government is extremely concerned over the possible transfer of the American military base in Rota (Spain) to Morocco, said on Thursday Israeli i24News TV channel, citing Spanish sources. Such a possibility is not a far-fetched option at all and is gaining ground as the American military bases in Spain are no […]
The security agents of the Tangier-Med port foiled on Friday an attempt to smuggle in 6,000 ecstasy pills which were found inside a truck-trailer coming from a neighboring European country. A 50-old man was arrested in connection with this anti-smuggling operation. He was captured after his arrival on board a boat coming from Spain, said […]
Spain’s foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya insists on ignoring the root causes of the crisis with Morocco and continues to raise question marks regarding Spain’s moves to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity. In a recent interview with La Vangardia, the minister still rehashes old statements to dismiss herself from responsibility in triggering one of the worst […]