# The Moorish Times: full archive (English) Every English article and news brief from moorishtimes.com in full, newest first, each with its front matter. --- title: "Fuel: Diesel Up 80 Centimes to One Dirham a Litre From 1 November" description: "Diesel has cost more at the pump since Sunday 1 November, by 80 centimes to one dirham a litre depending on the distributor, while super unleaded petrol falls by at least ten centimes. The rise follows the slight dip seen in mid-October." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gasoil-hausse-1er-novembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gasoil-hausse-1er-novembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-11-01T07:01:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-01T10:20:45.502Z tags: ["Energy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae71276b4a080989f1966a2_6ae71275b4a080989f1965a1_pump-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fuel: Diesel Up 80 Centimes to One Dirham a Litre From 1 November *Diesel has cost more at the pump since Sunday 1 November, by 80 centimes to one dirham a litre depending on the distributor, while super unleaded petrol falls by at least ten centimes. The rise follows the slight dip seen in mid-October.* ![A roadside service area on National Road 8, with a coach parked, palm trees and, in the distance, the canopy of a filling station.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae71276b4a080989f1966a2_6ae71275b4a080989f1965a1_pump-main.webp) Diesel costs more at the pump from Sunday 1 November, by 80 centimes to one dirham a litre depending on the distributor, while super unleaded petrol falls by at least ten centimes. The change was announced the evening before and took effect at 8:01 a.m., according to Le Matin. The industry professionals who supplied the figures gave no common price list: the gap between 80 centimes and one dirham comes down to the brand. The rise follows the slight dip in diesel seen in mid-October. Petrol loses between ten and thirty centimes according to Le Matin, ten centimes according to Medias24: the two outlets differ on the size of the cut, hence the minimum given here. Distributors set their prices freely and revise them at short intervals. The next adjustment will show whether this rise holds. *Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Médias24 - [Le gasoil repart à la hausse: jusqu’à 1 DH supplémentaire ce dimanche 1er novembre 2026](https://medias24.com/2026/11/01/le-gasoil-repart-a-la-hausse-jusqua-1-dh-supplementaire-ce-dimanche-1er-novembre-2026-1786253/) - Le Matin - [Prix des carburants: le gasoil augmente de 1 dirham, l’essence baisse](https://lematin.ma/economie/prix-des-carburants-le-gasoil-augmente-de-1-dirham-lessence-baisse/373349) --- --- title: "Office des Changes: Moroccans Abroad Sent Home Over 103 Billion Dirhams by End-September" description: "The Office des Changes published its end-September bulletin: remittances from Moroccans abroad exceed 103 billion dirhams (+11.3%), travel receipts 115 billion (+12.1%) and the net flow of foreign investment 35 billion (+58.4%). The figures are provisional." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mre-transferts-fin-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mre-transferts-fin-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-31T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T22:22:37.649Z tags: ["Diaspora", "Economy", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae66a28acdccffd9938d934_6ae66a26ce715aed2785980d_mre-sept-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Office des Changes: Moroccans Abroad Sent Home Over 103 Billion Dirhams by End-September *The Office des Changes published its end-September bulletin: remittances from Moroccans abroad exceed 103 billion dirhams (+11.3%), travel receipts 115 billion (+12.1%) and the net flow of foreign investment 35 billion (+58.4%). The figures are provisional.* ![Travellers and luggage trolleys in front of the terminal at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca, under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae66a28acdccffd9938d934_6ae66a26ce715aed2785980d_mre-sept-main.webp) Remittances from Moroccans living abroad passed 103 billion dirhams at the end of September, up 11.3% on a year earlier, according to the Office des Changes monthly bulletin. Travel receipts grew faster still: they exceed 115 billion dirhams, 12.1% more than a year earlier. Travel spending rose by only 8%. The travel balance surplus therefore stands at nearly 88.3 billion, up 13.4%. On foreign direct investment, the net flow tops 35 billion dirhams, up 58.4%. These figures remain provisional. *Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Office des changes - [Indicateurs mensuels des échanges extérieurs, données provisoires à fin septembre 2026](https://www.oc.gov.ma/) - Médias24 - [Transferts des MRE : plus de 103 MMDH à fin septembre](https://medias24.com/2026/10/30/transferts-des-mre-plus-de-103-mmdh-a-fin-septembre-2026-1785891/) - Les Inspirations ÉCO - [Transferts des MRE : plus de 103 milliards de DH à fin septembre 2026](https://leseco.ma/maroc/transferts-des-mre-plus-de-103-milliards-de-dh-a-fin-septembre-2026.html) - H24info - [MRE : plus de 103 MMDH de transferts de fonds en neuf mois](https://h24info.ma/economie/mre-plus-de-103-mmdh-de-transferts-de-fonds-en-neuf-mois/) --- --- title: "Casablanca Stock Exchange Suspends Trading in Managem at the AMMC’s Request" description: "The Casablanca Stock Exchange suspended trading in Managem on October 30, at the AMMC’s request, pending important information. The notice gives neither its nature nor a date for trading to resume, and the stock was down 10% before the suspension." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/managem-cotation-suspendue language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/managem-cotation-suspendue type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-31T10:17:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.438Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5c031ddc35c3d53c11fa1_6ae5c02f5d4ac37746a9c4ed_managem-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Stock Exchange Suspends Trading in Managem at the AMMC’s Request *The Casablanca Stock Exchange suspended trading in Managem on October 30, at the AMMC’s request, pending important information. The notice gives neither its nature nor a date for trading to resume, and the stock was down 10% before the suspension.* ![Aerial view of a Managem group mining site, with its settling ponds and processing buildings.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5c031ddc35c3d53c11fa1_6ae5c02f5d4ac37746a9c4ed_managem-main.webp) The Casablanca Stock Exchange suspended trading in Managem on Friday, October 30, at the request of the Moroccan capital markets authority (AMMC), pending the publication of important information about the mining group. ![The Casablanca Stock Exchange building, a blue glass facade on a street corner, with the exchange’s sign above the entrance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b66483664b0eb71cfcb_6ae60a11a3eb9f6217a01d0c_managem-cotation-suspendue-inline.webp) *The Casablanca Stock Exchange building. Photo: SNRTnews.* The exchange’s notice says nothing about the nature of that information, or about when trading will resume. The measure came in the middle of the session, as the stock, locked on the downside, was down 10%. The day before, the annual index review had already cut Managem’s weight in the MASI. Nothing points to a link between the two decisions. Trading will not resume until the announced information is made public. *Photo: Managem.* ## References - Bourse de Casablanca - [Avis du 30 octobre 2026: suspension de la cotation des titres de capital de Managem](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/fr/avis-et-communiques) - Boursenews - [Bourse de Casablanca : La cotation de Managem suspendue dans l'attente d'informations importantes](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/bourse-casablanca-cotation-managem-suspendue-informations-importantes) - La Vie éco - [Bourse de Casablanca : La cotation de Managem suspendue](https://www.lavieeco.com/argent/bourse-de-casablanca-la-cotation-de-managem-suspendue/) --- --- title: "MINURSO: Royal Cabinet says the mission leaves “in the coming days”" description: "Hours after the Security Council’s double failure, Morocco’s Royal Cabinet spelled out what the end of the mandate means: MINURSO should leave the southern provinces, and the Sahara file should come off the Council’s agenda for good." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cabinet-royal-minurso language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cabinet-royal-minurso type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-30T22:19:34.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:01:14.373Z tags: ["Sahara", "Diplomacy", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae517e4a2d51cd541beac46_6ae517d595e0e05abe102b54_cabinet-royal-minurso-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # MINURSO: Royal Cabinet says the mission leaves “in the coming days” *Hours after the Security Council’s double failure, Morocco’s Royal Cabinet spelled out what the end of the mandate means: MINURSO should leave the southern provinces, and the Sahara file should come off the Council’s agenda for good.* ![Official portrait of King Mohammed VI, seated on a gilded chair in front of a zellige wall, next to the Moroccan flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae517e4a2d51cd541beac46_6ae517d595e0e05abe102b54_cabinet-royal-minurso-hero-main.webp) Hours after the Security Council’s double failure, Morocco’s Royal Cabinet took note on Friday, October 30, of the end of MINURSO’s mandate, in a statement carried by MAP, the state news agency. Rabat called it “a significant step toward the final closure of the Moroccan Sahara file at the United Nations,” and drew an immediate consequence on the ground. > “The non-renewal of MINURSO’s mandate clearly means that the presence of this Mission in the Kingdom’s southern provinces, notably through its staff, its vehicles, its equipment and its symbols, should end in the coming days.” ### The end of the file in New York The statement speaks of “a 35-year page” now turned. Rabat expects the Sahara to come off the Council’s agenda: no more periodic meetings, no more reports from the Secretary-General, no more briefings from his Personal Envoy. The UN political process is, in the statement’s words, “suspended,” and similar steps will follow “within the other UN bodies.” ### What does not change Morocco says it remains “firmly committed to the ceasefire,” in strict respect of its territorial integrity. It notes that more than two-thirds of UN members, including permanent members of the Council, back autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty “as the only framework for a solution.” The UN has not said when or how it would withdraw its teams, and the Council can still adopt a text before the mandate expires on Saturday, October 31. Friday’s two votes are covered in our piece on [the Russian veto](/en/news/minurso-veto). *Photo: official portrait of King Mohammed VI. MAP.* ## References - MAP Express - [Communiqué du Cabinet Royal](https://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/activites-royales/communique-du-cabinet-royal-132/) - MAP - [Communiqué du Cabinet royal (version arabe)](https://x.com/MAP_Information/status/2116281681909088624) - The Moorish Times - [Sahara à l’ONU: Moscou bloque le texte américain, la MINURSO reste sans mandat](https://www.moorishtimes.com/news/minurso-veto) --- --- title: "Sahara at the UN: Moscow Blocks the US Text, MINURSO Left Without a Mandate" description: "Eleven votes in favor, one Russian veto: the Security Council failed to renew MINURSO, the UN mission in the Sahara, on October 30. What Washington proposed, what Moscow did, and what this double failure changes for the Moroccan Sahara." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/minurso-veto language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/minurso-veto type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-30T22:00:24.000Z updated: 2026-10-30T22:36:56.686Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Sahara", "Geopolitics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae50d684f820b933ace9c06_6ae50d249091ff1c30bfbbf5_minurso-veto-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sahara at the UN: Moscow Blocks the US Text, MINURSO Left Without a Mandate *Eleven votes in favor, one Russian veto: the Security Council failed to renew MINURSO, the UN mission in the Sahara, on October 30. What Washington proposed, what Moscow did, and what this double failure changes for the Moroccan Sahara.* ![The empty United Nations Security Council chamber in New York, with its horseshoe table and Per Krohg’s mural.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae50d684f820b933ace9c06_6ae50d249091ff1c30bfbbf5_minurso-veto-hero-main.webp) Eleven votes in favor, one against, three abstentions. In New York on Friday, October 30, the US draft resolution on the Sahara had a majority of the Security Council behind it, but the vote against came from Russia, a permanent member, and its veto was enough to sink it. Moscow’s rival text then drew only three votes. No resolution was adopted, and the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission in the Sahara, expires on Saturday, October 31. ### What Washington proposed The United States, which drafts the texts on this file, wanted to extend the mission by a year and change what it is. The “R” in MINURSO, for “referendum,” was to go: the mission would have become MINUSO on November 1. The text made Morocco’s autonomy plan the only basis for negotiations, asked UNHCR to count the population of the Tindouf camps within six months, and called for a leaner mission. ### What Russia did Russia, the only member to vote against, cast its veto, while China, Pakistan and Somalia abstained. Its ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, argued that Washington gave up any neutrality when it recognized Moroccan sovereignty, and that the Council has no business settling a question of sovereignty. Moscow holds on to the referendum option in the name of self-determination. ### The American response Russia then tabled its own one-page text: one more year, with MINURSO’s name and tasks left untouched. Only Russia, China and Somalia backed it. The United States voted against, and eleven members abstained, France and the United Kingdom among them. The US vote did not even decide the outcome, since the text fell six votes short of the nine it needed. US ambassador Mike Waltz accused Moscow of using its veto “to preserve the letter R for the referendum,” a vote the UN itself has called unworkable for twenty years. France regretted that Russia had not abstained and warned that an abrupt end to the mandate would be “particularly worrying.” *Photo: the Security Council chamber at UN headquarters in New York. Jdforrester, CC BY 4.0. Gallery: a MINURSO vehicle in Laayoune (Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0), the mission’s headquarters in Laayoune (cingularite, CC BY-SA 2.0), the El Aaiun camp near Tindouf (Jorn Sund-Henriksen, CC BY-SA 3.0).* ![A white MINURSO vehicle marked UN parked on a street in Laayoune.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae50d684f820b933ace9bfd_6ae50d4f42aae5317855aad5_minurso-veto-laayoune-main.webp) ![MINURSO headquarters in Laayoune at dusk, with its satellite dishes and white vehicles.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae50d684f820b933ace9c03_6ae50d5042aae5317855ab43_minurso-veto-hq-main.webp) ![The El Aaiun refugee camp near Tindouf, Algeria: low earthen houses stretching to the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae50d684f820b933ace9bfa_6ae50d5095c88cf7e4d95a65_minurso-veto-tindouf-main.webp) ### Why one letter matters so much MINURSO was created in 1991 to organize a self-determination referendum that would never take place, as voter identification stalled in the 1990s. In 2007, Morocco put forward its autonomy plan. In 2020, Washington recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. On October 31, 2025, Resolution 2797 made autonomy the basis for negotiations, with Moscow abstaining. Dropping the “R” would have written that path into the mission’s very name. This time, Russia said no. ### What happens now? Without a new text, the mission loses its legal basis tomorrow, and no new vote had been announced by Friday night. Three outcomes remain open: a technical extension of a few weeks, a revised US text that wins a Russian abstention as in 2025, or a plain expiry, which would leave ceasefire monitoring in limbo. ### Rabat turns the page Morocco answered in the evening with [a statement from the Royal Cabinet](/en/news/cabinet-royal-minurso) that turns the reading of the vote around. Far from treating it as a setback, Rabat hailed “a significant step toward the final closure of the Moroccan Sahara file at the United Nations,” and spelled out what it means on the ground: > “The non-renewal of MINURSO’s mandate clearly means that the presence of this Mission in the Kingdom’s southern provinces, notably through its staff, its vehicles, its equipment and its symbols, should end in the coming days.” The statement speaks of “a 35-year page” now turned, that of a mission “inherited from an anachronistic and bygone context.” It also expects the question to be taken off the Council’s agenda, which would end the periodic meetings, the Secretary-General’s reports and his Personal Envoy’s briefings. The Kingdom says it remains committed to the ceasefire, and announces similar steps in other UN bodies. ### What it changes for Morocco The Russian veto was meant to preserve MINURSO; it may hasten its end. Without a mandate, the mission loses its legal basis, and the country that hosts it on its soil now wants it gone. Nor does the veto erase Resolution 2797, which makes autonomy the basis for negotiations. One unknown remains: the Council can still adopt a text before the mandate runs out, and the UN has not said how it would withdraw its teams. Algiers and the Polisario had not reacted officially by Friday night. ## References - SNRT News (X) - [Communiqué du Cabinet Royal, 30/10/2026](https://x.com/SNRTNewsfr/status/2116288379046502654) - Hespress - [Le Maroc satisfait de la non reconduction du mandat de la Minurso](https://fr.hespress.com/494572-le-maroc-satisfait-de-la-non-reconduction-du-mandat-de-la-minurso-et-demeure-fermement-attache-au-respect-de-son-integrite-territoriale.html) - Mike Waltz (X) - [Russia just vetoed a U.S. resolution, backed by 11 Security Council members](https://x.com/USAmbUN/status/2116271584138919955) - Morocco World News - [Referendum ‘Will Not Happen,’ US Says After Russian Veto Sinks Sahara Resolution](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/344470/referendum-will-not-happen-us-says-after-russian-veto-sinks-sahara-resolution/) - Morocco World News - [US Vetoes Russian Draft Resolution on Western Sahara](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/344465/us-vetoes-russian-draft-resolution-on-western-sahara/) - LeBrief - [La Russie justifie son veto au projet américain sur le Sahara et accuse Washington d’avoir renoncé à sa neutralité](https://www.lebrief.ma/la-russie-justifie-son-veto-au-projet-americain-sur-le-sahara-et-accuse-washington-davoir-renonce-a-sa-neutralite-100171853/) - Le360 - [Sahara: trois voix sur quinze, le vrai poids du camp d’Alger à l’ONU](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/sahara-trois-voix-sur-quinze-le-vrai-poids-du-camp-dalger-a-lonu_QVA5TN4H5BB5BII74S6OLJIAOA/) - Le360 - [Après le veto russe, quatre scénarios pour le Sahara](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/apres-le-veto-russe-quatre-scenarios-pour-le-sahara-et-aucun-ne-rend-le-referendum-a-alger_O7SEHFX44FE4ZBACKG5HQPJC24/) - Le Desk - [Sahara: Paris dénonce le veto russe et s’alarme d’une fermeture brutale de la Minurso](https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/sahara-paris-denonce-le-veto-russe-et-salarme-dune-fermeture-brutale-de-la-minurso/) - Cadena SER - [Rusia veta en la ONU la resolución de EEUU sobre el Sáhara Occidental](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/10/30/rusia-veta-en-la-onu-la-resolucion-de-eeuu-sobre-el-sahara-occidental-que-favorecia-los-intereses-de-marruecos-cadena-ser/) - TSA - [Sahara occidental: la Russie oppose son veto à la résolution américaine](https://www.tsa-algerie.com/alerte-sahara-occidental-la-russie-oppose-son-veto-a-la-resolution-americaine/) - Hespress - [What happens next after Russia’s veto of US Sahara resolution?](https://en.hespress.com/148289-what-happens-next-after-russias-veto-of-us-sahara-resolution.html) - Wikimedia Commons - [Security Council chamber, Jdforrester, CC BY 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_Nations_Headquarters_-_Security_Council_chamber,_angled_view.jpg) --- --- title: "African Development Bank: First Dirham Bond Issue Raises One Billion" description: "The African Development Bank has completed its first bond issue in Moroccan dirhams: one billion, placed with qualified investors, over seven years at a floating rate indexed to MONIA. Morocco is the pilot country for the Bank’s local-currency financing." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bad-emission-obligataire-dirham language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bad-emission-obligataire-dirham type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-30T10:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.334Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae471e010c6b51d049039aa_6ae471dd63f44b30e3b9a842_afdb-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # African Development Bank: First Dirham Bond Issue Raises One Billion *The African Development Bank has completed its first bond issue in Moroccan dirhams: one billion, placed with qualified investors, over seven years at a floating rate indexed to MONIA. Morocco is the pilot country for the Bank’s local-currency financing.* ![The headquarters tower of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, seen from below, with its glass and pale-panel facade.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae471e010c6b51d049039aa_6ae471dd63f44b30e3b9a842_afdb-main.webp) The African Development Bank has completed its first bond issue in Moroccan dirhams, totaling one billion, announced on October 30. ![Four Moroccan banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams and six coins laid out on a cloth.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b8a02ce7994f1df9800_6ae60628c9c7b5d3229bcfec_bad-emission-obligataire-dirham-inline.webp) *Moroccan dirham banknotes and coins. Photo: Freepius, CC0.* It was a private placement with qualified investors: the bond runs for seven years at a floating rate indexed to MONIA, the Moroccan overnight interest rate index. Attijari Finances Corp advised the Bank, while Attijariwafa bank and CDG Capital led the placement. Morocco is the pilot country. The Bank cites its long-standing partnership with the Kingdom, the weight of its operations there, its clients’ demand for dirhams and the maturity of the Moroccan financial ecosystem. The dirham joins the euro and the US dollar among its funding currencies, and the institution is considering a dedicated treasury portfolio. This first billion will let the Bank finance its Moroccan clients in local currency. *Photo: Citizen59, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Banque africaine de développement - [African Development Bank completes inaugural Moroccan dirham bond issuance of MAD 1 billion, strengthening local currency financing in Africa](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-bank-completes-inaugural-98090) --- --- title: "Casablanca: S&P Rates the City BBB- for the First Time, the Same as the Kingdom" description: "S&P Global Ratings has rated Casablanca for the first time: BBB- long term, A-3 short term, stable outlook, the same as the Kingdom. The agency nonetheless puts the commune’s own credit profile at bbb+, two notches higher, and expects its direct debt to fall over 2026-2028." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sp-casablanca-bbb language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sp-casablanca-bbb type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-29T16:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.359Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae376acff639a45c6f32b07_6ae376ab7bf9633bf8ae3611_cfc34-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca: S&P Rates the City BBB- for the First Time, the Same as the Kingdom *S&P Global Ratings has rated Casablanca for the first time: BBB- long term, A-3 short term, stable outlook, the same as the Kingdom. The agency nonetheless puts the commune’s own credit profile at bbb+, two notches higher, and expects its direct debt to fall over 2026-2028.* ![Upward view of the Casablanca Finance City towers, with a construction crane and a tram car in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae376acff639a45c6f32b07_6ae376ab7bf9633bf8ae3611_cfc34-main.webp) Casablanca has just been rated for the first time by an international agency: S&P Global Ratings has assigned it BBB- long term and A-3 short term, with a stable outlook. ![A woman with long brown hair speaks into a microphone, seated at a table in front of a red curtain.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54635c26bca430f9514f6_6ae543e407424c210341286f_sp-casablanca-bbb.webp) *Nabila Rmili, president of the Casablanca Municipal Council, at a meeting of the city’s councilors. Photo: Le360.* The rating puts it exactly level with the Kingdom, itself rated BBB-. Taken on its own, though, the commune’s credit profile is judged bbb+, two notches higher. But a Moroccan local authority, dependent on state transfers, cannot in S&P’s view durably be rated above the state itself. The agency expects a gradual fall in the city’s direct debt over 2026-2028. This first rating gives foreign lenders a yardstick Casablanca did not have. As long as the Kingdom stays rated BBB-, no improvement in the city’s accounts can lift it above that step. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Les Éco - [S&P note Casablanca : des finances solides, mais une autonomie limitée](https://leseco.ma/maroc/sp-note-casablanca-des-finances-solides-mais-une-autonomie-limitee.html) - Médias24 - [Casablanca obtient la note BBB- de S&P, avec un profil de crédit supérieur à celui du Royaume](https://medias24.com/2026/10/23/casablanca-obtient-la-note-bbb-de-sp-avec-un-profil-de-credit-superieur-a-celui-du-royaume-1783259) - TelQuel - [Casablanca obtient la note “BBB-/A-3” de S&P Global Ratings, assortie d’une perspective stable](https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2026/10/29/casablanca-obtient-la-note-bbb-a-3-de-sp-global-ratings-assortie-dune-perspective-stable_2015625) --- --- title: "Champions League: Berkane Draw Ouaddou’s Orlando Pirates, MAS Land in Pyramids’ Group" description: "The CAF drew the 2026-2027 Champions League groups in Cairo on October 28. Renaissance de Berkane meet Simba SC, Orlando Pirates, coached by Abdeslam Ouaddou, and Colombe Sportive. Maghreb de Fes will face Pyramids FC, Al Hilal and Horoya AC." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ligue-champions-caf-tirage-berkane-mas language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ligue-champions-caf-tirage-berkane-mas type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-28T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.691Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae22352d6dc7234086fdcdc_6ae223510316fecf9c68a3a7_mas-caf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Champions League: Berkane Draw Ouaddou’s Orlando Pirates, MAS Land in Pyramids’ Group *The CAF drew the 2026-2027 Champions League groups in Cairo on October 28. Renaissance de Berkane meet Simba SC, Orlando Pirates, coached by Abdeslam Ouaddou, and Colombe Sportive. Maghreb de Fes will face Pyramids FC, Al Hilal and Horoya AC.* ![Maghreb de Fes players, in black and yellow, and Club Africain players walk onto the pitch of the Tunis stadium before a CAF Cup match in November 2011.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae22352d6dc7234086fdcdc_6ae223510316fecf9c68a3a7_mas-caf-main.webp) The draw for the group stage of the 2026-2027 African Champions League, held in Cairo on October 28 by the CAF, placed both Moroccan clubs in demanding groups. ![Abdeslam Ouaddou, in a white shirt and black tie, points and gives instructions from the side of the pitch.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54661514ff03751563eb7_6ae5458e174753539d034538_ligue-champions-caf-tirage-berkane-mas.webp) *Abdeslam Ouaddou on the Orlando Pirates touchline at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, November 2025. Photo: BackpagePix / TimesLIVE.* Renaissance de Berkane, semifinalists in the last edition, land in Group C with Tanzania’s Simba SC, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive. Group C promises a reunion: Orlando Pirates are coached by Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Morocco international, who will therefore come back to play in Morocco, on the Berkane pitch. Maghreb de Fes fall into Group D, alongside Egypt’s Pyramids FC, Sudan’s Al Hilal and Guinea’s Horoya AC. The group stage will open in November. *Photo: Citizen59, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Le360 Sport - [Ligue des Champions: la RS Berkane face aux Pirates de Ouaddou, le MAS dans un groupe relevé](https://sport.le360.ma/football/ligue-des-champions-caf/ligue-des-champions-la-rs-berkane-face-aux-pirates-de-ouaddou-le-mas-dans-un-groupe-releve_QGQN4ANFFJAIBCYEY7UJBGJZZY/) - Afrik-Foot - [Ligue des champions CAF : tirage corsé pour le MC Alger, un long périple attend Berkane et l’Espérance…](https://www.afrik-foot.com/ligue-des-champions-caf-tirage-corse-pour-le-mc-alger-un-long-periple-attend-berkane-et-lesperance) - Africa Top Sports - [Ligue des champions CAF : tirage relevé pour le MC Alger, tous les groupes](https://africatopsports.com/football/ligue-des-champions-caf-tirage-releve-pour-le-mc-alger-tous-les-groupes/) --- --- title: "Sothema Signs Deal to Acquire 100 Percent of Food Supplement Maker Ramo Pharm" description: "Sothema announced on October 28 the signing of an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Ramo Pharm, a Casablanca food supplement specialist. The deal, subject to Competition Council clearance, is meant to found a fourth division of the group, devoted to wellness and consumer health." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sothema-ramo-pharm language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sothema-ramo-pharm type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-28T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.674Z tags: ["Health", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae221731267691df6a74daa_6ae22171681fcfec737bd59a_sothema-ramo-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sothema Signs Deal to Acquire 100 Percent of Food Supplement Maker Ramo Pharm *Sothema announced on October 28 the signing of an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Ramo Pharm, a Casablanca food supplement specialist. The deal, subject to Competition Council clearance, is meant to found a fourth division of the group, devoted to wellness and consumer health.* ![An operator in a white coat and hairnet works the touchscreen of a pharmaceutical packaging line in a Sothema clean room.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae221731267691df6a74daa_6ae22171681fcfec737bd59a_sothema-ramo-main.webp) Sothema announced on October 28 the signing of an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the capital of Ramo Pharm, a Casablanca company founded in 1999 that specializes in food supplements. ![A woman in a black jacket speaks from a wooden lectern, in front of a screen showing the Fondation Lalla Salma and Axess Pharma logos.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54637b78e7736393be197_6ae543e51596dcfd31d7a92d_sothema-ramo-pharm.webp) *Lamia Tazi, chief executive of Sothema, at the lectern. Photo: Le360.* Its brands, sold through pharmacies, include Enrouex, ZENmag and Matervit, positioned on ENT, immunity, stress and sleep, and women’s health. For the pharmaceutical group based in Bouskoura, which turns fifty this year, the deal lays the foundations of a fourth division, “Wellness & Consumer Health,” alongside general medicine and chronic care, specialty products and dialysis. Chief executive Lamia Tazi plans to rely on Sothema’s international distribution networks to carry Ramo Pharm’s brands beyond Morocco. The deal remains subject to clearance from the Competition Council. The statement gives neither the price nor the timetable of the transaction. *Photo: Sothema.* ## References - Sothema - [Sothema annonce l’acquisition de 100% du capital de Ramo Pharm](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Sothema_acquisition_100%25_Ramopharm.pdf) --- --- title: "State Budget: Deficit Falls to 33.1 Billion Dirhams at End of September" description: "At the end of September 2026 the State budget deficit stands at 33.1 billion dirhams, against 52.4 billion a year earlier. Ordinary revenue rises 14.8 percent, overall spending 7 percent, and the Treasury’s financing need falls 42.2 percent, to 41.4 billion." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/scrt-deficit-fin-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/scrt-deficit-fin-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-28T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.417Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae1cd0ce0c52d82c433dfd7_6ae1cd0a6fc223e94c0fdc39_tgr-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # State Budget: Deficit Falls to 33.1 Billion Dirhams at End of September *At the end of September 2026 the State budget deficit stands at 33.1 billion dirhams, against 52.4 billion a year earlier. Ordinary revenue rises 14.8 percent, overall spending 7 percent, and the Treasury’s financing need falls 42.2 percent, to 41.4 billion.* ![Horseshoe-arched porch of a Treasury General of the Kingdom office, with its bilingual sign above a wrought-iron door.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae1cd0ce0c52d82c433dfd7_6ae1cd0a6fc223e94c0fdc39_tgr-main.webp) The State budget deficit stands at 33.1 billion dirhams at the end of September 2026, against 52.4 billion a year earlier, according to the Treasury charges and resources statement published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. ![A TotalEnergies station sign shows diesel at 14.53 and unleaded at 14.52 dirhams, in front of an apartment building and palm trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54663a405c0af487efe98_6ae54590382b682ce23d58f3_scrt-deficit-fin-septembre-2026.webp) *Diesel and gasoline prices on the board of a Casablanca filling station, May 2026. Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Ordinary revenue reaches 338.9 billion, up 14.8%. Corporate tax carries most of the rise: 90.2 billion, 24.8% more, which means 95.5% of the annual target already collected. Overall spending rises 7% to 372 billion, including 82.8 billion in investment, up 13.4%. Compensation reaches 16 billion, or 115.8% of the forecast, largely because of 2.6 billion in direct aid to transport professionals to cushion the rise in fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. The Treasury’s financing need falls to 41.4 billion, against 71.7 billion a year earlier. It was covered by 22.1 billion in net domestic debt and 25.2 billion in net external borrowing. The ordinary balance, in surplus by 48.2 billion against 29.3 billion a year earlier, has thus covered more than half of public investment. *Photo: TIM97HA, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances - [Situation des charges et ressources du Trésor, septembre 2026](https://www.finances.gov.ma/Publication/dtfe/2026/SCRT_septembre-2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Capital Markets: AMMC Publishes Its Fintech Pathway Guide" description: "The AMMC has published a guide detailing the path of a fintech project owner: online portal, regulatory consultation, request for an opinion, then referral to Bank Al-Maghrib, the ACAPS or the Morocco Fintech Center. The document is dated October 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ammc-guide-parcours-fintech language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ammc-guide-parcours-fintech type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-27T22:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.555Z tags: ["Finance", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae123fc84979417c032713d_6ae123fadbb9e874c53671bc_cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Capital Markets: AMMC Publishes Its Fintech Pathway Guide *The AMMC has published a guide detailing the path of a fintech project owner: online portal, regulatory consultation, request for an opinion, then referral to Bank Al-Maghrib, the ACAPS or the Morocco Fintech Center. The document is dated October 2026.* ![Low-angle view of office towers and a construction crane at Casablanca Finance City, under tree foliage.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae123fc84979417c032713d_6ae123fadbb9e874c53671bc_cfc-main.webp) The fintech pathway guide that the Moroccan capital markets authority (AMMC) announced on October 26 describes how an innovative project owner should approach the regulator. ![About twenty officials stand behind a meeting table, in front of a Moroccan flag and a portrait of the King.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5463a6e325be1a8aed846_6ae543e6d7596d1c3681ab93_ammc-guide-parcours-fintech.webp) *The founding members of the Morocco Fintech Center at Bank Al-Maghrib’s headquarters in Rabat, at the founding general meeting. Photo: La Vie eco.* Everything goes through the Fintech portal, which accepts an information request or a meeting request through a four-step form. A project can be submitted as early as the thinking stage, and the Innovation department created in 2022 handles the requests. To obtain an opinion, the project owner supplies a presentation of the project, its business model, the planned services, the target clientele, its partners and its timetable. The AMMC can then give regulatory guidance or refer the owner to Bank Al-Maghrib or the ACAPS. Projects seeking investors are directed to the Morocco Fintech Center, the association the regulator founded with those two institutions in January 2025. A project owner will now know, before filing anything, which documents the regulator will ask for. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Autorité Marocaine du Marché des Capitaux - [Guide du parcours Fintech auprès de l’AMMC, octobre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Guide_Fintech_AMMC_FR.pdf) --- --- title: "ONCF: Nearly 100 Million Passengers Expected in 2030, With 96 Billion Dirhams Invested" description: "ONCF expects nearly 100 million passengers in 2030, for about 10 billion dirhams in revenue, according to the report attached to the 2027 finance bill. Its new development cycle mobilizes 96 billion, 53 of them for the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed extension." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oncf-100-millions-voyageurs-2030 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oncf-100-millions-voyageurs-2030 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-27T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.634Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae0be81b24bbfdbf7324e55_6ae0be7f0e5d6f9cd96e12c2_oncf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # ONCF: Nearly 100 Million Passengers Expected in 2030, With 96 Billion Dirhams Invested *ONCF expects nearly 100 million passengers in 2030, for about 10 billion dirhams in revenue, according to the report attached to the 2027 finance bill. Its new development cycle mobilizes 96 billion, 53 of them for the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed extension.* ![An ONCF Al Boraq trainset standing at the Tangier terminus, under the station structures.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae0be81b24bbfdbf7324e55_6ae0be7f0e5d6f9cd96e12c2_oncf-main.webp) Nearly 100 million passengers are expected in 2030 on the ONCF network, for revenue of around 10 billion dirhams, according to the report on public establishments and enterprises attached to the 2027 finance bill. ![A long lit concrete tunnel with a yellow ventilation duct along the roof, machinery at the far end and three workers in hard hats.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5463d7dca7618213f439f_6ae543e7b8c3f8c1d40bb295_oncf-100-millions-voyageurs-2030.webp) *A tunnel under construction on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line. Photo: ONCF, via Le360.* The new development cycle mobilizes 96 billion dirhams: 53 for the extension of the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line, under construction since April 2025, 29 for the purchase of 168 new-generation trains and 14 to maintain performance. The contracts for these trains provide for the development of RER train manufacturing capacity in Morocco. The starting point is still loss-making. At the end of June 2026, the Office posted 2.48 billion dirhams in revenue for a net loss of 716 million. It expects to close the year above 5.28 billion in revenue. If the report’s trajectory holds, it will have almost doubled its annual revenue by 2030. *Photo: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances - [Rapport sur les Établissements et Entreprises Publics, projet de loi de finances 2027](https://www.finances.gov.ma/Publication/db/2027/Rapport-etablissements-entreprises-publics_Fr.pdf) --- --- title: "Royal Air Maroc: More Than 25 Billion Dirhams in Revenue Expected for 2026" description: "Royal Air Maroc expects more than 25 billion dirhams in revenue in 2026, with 9.3 million passengers, according to the report attached to the 2027 finance bill. At the end of April, revenue was up 17 percent, despite a net loss of 71 million." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-previsions-2026-eep language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-previsions-2026-eep type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-27T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.680Z tags: ["Economy", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae0befc2a06a99dbede3403_6ae0befb7df1ae87fa69755d_ram-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Royal Air Maroc: More Than 25 Billion Dirhams in Revenue Expected for 2026 *Royal Air Maroc expects more than 25 billion dirhams in revenue in 2026, with 9.3 million passengers, according to the report attached to the 2027 finance bill. At the end of April, revenue was up 17 percent, despite a net loss of 71 million.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800 taxiing on a taxiway at Schiphol airport in the airline’s livery.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae0befc2a06a99dbede3403_6ae0befb7df1ae87fa69755d_ram-main.webp) Royal Air Maroc expects to pass the 25 billion dirham mark in revenue in 2026, with 9.3 million passengers carried, according to the report on public establishments and enterprises attached to the 2027 finance bill. ![A white Royal Air Maroc wide-body jet parked on the apron, a pushback tractor at its nose gear.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546659f58d7fc365d33ea_6ae54591b589893811f0d147_ram-previsions-2026-eep.webp) *A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 at a jet bridge at Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport. Photo: MBurch, CC BY-SA 4.0.* At the end of April, revenue stood at 11.01 billion dirhams, up 17% on the year. The airline nonetheless showed a net loss of 71 million, against 58 million a year earlier, which the report attributes in part to geopolitical crises. These forecasts follow a clearly improved 2025, with 21.53 billion in revenue (+8%) and 1.34 billion in net profit (+182%). The airline invested 3.58 billion, against 291 million the year before. The program contract signed with the State targets 200 aircraft in 2037, against 50 today, for 94 billion in revenue and 31.6 million passengers. *Photo: Robbie Klinkenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances - [Rapport sur les Établissements et Entreprises Publics, projet de loi de finances 2027](https://www.finances.gov.ma/Publication/db/2027/Rapport-etablissements-entreprises-publics_Fr.pdf) --- --- title: "Public Enterprises: 209.16 Billion Dirhams of Investment Planned for 2027, Level With 2026" description: "The public establishments and enterprises plan to invest 209.16 billion dirhams in 2027, according to the report attached to the finance bill, almost as much as in 2026. Nine operators, among them the regional multiservice companies, OCP and ONCF, account for more than 78 percent of the total." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/eep-investissements-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/eep-investissements-2027 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-27T10:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.161Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae07e09c2b8923126aee6d4_6ae07e0861addce27c95a01a_eep-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Public Enterprises: 209.16 Billion Dirhams of Investment Planned for 2027, Level With 2026 *The public establishments and enterprises plan to invest 209.16 billion dirhams in 2027, according to the report attached to the finance bill, almost as much as in 2026. Nine operators, among them the regional multiservice companies, OCP and ONCF, account for more than 78 percent of the total.* ![An ONCF Al Boraq high-speed trainset standing at Tanger Ville station, under the canopies of the platform.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae07e09c2b8923126aee6d4_6ae07e0861addce27c95a01a_eep-main.webp) The public establishments and enterprises (EEP) plan to invest 209.16 billion dirhams in 2027, according to the public portfolio report attached to the year’s finance bill, excluding operations of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment. ![The chamber of Morocco’s Parliament with its benches occupied, Fouzi Lekjaa shown on two giant screens on either side of the rostrum.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bb25d230cc1aeece2e4_6ae6063217aeade90b9b64de_eep-investissements-2027-inline.webp) *Fouzi Lekjaa presenting the 2027 finance bill to both houses of Parliament. Photo: Saouri, Le Matin.* The figure is almost the same as 2026, whose updated forecast stands at 209.64 billion, a record and a 69% rise on the 124.36 billion achieved in 2025. Nine operators account for more than 78% of the total, led by the regional multiservice companies (39.6 billion), the OCP group (31.31) and the ONCF group (29.02). The report then announces a decline: 158.53 billion in 2028, 24% less, then 132.84 billion in 2029, 16% less again. Casablanca-Settat keeps first place with 64.86 billion, against 68.41 in 2026, and the top three regions, with Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Marrakech-Safi, see their share go from 62.5% to 59.8%. By 2029 the annual envelope will thus have lost more than a third of its 2027 level. *Photo: NicholasNCE, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances - [Rapport sur les Établissements et Entreprises Publics, projet de loi de finances 2027](https://www.finances.gov.ma/Publication/db/2027/Rapport-etablissements-entreprises-publics_Fr.pdf) --- --- title: "CMT: Regulator Clears Ayrad and CIMR Mandatory Offer at 2,217 Dirhams a Share" description: "The AMMC cleared the information note for the mandatory takeover bid on Compagnie Miniere de Touissit on October 26. Ayrad Group Limited, OSEAD Fund, Ayrad Maroc and the CIMR offer 2,217 dirhams a share for 611,898 shares, from November 3 to 17 inclusive." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cmt-opa-obligatoire-visa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cmt-opa-obligatoire-visa type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-26T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.630Z tags: ["Finance", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adfd19b420eb7851563d239_6adfd19a96878593cd2d0280_cmt-opa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # CMT: Regulator Clears Ayrad and CIMR Mandatory Offer at 2,217 Dirhams a Share *The AMMC cleared the information note for the mandatory takeover bid on Compagnie Miniere de Touissit on October 26. Ayrad Group Limited, OSEAD Fund, Ayrad Maroc and the CIMR offer 2,217 dirhams a share for 611,898 shares, from November 3 to 17 inclusive.* ![Azurite crystals from Touissit, in Jerada province, deep blue against their host rock.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adfd19b420eb7851563d239_6adfd19a96878593cd2d0280_cmt-opa-main.webp) On October 26, the Moroccan capital markets authority (AMMC) cleared the information note for the mandatory takeover bid on shares of Compagnie Miniere de Touissit (CMT), filed by Ayrad Group Limited, OSEAD Fund, Ayrad Maroc and the CIMR pension fund. ![A blue steel headframe rises over blue industrial sheds against green hills.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5463fd82a2bb4ec36e28f_6ae543e9edca88a5ea28acbe_cmt-opa-obligatoire-visa.webp) *The headframe of a Compagnie Miniere de Touissit mine shaft. Photo: Challenge.* The offer covers 611,898 shares at 2,217 dirhams each, a maximum of 1,356,577,866 dirhams, and will stay open from November 3 to 17 inclusive. It is mandatory because the pact between Ayrad and the Caisse Interprofessionnelle Marocaine de Retraite, in force since July 13, took the two partners, who hold 37.04% and 16.54% of the capital, past the 40% voting-rights threshold. The price is the equal-weighted average of two valuations: 2,523 dirhams for the twelve-month volume-weighted average share price and 1,910 dirhams for the reference transaction. The CDG, the RCAR, Atlantic RE and AXA Assurance Maroc have waived tendering their shares, which limits the offer to the 36.40% of the capital held by the other shareholders. CMT will remain listed in Casablanca. *Photo: Lech Darski, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - AMMC - [Visa de l’AMMC sur la note d’information relative à l’Offre Publique d’Achat Obligatoire portant sur les actions CMT](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_CMT_053_2026_FR_0.pdf) - AMMC - [Décision de recevabilité du projet d’Offre Publique d’Achat obligatoire sur les actions CMT](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Avis_Recevabilit%C3%A9_OPA_CMT_VFR.pdf) --- --- title: "Airports: Morocco Handles 29.33 Million Passengers Through September 2026, Up 8.74%" description: "Morocco’s airports handled 29.33 million passengers through the end of September 2026, up 8.74% year on year, according to National Airports Office statistics. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 9.36 million, ahead of Marrakech-Menara, and air freight grew 14.29%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aeroports-trafic-fin-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aeroports-trafic-fin-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-26T17:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.989Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e3dadcc5f1470697d23_6ae53c5e6a5d9b85e6ac1d33_aeroports-trafic-fin-septembre-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Airports: Morocco Handles 29.33 Million Passengers Through September 2026, Up 8.74% *Morocco’s airports handled 29.33 million passengers through the end of September 2026, up 8.74% year on year, according to National Airports Office statistics. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 9.36 million, ahead of Marrakech-Menara, and air freight grew 14.29%.* ![The departures forecourt of Casablanca Mohammed V airport at night, under its lit canopies, with the gate 2 sign listing Royal Air Maroc, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Air Nostrum.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e3dadcc5f1470697d23_6ae53c5e6a5d9b85e6ac1d33_aeroports-trafic-fin-septembre-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s airports handled 29.33 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026, 8.74% more than a year earlier, according to statistics from the National Airports Office. ![Terminal 1 at Marrakech-Menara Airport, its white geometric-patterned roof above a forecourt planted with cacti.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60be9fd5e23d293d2ba6d_6ae6063fa5d3f837ad784bc4_aeroports-trafic-fin-septembre-2026-inline.webp) *Terminal 1 at Marrakech-Menara Airport in January 2026. Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0.* International traffic accounted for 26.15 million (+8.73%) and domestic traffic for 3.18 million (+8.88%). September alone accounted for 3.29 million. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 9.36 million passengers, ahead of Marrakech-Menara (8.11 million). Europe remains by far the largest market, with 21.67 million travelers (+9.05%), while traffic with the Middle and Far East fell 1.8%. At this monthly pace, the thirty-million mark would have been passed within the first days of October. *Photo: ONDA.* ## References - Les Éco - [Aéroports du Maroc : plus de 29,3 millions de passagers à fin septembre](https://leseco.ma/maroc/aeroports-du-maroc-plus-de-293-millions-de-passagers-a-fin-septembre.html) - Hespress - [Aéroports du Maroc : le trafic passagers progresse de 8,74% à fin septembre 2026](https://fr.hespress.com/493947-aeroports-du-maroc-le-trafic-passagers-progresse-de-874-a-fin-septembre-2026.html) - H24info - [Maroc: plus de 29,3 millions de passagers dans les aéroports à fin septembre (ONDA)](https://h24info.ma/economie/maroc-plus-de-293-millions-de-passagers-dans-les-aeroports-a-fin-septembre-onda/) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Ten Texts Approved, Seven of Them on Covered Bonds" description: "Meeting in Rabat on October 22, the Credit Institutions Committee gave a favorable opinion on ten regulatory texts, among them seven circulars on covered bonds, an amendment on anti-money-laundering vigilance and two directives on cyber resilience and customer service, Bank Al-Maghrib announced." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-comite-etablissements-credit-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-comite-etablissements-credit-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-26T17:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.727Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7bd7596d1c3680e02d_6ae53c7aee5fe82e96015471_bam-comite-etablissements-credit-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Ten Texts Approved, Seven of Them on Covered Bonds *Meeting in Rabat on October 22, the Credit Institutions Committee gave a favorable opinion on ten regulatory texts, among them seven circulars on covered bonds, an amendment on anti-money-laundering vigilance and two directives on cyber resilience and customer service, Bank Al-Maghrib announced.* ![Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri speaks with a raised hand in front of a portrait of King Mohammed VI.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7bd7596d1c3680e02d_6ae53c7aee5fe82e96015471_bam-comite-etablissements-credit-2026-main.webp) The Credit Institutions Committee met on October 22 at Bank Al-Maghrib’s headquarters in Rabat and gave a favorable opinion on ten regulatory texts, according to the central bank’s statement dated October 23. Seven are implementing circulars for law no. 94-21 on covered bonds, an instrument designed to diversify credit institutions’ sources of funding. The other three align the duty of vigilance with the Financial Action Task Force’s recent standards on money laundering and terrorist financing, set minimum rules for digital operational resilience and govern customer reception and satisfaction. The committee also approved the cooperation agreement on banking supervision signed on April 21, 2026 with the Bank of Uganda. The statement does not say when the texts will be published. The first covered bonds can only appear once the seven circulars are in force. *Photo: MAP.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Tenue de la réunion du Comité des établissements de crédit dans sa composition élargie](https://www.bkam.ma/Communiques/Communique/2026/Tenue-de-la-reunion-du-comite-des-etablissements-de-credit-dans-sa-composition-elargie) --- --- title: "Tangier-Tarifa: Balearia Floats Out the First of Its Two All-Electric Ferries" description: "Balearia floated out on Saturday, in Gijon, the first of two 100% electric fast ferries built for the Tanger Ville-Tarifa route. At 87 meters long with 14 MWh of batteries, it will enter service in the summer of 2027, in a project worth more than 200 million euros." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/balearia-ferry-electrique-tanger-tarifa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/balearia-ferry-electrique-tanger-tarifa type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-26T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.539Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tangier", "Spain"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adf297891dfd908c2c73fe0_6adf29775643027d100fe6d8_balearia-ferry-electrique-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tangier-Tarifa: Balearia Floats Out the First of Its Two All-Electric Ferries *Balearia floated out on Saturday, in Gijon, the first of two 100% electric fast ferries built for the Tanger Ville-Tarifa route. At 87 meters long with 14 MWh of batteries, it will enter service in the summer of 2027, in a project worth more than 200 million euros.* ![Aerial view of Balearia’s electric catamaran, its white and red hull marked Espana 2030, moored in the basin of the Armon shipyard in Gijon after its float-out.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adf297891dfd908c2c73fe0_6adf29775643027d100fe6d8_balearia-ferry-electrique-main.webp) Spanish shipping company Balearia floated out on Saturday, October 24, at the Armon shipyard in Gijon, in Asturias, the first of the two all-electric catamarans that will link Tangier’s city port, Tanger Ville, with Tarifa from the summer of 2027. ![The glass front of the ferry terminal, with arrival and departure signs in Arabic, French, English and Spanish.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5466836df6e180b8f2cef_6ae54592174753539d0346a7_balearia-ferry-electrique-tanger-tarifa.webp) *The entrance to the ferry terminal at the port of Tanger Ville. Photo: Jobt1962, CC BY-SA 4.0.* At 87 meters long and built in aluminum, the vessel carries a 14 MWh battery bank and will cross the strait on electric propulsion alone. The first ferry now moves on to interior fitting, before sea trials that will decide its delivery. Its twin will only join the fleet after the summer of 2027. Counting both vessels and the electrification of the Tanger Ville and Tarifa quays, the bill exceeds 200 million euros. For Balearia’s chairman, Adolfo Utor, the float-out brings closer the launch of the first 100% electric sea link between Europe and Africa. *Photo: Balearia.* ## References - Baleària - [Baleària pone a flote su primer ‘fast ferry’ 100% eléctrico que conectará Tarifa y Tánger a partir del verano de 2027](https://www.balearia.com/es/sala-prensa/notas-prensa/balearia-pone-a-flote-su-primer-fast-ferry-electrico-tarifa-tanger-2027) - Diario del Puerto - [Baleària pone a flote su primer ‘fast ferry’ 100% eléctrico que conectará Tarifa y Tánger](https://www.diariodelpuerto.com/maritimo/balearia-pone-a-flote-su-primer-fast-ferry-100-electrico-que-conectara-tarifa-y-tanger-FP26838508) - Infomédiaire - [Balearia lance un ferry electrique entre Tanger et Tarifa en 2027](https://www.infomediaire.net/balearia-lance-un-ferry-electrique-entre-tanger-et-tarifa-en-2027/) - Ciudad de Tarifa al Minuto - [Baleària pone a flote su primer ferry eléctrico para conectar Tarifa y Tánger en el verano de 2027](https://ciudaddetarifaalminuto.com/articulo/actualidad-tarifa/balearia-pone-a-flote-su-primer-ferry-electrico-para-conectar-tarifa-y-tanger-en-el-verano-de-2027/) --- --- title: "U17 Women’s World Cup: Morocco Meet North Korea Again in the Round of 16" description: "Third in Group A, Morocco’s under-17 women will face defending champions North Korea on Wednesday, October 28, in the round of 16 of the U17 Women’s World Cup in Sale. A year ago to the day, the North Koreans knocked them out at the same stage (6-1)." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mondial-u17-feminin-coree-du-nord language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mondial-u17-feminin-coree-du-nord type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-25T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.596Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ade82a1521ac8b8f0984d4f_6ade82a0bf2f7176d071c040_u17-coree-du-nord-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # U17 Women’s World Cup: Morocco Meet North Korea Again in the Round of 16 *Third in Group A, Morocco’s under-17 women will face defending champions North Korea on Wednesday, October 28, in the round of 16 of the U17 Women’s World Cup in Sale. A year ago to the day, the North Koreans knocked them out at the same stage (6-1).* ![The stand at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Sale, dressed in the colors of the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, facing an empty pitch under a gray sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ade82a1521ac8b8f0984d4f_6ade82a0bf2f7176d071c040_u17-coree-du-nord-main.webp) Morocco’s under-17 women will play the round of 16 of their home World Cup against North Korea on Wednesday, October 28, at three in the afternoon, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora, Sale. ![Eleven players in red shirts and green shorts pose on the pitch at night, one holding a federation pennant.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5464065ce97890aec4e26_6ae543e9a31725713a409ce7_mondial-u17-feminin-coree-du-nord.webp) *Morocco’s under-17 women line up for a team photo before a match at the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Photo: Morocco World News.* The Moroccan side ranks among the four best third-placed teams of the first round. After a win against New Zealand (4-0), it had lost to Germany (2-4) and then heavily to Argentina (1-5), finishing Group A with three points. The defending champions, North Korea topped Group B with six points, despite a defeat to Nigeria (1-3). The tie has a familiar ring: on October 28, 2025, at the same stage of the same competition, already held in Morocco, the North Koreans knocked the Moroccans out (6-1) before going on to lift the trophy. The winner of this tie will play the quarterfinals on November 1, and the final will be held on November 7. *Photo: Wikimedia Morocco, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - FIFA - [DPR Korea v Morocco, Round of 16, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/516/292977/293489/400022578) - FIFA - [Argentina v Morocco 5-1, Group A](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/516/292977/292978/400022536) - FIFA - [Korea DPR v Morocco 6-1, Round of 16, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/516/290333/290346/400020361) --- --- title: "Casablanca Marathon: Daniel Kiprono Sang Wins in 2:06:41, Moroccans Sweep the Half" description: "Kenya’s Daniel Kiprono Sang won the seventeenth Casablanca Marathon in 2:06:41, and Ethiopia’s Ayalew Bere took the women’s race ahead of Soukaina Atanane. In the half marathon, Yakoub Labquira won and Moroccan women swept the podium." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marathon-casablanca-2026-resultats language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marathon-casablanca-2026-resultats type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-25T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.581Z tags: ["Sport", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ade2d539e0675b53c546f5a_6ade2d51de23b1043d88bd15_marathon-resultats-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Marathon: Daniel Kiprono Sang Wins in 2:06:41, Moroccans Sweep the Half *Kenya’s Daniel Kiprono Sang won the seventeenth Casablanca Marathon in 2:06:41, and Ethiopia’s Ayalew Bere took the women’s race ahead of Soukaina Atanane. In the half marathon, Yakoub Labquira won and Moroccan women swept the podium.* ![The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca against the light, with the sun low over the Atlantic Ocean.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ade2d539e0675b53c546f5a_6ade2d51de23b1043d88bd15_marathon-resultats-main.webp) Kenya’s Daniel Kiprono Sang won the seventeenth Casablanca International Marathon on Sunday, October 25, finishing in 2:06:41 at the foot of the Hassan II Mosque. ![Three runners on a podium hold giant checks marked half marathon, the winner in the center with a trophy.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5466b1e9e2ef6d37c5a4d_6ae54593d7596d1c3681f555_marathon-casablanca-2026-resultats.webp) *The men’s half-marathon podium in Casablanca on October 25, 2026, with Yakoub Labquira in the center. Photo: La Vie Eco.* His compatriot Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo came in 36 seconds behind, Ethiopia’s Mandefro Workineh Tadese completed the podium in 2:08:40, and Morocco’s Said Ibissou took a close fourth place in 2:08:52. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Ayalew Bere won in 2:25:21 ahead of Morocco’s Soukaina Atanane (2:26:40) and Kenya’s Gladys Cherop Longari (2:27:21). The half marathon, for its part, was a Moroccan affair. Yakoub Labquira won it in 1:01:21, while Fatiha Asmid, Meryeme Azrour and Kaoutar Farkoussi swept the women’s podium. The announced favorite, El Hassan El Abbassi, entered under the colors of Bahrain and holder of a personal best of 2:04:43, finished only tenth in the marathon in 2:10:26. With a second place among the women, three Moroccans in the men’s top ten and both half marathons, Moroccan distance running is back in contention. *Photo: Milamber’s portfolio, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca - [Results, Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon 2026](https://casablancamarathon.com/en/resultats) - Race Timer Morocco - [Casablanca Marathon 2026, official results: Marathon Men, Marathon Women, Semi Marathon Men, Semi Marathon Women](https://results.racetimermorocco.com/en/event/1194) - Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca - [Rewards](https://casablancamarathon.com/en/recompenses) --- --- title: "U-15 World Cup: Morocco Open the Inaugural Edition With a 2-0 Win Over the Philippines" description: "Morocco’s Atlas Cubs beat the Philippines 2-0 in Baku on Saturday in their first match at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Both goals came in the opening quarter of an hour; Belize, Costa Rica, Curacao and Liberia complete Group F." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mondial-u15-maroc-philippines language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mondial-u15-maroc-philippines type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-24T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.656Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6add2fe317b69b44e97c6914_6add2fe23338fa52136e7569_u15-bakou-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # U-15 World Cup: Morocco Open the Inaugural Edition With a 2-0 Win Over the Philippines *Morocco’s Atlas Cubs beat the Philippines 2-0 in Baku on Saturday in their first match at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Both goals came in the opening quarter of an hour; Belize, Costa Rica, Curacao and Liberia complete Group F.* ![Baku’s Flame Towers, lit red at nightfall, reflected in the bay as seen from the seafront boulevard.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6add2fe317b69b44e97c6914_6add2fe23338fa52136e7569_u15-bakou-main.webp) Morocco’s Atlas Cubs opened their campaign at the very first FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival on Saturday, October 24, with a 2-0 win over the Philippines in Baku, Azerbaijan. ![Eleven young players in white shirts pose in two rows on an artificial pitch, in front of a scoreboard at 0-0.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546438b2b668bc9bbb0ab_6ae543eab78e7736393af5ca_mondial-u15-maroc-philippines.webp) *Morocco’s under-15 team before its match against Curacao on October 26 in Baku. Photo: FIFA via Getty Images.* It was all settled in the opening quarter of an hour: the under-15 side took the lead in the sixth minute, doubled it in the seventeenth, then held on to the final whistle. In Group F, the young Moroccans will also face Belize, Costa Rica, Curacao and Liberia. The strong start extends a fine week for Moroccan football, three days after the futsal Lions won their fourth straight continental title against Angola. *Photo: Xoncha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (@EnMaroc) - [Our National Team claims the win against the Philippines in the U15 World Cup!](https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2113993313363624159) - Hespress - [Mondial U-15 2026: le Maroc démarre par une victoire face aux Philippines](https://fr.hespress.com/493814-mondial-u-15-2026-le-maroc-demarre-par-une-victoire-face-aux-philippines.html) --- --- title: "Meknes: Malaysia’s DXN Breaks Ground on Its Spirulina and Ganoderma Plant" description: "Malaysian group DXN Holdings has started building its first North African plant at the Agropolis park in Meknes: spirulina and ganoderma on 80,765 square meters, some two hundred and fifty jobs, for an investment put at about 161 million dirhams in 2024." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/dxn-meknes-usine language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/dxn-meknes-usine type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-24T17:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.759Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adce18abe23f541f3cde82c_6adce189150b7ec8aff555f4_dxn-meknes-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Meknes: Malaysia’s DXN Breaks Ground on Its Spirulina and Ganoderma Plant *Malaysian group DXN Holdings has started building its first North African plant at the Agropolis park in Meknes: spirulina and ganoderma on 80,765 square meters, some two hundred and fifty jobs, for an investment put at about 161 million dirhams in 2024.* ![A minaret clad in green ceramic tiles rises above the rooftops of the Meknes medina.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adce18abe23f541f3cde82c_6adce189150b7ec8aff555f4_dxn-meknes-main.webp) Malaysian group DXN Holdings announced on October 23 that work has begun on its first plant in North Africa, in Meknes, on an 80,765-square-meter site in the Agropolis industrial park. The project has received the approval of the Moroccan authorities and its building permit. ![Aerial view of white and blue industrial buildings at the foot of wooded hills, with a large parking lot in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c45a754fc2eba285d3f_6ae60654064237583a822aeb_dxn-meknes-usine-inline.webp) *DXN’s headquarters and facilities in the Malaysian state of Kedah. Photo: MIDA.* The unit will produce supplements based on spirulina and ganoderma, a mushroom Asia knows as lingzhi, and is expected to create some two hundred and fifty jobs. The memorandum of understanding of May 27, 2024, concluded by its subsidiary Dexin Morocco with the ministries of Industry and Investment, put the investment at about 161 million dirhams. DXN is still negotiating the definitive investment agreement with the government, which will set the subsidies and incentives granted to the project. Only that signature will create binding obligations between the parties. The group, which aims to take its network from 14 to 21 factories, intends to make Meknes a production hub for North Africa and Europe, alongside its site in the Middle East. *Photo: Pedro from Maia (Porto), Portugal, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - DXN Holdings Bhd. (Bursa Malaysia) - [Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies and Dexin Morocco SA](https://newsfile.futunn.com/public/NN-PersistNoticeAttachment/7781/20240808/MYX/MYX_3472045_149706.pdf) - New Straits Times - [DXN breaks ground on its first North African plant in Morocco](https://www.nst.com.my/amp/business/corporate/2026/10/1562114/dxn-breaks-ground-its-first-north-african-plant-morocco) - Business Today - [DXN Expands Into North Africa With First Manufacturing Plant In Morocco](https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2026/10/23/dxn-expands-into-north-africa-with-first-manufacturing-plant-in-morocco/) --- --- title: "Imported Medicines: Customs and the AMMPS Join Forces at Morocco’s Border Posts" description: "Moroccan Customs and the Moroccan medicines agency signed a framework agreement on imports of medicines and health products in Rabat on October 23: shared data, lighter formalities and pharmacist inspectors gradually deployed to border posts." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/douane-ammps-medicaments language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/douane-ammps-medicaments type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-24T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.632Z tags: ["Health", "Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adcdf3b150b7ec8aff48835_6adcdf3a6b9e36310ab47309_adii-ammps-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Imported Medicines: Customs and the AMMPS Join Forces at Morocco’s Border Posts *Moroccan Customs and the Moroccan medicines agency signed a framework agreement on imports of medicines and health products in Rabat on October 23: shared data, lighter formalities and pharmacist inspectors gradually deployed to border posts.* ![The Casablanca container port, its red gantry cranes and two container ships at the quay, photographed in August 2023.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adcdf3b150b7ec8aff48835_6adcdf3a6b9e36310ab47309_adii-ammps-main.webp) Morocco’s Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration (ADII) and the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMMPS) signed a framework partnership agreement on imports of medicines and health products in Rabat on Friday, October 23. ![Two men in suits shake hands, each holding a red signing folder, in front of a Moroccan flag and a portrait of the King.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546459f58d7fc365d20f9_6ae543ebc07a7dd1fedfaede_douane-ammps-medicaments.webp) *The heads of Moroccan Customs and the AMMPS after signing the framework agreement in Rabat. Photo: TelQuel.* The text opens three workstreams: electronic data exchange between the two institutions, lighter formalities for these products, and the gradual deployment of AMMPS pharmacist inspectors to border posts, where they will lend their expertise to customs checks. At the border, two procedures overlap today, customs clearance and health compliance. The agreement means to bring them together so as to strengthen health safety without lengthening the passage of goods. The two institutions have set neither a timetable, nor a list of the border posts concerned, nor an inventory of the formalities due to disappear. The text’s reach will be read on the ground, once the first pharmacist inspectors take their place beside the customs officers. *Photo: Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - TelQuel - [Médicaments importés : douane et AMMPS, alliance aux frontières](https://telquel.ma/2026/10/23/medicaments-importes-douane-et-ammps-alliance-aux-frontieres_2014790) - Infomagazine - [Les Douanes et l’AMMPS s’allient pour sécuriser les importations](https://www.infomagazine.ma/maroc/les-douanes-et-lammps-sallient-pour-securiser-les-importations-18291-2026/) - EcoActu - [Médicaments : l’ADII et l’AMMPS unissent leurs efforts pour sécuriser les importations](https://ecoactu.ma/medicaments-adii-ammps-efforts-securiser-importations/) --- --- title: "Red Meat: Morocco’s Duty-Free Cattle Import Quota for 2026 Is Exhausted" description: "The quota of three hundred thousand slaughter cattle imported in 2026 free of customs duties and VAT has been reached, the Ministry of Agriculture says: thirty-seven companies took part, and more than 90% of the animals came from Brazil." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bovins-importes-contingent-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bovins-importes-contingent-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-24T10:23:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.649Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adc87164388cf85e8a67686_6adc87159e587cdac72698a6_bovins-importes-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Red Meat: Morocco’s Duty-Free Cattle Import Quota for 2026 Is Exhausted *The quota of three hundred thousand slaughter cattle imported in 2026 free of customs duties and VAT has been reached, the Ministry of Agriculture says: thirty-seven companies took part, and more than 90% of the animals came from Brazil.* ![A herd of Nelore cattle grazes below a rocky plateau at Campos Belos, in the Brazilian state of Goias.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adc87164388cf85e8a67686_6adc87159e587cdac72698a6_bovins-importes-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on Friday, October 23, that the quota of three hundred thousand slaughter cattle whose import was exempt from customs duties and VAT for 2026 has been reached. ![Red-meat carcasses hang from hooks above a marble counter in a lit butcher’s shop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5466d1e9e2ef6d37c5b65_6ae54594991f4ef5345aa400_bovins-importes-contingent-2026.webp) *Carcasses hanging over a butcher’s counter in a Moroccan market. Photo: Lars Curfs, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL.* Thirty-seven importing companies took part in the operation, and more than 90% of the animals came from Brazil, whose supply proved more available than that of European countries. The measure answered a rise in red meat prices that the ministry attributes to the decline in animals available for slaughter, caused by persistent drought and the rising cost of livestock feed. According to the ministry, the operation helped stabilize prices. The communique announces no new quota. Until December 31, slaughter cattle crossing the border would therefore no longer enjoy the exemption. *Photo: Carlos Ebert, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - La Vie éco - [Viandes rouges : 300.000 bovins destinés à l’abattage importés, 90% du Brésil](https://www.lavieeco.com/affaires/agriculture/viandes-rouges-300-000-bovins-destines-a-labattage-importes-90-du-bresil/) - Le360 - [Viandes rouges. Plus de 90% des têtes importées proviennent du Brésil... Le bilan pour 2026](https://fr.le360.ma/economie/viandes-rouges-plus-de-90-des-tetes-importees-proviennent-du-bresil-le-bilan-pour-2026_C4J2QBP6JFARFMHV4JLXWF4UXY/) - Libération - [Importation de bovins destinés à l’abattage : le contingent exonéré de 300.000 têtes atteint pour 2026](https://libe.ma/importation-de-bovins-destines-a-labattage-le-contingent-exonere-de-300-000-tetes-atteint-pour-2026/) --- --- title: "The Sand War: a border France never drew" description: "Bamako, October 30, 1963: four heads of state stop a war fought over a border France never drew. The story of the war that broke the Maghreb." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/guerre-des-sables language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/guerre-des-sables type: article category: hist published: 2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:51:53.564Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Wars", "Sahara", "Maghreb", "Modern History"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8ecf173f6099e1ca91d2af_6a8ecec6d94df1cc943d4ae6_guerre-des-sables-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Sand War: a border France never drew By Amerruki *Bamako, October 30, 1963: four heads of state stop a war fought over a border France never drew. The story of the war that broke the Maghreb.* ![Hassan II in military uniform at the royal palace, 1961](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8ecf173f6099e1ca91d2af_6a8ecec6d94df1cc943d4ae6_guerre-des-sables-main.webp) Bamako, night of October 30, 1963. Around a table in the Malian capital sit four men keeping late hours: Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, presiding; Modibo Keita, the host; Ahmed Ben Bella, president of an Algeria fifteen months into its independence; and Hassan II, a king of thirty-four who has reigned for two and a half years. The communique they sign halts a fire opened three weeks earlier in the Saharan borderlands: hostilities are to cease on November 2 at midnight. As for the border men have just died over, it appears on no map. In truth, it has never existed at all. It must be said that the king at that table does not sit there as the accused, whatever the radios of Cairo and Algiers were saying. He is the son of the man who made Morocco the sanctuary of the Algerian revolution: it was at Oujda that the ALN’s Wilaya V installed its command, from Nador to Figuig that its rear bases ran, and on this same soil that Nelson Mandela had received, a year earlier, the only military training of his life (we told the story of that sanctuary in [Morocco for Africa](/en/articles/morocco-africa)). Six weeks before Bamako, on September 19, 1963, the kingdom had signed the charter of the Organisation of African Unity as a founding member. A jealous neighbor come to trouble a young revolution, said the radios; a creditor of brotherhood, answers the record, who discovers at Bamako that brotherhood does not repay its debts. ![Black and white photograph of seven men standing side by side, most in military dress, Nelson Mandela among them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc89f9245e25837ebe0_6ae5287cc4eeaa3fd98243da_guerre-des-sables-1.webp) *Nelson Mandela (second from left) in Oujda, March 1962. Photo: Embassy of Algeria in South Africa.* We will go back first to 1845, when the commissioners at Lalla Maghnia wrote that in the Sahara any delimitation would be superfluous. We will watch France occupy Tindouf in 1934 and file the desert away like a dossier, then watch the iron of Gara Djebilet put a price on what had no line. We will read the written promise the GPRA made to Morocco in July 1961, and what became of it. We will hold together the two clocks of October 1963, the clock of the desert outposts and the clock of the chancelleries, before taking our seat at Bamako, where Africa stopped the fire without drawing the line. We will count those who came from elsewhere, from Havana to Cairo, and we will follow the iron all the way to the train that, in February 2026, carried the ore of Gara Djebilet toward Oran without a single railcar owing anything to Morocco. One precaution before we set out: 1963 is not 1975. The Sand War is neither a rehearsal for nor a prologue to the Western Sahara affair; it is another war, another theater, and we will not conflate them. This one begins a century earlier, in a tent pitched near Maghnia. ## A border nobody had drawn ### Lalla Maghnia, 1845 On March 18, 1845, in the aftermath of the defeat at Isly, the comte de La Rue for France and Si Ahmida ben Ali for Morocco signed at Maghnia the convention that was to settle the border between the two Empires. It settled it in three registers: in the north, in the Tell, a true line, described marker by marker; in the middle country, no territories but tribes, attached to one sovereign or the other by their allegiances; further down, the ksour, where water and palm groves still gave the pen something to write about, and of which article 5 assigned Ich and Figuig to Morocco by name. Then came the desert, and the pen stopped: ![A printed 19th-century page numbered 274 and headed Maroc, where article 5 names the ksour of Yiche and Figuigue.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc99f9245e25837ec11_6ae5287d21591d436be3ee37_guerre-des-sables-2.webp) *Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention of Lalla Maghnia, in De Clercq’s Recueil des traites de la France, volume 5. Document: Gallica, BnF.* > In the Sahara (desert), there is no territorial limit to be established between the two countries, since the land is not plowed and only serves as pasture for the Arabs of the two Empires who come to camp there to find the pastures and waters they need. The two Sovereigns will exercise as they see fit all the plenitude of their rights over their respective subjects in the Sahara.— Convention of Lalla Maghnia, March 18, 1845, article 4 (de Clercq, Recueil des traités de la France, vol. 5) Article 6 completed the gesture: as for the country south of the ksour, “since there is no water, as it is uninhabitable, and as it is the desert properly so called, the delimitation would be superfluous.” Superfluous: the word would have a long career. Tindouf is not named, no marker was planted, no map was drawn, and for nearly a century that silence would serve in place of a border. Hold on to one detail for later: Figuig had a written title. ### Eleven in the morning, March 31, 1934 On March 31, 1934, at eleven in the morning, Colonel Trinquet entered Tindouf. The historian Olivier Vergniot has reconstructed the ambiguity of that morning: the occupation was carried out “in the name of France and of Algeria,” but the troops came from the Moroccan theater, where they were completing the subjugation of the Anti-Atlas. One expeditionary force, two legitimacies: one says where you set out from, the other in whose name you settle. The ministerial instruction organizing the command of the borderlands, reread by Henry Marchat, came only on April 10, after the fact. This was neither a treaty nor a proclaimed conquest: it was administrative filing, which placed under Algiers a desert that 1845 had left to allegiances. What follows would show that a filing, in the age of independences, weighs more than an oath. ![Engraving of a Saharan oasis: a few palm trees in the foreground, a low village in the distance and camels on a track.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc99f9245e25837ec0d_6ae52c572f548e8e901e421f_guerre-des-sables-3.webp) *The oasis of Tindouf in 1880. Engraving: Oskar Lenz, Timbouctou (Hachette, 1886-1887).* ### When the desert acquired a price Around 1952, geologists confirmed what the hamada was hiding southeast of Tindouf: at Gara Djebilet, one of the largest iron deposits on the continent. What remained, then, of a superfluous delimitation? The law of January 10, 1957 created the Common Organization of the Saharan Regions; the same year, Paris carved out the departments of the Oasis and the Saoura. The shared pasture of the two Empires became a checkerboard of districts, budgets and mining titles. In short, France spared itself the trouble of drawing the border: it made the border unnecessary by administering everything itself. The day it left, there would be neither line nor arbiter. There would be an inheritance to open, and two heirs. ![The Battle of Isly by Horace Vernet (1846), painted for Versailles](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a22ea07b244afd50ad2_6a9199c2ea07b244afd4e536_isly-vernet.webp) ## The promise of July ### The sanctuary of Oujda Morocco’s share in that inheritance deserves to be recalled without false modesty. From 1956 to 1962, the newly independent kingdom put its depth at the service of the Algerian revolution: the command of Wilaya V at Oujda, where a certain Houari Boumediene installed his headquarters (Algerian history itself would remember the “Oujda clan”), training camps from Nador to Larache, and the FLN logistics network that the archives of the Algerian revolution published by Mohammed Harbi describe as implanted at Oujda, Kebdani, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh and Tangier. By late 1960, close to five thousand Algerian fighters were arming and healing on Moroccan soil; by early 1962, the UN refugee agency counted more than one hundred and thirty-five thousand refugees there. On October 22, 1956, the French air force diverted to Algiers the Moroccan airliner carrying five FLN leaders, Ben Bella among them, from Rabat to Tunis after an audience with Mohammed V; the aircraft flew under French registration, a colonial residue on which Paris hung its legal case, and Rabat took the affair before an international commission of conciliation. Honesty requires us to add that the companionship had its frictions, which the GPRA’s internal reports record without varnish. The fact remains that for as long as Algeria fought, the Moroccan door stayed open, and it stayed open to the end. ![Two men in military jackets and caps pose above a town below them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cca9f9245e25837ed29_6ae5287edff088ebf0537885_guerre-des-sables-4.webp) *Houari Boumediene during the Algerian War. Photo: Zdravko Pecar, Museum of African Art, Belgrade, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ### The border that was not for sale For the kingdom, too, had a claim. Tindouf, the Saoura, the borderlands that 1934 had filed away: Rabat had never stopped demanding a settlement. France, which knew it, offered to pay: the historian Benjamin Stora records that it proposed returning Tindouf and Bechar in exchange for the dismantling of the FLN’s bases in Morocco. Mohammed V and then Hassan II refused to haggle over a border behind the Algerians’ backs: “no discussion on such a subject can be undertaken with the colonial power,” as the jurist Maurice Flory would later summarize the Moroccan position. The most precious testimony comes from the Algerian side itself. Ferhat Abbas notes in his memoirs that France was then pressing Rabat to open the border file, at the price of closing Moroccan territory to Algerians, and that Morocco refused. And eleven days before the July protocol, an internal GPRA memorandum welcomed “the positive evolution” of the position of “the brotherly government of Morocco,” which the editor of the revolution’s archives glosses plainly: Morocco had renounced raising the border question before Algeria’s independence. There is the Moroccan choice of 1961, attested in the papers of tomorrow’s adversary: the border would wait until Algeria was free. ### The protocol of July 6, 1961 The counterpart was put in writing. From July 2 to 8, 1961, Hassan II received Ferhat Abbas and three GPRA ministers; on the 6th, at the close of a working session the king chaired, the two governments signed a protocol of agreement. Morocco committed itself without reserve to standing with Algeria in its fight, down to opposing “by every means any attempt to partition or amputate Algerian territory.” The GPRA, in return, wrote this: ![Ferhat Abbas, in glasses and a suit, reads from a sheet of paper in front of a microphone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cca9f9245e25837ed2c_6ae52c590491de360125bd32_guerre-des-sables-5.webp) *Ferhat Abbas reading a statement at the Hotel Majestic in Tunis, 1959. Photo: Anefo, Nationaal Archief, CC0.* > The Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic recognizes for its part that the territorial problem posed by the delimitation arbitrarily imposed by France between the two countries will find its resolution in negotiations between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of independent Algeria. To this end, the two Governments decide to create an Algerian-Moroccan commission which will meet as soon as possible to proceed with the study and resolution of this problem in a spirit of Maghreb brotherhood and unity.— Protocol of agreement between Morocco and the GPRA, signed by Ferhat Abbas and Hassan II, Rabat, July 6, 1961 (Annuaire de l’Afrique du Nord 1963; our translation) The text went further still: whatever agreements Algeria might reach with France “shall not be opposable to Morocco as regards Algerian-Moroccan territorial delimitations.” Morocco never read a deed ceding Tindouf into it. It read three things: the recognition that a problem existed, the promise of a commission to resolve it, and the guarantee that France’s administrative inheritance would not have force of law between brothers. El Moudjahid printed the joint communique on July 19, 1961; the protocol itself stayed in the vault. Rabat would only make it public on October 21, 1963, in the middle of the war: the belated gesture of a creditor reluctant to produce the IOU. ### “Had” Independent Algeria inherited the state, not the promise. Received in Algiers in March 1963, Hassan II asked for the promised commission to be convened; Ben Bella asked for time, the time to consolidate his institutions. The CIA would sum up the autumn in one dry sentence: the king, invoking the 1961 agreement, “has vainly attempted to persuade President Ben Bella to negotiate… Ben Bella has refused to negotiate.” When Rabat finally published the protocol, Mohammed Yazid, the Algerian president’s special emissary, went to explain matters to the Americans. Robert W. Komer’s memorandum of October 23, 1963 records his answer: ![Hassan II, left, and John F. Kennedy stand in an open car and wave to crowds lining an avenue, surrounded by motorcade cars.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cca9f9245e25837ed25_6ae52c5b3dcc3ff2a94bbffa_guerre-des-sables-6.webp) *Hassan II and John F. Kennedy during the king’s welcoming parade in Washington, March 27, 1963. Photo: U.S. News & World Report, Library of Congress.* > The agreement had been in French but the Moroccans had made their own slanted Arabic translation. As everybody knew, Ferhat Abbas couldn’t even read Arabic so he had been “had.”— Mohammed Yazid, as recorded by Robert W. Komer, memorandum of October 23, 1963 (FRUS, XXI, doc. 15) He had been “had”: the Algerian defense did not deny the signature, it disowned the signatory. Abbas himself would tell the scene differently in his memoirs: the GPRA “was not competent to treat such a subject,” only the Algerian people, once independent, would be, and he would salute in passing the “great understanding” of the Moroccan government. There is no need to adjudicate between the protocol and its prosecution. It is enough to note that the commission promised “as soon as possible” never met. Two years after Rabat, the promise of July had produced no line, no commission, not so much as a sitting. It had produced October. ![Ferhat Abbas, president of the GPRA, in 1959](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50aef_6a9199c6bafe80a76d5f65d4_ferhat-abbas-1959.webp) ![Ahmed Ben Bella in 1961](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50aea_6a9199cc5ef9a5503d3353e4_ben-bella-1961.webp) ## October, two clocks ### Tindouf, October 1962 The war, in any case, did not begin in 1963. From August 1962 on, Flory notes, “border incidents multiplied, in the Tindouf region especially.” In July, Morocco had pushed its administration out to the post of Zegdou, on the Tindouf axis: we say so because it is accurate, and because it gives what follows its full relief. For on October 9, 1962, as Edouard Meric records, the Algerian army occupied Tindouf and drove out by force the local representatives of the Moroccan government who refused to leave; there were dead and wounded. One year, almost to the day, before the battles of 1963, the first blood of this border had already been spilled, at Tindouf, when Algerian independence was not yet three months old. ### September 25 and October 8 When did the war break out? The record does not allow a ruling, and we will not issue one in its place: “No commonly accepted version exists,” as Lyes Si Zoubir would write in Maniere de voir. The Algerian clock, followed by much of the English-language scholarship, places in late September the occupation by about a thousand Moroccan soldiers of the posts of Hassi Beida and Tinjoub, on the track through the borderlands. The chancelleries’ clock keeps October 8, the first day of two-way combat: about ten dead that day (ten killed and thirty-five wounded, the Moroccan information minister would specify), the only figure that can be dated with certainty. Between the two dates, diplomacy played its last card: on October 5, at Oujda, Reda Guedira and Abdelaziz Bouteflika agreed once more to create a joint commission to examine the border problem. Honesty requires adding that the next meeting, set for Tlemcen on October 11, convened without the Moroccans: the Algerian delegation waited in vain, Flory writes. Algiers, however, had let it be known through its “authorized circles” that the line of the border would not be raised there and that only the movement of border populations would be discussed; Rabat, for its part, was letting it be known that a summit could only take place on an agenda “based on the discussion of the substance of the border dispute.” Each side, then, had its empty chair. Three days later, the Royal Armed Forces retook the two posts. ![Map of Morocco and western Algeria showing the delimited border in the north, then the Trinquet and Varnier lines between Figuig, Colomb-Bechar and Tindouf.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cca9f9245e25837ed62_6ae52c5cdff088ebf0541dc4_guerre-des-sables-7.webp) *The Algerian-Moroccan border in 1963, with the Trinquet and Varnier lines. Map: Gribeco, after The Geographer, U.S. Department of State, public domain.* ### The two mobilizations Each capital went to war burdened with its own demons. As early as September 30, before the first acknowledged clash, Ben Bella was denouncing on the radio the collusion of the Moroccan government with the Front of Socialist Forces that Hocine Ait Ahmed had just founded in Kabylia; the FLN’s organ had been calling the king, since September 8, a “puppet in the hands of an oligarchy animated by an apprentice Rasputin.” Two days before mobilizing, the president was still playing for calm before the press: “we are keeping our serenity here. These problems can only be resolved through dialogue.” On October 15, before a hundred thousand people gathered at the Forum in Algiers, he proclaimed the “general mobilization of all former djounoud,” declared himself convinced of collusion between “the people of Morocco and those of Tizi-Ouzou,” and threw out: “Algeria will crush every imperialism.” The same day, the Algerian Assembly denounced an aggression designed to “thwart the socialist policy” of the government; Radio Algiers would soon call on the kingdom’s soldiers to disobey (“Moroccan djounoud, disobey Hassan II”); and in the last days of October the Kabyle maquis of Mohand ou el-Hadj came down to rally to the army and left for the front, closing the only armed dissidence that worried the regime. The border war was becoming, in Algiers, a war of the revolution. ![Ahmed Ben Bella speaks into two microphones on a lawn; John F. Kennedy stands behind him, with an honor guard in the distance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52ccb9f9245e25837eda9_6ae52c5cdff088ebf0541e22_guerre-des-sables-8.webp) *Ahmed Ben Bella at the microphone as John F. Kennedy welcomes him, October 15, 1962. Photo: Abbie Rowe, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.* It is to this Forum speech that Algerian memory attaches the most famous cry of the war: “Hagrouna!”, they have humiliated us. Yet we have looked for that cry everywhere it ought to have left a trace, and it is nowhere: not in the scholarly chronologies of the period, not in the press of 1963, not in any dated recording. Ben Bella would claim authorship of it in 2002, on Al Jazeera; the memoirs of chief of staff Tahar Zbiri and of Chadli Bendjedid would lend it to him half a century after the fact; and the recording that circulates under that name today is in reality a 1999 Bouteflika speech at Annaba, in which the man who had been a minister in 1963 concedes it himself: “perhaps” Ben Bella said it. The most famous word of this war is a memory, not an archive. Morocco mobilized on October 10, and Hassan II spoke that same day before the municipal council of Agadir: > The duty of the State and of the people is to stand ready to defend the country.— Hassan II, before the municipal council of Agadir, October 10, 1963 (our translation) The Moroccan people, he had also said, “will not accept any compromise on our sacred principles, our authentic borders and our national dignity.” On the 17th he cabled Ben Bella that Morocco was “ready to face any eventuality”; on the 22nd, the chronicles record volunteers in towns across the kingdom asking to enlist in the FAR. The Moroccan sacred union had its tear all the same, and it bears a name: Mehdi Ben Barka, leader of the UNFP, declared his solidarity with Algeria from Cairo. On both sides, Flory concludes, this war, “by creating a climate of sacred union,” gave both governments “the occasion to consolidate themselves.” Allow us, amid so much symmetry, to recall one asymmetry: one of the two states was asking for a negotiation promised in writing; the other was refusing it. ### Hassi Beida, Tinjoub, Ich, Figuig On October 14, then, the FAR retook Hassi Beida and Tinjoub. On the ground, the inequality of means needed no commentary: Moroccan artillery and armor against an Algerian infantry that had emerged victorious from a guerrilla war but was a stranger to positional warfare. The Americans, who nonetheless rated Hassan “the likely loser” should the affair escalate, observed that the Moroccans held both disputed oases; one press report already had them marching on Tindouf. They did not march: the FAR entered neither Tindouf nor Gara Djebilet, and the iron stayed out of the war. The French ambassador in Washington ascribed two possible designs to Morocco, seizing a few advanced points to force a negotiation, or securing Tindouf and its ore; only the first came to pass, and the reader may judge on the record. ![A tracked self-propelled gun on a stony plain, in front of a truck and soldiers on foot, with mountains behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cca9f9245e25837ed5e_6ae52c5ddbca820b4f291aa1_guerre-des-sables-9.webp) *Self-propelled artillery during the Sand War, October 1963. Photo: Al-Masry Al-Youm.* Toward mid-October a second front opened in the north, at Ich and then around Figuig: no longer the lineless Sahara, but ksour that article 5 of Lalla Maghnia had assigned to Morocco by name. On October 20, near Ain Chouateur, the FAR seized a Soviet-made helicopter carrying Egyptian and Algerian officers; four of the five captured Egyptian officers were presented to the press, and Morocco’s delegation to the UN issued a communique about them. Cairo scarcely hid its hand: on November 1, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, editor of Al-Ahram and Nasser’s confidant, would confirm that Egypt had sent armor and naval units to Algeria. After the Bamako signature, Figuig was shelled again; the town held. The king, back from Bamako by way of Dakar, declared on the radio that Morocco “will not answer violence with violence,” ordered his troops to avoid all contact with the Algerians, and cabled that assurance to the Negus, to Modibo Keita and to U Thant. Ben Bella, for that matter, would not deny it: on the evening of November 1 he would state that the Algerian army “was already at Figuig before the Bamako conference,” before swearing a few days later, on Radio Luxembourg: “We never occupied Figuig.” Komer wrote it to McGeorge Bundy on November 4: > Hard to sort out who’s firing at whom, but Figuig seems still in Moroccan hands. Most fascinating question is whether Boumedienne at the front is taking orders from Algiers.— Robert W. Komer to McGeorge Bundy, November 4, 1963 (FRUS, XXI, doc. 29) Ambassador Bengelloun would put the essential to the Americans: an attempt had been made, with UAR help, to take a Moroccan town lying behind “a frontier which has never been contested.” ![The palm grove of Figuig, a Moroccan ksar named in article 5 of Lalla Maghnia](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a22ea07b244afd50adb_6a9199d00ae15204ad2db930_figuig-palmeraie.webp) ![The desert around Hassi Mounir, near Tindouf, one of the theaters of 1963](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a22ea07b244afd50ad8_6a9199d38ed2a1a96881e375_hassi-mounir.webp) ## Bamako did not draw the line ### October 26 While the outposts burned, the chancelleries weighed. Kennedy wrote to both capitals on October 27, pressing Hassan II to seek “a solution through negotiation rather than war” and confiding to Ben Bella his fear that a border dispute might become “a far graver conflict between philosophies or systems.” Washington, which had held up a 10 million dollar loan to Rabat while it took stock, knew where the merits lay: as early as October 20, Hassan II had told Ambassador Ferguson that Morocco had “no aggressive intentions” and remained “ready to discuss the frontier problem before any international body.” And on November 1, in an internal note, Komer would let slip the sentence one does not expect from a White House adviser: on his border claims against Algeria, Hassan “has a good case.” The good offices of Haile Selassie and Modibo Keita produced, on October 26, the two parties’ acceptance of a meeting at Bamako. The king went to it holding the disputed oases; he could have played for time and let his advantage run. He came. ### Four points, zero marker On October 29 and 30, 1963, under the Negus’s chairmanship, the four heads of state settled a communique whose every clause deserves weighing. A cease-fire “effective November 2, 1963 at midnight.” A commission of Moroccan, Algerian, Ethiopian and Malian officers to determine the zone from which troops would withdraw. Ethiopian and Malian observers to guarantee its neutrality. And a meeting of the OAU’s foreign ministers, finally, charged with setting up an arbitration commission in Addis Ababa whose first task would be to “situate responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities,” and whose second would be to study the substance of the problem. Add to these a clause too rarely cited: the halt, from November 1 at midnight, “of all public attacks, including through the press.” The four points were hailed as an African triumph (the first war between independent states of the continent, the first cease-fire obtained without the UN and without the great powers), and a triumph they were. But American intelligence saw the limit at once, and Thomas L. Hughes named it for Dean Rusk on October 30: ![Modibo Keita, in a suit, shakes hands with an officer in uniform and beret on open ground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52ccc9f9245e25837ede6_6ae52c5e3dcc3ff2a94bc1e5_guerre-des-sables-10.webp) *Modibo Keita greeted by the army chief of staff, Abdoulaye Soumare, in 1963. Photo: Jpvallat, CC BY-SA 4.0.* > The agreement to establish a demilitarized zone does not solve the critical question—whether or not Hassan will withdraw from Tinjoub and Hassi Beida.— Thomas L. Hughes (INR) to Dean Rusk, October 30, 1963 (FRUS, XXI, doc. 26) Rabat had answered in advance, through Ahmed Balafrej: “We will evacuate neither Hassi Beida nor Tinjoub.” Bamako fixed an hour, not a line. As for the commission charged with saying who had started it, it would never say: the OAU preferred to accuse no one, and Washington noted that responsibility for the outbreak was “probably shared” by both parties. Those who speak today of a Moroccan aggression judged by Africa are citing a verdict that was never delivered. ### Addis, and after On the ground, the fire only truly went out on November 5, around Figuig and Beni Ounif, when the Malian captain Leon Sankare, delegated to supervise the cease-fire, got both lines to stop shooting: “I made contact with the Algerian and Moroccan authorities at 9:30, and both sides confirmed to me that the firing and the fighting were stopping for good. […] The troops remain on their positions.” The dispute itself stayed African. Rabat sounded out New York; Washington answered that Bamako should be honored; from November 15 to 18, the ministers meeting in Addis Ababa enlarged the ad hoc commission to seven countries. As for the doctrine of borders inherited from colonization, so often invoked against Rabat, it would come later: it was in Cairo, in July 1964, that the OAU voted it, nine months after the fighting. It does not apply backwards. On November 18, 1963, opening the first Parliament of his reign, Hassan II gave the events their Moroccan name: > The cruel and painful events our country lived through, following an aggression perpetrated against our territory, obliged us to face them in order to defend our dignity and protect the integrity of the national soil.— Hassan II, speech opening Parliament, Rabat, November 18, 1963 (our translation) On February 20, 1964, an implementation meeting organized the withdrawal and the observers; in the night of April 14 to 15, 1964, the prisoners were exchanged: Algeria returned fifty-seven Moroccans, Morocco returned three hundred and seventy-nine Algerians. We set those two numbers side by side and leave them there. As for the dead, the record forbids a total: Morocco officially acknowledged thirty-nine killed; Flory, as early as 1965, wrote of “several hundred dead and wounded” across all the battles; and it would take until 2021, fifty-eight years after the fact, for Algeria to put forward “more than eight hundred and fifty martyrs,” through the voice of the minister who was announcing, in the same breath, the rupture of diplomatic relations with Rabat. A toll published as ammunition is no longer a toll. We will keep to the ranges. ![Hassan II and John F. Kennedy in Washington, March 27, 1963, seven months before the war](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50ae1_6a9199d85d27e7085048734b_jfk-hassan-1963.webp) ![Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, mediator at Bamako](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50af2_6a9199dd52bb7bbba5f68912_haile-selassie.webp) ![Modibo Keita, president of Mali, host of Bamako (1961)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50ae4_6a9199e1322c60e6f71a4543_modibo-keita-1961.webp) ## Those who did not fire ### The brigade that did not fire There remain the others, all the others. The Cuban affair first, which the historian Piero Gleijeses has definitively established: six hundred and eighty-six men and twenty-two T-34 tanks landed for Ben Bella under the command of Efigenio Ameijeiras, ready around October 28; an operation against Berguent, christened Operacion Dignidad, prepared and then canceled; not a shot fired. Rabat did not wait for the historians to do its arithmetic: on October 31, 1963, Ahmed Balafrej announced the rupture of diplomatic relations with Havana and, in the same breath, the recall of Morocco’s ambassadors to Damascus and Cairo. In Washington, the prospect of Cuban arms in Algeria drew from Dean Rusk, according to his aides, the remark that if those people took arms from Cuba, “we’ll just have to back Morocco.” On November 8, received by Kennedy, Yazid acknowledged the Soviet and Cuban equipment; he did not mention Egypt. The officers of Ain Chouateur had presumably made the point for him. ### The distant captains Cairo was the most committed: arms, the armor and naval units Heikal would confirm, officers all the way to the front and, according to the reports reaching the White House on October 24, Nasser’s decision to help Ben Bella “in a big way,” troops included; a month later the same White House would judge that the UAR had hardly shone and that the Cuban role had stayed “minor, though symbolic.” Moscow was a rumor more than an expeditionary corps. Paris, which Washington suspected of sending ammunition and food to Morocco, officially held to non-intervention. The Americans themselves delivered to Rabat, at night and in cordoned areas, the munitions of a program already signed, while asking themselves, pen in honest hand: “if we and French are still supplying Moroccans, how can we tell Nasser not to equip Algerians?” As for the Chinese loan to Algeria, it had nothing to do with October’s shooting. None of these powers decided the month: October was played out between two Maghreb armies. But read the list of who showed up: for Algeria, Cuban tanks, Egyptian armor, Soviet arms; for Morocco, letters, a suspended loan and counsels of moderation. The third-worldisms had picked their side before the first shot. The ground ruled otherwise. ## What the sand did not close ### Ifrane, Tlemcen, Rabat The line came by treaty, long afterward. On January 15, 1969, at Ifrane, a treaty of friendship; on May 27, 1970, at Tlemcen, a political path; on June 15, 1972, at Rabat, before the delegations assembled for the OAU summit, two conventions at last: one delimiting the border, the other organizing the joint development of the Gara Djebilet iron. Hassan II and Boumediene proclaimed that day their intent to establish “a permanent peace for the centuries to come.” The price was paid by Morocco: Tindouf and Bechar remained Algerian, and the Algerian preamble drove the nail home: ![Printed page with the convention’s title and its preamble, which cites Ifrane, Tlemcen and Lalla Maghnia, followed by Article 1.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cce9f9245e25837ee13_6ae52c5ff5a2fa1020fcc71e_guerre-des-sables-12.webp) *The opening of the convention on the state frontier line, signed at Rabat on June 15, 1972. Document: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2189.* > Considering that Algeria is the owner of the Gara-Djebilet iron ore deposit, situated on its territory and falling under its full and entire sovereignty— Journal officiel of the Algerian Republic, June 15, 1973 (our translation) In exchange, a joint company owned in equal shares would work the ore, which would ship out through Morocco’s Atlantic ports. Algeria ratified as early as 1973. Morocco, which had conceded everything and was waiting for the counterpart, gave the border convention force of law only much later: entry into force in the United Nations treaty series on May 14, 1989, publication in the Bulletin officiel on June 22, 1992. Seventeen years between signature and law: the time it takes to believe a promise that has already been broken once. ![A blue and silver passenger train crosses a viaduct in the desert, with a line of dunes behind and a paved road in front.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cce9f9245e25837ee16_6ae5287f2d9212dd17758905_guerre-des-sables-13.webp) *A train on the Gara Djebilet-Bechar railway. Photo: SNTF.* ### Another war A guardrail belongs here. In 1975 opens the Western Sahara affair: another theater, other actors, another body of law, and Tindouf becomes a rear base in it, not the logical sequel to Hassi Beida. October 1963 is not to be reread in the light of Madrid, and we will not so reread it. What 1963 bequeaths to 1975 is not a front: it is a grammar. Official Algeria teaches today that borders are drawn, before anything else, by “the cemeteries of the martyrs,” in the formula of its state radio; Morocco has always answered with another grammar, that of the allegiances binding the tribes to the Throne long before France invented its departments. Blood spilled against oaths sworn: the whole Algerian-Moroccan dispute stands between those two sentences, and no commission has ever sat to arbitrate them. ### The train of February 1, 2026 There remains the iron, the arbiter of every promise. The joint company of 1972 was never created: Abdelhadi Boutaleb, then foreign minister, would recount that Hassan II asked him to handle the file “with diligence” so that the mine would reach “its implementation phase,” and that he never managed to obtain the promised meeting with his counterpart Bouteflika. The deposit slept for half a century. Then Algeria woke it, alone: a memorandum with a Chinese consortium in March 2021, the first stone of the processing plant laid in November 2023 and, on February 1, 2026, at Bechar, the inauguration of a 950-kilometer railway and the departure of the first ore train from Gara Djebilet toward Oran, Chinese rails, a Turkish steel mill at the far end. Fifty-three years after the Rabat signature, the desert’s iron is finally moving, and not one railcar owes anything to Morocco, not one railcar brings it anything. The convention promised centuries; it did not hold for half of one. The line, for its part, is at last on the maps, and no one contests it anymore: trains will cross it, walls and patrols will follow it. Trust will not cross it back. The desert will keep the maps; men will keep the accounts. And somewhere between Figuig and Tindouf, under the sand that has covered the shell casings of Hassi Beida, the promise of July sleeps on. ![Tindouf today](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a919a23ea07b244afd50ae7_6a9199e5ade9e073048158fb_tindouf-panorama.webp) --- --- title: "Tanger Med: Maersk Opens the AE18 Service and Drops Two Calls From Mid-November" description: "The Gemini network of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd is reorganizing its services between Asia and the Mediterranean from mid-November. Tanger Med gains a new service, AE18, from Shanghai, but loses its westbound calls on AE2, in favor of Rotterdam, and on AE11, in favor of Port Said." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maersk-tanger-med-ae18 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maersk-tanger-med-ae18 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-23T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.226Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tangier", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adb8ad7a4a51ff7f2e2a9ea_6adb8ad5265e18125e61d187_maersk-tanger-med-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tanger Med: Maersk Opens the AE18 Service and Drops Two Calls From Mid-November *The Gemini network of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd is reorganizing its services between Asia and the Mediterranean from mid-November. Tanger Med gains a new service, AE18, from Shanghai, but loses its westbound calls on AE2, in favor of Rotterdam, and on AE11, in favor of Port Said.* ![Aerial view of the port of Tanger Med and its container terminals on the Strait.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adb8ad7a4a51ff7f2e2a9ea_6adb8ad5265e18125e61d187_maersk-tanger-med-main.webp) The Gemini network, which Danish carrier Maersk runs with Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, is redrawing its links between Asia and the Mediterranean from mid-November, and Tanger Med comes out of it both winner and loser. ![The blue container ship Maersk Congo, stacked with containers, berthed under the blue gantry cranes of Tanger Med, with a lot of new cars in the foreground and a hill behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c6ed2740562ba4c2bf8_6ae606608d222c080e5fb955_maersk-tanger-med-ae18-inline.webp) *The container ship Maersk Congo calling at Tanger Med on August 5, 2023. Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The reorganization creates a new service, AE18, which will start in Shanghai and call at Xiamen and the Malaysian port of Tanjung Pelepas before reaching Algeciras and then Tangier. In exchange, the Moroccan port loses two westbound calls: on AE2, Rotterdam takes its place, while AE11 now prefers Port Said, in Egypt. AE18 gathers on the Strait, at Tangier and Algeciras, connections until now spread across several services, which keeps Tanger Med in the backbone of the network. Moroccan importers, exporters and freight forwarders will nonetheless have to rework their shipping schedules, as the major carriers return to the Suez Canal route. *Photo: Adam Cli, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Container News - [Maersk expands Gemini network overhaul](https://container-news.com/maersk-expands-gemini-network-overhaul/) - Bladi.net - [Deux géants du transport maritime changent leurs plans : Tanger gagne une ligne, mais perd deux escales](https://www.bladi.net/deux-geants-transport-maritime-changent-plans-tanger-gagne-ligne-perd,124484.html) - Les Éco - [Transport maritime : Maersk réorganise ses liaisons avec Tanger Med dès novembre](https://leseco.ma/maroc/transport-maritime-maersk-reorganise-ses-liaisons-avec-tanger-med-des-novembre.html) --- --- title: "Maroc Telecom: Nine-Month Revenue Reaches 28,682 Million Dirhams, Up 5.1%" description: "Maroc Telecom posted revenue of 28,682 million dirhams for the first nine months of 2026, up 5.1% and carried by its African subsidiaries. Excluding the exceptional Wana Corporate proceeds booked in 2025, its net income group share rose 4.3%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-telecom-t3-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-telecom-t3-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-23T10:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.340Z tags: ["Technology", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea9d7596d1c3680f336_6ae53c928def6e61aa12e76d_maroc-telecom-t3-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Maroc Telecom: Nine-Month Revenue Reaches 28,682 Million Dirhams, Up 5.1% *Maroc Telecom posted revenue of 28,682 million dirhams for the first nine months of 2026, up 5.1% and carried by its African subsidiaries. Excluding the exceptional Wana Corporate proceeds booked in 2025, its net income group share rose 4.3%.* ![A blue tricycle in Moov Africa colors, fitted out as a mobile service point, with a vendor at its window and a customer standing in front.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea9d7596d1c3680f336_6ae53c928def6e61aa12e76d_maroc-telecom-t3-2026-main.webp) The Maroc Telecom group released its results for the first nine months of 2026 on Friday, October 23: consolidated revenue of 28,682 million dirhams, up 5.1% year on year, and EBITDA of 14,377 million, up 4.9%, with the margin held at 50.1%. ![Maroc Telecom’s glass headquarters tower under a blue sky, above a plaza and low-rise buildings.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b693eb74873888f320d_6ae6061e5d4ac37746b9ce62_maroc-telecom-t3-2026-inline.webp) *The Maroc Telecom headquarters tower. Photo: Le Matin.* In Morocco, mobile and fixed-line operations generated 14,332 million dirhams, up 2.7% on the strength of data. The Moov Africa subsidiaries did better still: 15,177 million dirhams of international revenue, 6.9% more, lifted by mobile data, fixed internet and mobile money. Net income group share came to 3,862 million dirhams, down on the year, as 2025 had booked the exceptional proceeds of the agreement reached with Wana Corporate. Excluding that item, it rose 4.3%. Consolidated net debt, at 21,018 million, stays contained at 1.0 times annualized EBITDA despite the 3.5 billion dirhams of dividends paid in September. It is in very high-speed mobile and fixed broadband and in mobile money that the incumbent will look for its next sources of growth. *Photo: Lome2023, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Boursenews - [Résultats au troisième trimestre 2026](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/maroc-telecom-resultats-t3-2026) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib, AMMC, ACAPS and INPPLC Adopt a 2027-2028 Anti-Corruption Roadmap" description: "Bank Al-Maghrib, the AMMC, ACAPS and the INPPLC approved their 2027-2028 anti-corruption roadmap for the financial sector in Rabat on October 20. The 2025-2026 review counts more than nine hundred staff trained, and the INPPLC aims for ISO 37001 certification in 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/secteur-financier-anticorruption-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/secteur-financier-anticorruption-2027 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T22:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.443Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b20a1ee6fe6c861bd6f_6ae609f1f105094f5b334e7c_secteur-financier-anticorruption-2027-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib, AMMC, ACAPS and INPPLC Adopt a 2027-2028 Anti-Corruption Roadmap *Bank Al-Maghrib, the AMMC, ACAPS and the INPPLC approved their 2027-2028 anti-corruption roadmap for the financial sector in Rabat on October 20. The 2025-2026 review counts more than nine hundred staff trained, and the INPPLC aims for ISO 37001 certification in 2027.* ![Participants in the sixth annual meeting of the financial sector anti-corruption agreement pose in front of a screen showing its title, October 20, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b20a1ee6fe6c861bd6f_6ae609f1f105094f5b334e7c_secteur-financier-anticorruption-2027-hero-main.webp) Meeting in Rabat on Tuesday, October 20, Morocco’s National Authority for Probity, Prevention and the Fight against Corruption (INPPLC) and the country’s three financial-sector regulators approved their anti-corruption roadmap for 2027-2028. ![Mohamed Benalilou speaks at an OECD and AMDIE lectern beside the Moroccan flag and a portrait of King Mohammed VI.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b20a1ee6fe6c861bd76_6ae606005207f4b3f4271111_secteur-financier-anticorruption-2027-inline.webp) *Mohamed Benalilou, president of the INPPLC, at the lectern of a meeting on responsible business conduct in Rabat, October 2026. Photo: INPPLC.* It was the sixth annual follow-up meeting of the cooperation agreement that has bound them since November 2019. The review of 2025-2026 lists training attended by more than nine hundred staff, and the fourth edition of the forum of ISO 37001-certified bodies, which brought together more than seventy managers from forty organizations. The new roadmap gives an important place to the action plans drawn from the financial sector’s corruption risk maps. It also provides for guides, training and closer cooperation with counterpart institutions abroad. Finally, the INPPLC is expected to obtain ISO 37001 certification, the international standard for anti-bribery management systems, in 2027. The body charged with promoting probity would thus submit to the standard itself. *Photo: INPPLC.* ## References - Autorité marocaine du marché des capitaux - [Sixième réunion annuelle de suivi de la Convention Anticorruption dans le Secteur Financier](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CdP_CSAF6_Fr_f.pdf) --- --- title: "Tirzzit Copper: Talisman Metals’ First Drill Holes Hit 1.56% Copper and 64 g/t Silver" description: "Talisman Metals released on October 21 the first assays from its drilling at Tirzzit, east of Agadir: up to 1.56% copper and 64 grams of silver per ton over 2 meters. The campaign continues toward a future resource estimate for the project." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tirzzit-cuivre-forages language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tirzzit-cuivre-forages type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.328Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada8e4338aa44f958170ced_6ada8e40bb18e2a6f1cc114e_tirzzit-malachite-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tirzzit Copper: Talisman Metals’ First Drill Holes Hit 1.56% Copper and 64 g/t Silver *Talisman Metals released on October 21 the first assays from its drilling at Tirzzit, east of Agadir: up to 1.56% copper and 64 grams of silver per ton over 2 meters. The campaign continues toward a future resource estimate for the project.* ![Malachite crystals, a copper ore, on their matrix, from Kerrouchen in Khenifra province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada8e4338aa44f958170ced_6ada8e40bb18e2a6f1cc114e_tirzzit-malachite-main.webp) Talisman Metals released on October 21 the first assay results of its 2026 drilling campaign at the Tirzzit copper project, 225 kilometers east of Agadir. ![A red drill rig throws up dust at the foot of a rocky cliff while workers in hard hats stand near sample bags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b8c44d07ced11399742_6ae60a165d230cc1aeec9b44_tirzzit-cuivre-forages-inline.webp) *A reverse-circulation drill rig at work on the Tirzzit project during the 2026 drilling campaign. Photo: Talisman Metals.* The first four holes confirm the expected copper mineralization. The best, TRC01, returned 1.56% copper and 64 grams of silver per metric ton over 2 meters, from a depth of 8 meters. The project, two mining licenses covering 16.5 km², was acquired in February from a subsidiary of Canada’s Aya Gold & Silver, which holds 4.7% of Talisman. The formal transfer of the licenses is still under way. Morocco’s Bureau of Mining Research and Participations had already intersected up to 3.16% copper over 2.5 meters there between 1972 and 1976. Drilling will go on for another four to six weeks, and further results will come in the fourth quarter, toward a first resource estimate. ## References - Talisman Metals - [First Drill Campaign Assay Results from the Tirzzit Project, Morocco](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/talisman-metals-plc--tlm/first-drill-assay-results-from-tirzzit-project/9832796) --- --- title: "Morocco’s 2026 Election: PAM Set to Lead the Government" description: "First with ninety-seven seats, the PAM will supply the next head of government. Who the party is, who runs it, what it promises, who it might govern with, and how a government is born in Morocco, explained step by step." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/legislatives-2026-resultats language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/legislatives-2026-resultats type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-22T20:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:30:22.905Z tags: ["Politics", "Elections"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae5232e1749b14142ad425_6aae522d88f6cbbc968e43ce_legislatives-resultats-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco’s 2026 Election: PAM Set to Lead the Government *First with ninety-seven seats, the PAM will supply the next head of government. Who the party is, who runs it, what it promises, who it might govern with, and how a government is born in Morocco, explained step by step.* ![The facade of the Constitutional Court in Rabat, beneath its gold lettering.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae5232e1749b14142ad425_6aae522d88f6cbbc968e43ce_legislatives-resultats-main.webp) It was a little after half past three in the morning on Thursday, September 24, when Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit read the provisional results of the previous day’s vote to the microphones of the public broadcasters. The Authenticity and Modernity Party came first with ninety-seven seats. The National Rally of Independents, which had led the government since 2021, followed with sixty-six, one seat ahead of Istiqlal on sixty-five. The Justice and Development Party, written off five years ago, took fifty-four. These numbers do not yet name a head of government or a majority. They open a sequence the Constitution lays out step by step, and one that can be followed without any knowledge of parliamentary jargon. This dossier takes it in order: what the ballot boxes said, who the PAM is now that it is set to lead the government, what it promises and who it might govern with, who the other forces in the House are, why no party governs alone, and how a government is born in Morocco. It will be updated as each step is taken. ## What the ballot boxes said The House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament, the one that votes laws and grants or withholds its confidence in the government, has three hundred and ninety-five seats. Governing takes at least one hundred and ninety-eight of them, half plus one: the absolute majority. No party comes close. The PAM, in first place, holds barely a quarter. Behind the top four come the Popular Movement (twenty-nine seats), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (twenty-six), the Party of Progress and Socialism (nineteen) and the Constitutional Union (seventeen). Six small formations share the remaining twenty-two seats, including eight for the Democratic and Social Movement and eight for the Left Alliance. Fourteen formations in all will sit in the new House. ### Winners and losers The most striking swing is the PJD’s. In 2021 the Islamist party, which had led two successive governments, fell from one hundred and twenty-five seats to thirteen; it now returns with fifty-four, four times as many. The PAM gains ten seats. The RNI loses thirty-six and Istiqlal sixteen: the PAM’s two partners in the outgoing government fall back sharply while the third moves forward. Only one seat separates the RNI from Istiqlal, and Medias24 warns that this provisional order could still flip. The number of votes won by each party has not yet been published. Only seats are known at this stage; the detailed results will come with the final figures. ### Six voters in ten stayed home Fifteen million eight hundred and one thousand one hundred and sixty-two Moroccans were on the electoral rolls. Nearly six million voted, or 38.08% according to the minister’s statement. The figure announced on Wednesday evening as polling stations closed, 38.02%, was revised up slightly overnight, as it was in 2021. It is the lowest turnout since 2007, when it stood at 37%, and far from the 50.35% of 2021, when one registered voter in two turned out. The gaps between regions are wide. According to the minister, turnout reached 77% in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region and 61% in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, while the Casablanca-Settat regional constituency stopped at 34.60%. ### Update of September 26: the results are final In a communique issued on Thursday, September 25, the Interior Minister announced that the final results of the September 23 vote match exactly the general provisional results released on the night after polling: the distribution of the three hundred and ninety-five seats in the House of Representatives is unchanged, with the PAM first on ninety-seven. The provincial and regional recount commissions, chaired by judges, completed the counting of votes and the proclamation of results, drew up the official minutes and lodged a copy with the Constitutional Court. Under Article 86 of the organic law on the House of Representatives, every candidate may consult those minutes with the competent administrative authority for eight full days from the date they were lodged. ### Update of September 29: Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri appointed head of government King Mohammed VI received Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, coordinator of the collegial leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Tuesday, September 29, and appointed her head of government, tasking her with forming the new government, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced in a communique. The appointment was made, the text states, “under Article 47 of the Constitution,” which provides that the King appoints the head of government from the party that came first in the elections to the House of Representatives. The same article sets out what comes next: it is on the head of government’s proposal that the sovereign would appoint the members of the new team, which would then have to win the confidence of the House. ### Update of September 30: first consultations with the RNI and Istiqlal The day after her appointment, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri opened the consultations to form the new government on Wednesday, September 30, at the PAM’s headquarters in Rabat. She first received a delegation from the National Rally of Independents led by its president, Mohamed Chaouki, with Rachid Talbi Alami and Mohamed Boussaid, then one from the Istiqlal Party, led by its secretary general, Nizar Baraka, with Mohamed Ould Errachid, Abdessamad Kayouh and Abdeljabbar Rachidi. Abdellatif Ouahbi, Fouzi Lekjaa and Ahmed Akhchichine sat alongside the head of government designate. After the meeting, Nizar Baraka said that Istiqlal’s National Council would examine the party’s participation in the new government, LesEco.ma and Medias24 report, the latter adding that the RNI will also consult internally before deciding. ### Update of September 30, evening: the MP, USFP and PPS received in turn The first day of consultations continued in the afternoon with the Popular Movement, whose delegation was led by its secretary general, Mohamed Ouzzine, then with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, led by its first secretary, Driss Lachgar, before the Party of Progress and Socialism was received in the evening, Le360, Hespress and Barlamane report. On leaving, the PPS secretary general, Nabil Benabdallah, said his party had not yet settled its position on joining the government: “We are continuing our internal debate in order to decide in the coming days,” he said, according to Le360. He noted points of convergence with the PAM, notably on citizens’ social situation, and called for “restoring trust,” Hespress and Barlamane report. ### Update of October 13: Ahmed Touizi elected speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Touizi, a member of the political bureau of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, was elected speaker of the House of Representatives on October 13, under Article 62 of the Constitution, La Vie eco, Barlamane and Medias24 report. He received two hundred and twenty votes out of three hundred and sixty-nine ballots, against fifty-nine for Driss El Azami El Idrissi, head of the Justice and Development Party group, with ninety ballots declared void, according to La Vie eco and Barlamane. He succeeds Rachid Talbi Alami in the chair of the lower house. ### Update of October 16: the El Mansouri government appointed at the Royal Palace in Rabat King Mohammed VI presided on October 16, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, over the appointment ceremony of the members of the new government led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, who took their oath before the sovereign, Infomediaire, LesEco and LNT report. The team has thirty-two members: the head of government, nineteen ministers, the secretary general of the government, Hassan Tariq, and eleven ministers delegate. Abdelouafi Laftit stays at the Interior, according to LNT. Nasser Bourita is appointed to Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Abdellatif Ouahbi to Justice and Ahmed Toufiq to Habous and Islamic Affairs. Fouzi Lekjaa takes the Economy, Finance and Public Performance, Nizar Baraka Infrastructure, Water and Forests, Ryad Mezzour Industry, Trade, Investment and Economic Inclusion, and Charafat Afailal Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development. A ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation and Administrative Reform goes to Ahmed Rahhou, and Samir Belfkih, minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy, becomes government spokesman. In the social departments, Nabil Benabdallah receives National Education, Preschool, Vocational Training and Qualification, Youns Bjijou Health and Social Protection, Azzeddine El Midaoui Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abderrahim Chahid Employment and Social Dialogue, and Najwa Koukouss Family, Social Development and Equality. Khalid Hatimy is appointed to Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, Abdessamad Kayouh to Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid to Youth, Culture and Sports, and Jalal Charaf to Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social Economy. Among the ministers delegate, Abdeltif Loudyi is in charge of the Administration of National Defense and Kouloub Faitah of Relations with Parliament and Civil Society, both attached to the head of government. ### Update of October 22: the House of Representatives gives its confidence to the El Mansouri government The House of Representatives approved on Thursday, October 22, at the end of a sitting that opened at ten in the morning and ran into the evening, the program Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri had presented to it earlier in the week. The text won two hundred and four votes for and one hundred and twenty-seven against, out of three hundred and thirty-one votes cast, Medias24 and LNT report. Article 88 of the Constitution makes the government’s investiture conditional on the approval of its program by an absolute majority of the House’s members, that is one hundred and ninety-eight votes out of three hundred and ninety-five, LNT recalls. ![House of Representatives seat chart: 97 seats for the PAM, 66 for the RNI, 65 for Istiqlal, 54 for the PJD, 29 for the MP, 26 for the USFP, 19 for the PPS and 39 for other parties. Absolute majority: 198.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab4fc52206857edab3f9949_6ab4fb38c2bfca7e164f759d_legislatives26-hemicycle-en.webp) ![Legislative election turnout: 51.61% in 2002, 37% in 2007, 45.4% in 2011, 43% in 2016, 50.35% in 2021, 38.08% in 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab4fc52206857edab3f994c_6ab4fb39013a7d5199f955a2_legislatives26-participation-en.webp) ## The PAM, the party set to govern In Morocco the party that comes first does not govern automatically, but it is from its ranks that the King chooses the head of government. Whatever coalition emerges, the next head of the executive will therefore come from the Authenticity and Modernity Party. It will be a first: the PAM has never led a government. ### Where it comes from The party was founded in 2008 around Fouad Ali El Himma and took a tractor as its emblem. It sits on the center right, with a liberal, modernizing message. During the decade the PJD led the government, from 2011 to 2021, it was its main opponent: second in 2016 with one hundred and two seats, it sat in opposition. In 2021, second again with eighty-seven seats, it joined the government alongside the RNI and Istiqlal. This time it has taken first place, something it had never done before. ### Who runs it The PAM has no secretary general. Since its February 2024 congress it has been run by a collegial leadership of three: Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, mayor of Marrakech and minister of territorial planning, who coordinates it, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and Fatima Saadi. The day after the vote, El Mansouri said the model would not change unless the National Council, the party’s internal parliament, asked for it. In July 2026 the PAM brought Fouzi Lekjaa, minister delegate for the budget and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, into its political bureau, and he played a highly visible part in its campaign. ### What it promises The PAM’s program for 2027 to 2031 was first priced at three hundred and fifty billion dirhams over five years. Fouzi Lekjaa later raised the total to three hundred and ninety billion, after measures for education and health were added. Its most concrete pledges concern purchasing power: a minimum pension of three thousand dirhams a month, and direct social aid raised to at least one thousand dirhams. According to Medias24’s reading of the program, it also promises free electricity for bills under one hundred dirhams a month, an income tax cut to three brackets with the top rate lowered from 37% to 20%, and at least one million net new jobs over the term. To pay for it, the party is counting first on growth: it forecasts 5% a year, which would lift state revenue, while holding the budget deficit around 3%. This is still the program of a party that holds a quarter of the seats. How much of it survives will depend on the partners it has to govern with. ### Who might lead the government At a press conference in Rabat on Thursday, September 24, El Mansouri said the appointment belongs to the King alone, and was careful not to present herself as the natural candidate. She named other possibilities herself, Medias24 reports: > “If His Majesty does me the honor of appointing me, I will of course accept, but if he prefers another member of our party such as Fouzi Lekjaa, Mehdi Bensaid or Samir Belfkih, I will abide by his decision in the interest of our country.” If the choice fell on her, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri would become the first woman to lead a Moroccan government. ### With whom During the campaign the PAM’s leadership had said it wanted no alliance with the RNI. Since its victory the tone has changed. “There is no party we refuse to sit down at the same table with,” El Mansouri said, adding that there is “no red line.” The decision on alliances will rest with the party’s National Council, and programs, she said, will be the basis for it. Aziz Akhannouch, whose RNI loses first place, congratulated the PAM and said he respected the voters’ choice. Abdelilah Benkirane, for his part, said the PJD could “in no case” join a government led by the PAM, a position his party’s governing bodies have yet to confirm. ## The other forces in the House The National Rally of Independents, founded in 1978 and symbolized by a dove, is a liberal, business-friendly party. It led the outgoing government under Aziz Akhannouch, who stepped down as party president in February 2026; Mohamed Chaouki succeeded him. Winner in 2021 with one hundred and two seats, it loses thirty-six. Heir to the national movement and to the Independence Manifesto of January 11, 1944, the Istiqlal Party (Arabic for “independence”) is the oldest party in the race, and conservative in outlook. Its secretary general, Nizar Baraka, is minister of equipment and water in the outgoing government. The Justice and Development Party, whose symbol is a lamp, is a conservative Islamist party. It led the government from 2011 to 2021 before collapsing in 2021. Under Abdelilah Benkirane, who returned to its helm after that defeat, it quadruples its seats and has placed itself in opposition from the outset. The Popular Movement, rooted in the rural and Amazigh world, is led by Mohamed Ouzzine. Driss Lachgar’s USFP and Nabil Benabdallah’s PPS carry the historic left; all three sat in opposition. The Constitutional Union, led by Mohamed Joudar, is a liberal party. No party founded since 2021 has entered the House: the only newcomer is the Left Alliance, an electoral coalition that puts the Unified Socialist Party and the Federation of the Democratic Left on a single ballot line, and which grows from about two seats to eight. ## Why no one governs alone A party that comes first by a wide margin in a constituency does not necessarily win more seats there than its rivals. It all comes down to the counting rule. Morocco votes by proportional representation: in each constituency, seats are shared among the lists according to their votes. To work out how many votes a seat is “worth,” an electoral quotient is calculated. Since 2021 that quotient has been the number of registered voters, not the number of people who actually voted, divided by the number of seats. Each list wins as many seats as its votes contain the quotient; the seats left over go to the lists with the largest “remainders.” Take an imaginary constituency with one hundred thousand registered voters and five seats: the quotient is twenty thousand votes. List A wins fifty-two thousand votes, which gives it two seats and leaves twelve thousand over. List B wins twenty-eight thousand: one seat, with eight thousand left. List C wins fifteen thousand: no full seat, but a remainder of fifteen thousand. List D wins five thousand. Two seats are still to be allocated, and they go to the largest remainders, C and then A. The result: three seats for A, one for B, one for C. When six registered voters in ten stay home, the quotient becomes very high compared with the votes actually cast, and almost every seat is decided on remainders. The first-placed list in a constituency often takes just one seat, like the lists behind it. The system scatters seats across many parties, and no minimum vote threshold keeps the smallest ones out: it was abolished in 2021. It is this mechanism, far more than the mood of the electorate, that makes coalitions inevitable. Add one novelty for 2026. The House fills on two levels: three hundred and five seats are elected in ninety-two local constituencies, and ninety in twelve regional ones. Under organic law 53.25, published in the Official Bulletin on January 29, 2026, the regional lists are made up exclusively of women, who remain free to stand on local lists as well. The same law funds up to three quarters of campaign spending for lists of candidates under thirty-five, and punishes the spreading of false information meant to skew the vote with two to five years in prison. ## How a government is born What happens next is written in the 2011 Constitution. Its Article 47 sets the first rule: > “The King appoints the Head of Government from the political party that came first in the elections of the members of the House of Representatives, and on the basis of their results. On the proposal of the Head of Government, He appoints the members of the government.” In practice, the King chooses a figure from the PAM and asks them to form a government. That person negotiates with other parties to gather at least one hundred and ninety-eight members, then proposes a list of ministers to the King. Last comes the confidence vote under Article 88: the head of government presents a program to both houses sitting together, and the government takes office only once that program is approved by an absolute majority of the members of the House of Representatives, one hundred and ninety-eight votes. Challenges to the results follow their own path, before the Constitutional Court. ### Quick, or very slow The Constitution sets no deadline, and recent history offers both extremes. In 2021 the vote took place on September 8; two days later the King received Aziz Akhannouch at the royal palace in Fes and appointed him head of government. The RNI, the PAM and Istiqlal reached an agreement on September 22, and the government was appointed on October 7: twenty-nine days in all. In 2016 it took nearly six months. Abdelilah Benkirane, whose PJD had come first on October 7, was reappointed three days after the vote, but the talks stalled, in what the press called the “blockage.” On March 15, 2017, the King would end his mission and, two days later, name Saadeddine El Othmani, from the same party, who would form his government on April 5. ### The arithmetic With its ninety-seven seats, the PAM needs one hundred and one more. The simplest answer renews the outgoing majority: the PAM, the RNI and Istiqlal hold two hundred and twenty-eight seats together, but in reverse order, with the PAM now in front. That still requires the campaign rivalry to cool: on August 31, according to Le360, El Mansouri and Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid ruled the RNI out of the PAM’s alliances, before El Mansouri called it a personal position. “After our party’s victory, the question no longer arises,” she told Medias24 on September 24. Without the RNI, the PAM and Istiqlal together hold one hundred and sixty-two seats: they would need at least thirty-six more members, which means one or more additional partners. The possible combinations are many, and none is settled. ### What the ballot boxes do not decide Not every ministry depends on the future coalition. The Interior, Foreign Affairs, Habous and Islamic Affairs, the administration of National Defense and the General Secretariat of the Government are traditionally entrusted to figures with no party affiliation, appointed by the King. Whatever majority comes out of the talks, these portfolios will not change hands because of it. ### What we do not know yet The name of the next head of government is not known, nor the shape of the majority. Medias24 sums up the situation in one line: > “Only the King knows the answer.” The House itself can still shift. Voters, candidates, walis and governors have thirty days after the results are proclaimed to challenge a member’s election before the Constitutional Court. In 2021 the court received sixty-two challenges, and annulled several elections. In the meantime, Aziz Akhannouch’s government stays in place and handles current business. The calendar is tight: Parliament opens its autumn session on the second Friday of October, October 9, and the 2027 finance bill must reach it soon after. Final results, with the vote counts, are expected in the coming days. This page will add them, then the appointment of the head of government, then the makeup of the team, as each of these acts is made public. *Photo: Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0. Charts: The Moorish Times.* ## References - Médias24 - [Gouvernement El Mansouri : la Chambre des représentants vote la confiance](https://medias24.com/2026/10/22/gouvernement-el-mansouri-la-chambre-des-representants-vote-la-confiance-1783116/) - LNT - [Le gouvernement El Mansouri investi par 204 voix](https://lnt.ma/le-gouvernement-el-mansouri-investi-par-deux-cent-quatre-voix/) - Infomédiaire - [SM le Roi préside la cérémonie de nomination des membres du nouveau gouvernement](https://www.infomediaire.net/roi-nomination-nouveau-gouvernement-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri/) - LesEco - [Voici la composition du nouveau gouvernement au Maroc](https://leseco.ma/maroc/voici-la-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement-au-maroc.html) - LNT - [Le Gouvernement El Mansouri officiellement formé](https://lnt.ma/le-gouvernement-el-mansouri-officiellement-forme/) - La Vie éco - [Ahmed Touizi élu président de la Chambre des Représentants](https://www.lavieeco.com/pouvoirs/ahmed-touizi-elu-president-de-la-chambre-des-representants/) - Barlamane - [Ahmed Touizi s’installe au perchoir de la Chambre des représentants avec 220 voix face à l’abstention hostile du RNI](https://barlamane.com/fr/ahmed-touizi-sinstalle-au-perchoir-de-la-chambre-des-representants-avec-220-voix-face-a-labstention-hostile-du-rni/) - Médias24 - [Officiel. Ahmed Touizi élu président de la Chambre des représentants](https://medias24.com/2026/10/13/officiel-ahmed-touizi-elu-president-de-la-chambre-des-representants-1777987/) - Le360 - [Gouvernement: le PPS n’a «pas encore tranché» sa participation, affirme Benabdallah](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/gouvernement-le-pps-na-pas-encore-tranche-sa-participation-affirme-benabdellah_QJK5MZIL3BB2ZFUDWDHUUUEAHE/) - Hespress FR - [Benabdallah : le PPS relève des convergences avec le PAM sans trancher sur son positionnement](https://fr.hespress.com/490706-benabdallah-le-pps-releve-des-convergences-avec-le-pam-sans-trancher-sur-son-positionnement.html) - Hespress FR - [Formation du gouvernement : Lachgar reste discret après sa rencontre avec El Mansouri](https://fr.hespress.com/490677-formation-du-gouvernement-lachgar-reste-discret-apres-sa-rencontre-avec-el-mansouri.html) - Barlamane - [Le PPS évoque des «points de convergence» avec le PAM et conditionne son entrée au gouvernement à une ouverture politique préalable](https://barlamane.com/fr/le-pps-evoque-des-points-de-convergence-avec-le-pam-et-conditionne-son-entree-au-gouvernement-a-une-ouverture-politique-prealable/) - LesEco.ma - [Baraka : l’Istiqlal soumettra sa participation au gouvernement à son Conseil national](https://leseco.ma/maroc/baraka-listiqlal-soumettra-sa-participation-au-gouvernement-a-son-conseil-national.html) - Médias24 - [Gouvernement El Mansouri : avant de décider de leur participation, le RNI et l’Istiqlal se concerteront en interne](https://medias24.com/2026/09/30/gouvernement-el-mansouri-avant-de-decider-de-leur-participation-le-rni-et-listiqlal-se-concerteront-en-interne-1768587/) - Barlamane - [La chef du gouvernement désignée, Fatima-Ezzahra El Mansouri, reçoit la direction du parti de l’Istiqlal](https://barlamane.com/fr/la-chef-du-gouvernement-designee-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-recoit-la-direction-du-parti-de-listiqlal-et-poursuit-le-cycle-de-consultations-en-vue-de-la-formation-du-prochain-executif/) - Ministère de la Maison Royale, du Protocole et de la Chancellerie, via Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [SM le Roi nomme Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Cheffe du gouvernement et la charge de former le nouveau gouvernement](https://aujourdhui.ma/actualite/sm-le-roi-nomme-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-cheffe-du-gouvernement-et-la-charge-de-former-le-nouveau-gouvernement) - LesEco.ma - [Le roi Mohammed VI nomme Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri cheffe du gouvernement](https://leseco.ma/maroc/le-roi-mohammed-vi-nomme-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-cheffe-de-gouvernement.html) - Ministère de l’Intérieur, via SNRT News - [Communiqué du ministre de l’Intérieur: Les résultats définitifs des élections législatives correspondent parfaitement aux résultats généraux provisoires annoncés précédemment](https://snrtnews.com/article/communique-du-ministre-de-linterieur-les-resultats-definitifs-des-elections-legislatives) - Le Matin - [Élections 2026: les résultats définitifs confirment le classement provisoire, avec le PAM en tête](https://lematin.ma/nation/elections-2026-les-resultats-definitifs-confirment-le-pam-en-tete/367146) - Médias24 - [Législatives 2026: les résultats définitifs confirment la victoire du PAM](https://medias24.com/2026/09/25/legislatives-2026-les-resultats-definitifs-confirment-la-victoire-du-pam-1765643/) - Ministère de l’Intérieur, déclaration de M. Abdelouafi Laftit sur les résultats provisoires, 24 septembre 2026, reprise par la MAP. - LesEco.ma - [Législatives 2026: le PAM en tête avec 97 sièges](https://leseco.ma/maroc/legislatives-2026-le-pam-en-tete-avec-97-sieges.html) - Maroc Hebdo - [Législatives 2026: Le PAM en tête avec 97 sièges, selon les résultats provisoires (Ministre de l’Intérieur)](https://www.maroc-hebdo.com/article/legislatives-2026-le-pam-en-tete-avec-97-sieges-selon-les-resultats-provisoires-ministre-de-linterieur) - Médias24 - [Le PAM remporte les élections législatives 2026](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/le-pam-remporte-les-elections-legislatives-2026-1763755/) - Médias24 - [PJD: après l’enthousiasme, la déception](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/pjd-apres-lenthousiasme-la-deception-1763983/) - Médias24 - [Dans la circonscription régionale de Casablanca-Settat, un taux de participation de 34,60%](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/dans-la-circonscription-regionale-de-casablanca-settat-un-taux-de-participation-de-3460-resultats-provisoires-1763939/) - LesEco.ma - [Législatives 2026: le taux de participation final s’établit à 38,02%](https://leseco.ma/maroc/legislatives-2026-le-taux-de-participation-final-setablit-a-3802.html) - Le360 - [Législatives: le PAM exclut toute alliance avec le RNI après le scrutin](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/legislatives-le-pam-exclut-toute-alliance-avec-le-rni-apres-le-scrutin_GPNQ3Y7IGJCSZF2V6EWVR3UFEI/) - Belpresse - [Législatives 2026: El Mansouri clarifie sa position sur une alliance PAM-RNI](https://fr.belpresse.com/elections/legislatives-2026-el-mansouri-clarifie-sa-position-sur-une-alliance-pam-rni/) - Médias24 - [PAM: direction collégiale](https://medias24.com/2024/02/10/pam-direction-collegiale-mansour-bensaid-aboughali-elus/); [Fatima Saadi remplace Aboulghali](https://medias24.com/2024/10/19/pam-fatima-saadi-remplace-aboulghali-a-la-direction-collegiale); [Fouzi Lekjaa rejoint officiellement le PAM](https://medias24.com/2026/07/25/fouzi-lekjaa-et-ynja-khattat-rejoignent-officiellement-le-pam-video-1730291/) - Médias24 - [FZ Mansouri: « Le PAM ne ferme la porte à aucun parti »](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/fz-mansouri-le-pam-ne-ferme-la-porte-a-aucun-parti-1764771/) - LesEco.ma - [Après sa victoire, le PAM n’exclut aucun parti pour former la prochaine majorité](https://leseco.ma/maroc/apres-sa-victoire-le-pam-nexclut-aucun-parti-pour-former-la-prochaine-majorite.html) - LesEco.ma - [Future majorité: tous les jeux restent ouverts](https://leseco.ma/maroc/future-majorite-tous-les-jeux-restent-ouverts.html) - Médias24 - [Arrivé en tête des législatives, voici ce que vous a promis le PAM](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/pam-les-principales-promesses-du-programme-2026-2031-1764121/) - LesEco.ma - [Lekjaa à la CGEM: le PAM chiffre son programme à 350 milliards de DH](https://leseco.ma/maroc/lekjaa-a-la-cgem-le-pam-chiffre-son-programme-a-350-milliards-de-dh-video.html); [PAM: 390 milliards de DH sur cinq ans](https://leseco.ma/maroc/pam-390-milliards-de-dh-sur-cinq-ans-fouzi-lekjaa-detaille-le-financement-video.html) - Médias24 - [Benkirane se prononce contre toute alliance avec le PAM](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/benkirane-se-prononce-contre-toute-alliance-avec-le-pam-1764443/); [Aziz Akhannouch félicite le PAM](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/aziz-akhannouch-felicite-le-pam-1764497/); [Après le scrutin, voici la saison des recours](https://medias24.com/2026/09/24/legislatives-apres-le-scrutin-voici-la-saison-des-recours-1764681/) - Hespress - [Mohamed Chaouki élu président du RNI](https://fr.hespress.com/461706-mohamed-chaouki-elu-president-du-rni.html) - Médias24 - [Le Roi Mohammed VI nomme Aziz Akhannouch chef du gouvernement](https://medias24.com/2021/09/10/le-roi-mohammed-vi-nomme-aziz-akhannouch-chef-du-gouvernement/) (September 10, 2021) - France 24 - [Morocco king names Saad-Eddine El Othmani new prime minister](https://www.france24.com/en/20170317-morocco-king-names-saad-eddine-el-othmani-new-prime-minister) (March 17, 2017) - Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco, 2011, Articles 47, 62, 65, 88 and 132. Article 47 and all quotations from French sources given in the magazine’s translation. - Décret n° 2.26.190 du 12 mars 2026 fixant la date d’élection des membres de la Chambre des représentants, Bulletin officiel n° 7491 du 16 mars 2026. - Loi organique n° 27-11 relative à la Chambre des représentants, as amended by organic law n° 04.21 (2021) and organic law n° 53.25, Bulletin officiel n° 7478 of January 29, 2026. - Charts: The Moorish Times, from the Interior Ministry’s provisional results and official turnout figures, 2002 to 2026. --- --- title: "Payments: 70.8 Billion Dirhams Paid by Card in 2025 as Instant Transfers Jump 77.9%" description: "Card payments in Morocco reached 70.8 billion dirhams in 2025, up 12%, and the number of instant transfers jumped 77.9%, according to Bank Al-Maghrib’s annual payments report. Currency in circulation nonetheless climbed 15.5%, to 513 billion dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-paiements-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-paiements-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T16:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.646Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada3ccb1a29907991bae743_6ada3cc7c335dccd58e60e44_bam-paiements-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Payments: 70.8 Billion Dirhams Paid by Card in 2025 as Instant Transfers Jump 77.9% *Card payments in Morocco reached 70.8 billion dirhams in 2025, up 12%, and the number of instant transfers jumped 77.9%, according to Bank Al-Maghrib’s annual payments report. Currency in circulation nonetheless climbed 15.5%, to 513 billion dirhams.* ![A row of cash machines of Morocco’s main banks inside the Tanger Med port area.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada3ccb1a29907991bae743_6ada3cc7c335dccd58e60e44_bam-paiements-main.webp) Card payments reached 230.1 million transactions in 2025 for 70.8 billion dirhams, up about 20% in number and 12% in value, according to the annual report on means of payment that Bank Al-Maghrib has just published. ![Hands hold a wad of blue 200 dirham notes and beige 100 dirham notes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54648b78e7736393be8f8_6ae543ec36df6e180b8e1bda_bam-paiements-2025.webp) *Banknotes of 200 and 100 dirhams. Photo: Le360.* Cash withdrawal nonetheless remains the card’s main use, at 87% of the value of transactions. Instant transfers, for their part, are changing scale: nearly 29 million transactions, up 77.9%, for 107.5 billion dirhams. Cash is not retreating for all that. Currency in circulation accelerated to 513 billion dirhams at the end of December, up 15.5% after 7.6% in 2024. The governor draws the lesson in his foreword to the report: “The simultaneous rise in electronic payments and in currency in circulation shows that the development of digital solutions does not systematically translate into a decline in cash.” The central bank therefore places the challenge in everyday purchases and small amounts. *Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Rapport annuel sur les infrastructures de marchés financiers et les moyens de paiement, exercice 2025](https://www.bkam.ma/Publications-et-recherche/Publications-institutionnelles/Rapport-annuel-sur-les-infrastructures-de-marches-financiers-et-les-moyens-de-paiement/Rapport-annuel-sur-les-infrastructures-de-marches-financiers-et-les-moyens-de-paiement-exercice-2025) --- --- title: "Casablanca Stock Exchange: Jet Energy Cleared to Raise Up to 375.4 Million Dirhams" description: "Morocco’s Capital Market Authority approved Jet Energy’s Casablanca listing on October 21: two million six hundred and twenty-five thousand new shares at 125 to 143 dirhams, raising up to 375.4 million dirhams. Subscriptions run from November 2 to 5, with first trading on November 16." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/jet-energy-ipo language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/jet-energy-ipo type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T16:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.584Z tags: ["Finance", "Energy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada3cc857eed17918fd8260_6ada3cc665ee35862783b45d_jet-energy-ipo-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Stock Exchange: Jet Energy Cleared to Raise Up to 375.4 Million Dirhams *Morocco’s Capital Market Authority approved Jet Energy’s Casablanca listing on October 21: two million six hundred and twenty-five thousand new shares at 125 to 143 dirhams, raising up to 375.4 million dirhams. Subscriptions run from November 2 to 5, with first trading on November 16.* ![A Jet Energy technician at work beneath a row of photovoltaic panels.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ada3cc857eed17918fd8260_6ada3cc665ee35862783b45d_jet-energy-ipo-main.webp) Jet Energy received on Wednesday, October 21, the approval of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) for its listing on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The offering will consist entirely of a capital increase, for a raise of between 328.1 and 375.4 million dirhams depending on the final price. ![Five men in suits behind a wooden panel table, under a Jet Energy screen, beside a banner giving a share price of 125 to 143 dirhams.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5466f514ff0375156424f_6ae5459565ce97890aebfffb_jet-energy-ipo.webp) *Jet Energy’s press conference on its stock market listing, with board chairman Mohammed Yahya Zniber at the center. Photo: TelQuel.* The 2,625,000 new shares will be offered at between 125 and 143 dirhams. Subscriptions will run from November 2 to November 5, and the stock will make its debut on November 16 in the Principal F compartment, under the ticker NRJ. Founded in 2012, the company designs, builds and operates solar plants, storage systems and electrical infrastructure. It posted revenue of 340 million dirhams in 2025 and net income of 71 million. The free float will account for 20% of the capital. Jet Contractors, which is selling no shares, will see its stake diluted from 78.91% to 63.13%. About 175 million dirhams will go to engineering, procurement and construction, the company’s core trade, about 130 million to vertical integration and about 70 million to expansion in West Africa. The market will say on November 16 whether its appetite for the energy transition stretches to the top of the range. *Photo: Jet Energy.* ## References - Autorité Marocaine du Marché des Capitaux - [Visa de l’AMMC sur le prospectus relatif à l’introduction en bourse de JET ENERGY](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_JETENERGY_051_2026_FR_0.pdf) - Jet Energy - [Jet Energy, acteur de la transition énergétique du Maroc, obtient le visa de l’AMMC pour son introduction en Bourse](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_IPO_JetEnergy_2026.pdf) - Jet Energy - [Note d’opération, introduction en bourse de Jet Energy](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/JETENERGY_IPO_NO_030_2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Consumer Prices: Up 1% in September, Led by Meat and Vegetables" description: "Consumer prices rose 1.0% month on month in September, driven by food, with meat and vegetables leading, according to the High Commission for Planning. Year on year the increase is limited to 0.5%, with food prices down 2.5%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ipc-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ipc-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T10:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.109Z tags: ["Economy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad9e70ea8d5094689b867e7_6ad9e707bc33fd29c2995d49_ipc-septembre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Consumer Prices: Up 1% in September, Led by Meat and Vegetables *Consumer prices rose 1.0% month on month in September, driven by food, with meat and vegetables leading, according to the High Commission for Planning. Year on year the increase is limited to 0.5%, with food prices down 2.5%.* ![The main entrance to the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Inezgane.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad9e70ea8d5094689b867e7_6ad9e707bc33fd29c2995d49_ipc-septembre-main.webp) Consumer prices rose 1.0% in September from August, according to the note the High Commission for Planning published on October 22. ![Carcasses hang above the tiled counter of a butcher’s stall, where a customer waits with her back to the camera.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bb4975a08ca9619e1ae_6ae606338f7591899402bc14_ipc-septembre-2026-inline.webp) *A butcher’s stall at the Tiznit market. Photo: Bernhard Holub, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Food led the rise at 1.6%, with meat and vegetables at the top (4.3%), while non-food items gained only 0.4%, pulled up by fuel (2.0%). Laayoune recorded the steepest rise (2.8%), ahead of Beni Mellal (2.4%), while Casablanca and Tangier held at 0.6% and Al Hoceima was the only city to fall, by 0.3%. Over a year the picture reverses: the index is up only 0.5%, with food down 2.5% and non-food up 2.8%, carried by transport, up 9.4%. Core inflation stands at 0.5% over the month and 0.6% over the year. September’s rise therefore does not erase a year of easing food prices. Fuel, for as long as it weighs on transport, will remain the first item to watch. *Photo: Amaloumed, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [L’Indice des prix à la consommation (IPC) du mois de Septembre 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/L-Indice-des-prix-a-la-consommation-IPC-du-mois-de-Septembre-2026_a4360.html) --- --- title: "African Development Bank: 487 Million Dollars for the Third Phase of Morocco’s Reforms" description: "The African Development Bank’s Board approved 487 million dollars in Abidjan on October 21 for the third phase of Morocco’s economic governance and climate resilience program, covering state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships, and the water and electricity sectors." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bad-pgrcc-phase-3 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bad-pgrcc-phase-3 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-22T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.478Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b41da84eca6922902b9_6ae609fe3eb74873888ea629_bad-pgrcc-phase-3-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # African Development Bank: 487 Million Dollars for the Third Phase of Morocco’s Reforms *The African Development Bank’s Board approved 487 million dollars in Abidjan on October 21 for the third phase of Morocco’s economic governance and climate resilience program, covering state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships, and the water and electricity sectors.* ![A solar power plant and its tower on a desert plateau, a winding road in the foreground and mountains on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b41da84eca6922902b9_6ae609fe3eb74873888ea629_bad-pgrcc-phase-3-hero-main.webp) The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved on Wednesday, October 21, in Abidjan, 487 million dollars of financing for Morocco, for the third phase of its program to strengthen economic governance and resilience to climate change (PGRCC). ![The Daourat dam and its pink building at the foot of arid hills, above a brown reservoir lined with reeds.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b42da84eca6922902bd_6ae606141b7ba233b796b4a1_bad-pgrcc-phase-3-inline.webp) *The Daourat hydroelectric dam on the Oum Er-Rbia. Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The first component targets the restructuring of the state-owned enterprise portfolio, the modernization of the public-private partnership framework and the business climate, so as to draw in more private investment. The second covers the governance of the water and electricity sectors and the integration of climate concerns into public policy. The Bank files the loan under its Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework. It is also meant to help the Kingdom absorb the effects of the crisis in the Middle East, which is driving up energy and transport costs. Since 1978 the institution has mobilized nearly 15 billion euros in Morocco for more than one hundred and fifty projects. The effect of this third phase will be measured by the state-owned enterprises actually restructured far more than by the amount disbursed. *Photo: AfDB.* ## References - Banque africaine de développement - [Maroc : la Banque africaine de développement investit 487 millions de dollars pour accélérer les réformes structurelles et renforcer la résilience économique et climatique](https://www.afdb.org/fr/news-and-events/press-releases/maroc-banque-africaine-developpement-investit-487-97736) --- --- title: "Futsal: Morocco Beat Angola 5-2 for a Fourth Straight Africa Cup of Nations Title" description: "Morocco beat Angola 5-2 on Wednesday, October 21, in Rabat in the final of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. It is a fourth straight title for the Atlas Lions, the first country to win it four times, after a tournament of five wins in five matches." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/can-futsal-sacre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/can-futsal-sacre-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-21T21:56:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.929Z tags: ["Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad93a238f5f449e3139ccdc_6ad93a22b3577e639e6bc5a8_can-futsal-sacre-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Futsal: Morocco Beat Angola 5-2 for a Fourth Straight Africa Cup of Nations Title *Morocco beat Angola 5-2 on Wednesday, October 21, in Rabat in the final of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. It is a fourth straight title for the Atlas Lions, the first country to win it four times, after a tournament of five wins in five matches.* ![Moroccan futsal players in red shirts and green shorts embrace on the court in Rabat during the final against Angola, October 21, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad93a238f5f449e3139ccdc_6ad93a22b3577e639e6bc5a8_can-futsal-sacre-2026-main.webp) Morocco won a fourth consecutive Futsal Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, October 21, beating Angola 5-2 in the final in Rabat. ![Morocco’s futsal players, medals around their necks, raise the trophy under a shower of gold confetti.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bec064237583a84202c_6ae60640f105094f5b323197_can-futsal-sacre-2026-inline.webp) *The Atlas Lions with the futsal Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Rabat. Photo: Hespress.* Narrowly ahead at the break (2-1), the Atlas Lions pulled away after the restart. Champions in 2016, 2020 and 2024, Morocco become the first country to lift the trophy four times, ahead of Egypt and its three titles. Hicham Dguig’s players close the tournament with five wins in five matches, 28 goals scored and just two conceded. The title will be on the line again in two years. *Photo: FRMF.* ## References - FRMF - [Champions again! Morocco 5-2 Angola (@EnMaroc, 21/10/2026)](https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2113026578397405640) - Futsal Planet - [TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2026](https://www.futsalplanet.com/news.aspx?id=1353) - SNRT News - [Les Lions de l’Atlas remportent la CAN de futsal 2026 (@SNRTNewsfr, 21/10/2026)](https://x.com/SNRTNewsfr/status/2113029763975520378) --- --- title: "Noor Ouarzazate: Masen Tenders Its Battery Testbed, Estimated at 3.25 Million Dollars" description: "On October 14 Masen launched an international tender for a battery testbed at the Noor Ouarzazate research platform. Estimated at 3.25 million dollars and funded by a World Bank ESMAP grant, the contract is due to receive bids on November 27." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/masen-banc-essai-batteries language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/masen-banc-essai-batteries type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-21T16:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.757Z tags: ["Energy", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad8e86db20beb6c621dd1a1_6ad8e86b33b32bb1b7c40fd5_masen-bess-noor-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Noor Ouarzazate: Masen Tenders Its Battery Testbed, Estimated at 3.25 Million Dollars *On October 14 Masen launched an international tender for a battery testbed at the Noor Ouarzazate research platform. Estimated at 3.25 million dollars and funded by a World Bank ESMAP grant, the contract is due to receive bids on November 27.* ![The parabolic trough mirror fields of Noor Ouarzazate.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad8e86db20beb6c621dd1a1_6ad8e86b33b32bb1b7c40fd5_masen-bess-noor-main.webp) At the foot of the Noor Ouarzazate mirrors, Masen now wants to put batteries to the test. On October 14 the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy launched an international request for bids for a complete battery energy storage systems (BESS) testbed at the complex’s research and development platform. ![Six men in white hard hats and yellow vests stand behind a ribbon in front of white containers marked Azelio.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c18b410fb1323e7503c_6ae60a1d3eb74873888eb211_masen-banc-essai-batteries-inline.webp) *Azelio’s energy storage system, opened at the Noor Ouarzazate complex in March 2020 in the presence of Masen officials. Photo: Azelio.* Estimated at 3.25 million dollars in the notice published by the World Bank, the contract is funded by a grant from the ESMAP program the Bank administers. Bids are due in Rabat on November 27. The testbed is to test industrial-scale batteries, from their capacity to their aging and their behavior on the power grid, giving the Kingdom a reference platform independent of manufacturers. Its design was entrusted in May to the Paris firm Kurybees, and everything must be finished before the funding closes at the end of October 2027. It is there, between the mirrors and the desert, that the question haunting every solar transition will be settled, that of keeping the energy once the sun has set. *Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Masen, Banque mondiale - [Specific Procurement Notice, Request for Bids: Plant Design, Supply and Installation of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Testbed, RFB No: 13/2026/MASEN](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00475205) - Masen, Banque mondiale - [Contract Award: Battery Energy Storage System Testbed in Morocco, MA-MASEN-490513-CS-QCBS](https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00450940) --- --- title: "Sugar: Growers Commit 63,000 Hectares of Beet and Cane to the 2026-2027 Season" description: "With dams 67% full, against 32% a year earlier, Cosumar is committing 63,000 hectares of sugar crops to the 2026-2027 season, 60,000 of them beet, a program Fimasucre approved on October 14. Nearly 800 million dirhams of farm inputs have been mobilized." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/campagne-sucriere-2026-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/campagne-sucriere-2026-2027 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-21T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.590Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad89221dc0d4134c9f1b0dd_6ad8921de91513f545bd68c8_filiere-sucriere-campagne-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sugar: Growers Commit 63,000 Hectares of Beet and Cane to the 2026-2027 Season *With dams 67% full, against 32% a year earlier, Cosumar is committing 63,000 hectares of sugar crops to the 2026-2027 season, 60,000 of them beet, a program Fimasucre approved on October 14. Nearly 800 million dirhams of farm inputs have been mobilized.* ![A farm drone flies over a sugar beet field.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad89221dc0d4134c9f1b0dd_6ad8921de91513f545bd68c8_filiere-sucriere-campagne-2026-main.webp) The dams that irrigate the Kingdom’s five sugar-growing perimeters are 67% full, against 32% a year earlier. On October 13 Cosumar launched a 2026-2027 season covering 63,000 hectares, including 60,000 of sugar beet and 3,000 of new cane plantings. ![Two men seen from behind check a tablet in a beet field, one in a blue Cosumar vest, the other in a straw hat.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5464b9f58d7fc365d2442_6ae543ed07424c2103412b41_campagne-sucriere-2026-2027.webp) *A Cosumar field technician and a grower in a sugar beet field. Photo: Hespress.* The board of the Moroccan Interprofessional Sugar Federation (Fimasucre) approved the program the next day in Rabat. Doukkala will take the largest share, with 18,500 hectares of beet, ahead of Tadla and the Gharb. The sugar company has mobilized nearly 800 million dirhams to keep farmers supplied with inputs. The industry expects the season to bring more than 3 billion dirhams of spin-off income to the regions concerned. The State and Cosumar have also committed 425 million dirhams to support growers, notably by subsidizing fertilizer and writing off the debts of farmers in the Gharb and Loukkos hit by the previous season’s floods. The federation intends to update the program contract signed with the State for 2030. After years of drought, the recovery of planted area will be won or lost on the water that has returned. *Photo: La Vie eco.* ## References - La Vie éco - [Fimasucre : Priorité à la productivité et à la mécanisation](https://www.lavieeco.com/affaires/agriculture/fimasucre-priorite-a-la-productivite-et-a-la-mecanisation/) - Les Inspirations ÉCO - [Filière sucrière : Fimasucre revoit ses ambitions à la hausse](https://leseco.ma/maroc/filiere-sucriere-fimasucre-revoit-ses-ambitions-a-la-hausse.html) - Finances News Hebdo - [Plantes sucrières : Cosumar mise sur 63 000 hectares pour la campagne 2026/2027](https://fnh.ma/articles/cosumar-plantes-sucrieres) - Le Matin - [Campagne agricole 2026-2027: Cosumar mise sur 63.000 hectares de cultures sucrières à la faveur de l’amélioration des réserves d’eau](https://lematin.ma/economie/campagne-agricole-cosumar-lance-63000-hectares-de-cultures-sucrieres/370090) --- --- title: "LabelVie: Shareholders Called on November 20 to Vote on Absorption by Retail Holding" description: "LabelVie will convene its shareholders on November 20 to approve its absorption by Retail Holding, which will list on the stock exchange the same day. The net assets transferred reach 12.46 billion dirhams, and every 11 LabelVie shares will be exchanged for 8 Retail Holding shares." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/labelvie-retail-holding-fusion language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/labelvie-retail-holding-fusion type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-20T21:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.713Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad7ea3fbc4cd9c7744d6ab0_6ad7ea3d2c1787a1a6c4381c_labelvie-retail-holding-fusion-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # LabelVie: Shareholders Called on November 20 to Vote on Absorption by Retail Holding *LabelVie will convene its shareholders on November 20 to approve its absorption by Retail Holding, which will list on the stock exchange the same day. The net assets transferred reach 12.46 billion dirhams, and every 11 LabelVie shares will be exchanged for 8 Retail Holding shares.* ![The panel at LabelVie and Retail Holding’s press conference on their merger plan, May 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad7ea3fbc4cd9c7744d6ab0_6ad7ea3d2c1787a1a6c4381c_labelvie-retail-holding-fusion-main.webp) LabelVie has called its shareholders to an extraordinary general meeting on November 20 with a single substantive item on the agenda: its absorption by Retail Holding, which will take effect on the day the absorbing company’s shares are listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. ![Stands of oranges and other fruit under promotional signs in Arabic, in a supermarket aisle.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546719716384d93db7011_6ae54595b589893811f0d24b_labelvie-retail-holding-fusion.webp) *The produce section of the Carrefour LabelVie hypermarket in Zenata, Casablanca. Photo: Hespress.* According to the notice published on October 20 on the AMMC’s website, the retailer will transfer all of its assets and liabilities, for net assets of 12.46 billion dirhams. Its shareholders, other than Retail Holding, will receive 8 Retail Holding shares for every 11 LabelVie shares. The two companies present the merger and Retail Holding’s stock market listing as a single, indivisible transaction: the only shares offered to the public will be those handed to LabelVie’s shareholders. Retail Holding will introduce double voting rights, reserved for shares held in registered form for at least two years, so that Best Financiere, its long-standing reference shareholder, can keep control. On listing day, LabelVie will be dissolved without liquidation, and one name will take another’s place on the Casablanca board. *Photo: La Vie eco.* ## References - LabelVie - [Avis de réunion des actionnaires de la société LabelVie en Assemblée Générale Extraordinaire](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Avis_Labelvie_AGE_20_11_26.pdf) - Les Inspirations ÉCO - [Retail Holding va absorber Label’Vie](https://leseco.ma/business/labelvie-et-retail-holding-annoncent-un-projet-de-fusion-strategique.html) --- --- title: "Airports: Morocco Handles 26.04 Million Passengers Through August 2026, Up 8.81%" description: "Morocco’s airports handled 26.04 million passengers through the end of August 2026, up 8.81% year on year, according to National Airports Office statistics carried by MAP. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 8.25 million, ahead of Marrakech-Menara." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aeroports-trafic-fin-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aeroports-trafic-fin-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-20T15:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:29:21.908Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad79852c96728a85ca5d55c_6ad7984b3e4b4a879acbeed1_aeroports-trafic-fin-aout-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Airports: Morocco Handles 26.04 Million Passengers Through August 2026, Up 8.81% *Morocco’s airports handled 26.04 million passengers through the end of August 2026, up 8.81% year on year, according to National Airports Office statistics carried by MAP. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 8.25 million, ahead of Marrakech-Menara.* ![Royal Air Maroc check-in kiosks in Terminal 1 at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad79852c96728a85ca5d55c_6ad7984b3e4b4a879acbeed1_aeroports-trafic-fin-aout-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s airports handled 26.04 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, 8.81% more than a year earlier, according to statistics from the National Airports Office carried by MAP. ![Scrapers and excavators level a wide flat site while three engineers study a plan and a plane climbs in the distance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5464dcf1f599566567757_6ae543ee9716384d93db4265_aeroports-trafic-fin-aout-2026.webp) *The construction site of the new terminal at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport. Photo: Le360.* International traffic accounted for 23.23 million. Casablanca Mohammed V stays in the lead with 8.25 million passengers, ahead of Marrakech-Menara (7.24 million). Europe remains by far the largest market, with 19.27 million travelers (+9.22%), and air freight grew 13.82%. Traffic growing at this pace will weigh on the terminals that ONDA is working to expand ahead of 2030. *Photo: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - MAP, via Médias24 - [Aéroports 2026: 26 millions de passagers au Maroc à fin août, en hausse de 8,81%](https://medias24.com/2026/10/20/aeroports-2026-26-millions-de-passagers-au-maroc-a-fin-aout-en-hausse-de-881-1781842/) - Infomédiaire - [Aéroports du Maroc : 26 millions de passagers accueillis à fin août 2026](https://www.infomediaire.net/aeroports-du-maroc-26-millions-de-passagers-accueillis-a-fin-aout-2026/) - Industries du Maroc - [Trafic aérien : les aéroports marocains accueillent plus de 26 millions de passagers en huit mois](https://industries.ma/trafic-aerien-les-aeroports-marocains-accueillent-plus-de-26-millions-de-passagers-en-huit-mois/) --- --- title: "Tourism Satellite Account: Sector GDP Climbs 11.7% in 2025 to 129.7 Billion Dirhams" description: "Morocco’s tourism GDP grew 11.7% in 2025 to 129.7 billion dirhams, according to the tourism satellite account closed by the High Commission for Planning. The sector now weighs 7.5% of national GDP, carried by spending from non-resident visitors, up 12.5%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/pib-touristique-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/pib-touristique-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-20T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.669Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad7984dea64b329032375e0_6ad7984a5d4ca96ad256b7d1_pib-touristique-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tourism Satellite Account: Sector GDP Climbs 11.7% in 2025 to 129.7 Billion Dirhams *Morocco’s tourism GDP grew 11.7% in 2025 to 129.7 billion dirhams, according to the tourism satellite account closed by the High Commission for Planning. The sector now weighs 7.5% of national GDP, carried by spending from non-resident visitors, up 12.5%.* ![Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech and its green parasols in the late afternoon, January 2025.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad7984dea64b329032375e0_6ad7984a5d4ca96ad256b7d1_pib-touristique-2025-main.webp) The High Commission for Planning closed the tourism satellite account for 2025 on October 20: tourism GDP grew 11.7% year on year, to 129.7 billion dirhams from 116.2 billion in 2024. The sector now accounts for 7.5% of national GDP, up from 7.2%. ![A group of tourists crosses a wide paved esplanade in front of an arcaded Moroccan-style building.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c47483664b0eb720b28_6ae60654da84eca692282d6f_pib-touristique-2025-inline.webp) *A group of tourists visiting Morocco. Photo: Le Matin.* Domestic tourism consumption reached 222.4 billion dirhams, up 10.3%. It was driven by non-resident visitors, whose spending rose 12.5% to 154 billion, while domestic and outbound tourism grew only 5.5%. Inbound tourism thus accounts for 69.2% of tourism consumption, against 67.9% a year earlier. These accounts cover a closed year. Those for 2026 will show whether tourism keeps gaining ground in the Kingdom’s economy. *Photo: Jakub Halun, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [Note d’information : Compte satellite du tourisme de 2025](https://www.hcp.ma/Note-d-information-Compte-satellite-du-tourisme-de-2025_a4358.html) --- --- title: "Dams: Morocco Tenders Eleven Dams in Eight Provinces, Worth Over 339 Million Dirhams" description: "Morocco’s Directorate of Hydraulic Works launched eleven tenders on October 15 for dams in eight provinces, estimated at more than 339.4 million dirhams. Two more, in Guercif and Taroudant, followed on October 19. Bids are due in mid-November." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/barrages-dah-appels-offres language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/barrages-dah-appels-offres type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-20T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.740Z tags: ["Climate", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad74746bbab3d4b6a9f0f7b_6ad74745bbab3d4b6a9f0f12_barrages-dah-appels-offres-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Dams: Morocco Tenders Eleven Dams in Eight Provinces, Worth Over 339 Million Dirhams *Morocco’s Directorate of Hydraulic Works launched eleven tenders on October 15 for dams in eight provinces, estimated at more than 339.4 million dirhams. Two more, in Guercif and Taroudant, followed on October 19. Bids are due in mid-November.* ![The Daourat hydroelectric dam on the Oum Er-Rbia river and its pink-walled power station, seen from downstream in September 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad74746bbab3d4b6a9f0f7b_6ad74745bbab3d4b6a9f0f12_barrages-dah-appels-offres-main.webp) The Directorate of Hydraulic Works launched eleven tenders on October 15 for the construction of dams in eight provinces, a package that Le Matin, which tallied them, puts at more than 339.4 million dirhams. ![Orange excavators and workers on the concrete-faced slope of a dam under construction, among wooded hills.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5464fc07a7dd1fee0a150_6ae543ef7dca7618213e4c81_barrages-dah-appels-offres.webp) *Concrete being laid on the face of an embankment dam under construction in Morocco. Photo: Le Matin.* Rehamna will host three, Taourirt two, and Boulemane, Chefchaouen, Khouribga, Taroudant, Figuig and Zagora one each. On October 19, the same directorate posted two more tenders, including one for the Sabaatou Rijal dam in Guercif province, estimated at 43.1 million dirhams. These figures remain the administration’s estimates, not committed sums. It is the bid opening in mid-November that will set the real cost of each of these works. *Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Portail marocain des marchés publics - [Construction du barrage Sabaatou Rijal dans la province de Guercif (122/2026/DAH)](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=k2q&refConsultation=1048900) - Portail marocain des marchés publics - [Construction du barrage TAMALOUKT dans la province de Taroudant (123/2026/DAH)](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=k2q&refConsultation=1048910) - Portail marocain des marchés publics - [Construction de barrage Hyara dans la province de Zagora (120/2026/DAH)](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=k2q&refConsultation=1048248) - Portail marocain des marchés publics - [Construction du barrage Ouled Sidi Daoud dans la province de Rehamna (119/2026/DAH)](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=k2q&refConsultation=1048244) - Portail marocain des marchés publics - [Construction du barrage Ras Kraa dans la province de Figuig](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=k2q&refConsultation=1048232) - Le Matin - [Barrages : 11 nouveaux projets en préparation dans huit provinces pour 339 millions de DH](https://lematin.ma/economie/barrages-onze-marches-de-construction-lances-pour-plus-de-339-mdh/371034) --- --- title: "Futsal: Morocco Rout Egypt 6-0 to Set Up an Africa Cup of Nations Final Against Angola" description: "Morocco beat Egypt 6-0 on Monday, October 19, in Rabat in the semifinals of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. Three-time defending champions, unbeaten and yet to concede, they face Angola in Wednesday’s final, October 21, chasing a fourth straight title." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/can-futsal-maroc-egypte language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/can-futsal-maroc-egypte type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-19T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.116Z tags: ["Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad69e7c8bf8a84de6e01f83_6ad69e7b27273c28df3a0c16_can-futsal-maroc-egypte-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Futsal: Morocco Rout Egypt 6-0 to Set Up an Africa Cup of Nations Final Against Angola *Morocco beat Egypt 6-0 on Monday, October 19, in Rabat in the semifinals of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. Three-time defending champions, unbeaten and yet to concede, they face Angola in Wednesday’s final, October 21, chasing a fourth straight title.* ![Moroccan futsal players in red shirts and green shorts embrace on the court of the Rabat arena during the semifinal against Egypt, October 19, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad69e7c8bf8a84de6e01f83_6ad69e7b27273c28df3a0c16_can-futsal-maroc-egypte-main.webp) Morocco qualified on Monday, October 19, for the final of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations by routing Egypt 6-0 in the indoor arena of the Prince Moulay Abdellah complex in Rabat. ![Three Moroccan players in red shirts and green shorts, including numbers 14 and 10, celebrate a goal along the touchline in front of Egyptian players in white.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c70b28e6ae3372885e2_6ae606618d222c080e5fb973_can-futsal-maroc-egypte-inline.webp) *Moroccan players celebrate a goal in front of the Egyptian bench in the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Rabat. Photo: CAF.* Already 3-0 up at the break, the Atlas Lions gave no respite to an Egyptian side that, like them, has won the competition three times. They will face Angola on Wednesday, October 21, in the same arena, after Angola beat Algeria 3-2 in the other semifinal. Unbeaten, the hosts now stand at twenty-three goals for and not one against. Champions in 2016, 2020 and 2024, Morocco will play for a fourth straight continental title in front of their own crowd. *Photo: FRMF.* ## References - FRMF - [Full time! Morocco 6-0 Egypt (@EnMaroc, 19/10/2026)](https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2112299885366030367) - Futsal Planet - [TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2026](https://www.futsalplanet.com/news.aspx?id=1353) - Hespress English - [Morocco crush Egypt 6-0 to reach Futsal Africa Cup of Nations final](https://en.hespress.com/147647-morocco-crush-egypt-6-0-to-reach-futsal-africa-cup-of-nations-final.html) - Morocco World News - [Morocco Thrash Egypt 6-0 to Reach Futsal AFCON 2026 Final](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/342952/morocco-thrash-egypt-6-0-to-reach-futsal-afcon-2026-final/) --- --- title: "The El Mansouri Program, from Pledge to Contract" description: "Social aid, pensions, youth, water: before Parliament, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri set out her government’s program. A look at a five-year contract." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/programme-gouvernemental language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/programme-gouvernemental type: article category: pol published: 2026-10-19T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-01T08:06:28.219Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Politics", "Economy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad72dcc2eab018146e6abb5_6ad72d9ea99aee79f60f3dc7_programme-gouvernemental-hero.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The El Mansouri Program, from Pledge to Contract By Amerruki *Social aid, pensions, youth, water: before Parliament, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri set out her government’s program. A look at a five-year contract.* ![Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri at the rostrum of the House of Representatives in Rabat, presenting the government program on October 19, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad72dcc2eab018146e6abb5_6ad72d9ea99aee79f60f3dc7_programme-gouvernemental-hero.webp) The joint plenary session opens at three in the afternoon, this Monday, October 19, in the chamber of the House of Representatives in Rabat. Deputies and councilors sit together, summoned three days earlier by a joint statement from the speakers of both houses, Ahmed Touizi and Mohamed Ould Errachid. At the rostrum, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri begins by thanking King Mohammed VI for the trust that placed her at the head of the government, an honor in which she reads the esteem the Sovereign holds for Moroccan women. It is in her own name, and in the name of the women of Morocco, that she speaks of the pride this trust inspires in them. Three weeks after her appointment on September 29, and three days after the ceremony at which her team took the oath, the first woman to lead a Moroccan government presents to the two houses sitting together, as Article 88 of the Constitution requires, the program her executive pledges to carry out over the 2026-2031 term. She speaks of it as a contract. A “political and institutional contract,” as MAP reports it, founded on the King’s trust and on the will voters expressed in the [September 23 legislative elections](/en/news/legislatives-2026-resultats), whose accountability will be measured by the results in their daily lives. The contract comes down to seven priorities and a handful of figures the press seized on at once. Let us go back over what it promises, what it puts numbers on, and what it leaves in the shadows, a few days before the vote that will decide whether the government is invested. ![Group photo of about forty people in suits under a carved plaster arch, the king at the center beside a woman in a blue suit.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb04769baefa77102fd_6ae528669f9245e258361172_programme-gouvernemental-1.webp) *King Mohammed VI and the members of the El Mansouri government at the Royal Palace in Rabat, October 16, 2026. Photo: La Vie eco.* ## Seven priorities for a contract The program is built around seven pillars. The first consolidates the rule of law and the institutions, the second takes on corruption and rent-seeking in order to clean up public life, and the third sets out to preserve identity, citizenship and social cohesion. Then come the guarantee of a dignified life and the strengthening of the social state, followed by the integration of young people through education, training and decent work. The sixth pillar pairs strategic sovereignty with the Kingdom’s international standing, and the seventh promises a strong economy, able to pay for these social and sovereign ambitions. The order is no accident: the rule of law leads the way, and the economy brings up the rear, as banker to everything else. The head of government does not hide the finding on which the whole rests. Despite the reforms and the large-scale projects, she acknowledged according to MAP, the fruits of progress have not been shared equally among all social groups or all regions. Hence the formula that sums up her method: to move from widening social coverage to the quality of the service, from the volume of investment to its return, from a multiplicity of programs to their coherence and their effect. The budget framework, for its part, comes down to four numbers. The government is counting on average growth of 5% a year between 2027 and 2031, inflation held at around 2% a year, a budget deficit kept at 3% of GDP throughout 2026-2031, and public debt set on a downward curve to about 62% of GDP by 2031. Add to this that the program relies on the private sector to carry two-thirds of national investment. ## The price of the social state The most awaited measure concerns direct social aid. The government is reworking its targeting, which will now rest on households’ actual income, and will raise the amount from 500 to 1,000 dirhams by the end of the term, turning the aid into a lever for inclusion. Access to the job-loss allowance will also be widened, and income tax gradually reformed to raise employees’ net pay. Retirees have their share. The minimum main pension will be raised progressively to 3,000 dirhams a month across all schemes, and widows will receive a full pension, equal to 100% of the main pension due to their late spouse, instead of the current 50%, with the rights of orphans preserved. It should be said that this pledge rests on a broader reform of the pension system, which the head of government refuses to reduce to raising the retirement age or revising contribution rates. ### The electricity bill A measure that looks more modest touches the daily life of many households. Eligible households will receive, for their main residence, an automatic social compensation equal to their monthly electricity bill when that bill does not exceed 100 dirhams, with no paperwork and no trip to an office. The PAM’s campaign pledge, which sought to make bills under 100 dirhams free, thus enters the government program. The text does not say, however, what becomes of higher bills. ### One hundred thousand rural homes The countryside has a line of its own. A housing program will aim to rehabilitate or build one hundred thousand homes over the term, notably in emerging rural centers, with each eligible family receiving direct aid of 40,000 dirhams and free technical assistance. As for health, the program promises to speed up the royal social protection project toward universal and effective medical coverage, to secure the long-term future of compulsory health insurance (AMO) and to reform patient reception and emergency services. ## A generation to catch up The diagnosis is delivered without varnish, figures in hand. Nearly two million nine hundred thousand young people aged fifteen to twenty-nine are in neither education, training nor employment; unemployment strikes 29.2% of fifteen-to-twenty-four-year-olds; and some three hundred thousand pupils leave school each year without a qualification. Youth is nonetheless the program’s declared priority, and it is on youth that the government will be judged first. The answer is a national program launched in 2027: to train one hundred thousand young people each year according to the needs of businesses, and to give nearly one hundred thousand more a first work experience. Apprenticeship capacity will rise progressively to one hundred and fifty thousand, even two hundred thousand, trainees a year. At school, the target is set at “zero dropout” by 2030. It rests, *Finances News Hebdo* explains, on the early identification of pupils at risk of dropping out and on steering every young person who has left the system toward a suitable path, whether a return to school, vocational training or an apprenticeship. By 2031, at least 80% of pupils are to master the basic skills. ![Trainees in gray work coats gather around an instructor at a stainless steel table in a workshop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb04769baefa7710301_6ae52867937937f06a3c72a1_programme-gouvernemental-4.webp) *A training workshop at the Cite des metiers et des competences in Laayoune. Photo: H. Yara, Le360.* ## The rule of law against rent-seeking The second pillar is where the program is most offensive. The government intends to complete the national integrity system by criminalizing illicit enrichment and sanctioning conflicts of interest, under Article 36 of the Constitution. Public procurement becomes a lever: the law will require 30% of the value of contracts to be reserved for Moroccan small and medium-sized enterprises. The text also takes aim at middlemen and monopolies, which the head of government named without euphemism, in MAP’s French translation: > “Nous allons lancer une reforme structurelle pour reguler les marches et lutter contre le monopole et l’intermediation opportuniste, a la faveur d’un mecanisme dedie et des moyens appropries, en coordination avec le Conseil de la concurrence.” (We will launch a structural reform to regulate markets and fight monopoly and opportunistic intermediation, through a dedicated mechanism and appropriate means, in coordination with the Competition Council.) > — Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, before the two houses of Parliament, October 19, 2026 ### The regions and Amazigh Territorial justice runs through money. Financial transfers to the regions will reach at least 12 billion dirhams from 2027, to strengthen their resources and their autonomy. A special fund of 2 billion dirhams will finance the implementation of the official status of Amazigh (ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ), which the 2011 Constitution recognized as an official language alongside Arabic. A standing ministerial committee, attached to the head of government, will follow its integration into education, the administration, the courts, the media and public signage, and will publish the indicators every year. ![Stone facade with an Arabic calligraphic inscription, then the bank’s name in Tifinagh and Latin letters, above three windows.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb14769baefa7710305_6ae528976093234c0d7f27ce_programme-gouvernemental-5.webp) *The name of Bank Al-Maghrib in Arabic and Tifinagh on the facade of its headquarters in Rabat. Photo: Aemazy, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## The sovereignties The sixth pillar speaks the language of sovereignty. Water first: the government will speed up the construction of seawater desalination plants in order to mobilize 1.8 billion cubic meters by 2031. Energy next: renewables are to exceed 52% of the energy mix in 2030. Sovereignty is also played out in the fields, where a dedicated plan will raise the share of national seeds from 20% to 50% over the term. On the national cause, the program follows on from UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, which it regards as a pivotal milestone. The government will go on defending the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rallying support for the autonomy initiative within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, and speeding up the development of the Southern Provinces, which the text presents as the gateway to our African depth and our Atlantic space. ![An orange excavator, yellow road rollers and graders parked on a grassy plot next to a pile of gravel.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb14769baefa7710309_6ae52868dff088ebf05369b5_programme-gouvernemental-6.webp) *Heavy machinery on the site of the future Casablanca desalination plant, April 15, 2024. Photo: Adil Gadrouz, Le360.* As for Palestine, the executive reaffirms the Kingdom’s constant position on the Palestinian question and Al-Quds, and its commitment to a peaceful settlement based on the two-state solution, under the leadership of the King, Amir Al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful) and chairman of the Al-Quds Committee. ## The test of the vote What remains is what the program does not say. How many jobs? The text puts forward no target for job creation or for the unemployment rate, whereas the PAM pledged during the campaign to create at least one million net jobs over five years and to bring unemployment down to 7% by 2031, Medias24 notes. The opposition rushed into these silences. For Mustapha El Khalfi, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party, the document looks more like a “declaration of intent” than a genuine program resting on precise commitments, SNRT reports. He faults the government in particular for pushing back to the end of the term the increase in social aid to 1,000 dirhams. The majority, for its part, defends a text that in its view reflects the commitments of its member parties. ![A man in glasses, a dark suit and a beige tie speaks in front of a blue microphone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb14769baefa771030d_6ae528695223b9148eda20af_programme-gouvernemental-7.webp) *Mustapha El Khalfi, Justice and Development Party deputy, speaking to the press. Photo: PJD.* The arithmetic, however, leaves little room for suspense. The majority gathers two hundred and seven deputies, the PAM’s ninety-seven, Istiqlal’s sixty-five, the USFP’s twenty-six and the PPS’s nineteen, while investiture requires one hundred and ninety-eight, the absolute majority of the members of the House of Representatives. The RNI, pushed back to second place on September 23 and left out of the coalition, now sits in opposition alongside the PJD and the Popular Movement. The House of Councillors will debate the program on Wednesday, October 21; in the House of Representatives, the debate and the vote are scheduled for Thursday, October 22, according to Medias24. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri closed by asking for the House’s confidence, after assuring that she was extending her hand to the majority and the opposition alike. The vote will make the government an executive in full exercise of its powers. The contract will be judged on the evidence: by the end of the term, social aid will have to reach 1,000 dirhams, widows draw their full pension and the desalination plants deliver their 1.8 billion cubic meters. We will know then whether the pledge has become a contract… *Photo: Y. Mannan, Le360.* --- --- title: "Tomatoes: Morocco Supplies Over Two Thirds of the EU’s Imports From Outside the Bloc" description: "Meeting in Brussels on October 15, the European Commission’s tomato expert group put EU imports of fresh tomatoes from non-member countries at 773,000 tonnes, of which 527,000 tonnes came from Morocco, more than two thirds of the total, according to Spain’s Fepex." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tomates-ue-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tomates-ue-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-19T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.155Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad6452e403049ef23d1364c_6ad6452c27be83b46e0708fc_tomates-ue-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tomatoes: Morocco Supplies Over Two Thirds of the EU’s Imports From Outside the Bloc *Meeting in Brussels on October 15, the European Commission’s tomato expert group put EU imports of fresh tomatoes from non-member countries at 773,000 tonnes, of which 527,000 tonnes came from Morocco, more than two thirds of the total, according to Spain’s Fepex.* ![A basket of red tomatoes in front of a grocer’s chalkboard reading “Promo tomate du Maroc 1,95 €” at a market in France.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad6452e403049ef23d1364c_6ad6452c27be83b46e0708fc_tomates-ue-maroc-main.webp) The European Commission’s tomato expert group, meeting in Brussels on October 15, put the EU’s imports of fresh tomatoes from non-member countries at 773,000 tonnes, of which 527,000 tonnes came from Morocco alone, or 68.2% of the total. ![A covered aisle between two rows of tomato plants staked on wooden poles, under a greenhouse net.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5467336df6e180b8f31a1_6ae54596ea8f9d4d73dcff9b_tomates-ue-maroc.webp) *Tomato plants in a greenhouse in Chtouka Ait Baha, near Agadir. Photo: M. Oubarka / Le360.* These purchases of Moroccan tomatoes exceed the bloc’s entire exports to non-member countries by 144,000 tonnes, according to the account published on October 19 by Fepex, the Spanish federation of producers and exporters. The Spanish delegation reported national output down about 2% in the 2025-2026 season and costs up 16% for energy and transport and 18% for plastics and packaging. Its sharpest concern was the cherry tomato, whose acreage is shrinking in Spain, a decline it links to Moroccan competition and its low prices. An independent study presented at the meeting forecasts a 1.2% fall in Spanish output over the next ten years, attributed in part to competition from non-member countries. *Photo: Ramagri, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Fepex - [El Grupo de Expertos de Tomate de la Comisión Europea alerta del aumento de costes, la competencia de terceros países y la incertidumbre productiva](https://www.fepex.es/noticias/detalle/grupo-expertos-tomate-comision-europea-incertidumbre-productiva-competencia-terceros-paises) --- --- title: "Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Line: Jet Contractors to Build Five Stations" description: "According to the ONCF’s final tender result, Jet Contractors has won the construction of five stations between Benguerir and Marrakech for 437.6 million dirhams before tax: one station on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line and four on the future regional express network." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/jet-contractors-gares-lgv language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/jet-contractors-gares-lgv type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-17T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.379Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e41382b682ce23aba6d_6ae53c5f554eb202f0758aa3_jet-contractors-gares-lgv-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Line: Jet Contractors to Build Five Stations *According to the ONCF’s final tender result, Jet Contractors has won the construction of five stations between Benguerir and Marrakech for 437.6 million dirhams before tax: one station on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line and four on the future regional express network.* ![A tracked piling rig at work on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line worksite, beside a conventional track where an ONCF train passes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e41382b682ce23aba6d_6ae53c5f554eb202f0758aa3_jet-contractors-gares-lgv-main.webp) Five stations will rise between Benguerir and Marrakech at the hands of Jet Contractors. The National Railways Office has awarded it the construction contract for some 437.6 million dirhams before tax. ![The packed stands of Marrakech’s Grand Stade at night before the Club World Cup final, with the teams lined up on the field.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b8f44d07ced1139989c_6ae606295ffcb4a37421c7e6_jet-contractors-gares-lgv-inline.webp) *Marrakech’s Grand Stade, a future regional express rail stop, in 2013. Photo: Nilgro, CC BY 3.0.* The lot brings together the high-speed station of Benguerir’s Green City and four stations of the future regional express network: at the Green City, Sidi Bou Othmane, Sidi Ghanem and Marrakech’s Grand Stadium. The Casablanca-listed builder is already carrying out the earthworks and engineering structures of lot 6 on the line. It is through these stations that Marrakech will welcome high-speed rail and the RER the ONCF is preparing as 2030 approaches. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Médias24 - [LGV Kénitra-Marrakech : cinq nouvelles gares prévues entre Benguerir et Marrakech](https://medias24.com/2026/10/15/lgv-kenitra-marrakech-cinq-nouvelles-gares-prevues-entre-benguerir-et-marrakech-1779843/) - Boursenews - [Jet Contractors retenu pour la construction de cinq gares ferroviaires pour 437 MDH](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/jet-contractors-cinq-gares-ferroviaires-marche-437-millions-dirhams) - Zawya, d’après Rue20 - [Jet Contractors wins $44.5mln railway station construction contract](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026-10-16:newsml_Zaw1kBrqT:0-morocco-s-jet-contractors-wins-44-5mln-railway-station-construction-contract/) --- --- title: "Rabat: The Academy Launches Its House of the Worlds of the Book With Soyinka and Le Clezio" description: "On October 16 in Rabat, Nobel literature laureates Wole Soyinka and J.M.G. Le Clezio opened the House of the Worlds of the Book, launched by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco to extend Rabat’s year as World Book Capital, around a library of fifty-four African books." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maison-mondes-du-livre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maison-mondes-du-livre type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-17T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.556Z tags: ["Literature", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b235d4ac37746bb3ce9_6ae606038f7591899402a492_maison-mondes-du-livre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Rabat: The Academy Launches Its House of the Worlds of the Book With Soyinka and Le Clezio *On October 16 in Rabat, Nobel literature laureates Wole Soyinka and J.M.G. Le Clezio opened the House of the Worlds of the Book, launched by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco to extend Rabat’s year as World Book Capital, around a library of fifty-four African books.* ![Abdeljalil Lahjomri, permanent secretary of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, addresses his guests in a room lined with wooden shelves.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b235d4ac37746bb3ce9_6ae606038f7591899402a492_maison-mondes-du-livre-main.webp) Two Nobel laureates in literature, Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka and France’s Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, opened on October 16 in Rabat the first gatherings of the “House of the Worlds of the Book.” ![A table covered with books, including works by Wole Soyinka and Amadou Hampate Ba.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b235d4ac37746bb3ced_6ae609f3a15abb334ec4ad83_maison-mondes-du-livre-inline.webp) *The books gathered for the launch of the House of the Worlds of the Book in Rabat. Photo: Caroline Chemarin for Antilla.* The Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco conceived the initiative after UNESCO named Rabat World Book Capital for 2026. Its permanent secretary, Abdeljalil Lahjomri, presented its first project: an African library built on 54 books, one for each country on the continent. Two spaces fitted out in the capital will also host literary residencies and debates. The first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Wole Soyinka hailed a day on which literary Africa had met in Rabat. Le Clezio defended the book as a bulwark against forgetting and a path toward others. The House will soon open its doors, and the Academy means to make the title UNESCO entrusted to Rabat last well beyond 2026. *Photo: The Silk Road Today.* ## References - Hespress - [بحضور 3 متوّجين بنوبل.. أكاديمية المملكة تطلق «دار عوالم الكتاب» بالرباط](https://www.hespress.com/%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-3-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%91%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-1824229.html) --- --- title: "U-17 Women’s World Cup: Morocco Open Their Tournament With a 4-0 Win Over New Zealand" description: "On October 17 in Sale, Morocco’s under-17 women’s team beat New Zealand 4-0 to open its home World Cup, scoring all four goals after the break, before facing Germany and then Argentina in Group A." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mondial-u17-feminin-maroc-nz language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mondial-u17-feminin-maroc-nz type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-17T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.444Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eacd7596d1c3680f3db_6ae53c936db72c7b0b280c06_mondial-u17-feminin-maroc-nz-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # U-17 Women’s World Cup: Morocco Open Their Tournament With a 4-0 Win Over New Zealand *On October 17 in Sale, Morocco’s under-17 women’s team beat New Zealand 4-0 to open its home World Cup, scoring all four goals after the break, before facing Germany and then Argentina in Group A.* ![Players from Morocco’s under-17 women’s team celebrate on the pitch in red shirts and green shorts.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eacd7596d1c3680f3db_6ae53c936db72c7b0b280c06_mondial-u17-feminin-maroc-nz-main.webp) Morocco’s under-17 women’s team opened its home World Cup on Saturday, October 17, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora, Sale, with a clear win (4-0) over New Zealand in the first match of Group A. ![Three smiling Moroccan players in red jerseys under stadium floodlights.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b6ba15abb334ec546b0_6ae6061f42f73d1f683045b0_mondial-u17-feminin-maroc-nz-inline.webp) *Players from Morocco’s under-17 team on the night of their World Cup opener against New Zealand. Photo: CAF.* Goalless at the break despite controlling every minute, the Moroccans broke through in the fifty-seventh minute. A New Zealand own goal, then two more goals, one from the penalty spot, completed a one-sided second half. Morocco share the top of the group with Germany, who beat Argentina (2-1). The kingdom will meet the Germans on the second matchday, and it is against Argentina that it will close out the group stage. It is hosting the second of the five editions FIFA has awarded it, one a year through 2029. *Photo: Mounir Mehimdate, Hespress.* ## References - FIFA - [Morocco v New Zealand 4-0](https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/516/292977/292978/400022538) - Oceania Football Confederation - [New Zealand undone by second half surge in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener](https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-zealand-undone-by-second-half-surge-in-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-opener) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Dirham Rebounds Against the Euro and Dollar, MASI Nearly Flat" description: "According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s weekly bulletin, the dirham recovered against the euro and the dollar from October 8 to 14, while the MASI slipped 0.14% to 16,967.31 points. Official reserve assets stood at 515.4 billion dirhams on October 9." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-dirham-rebond-octobre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-dirham-rebond-octobre type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-17T16:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.098Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7f5e3930a0155c576b_6ae53c7dea8f9d4d73d9f8e0_bam-dirham-rebond-octobre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Dirham Rebounds Against the Euro and Dollar, MASI Nearly Flat *According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s weekly bulletin, the dirham recovered against the euro and the dollar from October 8 to 14, while the MASI slipped 0.14% to 16,967.31 points. Official reserve assets stood at 515.4 billion dirhams on October 9.* ![Bank Al-Maghrib banknotes of 200, 100, 50 and 20 dirhams laid out beside six Moroccan coins.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7f5e3930a0155c576b_6ae53c7dea8f9d4d73d9f8e0_bam-dirham-rebond-octobre-main.webp) Bank Al-Maghrib’s weekly bulletin for October 8 to 14 records a turn in the dirham’s favor, after the previous week’s slide. ![The rounded stone and white-plaster facade of the Bank Al-Maghrib building on a street corner in Rabat.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bb63eb74873888f572c_6ae60634ddc35c3d53cfb551_bam-dirham-rebond-octobre-inline.webp) *The Bank Al-Maghrib building in Rabat. Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU, CC0.* The euro’s reference rate went from 11.162 dirhams on October 7 to 11.009 dirhams on the 14th, and the dollar’s from 9.977 to 9.852 dirhams. On the Casablanca market, the MASI ended the period at 16,967.31 points, down a slight 0.14% on the week. Official reserve assets stood at 515.4 billion dirhams on October 9, up 22.6% on a year, or five months and twenty-seven days of imports of goods and services at the end of September. The currency’s respite does not erase the market’s year. Since December 31, 2025, the benchmark index is still down 9.97%. *Photo: Freepius, CC0.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Indicateurs hebdomadaires, semaine du 08 au 14 octobre 2026](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/852530/9196746/IH%20semaine%20du%2008%20au%2014%20octobre%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Fes: Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne Opens Its First Shared International Campus at Euromed" description: "The Euromed University of Fes and Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne inaugurated their Shared International Campus on October 15, the Paris university’s first. Born of a 2016 political science partnership, it is set to host joint programs, mobility and research projects, from history to artificial intelligence." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/uemf-sorbonne-campus language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/uemf-sorbonne-campus type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-16T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.664Z tags: ["Education", "Fes"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad2a42afba788758e4b3622_6ad2a428fc1721890d3f8dd8_news-uemf-sorbonne-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fes: Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne Opens Its First Shared International Campus at Euromed *The Euromed University of Fes and Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne inaugurated their Shared International Campus on October 15, the Paris university’s first. Born of a 2016 political science partnership, it is set to host joint programs, mobility and research projects, from history to artificial intelligence.* ![The presidents of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne and the Euromed University of Fes sign documents, seated behind a wooden table flanked by the French and Moroccan flags, before a blue wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad2a42afba788758e4b3622_6ad2a428fc1721890d3f8dd8_news-uemf-sorbonne-main.webp) The Euromed University of Fes (UEMF) and Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University inaugurated their Shared International Campus on Thursday, October 15, in the heart of the UEMF eco-campus, the very first of its kind for the Paris university. ![A glass-fronted building topped by the illuminated Pantheon Sorbonne, Universite Paris 1 sign at dusk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c1a02ce7994f1dfc5cd_6ae6064ad8a6147dd06f5cda_uemf-sorbonne-campus-inline.webp) *The building bearing the Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne sign on the eco-campus of the Euromed University of Fes. Photo: Universite Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne.* The partnership dates back to 2016, with an offshore political science bachelor’s degree awarding a double diploma, strengthened in 2022 by a Franco-Moroccan master’s in business law, then by a second master’s devoted to “Mediterranean and African policies.” The new space is meant to encourage student and faculty mobility and host joint research projects. Management, history, law and political science, and artificial intelligence are among the avenues under consideration. The president of Paris 1, Christine Neau-Leduc, sees in it “a new step in the international development of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne University,” whose ambition is to build regional hubs for teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences. Fes will be the first milestone. *Photo: Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University.* ## References - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, actualité du 16 octobre 2026 - [Inauguration du premier Campus international partagé de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne à Fès](https://www.pantheonsorbonne.fr/actualite/inauguration-du-premier-campus-international-partage-de-paris-1-pantheon-sorbonne-fes) --- --- title: "Finance: TGCC Raises 1.5 Billion Dirhams Through a Private Bond Issue" description: "On October 16, TGCC announced that it had raised 1.5 billion dirhams through a bond issue placed with qualified investors, in two tranches repaid over five years, one at a fixed rate for 425 million, the other at a revisable rate for 1.075 billion." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tgcc-obligations-placement-prive language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tgcc-obligations-placement-prive type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.535Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4a09d4ae5b3ccd40af3f2_6ad4a09ba713890b41a863db_tgcc-obligations-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Finance: TGCC Raises 1.5 Billion Dirhams Through a Private Bond Issue *On October 16, TGCC announced that it had raised 1.5 billion dirhams through a bond issue placed with qualified investors, in two tranches repaid over five years, one at a fixed rate for 425 million, the other at a revisable rate for 1.075 billion.* ![The Mohammed VI Tower rises in the distance above the Bou Regreg estuary, between Rabat and Sale, under an overcast sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4a09d4ae5b3ccd40af3f2_6ad4a09ba713890b41a863db_tgcc-obligations-main.webp) The construction group TGCC announced on October 16 that it had placed, three days earlier, a bond issue of 1.5 billion dirhams with qualified investors, after obtaining the approval of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority. ![Aerial view of a stadium under construction bristling with yellow cranes, its concrete stands still bare.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54675adcc5f14706b70d3_6ae54597ea8f9d4d73dcffed_tgcc-obligations-placement-prive.webp) *The construction site of the Benslimane stadium, where SGTM and TGCC hold a contract, seen from the air. Photo: Hespress.* The issue, repaid over five years, is split into two tranches: 425 million dirhams at a fixed rate and 1.075 billion at an annually revisable rate. The group says it wants to fund its development plan and diversify its resources while lowering their cost. Its statement does not disclose the rates paid. The announcement came on the very day the Casablanca builder completed the acquisition of 51% of deep-foundation specialist Safettras. *Photo: RG TLV, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - TGCC - [Émission obligataire ordinaire par placement privé de TGCC d’un montant de 1 500 millions de dirhams](https://tgcc.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CP-EO-PP-2026-TGCC.pdf) --- --- title: "Reefer Freight: CMA CGM Raises Its Morocco to West Africa Surcharge to 250 Euros per TEU" description: "On October 16, CMA CGM raised from 100 to 250 euros per TEU its peak season surcharge on refrigerated containers loaded in Morocco for West Africa, from November 1, and set congestion surcharges at Tema, Monrovia and Freetown." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cma-cgm-surcharge-frigo-afrique-ouest language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cma-cgm-surcharge-frigo-afrique-ouest type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.890Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4f7b04ab81f1a39318a7b_6ad4f7abe3085fdc232129b2_cma-cgm-surcharge-reefer-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Reefer Freight: CMA CGM Raises Its Morocco to West Africa Surcharge to 250 Euros per TEU *On October 16, CMA CGM raised from 100 to 250 euros per TEU its peak season surcharge on refrigerated containers loaded in Morocco for West Africa, from November 1, and set congestion surcharges at Tema, Monrovia and Freetown.* ![The reefer container ship CMA CGM Casablanca, with a blue and red hull and loaded with white containers, enters the port of Port-Vendres under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4f7b04ab81f1a39318a7b_6ad4f7abe3085fdc232129b2_cma-cgm-surcharge-reefer-main.webp) The French shipping line CMA CGM will raise to 250 euros per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), from November 1, its peak season surcharge on refrigerated containers loaded in Morocco for West Africa, according to a notice published on October 16. ![Stacks of containers, several marked CMA CGM, on a quay at the port of Casablanca, with ships and cranes behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60befda84eca6922927de_6ae606415d4ac37746b9dd03_cma-cgm-surcharge-frigo-afrique-ouest-inline.webp) *CMA CGM and APL containers on a quay at the port of Casablanca in July 2018. Photo: N. Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The amount more than doubles in two and a half months: the carrier had introduced the same surcharge on August 15, at 100 euros per TEU. Three port congestion surcharges will also apply from November 1 to shipments leaving North Africa for Tema, Ghana, Monrovia and Freetown, up to 850 euros per reefer TEU. For Moroccan exporters of perishables betting on West African markets, the cold chain will cost noticeably more from this winter. *Photo: Jpbazard Jean-Pierre Bazard, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - CMA CGM - [PSS - Reefers from Morocco to West Africa](https://www.cma-cgm.com/news/5647/pss-reefers-from-morocco-to-west-africa) - CMA CGM - [PCS to Tema, Ghana](https://www.cma-cgm.com/news/5646/pcs-to-tema-ghana) - CMA CGM - [PCS to Monrovia, Liberia](https://www.cma-cgm.com/news/5645/pcs-to-monrovia-liberia) - CMA CGM - [PCS to Freetown, Sierra Leone](https://www.cma-cgm.com/news/5644/pcs-to-freetown-sierra-leone) --- --- title: "US Treasuries: Holdings Attributed to Morocco Climb to 4.9 Billion Dollars" description: "According to statistics released by the United States Treasury on October 16, US Treasury securities held by residents of Morocco reached 4.906 billion dollars at the end of August, up for a fourth consecutive month and by 30.2% over a year, driven by net purchases." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tresor-americain-avoirs-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tresor-americain-avoirs-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:31:31.713Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b44975a08ca9619bd1c_6ae609ff064237583a8340b9_tresor-americain-avoirs-maroc-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # US Treasuries: Holdings Attributed to Morocco Climb to 4.9 Billion Dollars *According to statistics released by the United States Treasury on October 16, US Treasury securities held by residents of Morocco reached 4.906 billion dollars at the end of August, up for a fourth consecutive month and by 30.2% over a year, driven by net purchases.* ![Abdellatif Jouahri, governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, speaks into a microphone, hands joined, in front of a royal portrait and the Moroccan flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b44975a08ca9619bd1c_6ae609ff064237583a8340b9_tresor-americain-avoirs-maroc-hero-main.webp) The TIC statistics released by the United States Treasury on October 16 attribute 4.906 billion dollars of US Treasury securities to residents of Morocco at the end of August 2026, against 4.777 billion a month earlier. ![Abdellatif Jouahri and Kristalina Georgieva pose in front of a stand decorated with a Moroccan flag and rugs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae617c95d230cc1aeef1dd3_6ae617bad193a0ee0e5f85f9_tresor-americain-avoirs-maroc-inline.webp) *Abdellatif Jouahri and Kristalina Georgieva at the Moroccan pavilion of the IMF Annual Meetings in Washington in October 2022. Photo: IMF Photo/Ariana Lindquist, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.* It is the fourth monthly rise in a row: holdings stood at no more than 3.846 billion at the end of April, and they now exceed their August 2025 level by 30.2%. Purchases are what drive the curve: the Treasury records nearly 1.08 billion dollars of net acquisitions from May to August, including 130 million in August. The figure does, however, combine official institutions and private investors resident in Morocco. Never since January 2020, the first month of the published series, had the holdings attributed to the Kingdom been this high. The September data will tell on November 18 whether the climb continues. *Photo: MAP.* ## References - U.S. Department of the Treasury - [Treasury International Capital Data for August](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/TIC-press-notice-Oct-2026.pdf) - U.S. Department of the Treasury - [TIC, Table 3: U.S. Treasury Securities Held by Foreign Residents](https://ticdata.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/slt_table3.txt) --- --- title: "Construction: TGCC Takes 51% of Deep-Foundation Specialist Safettras for MAD 58.6 Million" description: "TGCC completed on October 15 the acquisition of 51% of Safettras, a specialist in deep foundations and geotechnical works, for about MAD 58.6 million, after the Competition Council cleared the deal. The target posted MAD 65.3 million in revenue in 2025." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tgcc-safettras-acquisition language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tgcc-safettras-acquisition type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.232Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad251219f9cc1d44ef3c595_6ad25120247a513499c9cd1a_news-tgcc-safettras-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Construction: TGCC Takes 51% of Deep-Foundation Specialist Safettras for MAD 58.6 Million *TGCC completed on October 15 the acquisition of 51% of Safettras, a specialist in deep foundations and geotechnical works, for about MAD 58.6 million, after the Competition Council cleared the deal. The target posted MAD 65.3 million in revenue in 2025.* ![The blue mast of a foundation pile drilling rig rising in front of a brick apartment building on a construction site under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad251219f9cc1d44ef3c595_6ad25120247a513499c9cd1a_news-tgcc-safettras-main.webp) Travaux Generaux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC) completed on October 15 the acquisition of 51% of the capital and voting rights of the Societe africaine des etudes et des travaux speciaux (Safettras), for a total price of about MAD 58.6 million. ![A yellow drilling rig and a mini excavator work at the bottom of a wide circular excavation, watched by workers in yellow vests.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546541e9e2ef6d37c4ff3_6ae543f17dca7618213e4d92_tgcc-safettras-acquisition.webp) *A Safettras pile-drilling rig on a foundation site. Photo: Safettras.* Safettras specializes in deep foundations and geotechnical works. The deal closed once its conditions, among them the approval of the Competition Council, were met. The historical shareholders keep the remaining 49%, and Salah Elmouda stays on as managing director. Safettras posted revenue of MAD 65.3 million in 2025, a modest catch for a group that claims more than fourteen thousand employees. By bringing in the trade of the ground, TGCC says it wants to cover the entire construction value chain. The foundations of its next sites will thus carry its own signature. *Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - TGCC, communiqué de presse du 15 octobre 2026 (AMMC) - [Acquisition par Travaux Généraux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC) de 51% du capital de la Société Africaine des Études et des Travaux Spéciaux (SAFETTRAS)](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_TGCC_acquisition_SAFETTRAS.pdf) - Médias24 - [TGCC finalise l’acquisition de 51% du capital de Safettras pour 58,6 millions de DH](https://medias24.com/2026/10/16/tgcc-finalise-lacquisition-de-51-du-capital-de-safettras-pour-586-millions-de-dh-1780403/) --- --- title: "Competition Council: Mergers Cleared in 2025 Total 2,056.7 Billion Dirhams" description: "The Competition Council published its 2025 annual report on October 16: one hundred and ninety merger decisions, against one hundred and sixty-two in 2024, for 2,056.7 billion dirhams of cleared deals, six litigation cases settled with 43.385 million dirhams in penalties, and six opinions." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/concurrence-rapport-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/concurrence-rapport-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.420Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad5f26c450acbc5480a202c_6ad5f2693e21658896c8d892_concurrence-rapport-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Competition Council: Mergers Cleared in 2025 Total 2,056.7 Billion Dirhams *The Competition Council published its 2025 annual report on October 16: one hundred and ninety merger decisions, against one hundred and sixty-two in 2024, for 2,056.7 billion dirhams of cleared deals, six litigation cases settled with 43.385 million dirhams in penalties, and six opinions.* ![The esplanade of Casablanca Finance City under a blue sky, with palm trees and office buildings, overlooked by the faceted glass CFC tower.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad5f26c450acbc5480a202c_6ad5f2693e21658896c8d892_concurrence-rapport-2025-main.webp) The 2025 annual report that the Competition Council put online on October 16 sums up a year dominated by merger control: 190 decisions in that field, against 162 in 2024, including 185 clearances. ![A helmeted courier, seen from behind, rides a motorbike down a wide avenue with a yellow Glovo delivery bag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5465161a40d5fffb6e233_6ae543f0873e2c1f2bc011b2_concurrence-rapport-2025.webp) *A Glovo courier on a motorbike. Photo: Le360.* The cleared deals total 2,056.7 billion dirhams on the amounts written into the contracts, including 56.92 billion of investment involving Moroccan capital. Only three required commitments from the parties. On the litigation side, the Council ruled on six cases carrying 43.385 million dirhams in penalties. They concerned meal delivery platforms, the supply of clinker to cement makers and four mergers completed without prior clearance. The institution also issued six opinions, three of them on its own initiative, on food distribution, flour milling and the distribution of medicines. It links the surge in notifications itself to stronger investment, domestic and international alike, and to capital moving toward strategic sectors. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence - [Rapport annuel 2025](https://conseil-concurrence.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Rapport-annuel-FR-2025.pdf) --- --- title: "Nador West Med: CMA Terminals Takes 49% of Marsa Maroc’s Container Terminal" description: "Marsa Maroc completed on October 15 the entry of CMA Terminals, a CMA CGM subsidiary, with a 49% stake in Nador Container Terminal, which holds the west container terminal concession at Nador West Med. The terminal, sized for 1.8 million TEU, is due to open in 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nador-west-med-cma-terminals language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nador-west-med-cma-terminals type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T10:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:24.804Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad201d049ad184477460250_6ad201cd22087f97bb9f0a6c_news-marsa-nct-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Nador West Med: CMA Terminals Takes 49% of Marsa Maroc’s Container Terminal *Marsa Maroc completed on October 15 the entry of CMA Terminals, a CMA CGM subsidiary, with a 49% stake in Nador Container Terminal, which holds the west container terminal concession at Nador West Med. The terminal, sized for 1.8 million TEU, is due to open in 2027.* ![The container ship CMA CGM Ermitage, its blue and green hull loaded with containers, berthed under the gantry cranes of the port of Rotterdam.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad201d049ad184477460250_6ad201cd22087f97bb9f0a6c_news-marsa-nct-main.webp) Marsa Maroc announced on October 15 that it had completed the entry of CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM group, into the capital of Nador Container Terminal, the concession company for the container terminal at the port of Nador West Med. ![Aerial view of a new port on turquoise water: wide bare reclaimed platforms and a long curved breakwater, with hills behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5467750c7c2062b0a2a5d_6ae545987dca7618213efa2d_nador-west-med-cma-terminals.webp) *The Nador West Med port under construction, its reclaimed platforms and main breakwater seen from the air. Photo: Le360.* The Moroccan port operator keeps 51% of the capital and voting rights, while CMA Terminals now holds 49%. The terminal will have 900 linear meters of quay and an 18-meter draft, for an eventual capacity of 1.8 million TEU. It is due to enter service in 2027. Marsa Maroc thus teams up with the world’s third-largest shipping line, whose terminals arm handled about 52 million TEU in 2025. From 2027, part of its “Marsa 2030” plan will be played out at Nador. *Photo: Thomas Dahlstrom Nielsen, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Marsa Maroc, communiqué de presse du 15 octobre 2026 (AMMC) - [Marsa Maroc annonce la finalisation de l’entrée de CMA Terminals dans le capital de Nador Container Terminal](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Marsa_Maroc_.pdf) - H24info - [Nador West Med: CMA CGM finalise son entrée au capital du terminal à conteneurs avec 49% des parts](https://h24info.ma/economie/nador-west-med-cma-cgm-finalise-son-entree/) --- --- title: "G-24: Morocco Named Second Vice-Chair, on Course to Chair the Group in 2028" description: "Morocco was designated in Bangkok on October 13, on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, to hold the second vice-chair of the G-24 from November 1, according to MAP. The rotation is set to bring it to the chair of the group in 2028." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-g24-vice-presidence language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-g24-vice-presidence type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-16T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.817Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec7b5214aeff9c7ed02_6ae53d40174753539d00e613_maroc-g24-vice-presidence-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # G-24: Morocco Named Second Vice-Chair, on Course to Chair the Group in 2028 *Morocco was designated in Bangkok on October 13, on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, to hold the second vice-chair of the G-24 from November 1, according to MAP. The rotation is set to bring it to the chair of the group in 2028.* ![Delegates around a square table at the G-24 and Alliance for Financial Inclusion roundtable in Bangkok, beneath a screen branded for the 2026 Annual Meetings.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec7b5214aeff9c7ed02_6ae53d40174753539d00e613_maroc-g24-vice-presidence-main.webp) Meeting in Bangkok on October 13, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, the ministers of the G-24 designated Morocco to hold the group’s second vice-chair from November 1, 2026, according to MAP. ![Delegates seated at tables in a wood-paneled room, below a large screen showing the head table.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c4a3615be706beb34fa_6ae60655064237583a822b18_maroc-g24-vice-presidence-inline.webp) *The G-24 ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, October 2025. Photo: G-24.* The designation follows the group’s rotation mechanism: it should take the Kingdom to the first vice-chair in 2027, then to the chair in 2028. The G-24 coordinates the positions of developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America on international monetary and financial questions. Its Bangkok communique calls for more inclusive participation of emerging and developing economies in global governance, the G20 included. Rabat says it intends to argue there for an international financial architecture that is more representative, more responsive and more equitable. In 2028 it will fall to Morocco to carry that voice to the table of the IMF and the World Bank. *Photo: Alliance for Financial Inclusion.* ## References - MAP, dépêche relayée par La Relève - [Assemblées Annuelles FMI-BM: le Maroc désigné pour assurer la deuxième vice-présidence du G-24](https://lareleve.ma/207817/) - Groupe intergouvernemental des Vingt-Quatre (G-24) - [Communiqué du 13 octobre 2026 et liste des participants](https://g24.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/FRENCH-G-24-2026-AM-Final-Communique-1.pdf) --- --- title: "African Rail: ONCF and UIC Forum in Rabat Adopts a Declaration to Finance It" description: "Morocco’s ONCF and the International Union of Railways closed their forum on financing African rail in Rabat on October 15 by adopting the Rabat Declaration. The UIC launched MoveCredits there, a coalition tasked with opening carbon markets to rail and public transport." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rabat-declaration-rail-afrique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rabat-declaration-rail-afrique type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.370Z tags: ["Logistics", "Climate", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e46382b682ce23abcf7_6ae53c614288ab0a4db328c4_rabat-declaration-rail-afrique-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # African Rail: ONCF and UIC Forum in Rabat Adopts a Declaration to Finance It *Morocco’s ONCF and the International Union of Railways closed their forum on financing African rail in Rabat on October 15 by adopting the Rabat Declaration. The UIC launched MoveCredits there, a coalition tasked with opening carbon markets to rail and public transport.* ![Mohamed Rabie Khlie, director general of ONCF, speaks at the lectern of the Investment and Financing Solutions for Africa’s Railway Future forum, beside the Moroccan flag and a portrait of the King.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e46382b682ce23abcf7_6ae53c614288ab0a4db328c4_rabat-declaration-rail-afrique-main.webp) Brought together in Rabat on October 14 and 15 by Morocco’s national railway office (ONCF) and the International Union of Railways (UIC), railway networks, development banks, lenders and investors closed their forum on financing African rail by adopting the Rabat Declaration. ![Six speakers seated on a stage before a screen announcing the first session, “Mobilizing Capital for Rail and Innovative Financing Mechanisms,” with the panelists’ portraits.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b6d42f73d1f6831a5d2_6ae60620c8210b6b1fc335cb_rabat-declaration-rail-afrique-inline.webp) *The forum’s first panel, on mobilizing capital for rail. Photo: Hespress.* Building on the 2023 Dakar Declaration, the text encourages blended finance, public-private partnerships, guarantees and land value capture. It calls for rail to find its place in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans. The UIC launched the MoveCredits coalition at the close, tasked with opening carbon markets to rail and public transport. According to one of its studies, rail expansion in low- and middle-income countries could avoid up to 1.8 gigatonnes of CO2 by 2050, for carbon revenues estimated at between 27 and 72 billion dollars. The methodologies that would turn those avoided tons into tradable credits are still to be built, however. The UIC itself warns that further technical work will come before such revenues weigh in closing a project’s financing. *Photo: MAP.* ## References - Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC) - [UIC and ONCF bring together African and international stakeholders in Rabat to advance railway investment and financing](https://uic.org/media-files/2026-10/MoveCredits%20Coalition_en.pdf) - ONCF, communiqué relayé par Les Éco - [L’ONCF et l’UIC tracent de nouvelles perspectives pour le financement du rail en Afrique](https://leseco.ma/maroc/loncf-et-luic-tracent-de-nouvelles-perspectives-pour-le-financement-du-rail-en-afrique.html) --- --- title: "Foreign Trade: Morocco’s Deficit Widens by 15.5% in 2025, to 352.3 Billion Dirhams" description: "Published on October 15, the Foreign Exchange Office’s annual report puts Morocco’s 2025 trade deficit at 352.3 billion dirhams, up 15.5%, as imports grew 8% and exports 3%, driven by the automotive industry and phosphates." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/commerce-exterieur-2025-deficit language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/commerce-exterieur-2025-deficit type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.179Z tags: ["Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4f7acd064d122f71ca372_6ad4f7aa33253ea34cb93390_oc-commerce-exterieur-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Foreign Trade: Morocco’s Deficit Widens by 15.5% in 2025, to 352.3 Billion Dirhams *Published on October 15, the Foreign Exchange Office’s annual report puts Morocco’s 2025 trade deficit at 352.3 billion dirhams, up 15.5%, as imports grew 8% and exports 3%, driven by the automotive industry and phosphates.* ![The container terminal at the port of Casablanca, with stacked containers, cranes and ships at the quay, and the minaret of the Hassan II Mosque on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad4f7acd064d122f71ca372_6ad4f7aa33253ea34cb93390_oc-commerce-exterieur-2025-main.webp) The annual report on Morocco’s foreign trade in 2025, which the Foreign Exchange Office put online on October 15, sets the trade deficit at 352.3 billion dirhams, against 304.9 billion a year earlier, a deterioration of 15.5%. ![Aerial view of thousands of cars parked in rows on a port platform by the sea, with hills behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546599f58d7fc365d2d12_6ae543f3c76b986c1f7d5971_commerce-exterieur-2025-deficit.webp) *New cars lined up on the vehicle terminal at Tanger Med. Photo: Automotive Logistics.* Imports rose 8%, while exports gained only 3%. The coverage ratio fell to 57.2%, and the deficit now weighs 22.7% of GDP. The automotive industry remained the leading export sector, at 159.2 billion dirhams, while phosphates and derivatives jumped 14.5%. Only the energy bill eased, down 5.5% on lower prices. The center of gravity is shifting toward Asia: the deficit with China alone grew by 24 billion. The slope is not easing in 2026, as the Office had already put the first-half deficit at 197.9 billion dirhams, up 23.2%. *Photo: N. Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Office des Changes - [Rapport annuel du commerce extérieur du Maroc au titre de l’année 2025](https://www.oc.gov.ma/sites/default/files/2026-10/Rapport%20Annuel%20Commerce%20Ext%C3%A9rieur%202025_0.pdf) - Office des Changes - [Communiqué: résultats des échanges extérieurs à fin juin 2026](https://www.oc.gov.ma/sites/default/files/2026-10/Communiqu%C3%A9%20FR%20R%C3%A9sultats%20%C3%A0%20fin%20Juin%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Essaouira: Royal Air Maroc to Link It Directly With Casablanca From November 1" description: "Royal Air Maroc will launch a direct route between Casablanca and Essaouira on November 1, 2026, flying twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, under an agreement with the Marrakech-Safi region. Round trips are sold at a fixed price, 800 dirhams in economy and 1,600 in business." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-casablanca-essaouira language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-casablanca-essaouira type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.933Z tags: ["Tourism", "Essaouira"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e83dad7e607dc818afd_6ae53c7f4288ab0a4db32e8b_ram-casablanca-essaouira-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Essaouira: Royal Air Maroc to Link It Directly With Casablanca From November 1 *Royal Air Maroc will launch a direct route between Casablanca and Essaouira on November 1, 2026, flying twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, under an agreement with the Marrakech-Safi region. Round trips are sold at a fixed price, 800 dirhams in economy and 1,600 in business.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737 Max 8 taxis under a water-cannon salute at Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e83dad7e607dc818afd_6ae53c7f4288ab0a4db32e8b_ram-casablanca-essaouira-main.webp) Royal Air Maroc will link Essaouira and Casablanca by direct flight from November 1, 2026, the national carrier announced on October 15. ![The front of Essaouira-Mogador Airport, its name in capital letters above the arrivals entrance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bf15d4ac37746bb6222_6ae60641bbbd9f296de1c5b0_ram-casablanca-essaouira-inline.webp) *The terminal at Essaouira-Mogador Airport. Photo: Uploadmo, CC BY-SA 3.0.* Set up under an agreement signed with the Marrakech-Safi region, the route will run twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. Fares are fixed: 800 dirhams round trip in economy, 1,600 dirhams in business. The city of the trade winds is no stranger to a direct flight to the metropolis: the airline had already opened one in September 2017, under an agreement with the same region and at the same fares. Through the Casablanca hub, Essaouira will this time be connected to the eighty-six international destinations of the Royal Air Maroc network, an asset for a medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Royal Air Maroc, communiqué relayé par Le360 - [Royal Air Maroc lance une ligne directe Casablanca-Essaouira](https://fr.le360.ma/tourisme/royal-air-maroc-lance-une-ligne-directe-casablanca-essaouira_WWW2TFUBPZC7NMEKTIUHPXPCSQ/) - Les Éco - [La RAM ouvre une nouvelle ligne directe Casablanca-Essaouira](https://leseco.ma/maroc/la-ram-ouvre-une-nouvelle-ligne-directe-casablanca-essaouira.html) - LeSiteinfo - [La RAM ouvre une nouvelle ligne directe Casablanca-Essaouira](https://www.lesiteinfo.com/maroc/684690-la-ram-ouvre-une-nouvelle-ligne-directe-casablanca-essaouira.html) - Finances News Hebdo (2017) - [La RAM ouvre une ligne Casablanca-Essaouira](https://fnh.ma/articles/la-ram-ouvre-une-ligne-casablanca-essaouira) --- --- title: "Agadir: Finnair Returns With a Weekly Flight From Helsinki Until March 24, 2027" description: "Finnair inaugurated its direct Helsinki-Agadir route on October 14, marking the Finnish carrier’s return to the city after several years of absence. The weekly flight is scheduled until March 24, 2027, covering the whole winter season, and targets Nordic travelers in search of sun." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/finnair-agadir-helsinki language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/finnair-agadir-helsinki type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.159Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad100abc6ddea992aee916b_6ad100a6bbf6b6a670d0a542_news-finnair-agadir-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Agadir: Finnair Returns With a Weekly Flight From Helsinki Until March 24, 2027 *Finnair inaugurated its direct Helsinki-Agadir route on October 14, marking the Finnish carrier’s return to the city after several years of absence. The weekly flight is scheduled until March 24, 2027, covering the whole winter season, and targets Nordic travelers in search of sun.* ![A Finnair Airbus A321 taxiing on a wet taxiway at Stockholm Arlanda airport.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad100abc6ddea992aee916b_6ad100a6bbf6b6a670d0a542_news-finnair-agadir-main.webp) Finnish carrier Finnair inaugurated on October 14 its direct route between Helsinki and Agadir Al Massira airport, marking its return to the capital of the Souss after several years of absence. ![A white Finnair jet parked on the apron, boarding stairs in place and ground staff in yellow vests around it.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bb942f73d1f6831cebf_6ae6063466e53b0708ffd8e4_finnair-agadir-helsinki-inline.webp) *A Finnair aircraft on the apron at Agadir Al Massira airport. Photo: Morocco World News.* The route runs once a week until March 24, 2027, with a scheduled flight time of 5 hours 50 minutes. Finland’s ambassador to Morocco, Marjaana Sall, and representatives of the Souss-Massa Regional Tourism Council welcomed the inaugural flight. The service follows the season when Nordic travelers head south for the sun. The Regional Tourism Council intends to build on this return to win back Nordic markets that have long mattered to the destination, then secure more frequencies over time. Agadir will still have to turn a seasonal flight into a habit. *Photo: Bene Riobo, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Finnair - [Flights to Agadir](https://www.finnair.com/us-en/destinations/africa/morocco/agadir) - Infomédiaire - [Agadir se reconnecte à la Finlande avec le retour de Finnair](https://www.infomediaire.net/agadir-se-reconnecte-a-la-finlande-avec-le-retour-de-finnair/) --- --- title: "Azrar: Aterian Extends Its Amane Copper Target to 2.5 Kilometers in the Anti-Atlas" description: "Britain’s Aterian announced on October 14 that its first fieldwork at the Azrar project, in the Anti-Atlas, has located copper showings over 1.6 kilometers within the Amane target, now 2.5 kilometers long. Scout drilling is planned for the fourth quarter." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aterian-azrar-amane language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aterian-azrar-amane type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T16:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:38:38.643Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad100ad26ffe083e55089ac_6ad100a7d41f3f602931f560_news-aterian-azrar-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Azrar: Aterian Extends Its Amane Copper Target to 2.5 Kilometers in the Anti-Atlas *Britain’s Aterian announced on October 14 that its first fieldwork at the Azrar project, in the Anti-Atlas, has located copper showings over 1.6 kilometers within the Amane target, now 2.5 kilometers long. Scout drilling is planned for the fourth quarter.* ![A road winding below the arid mountains of the Anti-Atlas, in Tiznit province, under a wide blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad100ad26ffe083e55089ac_6ad100a7d41f3f602931f560_news-aterian-azrar-main.webp) Aterian, a British mining explorer listed in London, announced on October 14 that the first fieldwork at its Azrar copper-silver project, in the western Anti-Atlas, has widened the known footprint of the mineralization. ![AI-generated concept image: a green crust of malachite fills the cracks of reddish-brown sandstone on an arid hillside.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61988cfa0fda13eb465e3_6ae6193a0f4088613b6afc96_aterian-azrar-amane-inline.webp) *Malachite in the cracks of red sandstone. AI-generated concept image.* Only four of the twenty-two planned mapping traverses were enough to locate copper showings over an apparent length of 1.6 kilometers within the Amane target, now 2.5 kilometers long. Geologists also found old mine workings associated with visible copper, as well as previously unknown mineralization at the Tifrit target. Aterian holds 85% of the project, whose exploration is fully funded by its artificial intelligence joint venture with Lithosquare. Scout drilling is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. Until then these are surface observations only, and the drill core will tell what Azrar is worth. *Photo: Marek Slusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Aterian plc - [Azrar Copper-Silver Project: Field Work Underway](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/aterian--atn/azrar-copper-silver-project-field-work-underway/9821317) --- --- title: "Households: Confidence Dips to 59.2 Points in the Third Quarter, Above Its 2025 Level" description: "According to Morocco’s High Commission for Planning, the household confidence index fell back to 59.2 points in the third quarter of 2026, against 60.1 the previous quarter but 53.6 a year earlier. More than three households in four still say their standard of living has deteriorated." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/confiance-menages-t3-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/confiance-menages-t3-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T10:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.274Z tags: ["Economy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad0ae818d443a5a6cbfcf03_6ad0ae7fe35e19e8257738ee_news-hcp-confiance-t3-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Households: Confidence Dips to 59.2 Points in the Third Quarter, Above Its 2025 Level *According to Morocco’s High Commission for Planning, the household confidence index fell back to 59.2 points in the third quarter of 2026, against 60.1 the previous quarter but 53.6 a year earlier. More than three households in four still say their standard of living has deteriorated.* ![Palm trees and office towers of Casablanca Finance City under a blue sky, with a construction crane on the right.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad0ae818d443a5a6cbfcf03_6ad0ae7fe35e19e8257738ee_news-hcp-confiance-t3-main.webp) Morocco’s High Commission for Planning published on October 15 its household survey for the third quarter of 2026: the household confidence index stands at 59.2 points, against 60.1 the previous quarter and 53.6 a year earlier. ![Crates of tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants, zucchini, cucumbers and squash stacked on a vendor’s stall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae546797dca7618213f5ba6_6ae54599382b682ce23d5c00_confiance-menages-t3-2026.webp) *A greengrocer’s display in Morocco. Photo: مصطفى ملو, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Behind this slight dip, perceptions remain bleak: 76.3% of households say their standard of living has deteriorated over the past twelve months, and 51.7% expect a further deterioration. As many as 61.3% expect unemployment to rise. Household finances remain tight: 39% of households report borrowing or drawing on their savings, and only 2.8% manage to put part of their income aside. Food prices dominate the mood, as 95.9% of households have seen them rise over the year. The gain of 5.6 points in twelve months thus lifts the mood out of the lows of 2025 without yet turning it around. The index will only recover for good as fast as the grocery bill eases. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [Les résultats de l’enquête de conjoncture auprès des ménages, troisième trimestre de l’année 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/Les-resultats-de-l-enquete-de-conjoncture-aupres-des-menages-troisieme-trimestre-de-l-annee-2026_a4355.html) --- --- title: "Addana: Safi Silver Reports First Drill Results From Its Silver Project in Tata Province" description: "Safi Silver published on October 14 the first assays from its drilling campaign at the Addana project in Tata province. One hole returned 657 g/t silver over 1 meter, a result still unconfirmed and being re-assayed; the best validated result reaches 35.52 g/t." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/safi-silver-addana-forages language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/safi-silver-addana-forages type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.277Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad0ae83e4ac22b322fd767e_6ad0ae80a85323214cd12277_news-safi-addana-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Addana: Safi Silver Reports First Drill Results From Its Silver Project in Tata Province *Safi Silver published on October 14 the first assays from its drilling campaign at the Addana project in Tata province. One hole returned 657 g/t silver over 1 meter, a result still unconfirmed and being re-assayed; the best validated result reaches 35.52 g/t.* ![A rocky Anti-Atlas plateau and hills in low-angled light, in Tata province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad0ae83e4ac22b322fd767e_6ad0ae80a85323214cd12277_news-safi-addana-main.webp) Safi Silver, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, published on October 14 the first assay results from its inaugural drilling campaign at the Addana project, in Tata province, in the heart of the Anti-Atlas. ![A dark rock core lies in a plastic core tray in the foreground; behind it, a driller in a hard hat works on the rig platform.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5465c61a40d5fffb6e5b3_6ae543f3adcc5f14706a8ea0_safi-silver-addana-forages.webp) *A drill core from the Addana project, in front of the drill rig. Photo: Safi Silver.* The most striking, hole SW2026-02, returned 657 grams of silver per tonne over 1 meter, in broken core from a fault zone. The company itself treats the result as unconfirmed and has sent it for re-assay. The best validated result comes from SW2026-07, with 35.52 g/t silver over 1 meter, between 147 and 148 meters, along with lead and antimony. Addana SW was chosen only for its easy access, nearly 40 kilometers from the presumed core of the mineralized system, a distance management cites to argue for the scale of a potential deposit. One of the campaign’s two rigs is working on Antenna Hill, the company’s primary target. Its results, then the re-assay of the 657 g/t sample, will tell whether Addana’s silver lives up to its promise. *Photo: Joachim und Peter, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Safi Silver Corp. - [Safi Silver Corp. Reports Positive First Drill Results from the Addana Project in Morocco](https://safisilver.com/news/safi-silver-corp-reports-positive-first-drill-results-from-the-addana-project-in-morocco/) --- --- title: "Medicine Prices: The Official Bulletin Cuts One Hundred and Fifty-One Presentations" description: "Order No. 2157.26, published in the Official Bulletin on October 15, lowered the public and hospital prices of one hundred and fifty-one medicine presentations. Alecensa loses 11,616 dirhams, while Sutent 50 mg loses almost half its price." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/medicaments-prix-baisse-bo-7552 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/medicaments-prix-baisse-bo-7552 type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-15T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:39:21.699Z tags: ["Health", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adddaca520e38f050646492_6adddac79e0675b53c45037e_medicaments-prix-baisse-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Medicine Prices: The Official Bulletin Cuts One Hundred and Fifty-One Presentations *Order No. 2157.26, published in the Official Bulletin on October 15, lowered the public and hospital prices of one hundred and fifty-one medicine presentations. Alecensa loses 11,616 dirhams, while Sutent 50 mg loses almost half its price.* ![The green crescent sign of a pharmacy, lit at dusk above an alley in the Marrakech medina.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adddaca520e38f050646492_6adddac79e0675b53c45037e_medicaments-prix-baisse-main.webp) Published in Official Bulletin No. 7552 on October 15, 2026, an order of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, cut the prices of 151 presentations of medicines sold in Morocco, in pharmacies and hospitals alike. ![About fifteen round salmon-colored tablets engraved ZD4522 and 10, on a white background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae54656dc78061d9ba664b5_6ae543f19f58d7fc365c1613_medicaments-prix-baisse-bo-7552.webp) *Crestor 10 mg tablets, AstraZeneca’s rosuvastatin. Photo: Mk2010, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Issued on a proposal from the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, the text amends the 2014 order that sets public prices for originator, generic and biosimilar drugs. The steepest cuts fall on the costliest treatments: Alecensa 150 mg drops from 44,479 to 32,863 dirhams a box, Sutent 50 mg from 38,480 to 19,976 dirhams. The revision reaches everyday treatments too: 12 products dosed at 10 mg, including Crestor, which sold until now for 167 dirhams, now share a single public price of 99.50 dirhams. Every line also sets a new hospital price, lower than the old one in every case. For patients on long-term treatment, the savings will add up box after box, with every prescription renewal. *Photo: Hector Garcia from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7552 du 15 octobre 2026, arrêté du ministre de la Santé et de la Protection sociale n° 2157.26 du 22 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7552_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Services: Morocco Runs a 77 Million Euro Surplus With the Netherlands" description: "According to the Dutch statistics office, the Netherlands bought 183 million euros of services from Morocco in the second quarter of 2026 and sold it 106 million, leaving the Kingdom a surplus of 77 million, driven by maritime services and tourism." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/pays-bas-services-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/pays-bas-services-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-15T06:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.042Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad5f271720c174fe4fc731b_6ad5f26ac21e187f5700ae64_pays-bas-services-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Services: Morocco Runs a 77 Million Euro Surplus With the Netherlands *According to the Dutch statistics office, the Netherlands bought 183 million euros of services from Morocco in the second quarter of 2026 and sold it 106 million, leaving the Kingdom a surplus of 77 million, driven by maritime services and tourism.* ![A yellow Marsa Maroc port crane in the port of Casablanca, in front of the white and blue hull of a cruise ship at the quay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad5f271720c174fe4fc731b_6ad5f26ac21e187f5700ae64_pays-bas-services-maroc-main.webp) According to the quarterly series that Statistics Netherlands (CBS) updated on October 15, the Dutch bought 183 million euros of services from Morocco in the second quarter of 2026 and sold it 106 million. ![A white airliner in Transavia’s green livery parked on the apron, a mobile stair at its nose and ground staff beside it, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c72483664b0eb721a0c_6ae606614dec2ab8f2ad1b99_pays-bas-services-maroc-inline.webp) *A Transavia airliner on the apron at Marrakech Menara Airport in January 2026. Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The Kingdom thus runs a surplus of 77 million euros in this trade, against 53 million a year earlier. Transport supplies the bulk of it, with 110 million euros of Dutch purchases, mostly services supporting sea transport. Tourism comes next: Dutch travelers spent 56 million euros in Morocco over the quarter, 40% more than a year before. Only business services tilt in the Dutch favor. Over the whole of 2025, the Moroccan surplus in this trade already reached 312 million euros. *Photo: Gohnarch, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - CBS - [Internationale handel; invoer en uitvoer van diensten naar land, kwartaal](https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/84765NED/table) --- --- title: "Public Finances: Treasury Deficit Narrows to 33.3 Billion Dirhams at End-September" description: "According to Morocco’s Treasury General, the Treasury deficit stood at 33.3 billion dirhams at the end of September, against 50.6 billion a year earlier. Ordinary revenue is up 8.5%, driven by corporate tax, and subsidy spending already exceeds its annual allocation." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tresor-deficit-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tresor-deficit-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.745Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b27fd5e23d293d26684_6ae609f542f73d1f6830f79e_tresor-deficit-septembre-2026-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Public Finances: Treasury Deficit Narrows to 33.3 Billion Dirhams at End-September *According to Morocco’s Treasury General, the Treasury deficit stood at 33.3 billion dirhams at the end of September, against 50.6 billion a year earlier. Ordinary revenue is up 8.5%, driven by corporate tax, and subsidy spending already exceeds its annual allocation.* ![Nadia Fettah Alaoui, minister of economy and finance, at the Parliament lectern presenting the 2026 finance bill.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b27fd5e23d293d26684_6ae609f542f73d1f6830f79e_tresor-deficit-septembre-2026-hero-main.webp) Morocco’s Treasury General has published its monthly public finance bulletin for the end of September: the Treasury deficit stands at 33.3 billion dirhams, against 50.6 billion a year earlier. ![A worker in blue overalls handles red gas cylinders lined up on a production line.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b28fd5e23d293d266bc_6ae60604da84eca692281fc2_tresor-deficit-septembre-2026-inline.webp) *A filling line at a butane gas bottling center. Photo: Le360.* The gap comes from a surplus of 23.4 billion from the special Treasury accounts and the autonomously managed state services, which showed a deficit of 2.8 billion at the same point in 2025. Ordinary revenue reached 337 billion dirhams, up 8.5%. Corporate tax is the engine, with 92.2 billion collected and growth of 22.1%. Ordinary expenditure rose 10.2% to 308.9 billion. Subsidies remain the most volatile line: 15.6 billion issued in nine months, 56% more than a year earlier, and already 112.7% of the annual allocation voted. The finance law forecasts a deficit of 109.1 billion for the whole of 2026. *Photo: H24info.* ## References - Trésorerie Générale du Royaume - [Bulletin mensuel de statistiques des finances publiques, septembre 2026](https://www.tgr.gov.ma/wps/wcm/connect/e7e8cc1d-afa9-4d1f-9bdc-d29b530e1494/BMSFP+Septembre+2026.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=e7e8cc1d-afa9-4d1f-9bdc-d29b530e1494) --- --- title: "Heritage: Police and National Museums Foundation Join Forces Against Art Trafficking" description: "Morocco’s DGSN and the National Foundation of Museums signed an agreement in Rabat on October 14 to secure the national museums and fight the theft, forgery and trafficking of artworks and archaeological pieces, with a strand of training and shared expertise." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/dgsn-fnm-musees-patrimoine language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/dgsn-fnm-musees-patrimoine type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-14T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.819Z tags: ["Arts", "Security", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eafe37fa824d36afe76_6ae53c9565ce97890ae986bc_dgsn-fnm-musees-patrimoine-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Heritage: Police and National Museums Foundation Join Forces Against Art Trafficking *Morocco’s DGSN and the National Foundation of Museums signed an agreement in Rabat on October 14 to secure the national museums and fight the theft, forgery and trafficking of artworks and archaeological pieces, with a strand of training and shared expertise.* ![The hall of the Museum of History and Civilizations in Rabat, with an ancient statue on its plinth, lit display cases and a mosaic floor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eafe37fa824d36afe76_6ae53c9565ce97890ae986bc_dgsn-fnm-musees-patrimoine-main.webp) Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security and the National Foundation of Museums signed an agreement on October 14, in Rabat, to protect the national museums and the kingdom’s cultural heritage against theft, forgery and illicit trafficking. ![Two men in suits shake hands, each holding a signing folder, in front of a wooden screen with geometric patterns.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c1ca41238dbb61dc1da_6ae6064bfd5e23d293d0ff01_dgsn-fnm-musees-patrimoine-inline.webp) *Abdellatif Hammouchi and Mehdi Qotbi after signing the agreement at DGSN headquarters in Rabat. Photo: Morocco World News.* Presided over by Abdellatif Hammouchi, director general of national security, and by Mehdi Qotbi, president of the FNM, the signing commits the two institutions to coordinate the prosecution of offenses against heritage, with particular attention to archaeological and artistic forgeries. The text also provides for stronger physical security at museums and a training strand on the methods of forgers and traffickers. In return, the Foundation will give technical support to the National Security Museum. The antiquities trade feeds on two weaknesses, poorly guarded places and expertise too rare to tell the fake from the genuine. That is exactly where this agreement will focus its efforts. *Photo: Ideophagous, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - DGSN et FNM, communiqué conjoint, via Médias24 - [Patrimoine national: Hammouchi et Qotbi renforcent la coopération sécuritaire et muséale](https://medias24.com/2026/10/14/patrimoine-national-hammouchi-et-qotbi-renforcent-la-cooperation-securitaire-et-museale-1779273/) - La Vie éco - [Patrimoine: La DGSN et la FNM s’allient contre le vol et le trafic d’œuvres](https://www.lavieeco.com/influences/culture/patrimoine-la-dgsn-et-la-fnm-sallient-contre-le-vol-et-le-trafic-doeuvres/) - Morocco World News - [Post on X, 14 October 2026](https://x.com/MoroccoWNews/status/2110409047992078404) --- --- title: "Nador West Med: EBRD Weighs 105 Million Dollars for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant" description: "On October 14, the EBRD published a proposed loan of up to 105 million dollars to Green Sky Capital to build at Nador West Med a sustainable aviation fuel plant of 200,000 tonnes a year, made from waste, for a total cost of 239 million dollars." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nador-saf-berd language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nador-saf-berd type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:13.423Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad54b852314e2d3a86eedac_6ad54b82beb1649b77f91ad4_nador-saf-berd-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Nador West Med: EBRD Weighs 105 Million Dollars for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant *On October 14, the EBRD published a proposed loan of up to 105 million dollars to Green Sky Capital to build at Nador West Med a sustainable aviation fuel plant of 200,000 tonnes a year, made from waste, for a total cost of 239 million dollars.* ![Aerial view of the jet fuel depot at Munich Airport, with its white storage tanks and a train of tank cars beside the aircraft parking areas.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad54b852314e2d3a86eedac_6ad54b82beb1649b77f91ad4_nador-saf-berd-main.webp) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development put online on October 14 the summary of a loan of up to 105 million dollars to Green Sky Capital to build at Nador West Med a sustainable aviation fuel plant with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes a year. ![Aerial view of a large harbor basin enclosed by a breakwater and lined with bare sandy platforms, by a deep blue sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5465e50c7c2062b0a1f0f_6ae543f41e9e2ef6d37b8188_nador-saf-berd.webp) *Aerial view of the Nador West Med port under construction. Photo: Le Matin.* The total project cost is put at 239 million dollars, and up to 20 million of the loan would come from the Green Climate Fund. The plant will process waste-based feedstocks, including used cooking oil, into a jet fuel that existing engines and airport facilities can use as is. The bank’s approval is scheduled for November 18. If it is granted, Nador West Med will become one of the first commercial production sites for this fuel in Morocco and North Africa. *Photo: Mattes, CC BY 2.0 de.* ## References - EBRD - [SAF Project Manara Morocco](https://www.ebrd.com/home/work-with-us/projects/psd/57785.html) --- --- title: "Solar: Masen Opens Prequalification for Noor PV Multisites, at Least 350 Megawatts" description: "Masen launched on October 14 the prequalification of the contractor that will design, build and then operate the photovoltaic plants of the Noor PV Multisites program, at least 350 megawatts spread across several regions. Applications are due by November 30 on its e-tendering platform." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/noor-pv-multisites language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/noor-pv-multisites type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T17:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.723Z tags: ["Energy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb34a7c451480aca80238_6acfb3497cfe071b8506d660_noor-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Solar: Masen Opens Prequalification for Noor PV Multisites, at Least 350 Megawatts *Masen launched on October 14 the prequalification of the contractor that will design, build and then operate the photovoltaic plants of the Noor PV Multisites program, at least 350 megawatts spread across several regions. Applications are due by November 30 on its e-tendering platform.* ![Photovoltaic panels at the edge of a palm grove in southern Morocco, under a stormy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb34a7c451480aca80238_6acfb3497cfe071b8506d660_noor-main.webp) Morocco’s Agency for Sustainable Energy opened on October 14 the prequalification phase of the Noor PV Multisites program, a set of photovoltaic plants spread across several regions of the Kingdom with a total capacity of at least 350 megawatts. ![Satellite view of an ochre desert plateau with the circular heliostat field of a solar tower and large rectangles of collectors.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5467c6e325be1a8aef516_6ae5459a1b68b88e881f6c99_noor-pv-multisites.webp) *The Noor Ouarzazate solar complex seen by the Sentinel-2 satellite, April 2020. Photo: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery.* The consultation seeks the contractor that will design, supply and build the plants under an EPC scheme, then operate and maintain them. Applications are due by noon on Monday, November 30. Only the companies retained in this first phase will then be invited to submit a bid. The announcement names neither the selected sites nor the program’s budget. By betting this time on plants scattered across the country rather than on a single complex as at Ouarzazate, Masen will bring solar generation closer to the regions that consume it. *Photo: Isofoton.es, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Masen - [NOOR PV MULTISITES PROGRAM - Request for Qualification (RFQ/15/2026/MASEN)](https://etendering.masen.ma/?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&refConsultation=1221&orgAcronyme=t5y) - Masen, via La Vie éco - [Solaire: Masen lance la préqualification du programme Noor PV Multisites](https://lavieeco.com/economie/solaire-masen-lance-la-prequalification-du-programme-noor-pv-multisites/) --- --- title: "Jorf Lasfar: OCP Seeks Sole Control of Emaphos, Its Purified Phosphoric Acid Producer" description: "OCP wants to buy out Germany’s Budenheim and Belgium’s Prayon from Emaphos, its purified phosphoric acid producer at Jorf Lasfar. A first leg has been filed with Austria’s competition authority, and closing is expected in early 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-emaphos-controle language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-emaphos-controle type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T17:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.588Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb19ba33eb75b7b0b2713_6acfb1999654c6d2e18ba625_emaphos-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jorf Lasfar: OCP Seeks Sole Control of Emaphos, Its Purified Phosphoric Acid Producer *OCP wants to buy out Germany’s Budenheim and Belgium’s Prayon from Emaphos, its purified phosphoric acid producer at Jorf Lasfar. A first leg has been filed with Austria’s competition authority, and closing is expected in early 2027.* ![The port of Jorf Lasfar, with its gantry cranes and conveyors, seen from the heights under a hazy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb19ba33eb75b7b0b2713_6acfb1999654c6d2e18ba625_emaphos-main.webp) The OCP group announced on October 14 its intention to buy the stakes held by Germany’s Chemische Fabrik Budenheim and Belgium’s Prayon in Euro Maroc Phosphore, known as Emaphos, which produces purified phosphoric acid at Jorf Lasfar. ![A cream building marked EMAPHOS, surrounded by pipe racks, walkways and a green process tower, under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552473b9a03db7f290da9_6ae55126cf18edc9b43ba1f6_ocp-emaphos-controle.webp) *The Emaphos building at the heart of its purified phosphoric acid plant in Jorf Lasfar. Photo: BCInsight.* Carried out by OCP Specialty Products & Solutions, the group’s wholly owned subsidiary, the deal will make Emaphos a fully owned OCP subsidiary. Closing is expected in early 2027, subject to regulatory approval, and no price has been disclosed. A first leg has already been filed in Vienna: Austria’s Federal Competition Authority registered on October 12 the purchase of the third held by Budenheim, which would lift the group’s share to two thirds. Founded in 1996, Emaphos turns merchant-grade phosphoric acid into an acid pure enough for specialty fertilizers, food processing and pharmaceuticals. Its capacity, 140,000 metric tons a year at the outset, was raised to about 300,000 tons in 2023. Part of the phosphate group’s growth will be decided in these specialty phosphates, worth more than fertilizer, and Jorf Lasfar will be their laboratory. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde - [BWB/Z-7515, OCP SPS SA; Euro Maroc Phosphore](https://www.bwb.gv.at/zusammenschluesse/2026/7573) - OCP, via La Vie éco - [Acide phosphorique purifié: OCP vise le contrôle total d’Emaphos](https://lavieeco.com/economie/agriculture/acide-phosphorique-purifie-ocp-vise-le-controle-total-demaphos/) - Barlamane - [OCP prépare le rachat des 66,7 % d’Emaphos détenus par Prayon et Chemische Fabrik Budenheim](https://barlamane.com/fr/ocp-prepare-le-rachat-des-667-demaphos-detenus-par-prayon-et-chemische-fabrik-budenheim/) --- --- title: "Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Posts a Record 2.03 Million Silver Equivalent Ounces" description: "Aya Gold & Silver produced 2.03 million silver equivalent ounces in the third quarter, a record up 51% year on year. Zgounder delivered 1.50 million ounces of silver, and the reclaim of Boumadine’s pyrite stockpiles nearly tripled." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aya-production-t3-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aya-production-t3-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.583Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb19d7c451480aca785ec_6acfb19ae62a1a7fa4933c0d_aya-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Posts a Record 2.03 Million Silver Equivalent Ounces *Aya Gold & Silver produced 2.03 million silver equivalent ounces in the third quarter, a record up 51% year on year. Zgounder delivered 1.50 million ounces of silver, and the reclaim of Boumadine’s pyrite stockpiles nearly tripled.* ![Snow-capped peaks rise above a sea of clouds at daybreak, an image published by Aya Gold & Silver.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acfb19d7c451480aca785ec_6acfb19ae62a1a7fa4933c0d_aya-main.webp) Aya Gold & Silver reported on October 14 its third-quarter output: 2.03 million silver equivalent ounces, up 51% year on year and 21% on the previous quarter, a record for the Canadian company. ![Aerial view of a mining plant with tanks, conveyors and ore piles below arid mountains.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552213c58e1800cfffb32_6ae551151b68b88e8820b43d_aya-production-t3-2026.webp) *The processing plant at the Zgounder silver mine in the Anti-Atlas. Photo: Aya Gold & Silver.* The Zgounder mine, in the Anti-Atlas, alone produced 1.50 million ounces of silver, 11% more than a year earlier, with a mill that processed a record 4,096 tons of ore a day. The rest came from Boumadine, where the reclaim of old pyrite stockpiles yielded 0.54 million silver equivalent ounces, nearly three times the previous quarter. “With Zgounder now operating consistently, we are firmly on track to achieve our 2026 production guidance,” said its chief executive Benoit La Salle. The final quarter will tell whether the year keeps that promise. *Photo: Aya Gold & Silver.* ## References - Aya Gold & Silver - [Aya Gold & Silver Reports Record Q3-2026 Production of 2.03 Million AgEq Ounces](https://ayagoldsilver.com/news/news-releases/aya-gold--silver-reports-record-q3-2026-production-of-203-million-ageq-ounces) --- --- title: "Capital Raising Hits 77 Billion Dirhams by August, Certificates of Deposit Nearly Double" description: "Morocco’s capital market authority has published its August indicators: 76,970 million dirhams raised since January, almost the same total as in 2025. Bond issues fall by 35% while bank certificates of deposit have nearly doubled, to 31,532 million." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/levees-capitaux-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/levees-capitaux-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.753Z tags: ["Finance", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acf5dfefee6d0117851fe6e_6acf5dfc4d2d7521a9032b22_levees-capitaux-aout-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Capital Raising Hits 77 Billion Dirhams by August, Certificates of Deposit Nearly Double *Morocco’s capital market authority has published its August indicators: 76,970 million dirhams raised since January, almost the same total as in 2025. Bond issues fall by 35% while bank certificates of deposit have nearly doubled, to 31,532 million.* ![The Casablanca Finance City tower rises over the business district under a clear sky, with construction cranes on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acf5dfefee6d0117851fe6e_6acf5dfc4d2d7521a9032b22_levees-capitaux-aout-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s Capital Market Authority has published its monthly indicators for August: 76,970 million dirhams have been raised since the start of the year, against 77,053 a year earlier, an almost unchanged total. ![Quote screens show prices in color next to a blue Casablanca Stock Exchange panel with a white tree.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c4d206de5b29619ce6d_6ae60a21d10e1b06c9ba57e1_levees-capitaux-aout-2026-inline.webp) *Quote screens at the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Photo: Hespress.* Behind this stability, long-term debt keeps retreating. Bond issues fall to 19,050 million dirhams from 29,400, or 35% less. Negotiable debt securities, by contrast, rise to 54,918 million from 43,483, carried by certificates of deposit, which nearly double, to 31,532 million against 16,197. The MASI ends the month at 18,652.72 points, down 1.03% since January and 6.99% over twelve months. Collective investment keeps growing: six hundred and twenty-seven UCITS hold net assets of 845.44 billion dirhams, up 7.69%, with short-term bond funds and money market funds growing the most. Month after month, Moroccan savings thus confirm their preference for the short term, the very preference that will weigh on the cost of corporate financing until the end of the year. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - AMMC - [Indicateurs mensuels du marché des capitaux, août 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Indicateurs_mensuels%20ao%C3%BBt%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "HCP: Moroccan Growth Held at 4.1% in the Third Quarter, Expected at 4.7% by Year End" description: "According to the latest economic outlook note of the High Commission for Planning, the Moroccan economy grew by 4.1% in the third quarter of 2026, carried by agriculture and services despite a decline in industry, and should accelerate to 4.7% in the fourth quarter." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/hcp-conjoncture-t3-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/hcp-conjoncture-t3-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-14T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.579Z tags: ["Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acf5b8d2586111cd92d5cf0_6acf5b8b2a3bed3a0a7bf5e9_hcp-conjoncture-t3-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # HCP: Moroccan Growth Held at 4.1% in the Third Quarter, Expected at 4.7% by Year End *According to the latest economic outlook note of the High Commission for Planning, the Moroccan economy grew by 4.1% in the third quarter of 2026, carried by agriculture and services despite a decline in industry, and should accelerate to 4.7% in the fourth quarter.* ![Towers of Casablanca Finance City and a construction crane stand against a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acf5b8d2586111cd92d5cf0_6acf5b8b2a3bed3a0a7bf5e9_hcp-conjoncture-t3-2026-main.webp) The High Commission for Planning estimates, in its latest economic outlook note, that the national economy grew by 4.1% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, despite the lingering energy shock. ![A huge red and white excavator with a lattice boom stands on ocher ground under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55222138cc6a1b01583d2_6ae55116dc78061d9ba80bf4_hcp-conjoncture-t3-2026.webp) *A dragline at the Benguerir phosphate mine, operated by OCP. Photo: Solox44, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Agriculture was its main driver, up 19.9%, and services advanced by 3.9%, while secondary activities fell a further 1.9%. Exports gained only 6.2% in volume, bringing the contribution of foreign trade to growth to -1.2 points. For the last three months of the year, the institution expects growth to accelerate to 4.7%, carried by household consumption up 4.3% and investment up 6.8%. The scenario still hangs on the price of energy: a new escalation in the Middle East would revive inflationary pressure, whereas a fall in oil prices would lift growth to around 5.3%. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Infomédiaire - [Économie marocaine : une croissance solide, mais sous pression énergétique](https://www.infomediaire.net/economie-marocaine-croissance-choc-energetique-2026/) - La Quotidienne - [Economie marocaine : Le HCP prévoit une accélération de la croissance à 4,7% au quatrième trimestre](https://laquotidienne.ma/article/economie/Economie-marocaine-HCP) - La Vie éco - [Économie nationale : Une croissance de 4,1% au 3e trimestre 2026](https://www.lavieeco.com/au-royaume/economie-nationale-une-croissance-de-41-au-3e-trimestre-2026/) - Boursenews - [Maroc : la croissance économique attendue à 4,7% au T4 2026](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/Maroc-HCP-croissance-T4-2026) --- --- title: "Ain Atiq: Safran Expands Its Aircraft Wiring Plant and Promises Four Hundred Jobs" description: "Safran Electrical & Power inaugurated on October 13 the extension of its electrical harness plant in Ain Atiq, near Temara: 5,700 m² more, a floor area raised to 31,400 m² and four hundred additional jobs for a site that already employs one thousand six hundred and ten people." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/safran-ain-atiq-extension language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/safran-ain-atiq-extension type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-13T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.381Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aceafaa18a435ff7d2fa763_6aceafa95b08549df3533da0_safran-ain-atiq-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Ain Atiq: Safran Expands Its Aircraft Wiring Plant and Promises Four Hundred Jobs *Safran Electrical & Power inaugurated on October 13 the extension of its electrical harness plant in Ain Atiq, near Temara: 5,700 m² more, a floor area raised to 31,400 m² and four hundred additional jobs for a site that already employs one thousand six hundred and ten people.* ![A worker in a coat bearing the Moroccan flag works at an aircraft wiring bench, in front of a tangle of electrical harnesses.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aceafaa18a435ff7d2fa763_6aceafa95b08549df3533da0_safran-ain-atiq-main.webp) Safran Electrical & Power inaugurated on October 13 the extension of its Ain Atiq site, in the prefecture of Skhirate-Temara, in the presence of the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour. ![Three men in suits cut a red ribbon in a workshop, surrounded by guests.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b6f483664b0eb71d36f_6ae60621d8a6147dd06f5546_safran-ain-atiq-extension-inline.webp) *Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour, center, at the opening of the extension. Photo: Morocco World News.* The new buildings bring the plant to 31,400 m² and are expected to create four hundred additional jobs. Specialized in electrical harnesses for the major aircraft makers, the site employs one thousand six hundred and ten people, 87% of them women. This extension is one of three the group announced in October 2025, alongside Tiflet and Casablanca, in a program of more than 350 million euros that also includes a maintenance shop and a LEAP engine assembly line in Casablanca. Wiring, the oldest trade in Moroccan aerospace, will thus keep growing at the very moment the industry prepares to assemble its first engines. *Photo: Innovant Magazine.* ## References - Infomédiaire - [Safran agrandit son site d’Aïn Atiq et annonce 400 emplois supplémentaires](https://www.infomediaire.net/safran-extension-site-ain-atiq-400-emplois/) - Le Nouvelliste - [Industrie aéronautique : Safran étend son usine d’Ain Atiq](https://www.lenouvelliste.ma/industrie-aeronautique-safran-etend-son-usine-dain-atiq/) - Médias24 - [Aéronautique : Safran inaugure une extension à Aïn Atiq et prévoit 400 emplois supplémentaires](https://medias24.com/2026/10/13/aeronautique-safran-inaugure-une-extension-a-ain-atiq-et-prevoit-400-emplois-supplementaires-1778525/) - Safran - [Safran strengthens its industrial footprint in Morocco to support growth in global air traffic (October 13, 2025)](https://aeromorning.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/PR-Safran-strengthens-industrial-footprint-in-Morocco-VEn-VDEF.pdf) --- --- title: "IMF Sees Morocco Growing 4.5% in 2026, Current Account Deficit Widening to 4.9% of GDP" description: "In its World Economic Outlook published on October 13, the IMF forecasts Moroccan growth of 4.5% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027, inflation below 1.5% and a current account deficit widening to 4.9% of GDP this year." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fmi-perspectives-octobre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fmi-perspectives-octobre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-13T16:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:38:38.634Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e49ee5fe82e9601ffbf_6ae53c63a31725713a3ed1f2_fmi-perspectives-octobre-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # IMF Sees Morocco Growing 4.5% in 2026, Current Account Deficit Widening to 4.9% of GDP *In its World Economic Outlook published on October 13, the IMF forecasts Moroccan growth of 4.5% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027, inflation below 1.5% and a current account deficit widening to 4.9% of GDP this year.* ![Silvana Tenreyro, chief economist of the IMF, speaks behind her name card at the World Economic Outlook press briefing in Bangkok.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e49ee5fe82e9601ffbf_6ae53c63a31725713a3ed1f2_fmi-perspectives-octobre-2026-main.webp) The International Monetary Fund forecasts growth of 4.5% for Morocco in 2026, after 4.9% in 2025, in its World Economic Outlook published on October 13 from Bangkok under the title *Resilience under Strain, Urgent Choices*. ![AI-generated concept image: gantry cranes load a container ship at sunrise above rows of colorful containers and trucks on the quay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae619845d230cc1aeefaaac_6ae6193b1ca9e55bb18f6311_fmi-perspectives-octobre-2026-inline.webp) *A container terminal at sunrise. AI-generated concept image.* Growth would ease to 4.2% in 2027. Inflation would stay mild, at 0.9% this year and 1.4% next year, while unemployment would fall from 12.2% to 11.3% of the labor force. The other side shows in the external accounts: the current account deficit would go from 2.4% of GDP in 2025 to 4.9% in 2026, before easing back to 4.1% in 2027. Public debt would hold steady at 66.6% of GDP. The Fund’s forecast comes within a tenth of a point of the World Bank’s, which put growth at 4.4% a week earlier. *Photo: IMF.* ## References - International Monetary Fund - [World Economic Outlook, October 2026: Resilience under Strain, Urgent Choices](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2026/10/13/world-economic-outlook-october-2026) - International Monetary Fund - [World Economic Outlook database, October 2026 (Morocco)](https://data.imf.org/en/datasets/IMF.RES:WEO) --- --- title: "Mohammedia: Chamber of Commerce Launches an 82.56 Million Dirham Business Center" description: "The Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services broke ground on October 13 in Mohammedia on an eight-story International Business Center, an investment of 82.56 million dirhams bringing together business support, incubation, training and a showcase for Moroccan products." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mohammedia-centre-affaires language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mohammedia-centre-affaires type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-13T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.137Z tags: ["Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad156cf6108628c59d82904_6ad156cc30be393089860808_news-mohammedia-cai-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mohammedia: Chamber of Commerce Launches an 82.56 Million Dirham Business Center *The Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services broke ground on October 13 in Mohammedia on an eight-story International Business Center, an investment of 82.56 million dirhams bringing together business support, incubation, training and a showcase for Moroccan products.* ![Mohammedia seen from a plane, its port and breakwater reaching into the Atlantic, the city spread along the coast.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad156cf6108628c59d82904_6ad156cc30be393089860808_news-mohammedia-cai-main.webp) The Casablanca-Settat Regional Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services broke ground on October 13 on its International Business Center in Mohammedia, an investment of 82.56 million dirhams. ![A white neo-Moorish building with a rotunda, bearing a band reading “Chambre de commerce d’industrie et de services Casablanca-Settat” in Arabic, French and Tifinagh, with two Moroccan flags at the entrance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c76d2740562ba4c327a_6ae60662acea8bf85e7ede94_mohammedia-centre-affaires-inline.webp) *The facade of the Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services. Photo: LesEco.ma.* The eight-story building, in the heart of the city, will bring together offices, incubation spaces, and conference and training rooms. A permanent exhibition space will be set aside for national products, under the “Made in Morocco” banner. Once complete, the center will be the place where a company finds advice, training and a showcase under one roof. *Photo: Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Chambre de commerce, d’industrie et de services de Casablanca-Settat, communiqué relayé par Infomédiaire - [Mohammedia : 82,5 MDH pour le futur Centre d’Affaires International](https://www.infomediaire.net/centre-affaires-international-mohammedia-cciscs/) - Les Éco - [Mohammedia : un Centre d’affaires international de 82,5 MDH](https://leseco.ma/maroc/mohammedia-un-centre-daffaires-international-de-825-mdh.html) - Industries.ma - [Mohammedia : 82,56 millions de dirhams pour un nouveau centre d’affaires](https://industries.ma/mohammedia-8256-millions-de-dirhams-pour-un-nouveau-centre-daffaires/) --- --- title: "Marrakech Film Festival: Marion Cotillard to Chair the Jury of the Twenty-Third Edition" description: "French actress Marion Cotillard will chair the jury of the twenty-third Marrakech International Film Festival, from November 20 to 28, 2026. An Oscar winner in 2008 for La Vie en Rose, she will lead the jury choosing among first and second features competing for the Etoile d’Or." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fifm-2026-cotillard language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fifm-2026-cotillard type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-13T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:29:39.463Z tags: ["Cinema"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ace080d5a8e6ec66c146fd3_6ace080bcc1c607f8da736d4_fifm-cotillard-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marrakech Film Festival: Marion Cotillard to Chair the Jury of the Twenty-Third Edition *French actress Marion Cotillard will chair the jury of the twenty-third Marrakech International Film Festival, from November 20 to 28, 2026. An Oscar winner in 2008 for La Vie en Rose, she will lead the jury choosing among first and second features competing for the Etoile d’Or.* ![Marion Cotillard, in a black gown, smiles on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival, surrounded by photographers.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ace080d5a8e6ec66c146fd3_6ace080bcc1c607f8da736d4_fifm-cotillard-main.webp) Marion Cotillard will chair the jury of the twenty-third Marrakech International Film Festival, to be held from November 20 to 28, 2026. ![Marion Cotillard, in a long black coat and sequined skirt, poses before the festival’s red backdrop with a crowd behind her.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552492951c969dc1c9352_6ae551269716384d93ddf2b1_fifm-2026-cotillard.webp) *Marion Cotillard at the 18th Marrakech International Film Festival in 2019. Photo: AFP.* The jury will choose among the first and second feature films selected for the international competition and award the Etoile d’Or, the festival’s highest prize. A regular of the event since its first editions, the French actress said that supporting filmmakers as they take their first steps is “in its DNA,” and “it is a great joy for me to chair the jury this year.” First known through *Taxi*, Marion Cotillard rose to international stature with her Edith Piaf in *La Vie en Rose*, which won her the 2008 Academy Award for Best Actress. Her filmography has since taken her from Jacques Audiard to James Gray, from Christopher Nolan to the Dardenne brothers. Entrusting such a figure with a jury devoted to first and second films restates the calling Marrakech claims for itself, that of a springboard for new voices in world cinema. *Photo: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - La Vie éco - [FIFM : Marion Cotillard présidera le jury de la 23e édition](https://www.lavieeco.com/influences/culture/fifm-marion-cotillard-presidera-le-jury-de-la-23e-edition/) - Infomédiaire - [Festival de Marrakech 2026: Marion Cotillard présidera le jury de la 23e édition](https://www.infomediaire.net/marion-cotillard-jury-festival-marrakech-2026/) - Deadline - [Marion Cotillard Unveiled As Marrakech Film Festival Jury President](https://deadline.com/2026/10/marion-cotillard-2026-marrakech-festival-jury-president-1237155441/) --- --- title: "Coastal Fishing: Landings Up 19% by End of September, Their Value Barely 6%" description: "According to the ONP, coastal and small-scale fishing landed 965,832 tonnes by the end of September 2026, up 19%, for a value of 8.69 billion dirhams, up just 6%. Pelagic fish drive the volumes, with Laayoune and Tan-Tan leading the ports." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/peche-cotiere-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/peche-cotiere-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-12T21:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:26.943Z tags: ["Fisheries", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd5ef61c218b21915d1c21_6acd5ef1f8792c03aa77912a_onp-septembre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Coastal Fishing: Landings Up 19% by End of September, Their Value Barely 6% *According to the ONP, coastal and small-scale fishing landed 965,832 tonnes by the end of September 2026, up 19%, for a value of 8.69 billion dirhams, up just 6%. Pelagic fish drive the volumes, with Laayoune and Tan-Tan leading the ports.* ![A weathered wooden trawler hauled up on the slipway at the port of Essaouira, with fishing boats moored beyond.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd5ef61c218b21915d1c21_6acd5ef1f8792c03aa77912a_onp-septembre-main.webp) Moroccan nets are coming back heavier, but the takings are not keeping pace. According to the National Fisheries Office (ONP), coastal and small-scale fishing marketed 965,832 tonnes over the first nine months of 2026, 19% more than a year earlier, for 8.69 billion dirhams, up just 6%. ![A row of fishing boats with blue masts packed along a concrete quay under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5526b873e2c1f2bc1a6aa_6ae55135514ff03751591eba_peche-cotiere-septembre-2026.webp) *Coastal fishing boats moored at the quay in the port of Laayoune. Photo: YoTuT, CC BY 2.0.* Pelagic fish carry most of the momentum, at 812,567 tonnes (+25%) and 3.03 billion dirhams (+20%). Cephalopods, at 49,383 tonnes, are worth 3.91 billion dirhams on their own, while white fish fell 13%. Laayoune remains by far the leading port, with 247,572 tonnes (+41%), and Tan-Tan jumped 73%, while Agadir fell 55%. Essaouira sums up the gap between weight and value: its landings rose 63%, yet their value dropped 20%. The Mediterranean, from Tangier to Saidia, follows the same slope, with volumes up 7% for a value down 10%. The season, then, belongs to small pelagics, plentiful but lower-priced. *Photo: World Imaging, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Office national des pêches - [Rapport statistique, septembre 2026](https://www.onp.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/RAPPORT-STATISTIQUE-SEPTEMBRE-2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Figuig: A New Needle-Toothed Jurassic Crocodylomorph Described From Talsint" description: "A team from the University of Portsmouth and Hassan II University describes Ctenosuchus tenuidens, a Middle Jurassic teleosaurid crocodylomorph from the Talsint-Anoual area of Figuig Province. Its needle-like teeth, more than ten times taller than wide, point to a diet of small prey." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ctenosuchus-talsint language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ctenosuchus-talsint type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-12T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.720Z tags: ["Science", "Archaeology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd5ef3fdd8e73bf61fcb08_6acd5ef1fa1cb41c2144b4ad_ctenosuchus-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Figuig: A New Needle-Toothed Jurassic Crocodylomorph Described From Talsint *A team from the University of Portsmouth and Hassan II University describes Ctenosuchus tenuidens, a Middle Jurassic teleosaurid crocodylomorph from the Talsint-Anoual area of Figuig Province. Its needle-like teeth, more than ten times taller than wide, point to a diet of small prey.* ![A man in a djellaba leaning against a stone wall, facing the hazy ridges around Talsint in Figuig Province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd5ef3fdd8e73bf61fcb08_6acd5ef1fa1cb41c2144b4ad_ctenosuchus-main.webp) Needle-thin teeth, more than ten times taller than they are wide: that is what sets apart *Ctenosuchus tenuidens*, a new genus and species of crocodylomorph described on October 8 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. ![A brown and white block of rock holding fossil bones lies on a wooden table next to a red scalpel.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55225138cc6a1b015844a_6ae55117c4ee1a2d8ec4be90_ctenosuchus-talsint.webp) *The fossil of Ctenosuchus tenuidens studied by the University of Portsmouth team. Photo: University of Portsmouth.* The study, led by a team from the University of Portsmouth with Samir Zouhri of Hassan II University of Casablanca, presents a teleosaurid, a distant long-snouted cousin of crocodiles. It comes from a Middle Jurassic river and lake sequence in the Talsint-Anoual area of Figuig Province. The authors read in these teeth a specialized diet, most likely of small crustaceans, fish and soft-bodied animals. Thalattosuchians abound in Laurasia, but their diversity in Gondwana remains poorly known. The Talsint animal, a freshwater dweller, widens the picture. The two specimens studied were, however, acquired from collectors. Returning to the field, the researchers found traces of unscientific digging and cannot confirm the fossils’ exact provenance with certainty. *Photo: Charaf7, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology - [A new teleosauroid (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) with a unique dentition from the Middle Jurassic of eastern Morocco](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2026.2728670) --- --- title: "Kenitra: Gotion’s Gigafactory Will Start Up Its Equipment the Week of October 20" description: "Gotion Power Morocco has announced that the commissioning of production equipment at its Kenitra gigafactory will begin the week of October 20. The plant will make lithium iron phosphate cells and batteries, and more than four hundred Moroccans, most trained in China, have been recruited there." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gotion-kenitra-mise-en-service language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gotion-kenitra-mise-en-service type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-12T15:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.105Z tags: ["Industry", "Automotive", "Energy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd0a0f25517dcd25276966_6acd0a0de61e3f5447c91116_gotion-equipements-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Kenitra: Gotion’s Gigafactory Will Start Up Its Equipment the Week of October 20 *Gotion Power Morocco has announced that the commissioning of production equipment at its Kenitra gigafactory will begin the week of October 20. The plant will make lithium iron phosphate cells and batteries, and more than four hundred Moroccans, most trained in China, have been recruited there.* ![Yellow lithium iron phosphate battery cells, linked in series by tinned copper busbars, lined up in a storage bay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acd0a0f25517dcd25276966_6acd0a0de61e3f5447c91116_gotion-equipements-main.webp) Morocco’s first battery gigafactory is entering its decisive phase: Gotion Power Morocco, a subsidiary of China’s Gotion High-Tech, announced on October 12 that the commissioning of its equipment in Kenitra will begin the week of October 20, 2026. ![Portrait of Khalid Qalam in a dark suit and red tie, smiling in front of a shelf.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bbba3eb9f6217a09248_6ae60a17c9c7b5d3229c7758_gotion-kenitra-mise-en-service-inline.webp) *Khalid Qalam, president of Gotion Power Morocco. Photo: La Vie eco.* The plant will make lithium iron phosphate cells and batteries for the automotive and energy storage sectors, and will serve the African continent, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The company says it has recruited more than four hundred Moroccan staff. “The start-up of the equipment, on October 20, is only a first step,” warns Khalid Qalam, chairman of its board. On September 28, Gotion High-Tech and Volkswagen, one of its shareholders, announced a joint venture in Kenitra to produce 100,000 tonnes of cathode materials a year, enough to feed the cells from upstream. If the ramp-up keeps its promises, the Kingdom will no longer settle for assembling other people’s electric cars. It will make their heart. *Photo: Yo-Co-Man, CC BY-SA 4.0, illustrative image.* ## References - Médias24 - [Batteries. Gotion mettra en service les équipements de sa gigafactory de Kénitra la semaine du 20 octobre](https://medias24.com/2026/10/12/batteries-gotion-mettra-en-service-les-equipements-de-sa-gigafactory-de-kenitra-la-semaine-du-20-octobre-1777351/) - Challenge - [Gotion fixe la date du démarrage de sa gigafactory de Kénitra](https://www.challenge.ma/gotion-fixe-la-date-du-demarrage-de-sa-gigafactory-de-kenitra-325317/) - Industries du Maroc - [Gotion Power Morocco : démarrage des équipements de la Gigafactory de Kénitra dès le 20 octobre](https://industries.ma/gotion-power-morocco-demarrage-des-equipements-de-la-gigafactory-de-kenitra-des-le-20-octobre/) --- --- title: "Show Jumping: Morocco Second in the Rabat Nations Cup, Beaten by France in a Jump-Off" description: "Morocco took second place on Sunday in the Nations Cup of the Rabat CSIO4*-W, the second leg of the Morocco Royal Tour: through to a four-way jump-off, Abdelkebir Ouaddar was beaten only by France’s Jeanne Sadran, 33.24 seconds to 33.78." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/coupe-nations-rabat-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/coupe-nations-rabat-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-12T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.615Z tags: ["Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6accb3dcf9eca3b0a408b00b_6accb3dade8ba84bf21490d2_rabat-coupe-nations-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Show Jumping: Morocco Second in the Rabat Nations Cup, Beaten by France in a Jump-Off *Morocco took second place on Sunday in the Nations Cup of the Rabat CSIO4*-W, the second leg of the Morocco Royal Tour: through to a four-way jump-off, Abdelkebir Ouaddar was beaten only by France’s Jeanne Sadran, 33.24 seconds to 33.78.* ![French rider Alix Ragot clears a Morocco Royal Tour fence on the Dar Es Salam arena in Rabat.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6accb3dcf9eca3b0a408b00b_6accb3dade8ba84bf21490d2_rabat-coupe-nations-main.webp) In front of a home crowd, Morocco’s team took second place on Sunday, October 11, in the Nations Cup of the Rabat CSIO4*-W, held at the Dar Es Salam royal equestrian complex during the second week of the Morocco Royal Tour. ![Three teams of riders hold up their trophies on a white podium marked Nations Cup Rabat 2026, on a sand arena.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5526dd7596d1c36841539_6ae5513684ac985b1d55c63f_coupe-nations-rabat-2026.webp) *Morocco’s team, in green jackets, on the Rabat Nations Cup podium. Photo: Morocco World News.* The Moroccan riders conceded only four penalty points over both rounds, level with France, Germany and Belgium, which forced a four-way jump-off. First to go, Abdelkebir Ouaddar, riding Festival d’Argouges, went clear in 33.78 seconds, before France’s Jeanne Sadran and Dexter de Kerglenn beat him in 33.24 seconds. The podium is no small thing: the newly appointed coach, Frenchman Philippe Rozier, had set himself two goals, a medal at the Mediterranean Games, where the team won two, and a return to a Nations Cup podium. The tour now heads for El Jadida, its first five-star show, where most riders will open their indoor season. *Photo: Morocco Royal Tour, C. Bedouet.* ## References - Morocco Royal Tour - [France wins in Rabat](https://mrt.ma/en/2026/10/11/france-wins-in-rabat/) --- --- title: "Hydrogen: Aftissat Wind Farm Surplus Could Yield Nearly 510 Metric Tons a Year" description: "A Hassan II University study published October 8 in the journal Hydrogen estimates that the Aftissat wind farm’s surplus, 29.2 GWh a year above an assumed 150 MW export limit, could produce 509.7 metric tons of hydrogen a year at 2.866 euros per kilogram." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aftissat-hydrogene-surplus language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aftissat-hydrogene-surplus type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-11T21:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.981Z tags: ["Energy", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acc0c813cd54160b13d1efe_6acc0c7f356cc379446ab1e5_aftissat-hydrogene-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Hydrogen: Aftissat Wind Farm Surplus Could Yield Nearly 510 Metric Tons a Year *A Hassan II University study published October 8 in the journal Hydrogen estimates that the Aftissat wind farm’s surplus, 29.2 GWh a year above an assumed 150 MW export limit, could produce 509.7 metric tons of hydrogen a year at 2.866 euros per kilogram.* ![Two wind turbines of the Tarfaya wind farm, in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, rise against a blue sky above a sand dune.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acc0c813cd54160b13d1efe_6acc0c7f356cc379446ab1e5_aftissat-hydrogene-main.webp) Four researchers from ENSET, Hassan II University of Casablanca, published on October 8 in the scientific journal Hydrogen an assessment of how much hydrogen the Aftissat wind farm, in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, could produce from the electricity it cannot feed into the grid. ![Five white wind turbines in a row under a hazy sky, above desert scrub.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bf58f759189940463db_6ae60642acea8bf85e7edb0b_aftissat-hydrogene-surplus-inline.webp) *Turbines of the first phase of the Aftissat wind farm in 2021. Photo: APSO, via Western Sahara Resource Watch.* Their model rebuilds hour by hour the year 2024 for the farm’s 56 turbines, 201.6 MW installed, with a 150 MW export limit. Beyond that threshold, some 29.2 GWh a year, or 3.12% of net output, would be lost. Converting all of it would take a 10.87 MW electrolyzer, yielding 509.7 metric tons of hydrogen a year at a levelized cost of 2.866 euros per kilogram. The figure describes neither a project nor a contract: the authors reason on a hypothetical installation, with the farm’s overall losses set at 20% by assumption and perfect foresight of the coming wind. Each slice of surplus recovered costs more than the last, and the electrolyzer would run only 3,198 hours a year. The loss assumption weighs heavier still: cut to 10%, it would lift the surplus to 102 GWh. Morocco is aiming for 52% of its installed power capacity from renewables by 2030, the authors recall, and grid connections will then weigh as much as the turbines. *Photo: TEDxTarfaya, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Hydrogen (MDPI), Bibih, Choukri, El Khaili, Chakir - [Techno-Economic Optimization of Wind-to-Hydrogen Integration for Progressive Curtailment Reduction Under Grid Export Constraints](https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrogen7040151) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Dirham Slips Against the Euro and Dollar, MASI Sheds 4.19% in a Week" description: "According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s weekly bulletin, the dirham slipped against the euro and the dollar from October 1 to 7, and the MASI fell 4.19% to 16,990.77 points, taking its loss since January to 9.85%. Official reserve assets reached 515.7 billion dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-dirham-masi-octobre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-dirham-masi-octobre type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-11T15:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.715Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e85174753539d01659a_6ae53c807dca7618213c7dc1_bam-dirham-masi-octobre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Dirham Slips Against the Euro and Dollar, MASI Sheds 4.19% in a Week *According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s weekly bulletin, the dirham slipped against the euro and the dollar from October 1 to 7, and the MASI fell 4.19% to 16,990.77 points, taking its loss since January to 9.85%. Official reserve assets reached 515.7 billion dirhams.* ![The rounded glass front of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, with its electronic ticker scrolling share prices.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e85174753539d01659a_6ae53c807dca7618213c7dc1_bam-dirham-masi-octobre-main.webp) The weekly bulletin of Bank Al-Maghrib for October 1 to 7 records a hard week for the dirham and for the Casablanca market alike. ![A hand fans out 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirham banknotes in front of a stone tower and column stumps.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c1e3615be706beb2b4b_6ae6064c44d07ced11378598_bam-dirham-masi-octobre-inline.webp) *Moroccan banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams. Photo: Berdaiothmane10, CC0.* The euro’s reference rate went from 10.998 dirhams on September 30 to 11.162 dirhams on October 7, and the dollar’s from 9.682 to 9.977 dirhams. The MASI closed the period at 16,990.77 points, down 4.19% on the week and 9.85% since December 31, 2025, while average daily volume fell from 383.5 to 227.1 million dirhams. The central bank still has room. Its official reserve assets stood at 515.7 billion dirhams on October 2, up 23% on a year, the equivalent of five months and twenty-four days of imports of goods and services. Since January the benchmark index will have lost nearly a tenth of its value, while capitalization is down by only 3.90%. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Indicateurs hebdomadaires, semaine du 01 au 07 octobre 2026](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/852110/9193995/TDB%20indicateurs%20de%20l%E2%80%99%C3%A9conomie%20nationale%20de%20la%20semaine%20du%2001%20au%2007%20octobre%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Aerospace: Matis, APS Coating and Mecapole Pledge 950 Jobs at the Marrakech Air Show" description: "At the Marrakech Air Show, Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade signed three memoranda on October 8 with APS Coating, Matis Aerospace and Mecapole, covering surface treatment, wiring and machining for aircraft, for nine hundred and fifty direct jobs in all, according to MAP." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/airshow-protocoles-aero language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/airshow-protocoles-aero type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-10T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.369Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae6140401ac421cc41f938d_6ae60a03bc0ed2f9666bbcbc_airshow-protocoles-aero-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Aerospace: Matis, APS Coating and Mecapole Pledge 950 Jobs at the Marrakech Air Show *At the Marrakech Air Show, Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade signed three memoranda on October 8 with APS Coating, Matis Aerospace and Mecapole, covering surface treatment, wiring and machining for aircraft, for nine hundred and fifty direct jobs in all, according to MAP.* ![Three men in suits hold up green document folders stamped with the Moroccan star at a signing at the Marrakech Air Show.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae6140401ac421cc41f938d_6ae60a03bc0ed2f9666bbcbc_airshow-protocoles-aero-hero-main.webp) On the second day of the Marrakech Air Show, October 8, Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade signed three memoranda of understanding with aerospace manufacturers, adding up to 950 direct jobs, according to MAP. ![AI-generated concept image: aircraft wiring harnesses stretched across assembly boards in an aerospace workshop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae6140401ac421cc41f93b3_6ae60a02bbbd9f296de2c4c7_airshow-protocoles-aero-inline.webp) *Aircraft electrical wiring harnesses being assembled. AI-generated concept image.* Matis Aerospace undertook to expand its aircraft electrical wiring unit with nearly 16.5 million dollars and 750 direct jobs, nearly eight in ten of the total. APS Coating would set up a surface-treatment unit, investing 18 million euros for 120 jobs, and Mecapole would expand its machining of parts for airplanes and helicopters, for 10 million euros and 80 jobs. They remain memoranda for now: their text has not been posted, no commissioning date has been made public, and the reported locations differ from one outlet to the next. These pledges will tell in the coming months whether they become workshops. *Photo: Le Matin (Saouri).* ## References - MAP (via Maroc24) - [Marrakech Airshow 2026: Le ministère de l’Industrie et du Commerce signe des protocoles d’accord avec des acteurs mondiaux du secteur de l’aviation](https://www.maroc24.com/fr/203652-marrakech-airshow-2026-le-ministere-de-l-industrie-et-du-commerce-signe-des-protocoles-d-accord-avec-des-acteurs-mondiaux-du-secteur-de-l-aviation/) - Le360 - [Marrakech Air Show 2026: ce que prévoient cinq accords industriels signés en deuxième journée](https://fr.le360.ma/economie/marrakech-air-show-2026-ce-que-prevoient-cinq-accords-industriels-signes-en-deuxieme-journee_FX6PCLDWBFEGXHSZMHA3HPAG5A/) - Le Desk - [Matis, Mecapole et APS Coating s’engagent sur 950 emplois aéronautiques au Maroc](https://ledesk.ma/2026/10/08/matis-mecapole-et-aps-coating-sengagent-sur-950-emplois-aeronautiques-au-maroc/) --- --- title: "Fertilizers: Competition Council Reviews Koch’s Bid for Half of Jorf Fertilizers Company I" description: "Morocco’s Competition Council has published the filing for a deal under which a Koch subsidiary would take 50% of Jorf Fertilizers Company I, an OCP Nutricrops plant at Jorf Lasfar. Third parties have until October 19 to comment; the agreement, signed in July, awaits approval." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/koch-jfc1-concurrence language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/koch-jfc1-concurrence type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-10T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.725Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aca675c725b84c669182ec6_6aca675b3a20933c457951a7_koch-jfc1-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fertilizers: Competition Council Reviews Koch’s Bid for Half of Jorf Fertilizers Company I *Morocco’s Competition Council has published the filing for a deal under which a Koch subsidiary would take 50% of Jorf Fertilizers Company I, an OCP Nutricrops plant at Jorf Lasfar. Third parties have until October 19 to comment; the agreement, signed in July, awaits approval.* ![OCP’s port at Jorf Lasfar, with its conveyors and storage sheds and the complex’s industrial units in the background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aca675c725b84c669182ec6_6aca675b3a20933c457951a7_koch-jfc1-main.webp) Morocco’s Competition Council published on October 8 the summary of a deal under which a company controlled by the American conglomerate Koch, Inc. would acquire 50% of Jorf Fertilizers Company I (JFC1), a wholly owned subsidiary of OCP Nutricrops, and share control of it with OCP’s unit. ![A long beige mound of fertilizer under the arched steel frame of a shed, with a conveyor running overhead.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5524cd7596d1c36840d2e_6ae55127c4ee1a2d8ec4c871_koch-jfc1-concurrence.webp) *An OCP fertilizer storage shed in Jorf Lasfar. Photo: TelQuel.* JFC1 runs three units at Jorf Lasfar, devoted to phosphoric acid, phosphate fertilizers and sulfuric acid. According to Koch, the plant can produce up to 1.2 million metric tons of fertilizer a year. Interested third parties have until October 19 to submit their comments. Signed on July 17, the agreement remains subject to regulatory approval. It extends an alliance formed in 2022, when Koch took half of Jorf Fertilizers Company III, renamed Kofert. The two joint ventures will total some 2.5 million metric tons of annual capacity. Koch saw in it a gateway to the North American market, helped by the temporary suspension of U.S. countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers. *Photo: BCInsight.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence - [Communiqué du Conseil de la concurrence relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant l’acquisition par la société « KAES Phosphate Holdings, LLC » du contrôle conjoint de la société « Jorf Fertilizers Company I, SA »](https://conseil-concurrence.ma/communique-du-conseil-de-la-concurrence-relatif-au-projet-de-concentration-economique-concernant-lacquisition-par-la-societe-kaes-phosphate-holdings-llc-du-controle-conjoint-de/) - Koch Ag & Energy Solutions - [Koch Ag & Energy Solutions and OCP to Expand Long-Standing Partnership with New Joint Venture](https://kochfertilizer.com/newsroom/koch-ag-energy-solutions-and-ocp-to-expand-long-standing-par) --- --- title: "Phosphate Fertilizers: Washington Sets April 1, 2027 Hearing on Duties Targeting Morocco" description: "The U.S. International Trade Commission will hear the parties on April 1, 2027 in its review of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia. It will decide whether lifting them would harm U.S. industry, after the Commerce Department preliminarily backed keeping them." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/usitc-phosphates-audience-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/usitc-phosphates-audience-2027 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-10T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.618Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aca115c93b0a03ce65188cc_6aca115a8eabc36f277f7878_usitc-phosphates-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Phosphate Fertilizers: Washington Sets April 1, 2027 Hearing on Duties Targeting Morocco *The U.S. International Trade Commission will hear the parties on April 1, 2027 in its review of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia. It will decide whether lifting them would harm U.S. industry, after the Commerce Department preliminarily backed keeping them.* ![Granules of diammonium phosphate (DAP), a phosphate fertilizer, in a black dish.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aca115c93b0a03ce65188cc_6aca115a8eabc36f277f7878_usitc-phosphates-main.webp) The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has set the schedule for its five-year review of the countervailing duties imposed since 2021 on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, in a notice published on October 9 in the Federal Register. ![A glass office building with a rounded corner at an intersection lined with bare trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5526f61a40d5fffba69cd_6ae551376e325be1a8b0b39e_usitc-phosphates-audience-2027.webp) *The headquarters of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in Washington. Photo: Toytoy, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The hearing will be held in Washington on April 1, 2027, and the parties’ final comments are due on April 29. The Commission must determine whether lifting the duties would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of material injury to the U.S. industry. In July, the Commerce Department found, on a preliminary basis, that revoking the order would likely lead to continued subsidies at a rate of 20.04% for OCP and all other Moroccan exporters. It now falls to the Commission to rule on injury, without which the duties lapse. The temporary suspension granted by the White House on June 29, valid for eight months at most, will have ended before the hearing even opens. The fate of Moroccan phosphates on the American market will thus be decided in the spring, in Washington. *Photo: Suyash Dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Federal Register (U.S. International Trade Commission) - [Phosphate Fertilizers From Morocco and Russia; Scheduling of Full Five-Year Reviews](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/09/2026-20715/phosphate-fertilizers-from-morocco-and-russia-scheduling-of-full-five-year-reviews) - Federal Register (Department of Commerce) - [Phosphate Fertilizers From the Kingdom of Morocco: Preliminary Results of First Full Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14971/phosphate-fertilizers-from-the-kingdom-of-morocco-preliminary-results-of-first-full-sunset-review-of) - Federal Register (Executive Office of the President) - [Declaration of Emergency and Authorization for Temporary Duty-Free Importation of Phosphate Fertilizer From Morocco](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/02/2026-13588/declaration-of-emergency-and-authorization-for-temporary-duty-free-importation-of-phosphate) --- --- title: "Livestock: USDA Grants Morocco Up to 33.1 Million Dollars Under Food for Progress" description: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Morocco for a new five-year Food for Progress award of up to 33.1 million dollars for food safety and livestock, funded by the sale of 33,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean meal and wheat." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/usda-food-for-progress-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/usda-food-for-progress-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T22:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.576Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac96d5b9ffe7b5ab0fa6d5d_6ac96d5701a54859a64f5ff2_usda-elevage-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Livestock: USDA Grants Morocco Up to 33.1 Million Dollars Under Food for Progress *The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Morocco for a new five-year Food for Progress award of up to 33.1 million dollars for food safety and livestock, funded by the sale of 33,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean meal and wheat.* ![Black-and-white dairy cows in a covered barn in Morocco, one of them nosing through the straw on the ground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac96d5b9ffe7b5ab0fa6d5d_6ac96d5701a54859a64f5ff2_usda-elevage-main.webp) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected Morocco as one of seven countries to receive a new five-year award under its Food for Progress program, the U.S. Embassy in Morocco announced on Friday, October 9. ![A large bulk carrier with a black and red hull and deck cranes is moored at a quay, with port buildings and a crane behind it.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552271596dcfd31dbe5a3_6ae55118cf18edc9b43ba0ca_usda-food-for-progress-maroc.webp) *The bulk carrier Golden Grains at a quay in the port of Casablanca. Photo: Farid Mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The kingdom will receive up to 33.1 million dollars to strengthen food safety and the livestock sector. The mechanism is an unusual one: the project will be funded by the sale of 33,000 metric tons of U.S.-grown soybean meal and wheat. Implemented by Counterpart International, it is expected to benefit about five thousand people. The project’s timeline and the split between its components have not yet been specified. The embassy framed the announcement as part of the celebration of 250 years of friendship between the two countries. *Photo: Amine Charnoubi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ambassade des États-Unis au Maroc - [Congratulations to Morocco on being selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as one of seven countries to receive a new five-year Food for Progress award](https://x.com/USEmbMorocco/status/2108621002951250406) - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - [Stakeholder Notice: Announcing FY 2026 Priority Countries for America First International Food Assistance Programming](https://www.fas.usda.gov/newsroom/stakeholder-notice-announcing-fy-2026-priority-countries-america-first-international-food) --- --- title: "Mohammed V Airport: ONDA Launches Tenders Worth Over 505 Million Dirhams for New Terminal" description: "ONDA has launched three tenders, estimated at over 505 million dirhams, for the future terminal of Casablanca Mohammed V airport: jet bridges and guidance equipment, an interchange on road RP3038, and quality control of the works. Bids are due by November 24." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/onda-terminal-cmn-passerelles language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/onda-terminal-cmn-passerelles type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.677Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tourism", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac96d589e758fdd9c7cae5d_6ac96d56f9b50e55dc5f3aa6_onda-cmn-passerelle-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mohammed V Airport: ONDA Launches Tenders Worth Over 505 Million Dirhams for New Terminal *ONDA has launched three tenders, estimated at over 505 million dirhams, for the future terminal of Casablanca Mohammed V airport: jet bridges and guidance equipment, an interchange on road RP3038, and quality control of the works. Bids are due by November 24.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 parked on the apron at Mohammed V airport, beside a jet bridge.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac96d589e758fdd9c7cae5d_6ac96d56f9b50e55dc5f3aa6_onda-cmn-passerelle-main.webp) The future terminal of Casablanca Mohammed V airport is entering its equipment phase. The National Airports Office (ONDA) has posted three open tenders with combined estimates of more than 505 million dirhams including tax. ![Aerial view of a terminal with a white undulating roof, Royal Air Maroc aircraft lined up at its jet bridges, at sunset.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5524e2951c969dc1c95cf_6ae55128a1050a963f899dca_onda-terminal-cmn-passerelles.webp) *An architect’s view of the future terminal at Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport. Image: TelQuel.* The largest, valued at 362.3 million, covers the jet bridges, power converters and docking guidance systems that will receive aircraft at the terminal’s contact stands. Bids are due by November 24. The other two, closing on November 19, cover a road interchange linking the new terminal area to provincial road RP3038, estimated at 113 million dirhams, and a quality control mission for the works, at 30 million. These contracts follow the November 2025 tender in which ONDA put the construction of the terminal building itself out to bid. The jet bridges will let travelers board straight from the lounges, with no bus or stairs on the tarmac. The new terminal will thus rise contract by contract, from the interchange to the aircraft door. *Photo: MBurch, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Office national des aéroports - [197/26/AOO/ONDA : Construction d’une nouvelle zone Terminale à l’Aéroport Casablanca Mohammed V - Fourniture, installation, mise en service et maintenance des passerelles télescopiques, convertisseurs et mires de guidage](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=o8p&refConsultation=1047840) - Office national des aéroports - [195/26/AOO/ONDA : Travaux de réalisation d’un échangeur routier de liaison avec la RP3038](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=o8p&refConsultation=1047352) - Office national des aéroports - [156/26/AOO/ONDA : Construction d’une nouvelle zone terminale à l’aéroport Casablanca Mohammed V : Contrôle et suivi de la qualité](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&orgAcronyme=o8p&refConsultation=1047838) --- --- title: "Royal Air Maroc: Thales to Digitize Its Pilots’ Work With AvioBook Flight for Five Years" description: "Royal Air Maroc has chosen Thales to equip its pilots with AvioBook Flight, the electronic flight bag of its AvioBook subsidiary, for five years. Announced in Marrakech, the deal is meant to streamline procedures, save fuel and support a fleet targeted at two hundred aircraft by 2037." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-thales-aviobook language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-thales-aviobook type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T17:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.681Z tags: ["Technology", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac91b8e30f6d70cb1acfef1_6ac91b8a5c869870e794ded3_ram-737-cn-rnu-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Royal Air Maroc: Thales to Digitize Its Pilots’ Work With AvioBook Flight for Five Years *Royal Air Maroc has chosen Thales to equip its pilots with AvioBook Flight, the electronic flight bag of its AvioBook subsidiary, for five years. Announced in Marrakech, the deal is meant to streamline procedures, save fuel and support a fleet targeted at two hundred aircraft by 2037.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800, registration CN-RNU, taxiing on a grass-lined runway.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac91b8e30f6d70cb1acfef1_6ac91b8a5c869870e794ded3_ram-737-cn-rnu-main.webp) French group Thales has been selected by Royal Air Maroc to supply its pilots with AvioBook Flight, an electronic flight bag, under a five-year agreement announced on October 8 in Marrakech, on the sidelines of the air show. ![Two tablets show flight planning screens in front of an airplane wing above the clouds at sunset.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552713b9a03db7f292175_6ae55138b78e773639410505_ram-thales-aviobook.webp) *Thales’s AvioBook Flight app on two tablets, in a product visual. Image: Thales.* The tool digitizes crew procedures across the whole flight cycle. The group expects it to improve fuel management, shorten turnarounds and lighten workloads. The value of the contract has not been disclosed. The agreement extends a long relationship: Thales already works with the national carrier on in-flight entertainment, maintenance and cybersecurity, and credits AvioBook with seventy airline customers worldwide. The electronic flight bag will follow the growth of a fleet RAM intends to take to two hundred aircraft by 2037. *Photo: Robbie Klinkenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Thales - [Thales selected by Royal Air Maroc to digitalise flight operations with AvioBook Flight](https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/news-centre/press-releases/thales-selected-royal-air-maroc-digitalise-flight-operations-aviobook) --- --- title: "Fes: Regional Investment Center Seeks an Operator for a Panoramic Cable Car by the Medina" description: "The Fes-Meknes Regional Investment Center is calling for expressions of interest in a tourist cable car of 1,500 to 3,500 meters linking two high points of Fes, with views over the medina. Applications are due by January 9, 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fes-telepherique-ami language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fes-telepherique-ami type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.795Z tags: ["Tourism", "Fes"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac91b8c81aaf32671d68253_6ac91b89805ef69977d5c654_fes-telepherique-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fes: Regional Investment Center Seeks an Operator for a Panoramic Cable Car by the Medina *The Fes-Meknes Regional Investment Center is calling for expressions of interest in a tourist cable car of 1,500 to 3,500 meters linking two high points of Fes, with views over the medina. Applications are due by January 9, 2027.* ![The medina of Fes el-Bali seen from the northern heights, its packed rooftops stretching to the hills behind a rammed-earth wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac91b8c81aaf32671d68253_6ac91b89805ef69977d5c654_fes-telepherique-main.webp) The Fes-Meknes Regional Investment Center (CRI) has launched a call for expressions of interest to design, build and operate a tourist cable car in Fes, according to a file dated October 7. ![Two ruined ocher rammed-earth structures pierced by arches stand under a blue sky, with white houses in the distance on the left.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5522929f46b9e4e58eb24_6ae55119ee7459bdf5e7f6ed_fes-telepherique-ami.webp) *The ruins of the Marinid Tombs on the heights above Fes. Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0.* The line, 1,500 to 3,500 meters long, will link two high points still to be chosen and is meant to offer panoramic views of the medina. The route, cabin capacity and investment remain to be set. Preselection applications are due at the CRI’s headquarters by January 9, 2027. The real test will be heritage. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, the medina must lose neither its vistas nor its visual integrity, and the file asks bidders to look first for sites outside the historic fabric, without flying directly over Fes el-Bali. Selection will fall to a committee that includes the wilaya, the region, the municipality and the Regional Directorate of Culture, and a lack of proven references in cable transport will be disqualifying. *Photo: Jerzystrzelecki, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Centre régional d’investissement Fès-Meknès - [AMI : Conception, réalisation et exploitation d’un projet de téléphérique dans la ville de Fès](https://fesmeknesinvest.ma/ami-conception-realisation-et-exploitation-dun-projet-de-telepherique-dans-la-ville-de-fes/) - Centre régional d’investissement Fès-Meknès - [Appel à manifestation d’intérêt, projet de téléphérique dans la ville de Fès (dossier, 7 octobre 2026)](https://fesmeknesinvest.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Projet_AMI_Telepherique_Fes_7_octobre_2026_VF.pdf) --- --- title: "Digital Dirham: Prototype Tested With the IMF and World Bank Judged Feasible" description: "In a working paper published on October 9, three Bank Al-Maghrib researchers reveal that a retail digital dirham prototype, tested with the IMF and the World Bank, confirmed its technical feasibility. They recommend a non-interest-bearing, capped currency, with no issuance timetable." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/dirham-digital-prototype language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/dirham-digital-prototype type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.613Z tags: ["Finance", "Technology", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec99f58d7fc365b617e_6ae53d42174753539d00e730_dirham-digital-prototype-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Digital Dirham: Prototype Tested With the IMF and World Bank Judged Feasible *In a working paper published on October 9, three Bank Al-Maghrib researchers reveal that a retail digital dirham prototype, tested with the IMF and the World Bank, confirmed its technical feasibility. They recommend a non-interest-bearing, capped currency, with no issuance timetable.* ![The cover of the Bank Al-Maghrib working paper “Monnaie Digitale de Banque Centrale: Enjeux et enseignements pour le Maroc” by Chaymae Chaoui, Kamal Lahlou and Mohammed Mikou, October 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec99f58d7fc365b617e_6ae53d42174753539d00e730_dirham-digital-prototype-main.webp) Bank Al-Maghrib published on October 9 a working paper on central bank digital currency, whose authors, three of its researchers, reveal that a proof of concept has already been run with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This retail digital dirham prototype tested issuance, distribution, person-to-person payments and interoperability with existing infrastructure. Its results confirmed the technical feasibility of such a currency in Morocco. A second project, devoted to cross-border payments, is being conducted with the Central Bank of Egypt, with World Bank support. The model sketched leaves issuance and supervision to Bank Al-Maghrib, and distribution to banks and payment institutions. So as not to drain bank deposits, the digital dirham would at first bear no interest and carry caps. Currency in circulation rose from 70 billion dirhams in 2001 to more than 500 billion in 2025, and only 62% of resident individuals held a bank account last year. The authors see this as a reason to design a currency that reproduces the strengths of cash. The paper, which commits only its authors, sets no issuance timetable. *Photo: Bank Al-Maghrib.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Monnaie Digitale de Banque Centrale : Enjeux et enseignements pour le Maroc (document de travail)](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/852055/9193624/file/MDBC_VF_Oct2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Customs: Morocco’s ADIL Online Assistant Opens to Exports and Estimates Import Duties" description: "Moroccan customs has launched a new version of ADIL, its clearance assistant: the tool now covers exports and adds a simulator of import duties and taxes, details of specific levies and foreign trade statistics by tariff heading." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/adil-douane-export language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/adil-douane-export type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T11:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.187Z tags: ["Logistics", "Technology", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e4cb78e77363938edf1_6ae53c647dca7618213c7024_adil-douane-export-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Customs: Morocco’s ADIL Online Assistant Opens to Exports and Estimates Import Duties *Moroccan customs has launched a new version of ADIL, its clearance assistant: the tool now covers exports and adds a simulator of import duties and taxes, details of specific levies and foreign trade statistics by tariff heading.* ![The home page of Moroccan customs’ ADIL assistant, with its Import and Export tabs, the duty and tax simulator button and the Nomenclature, Import, Export, Simulator, Statistics and Help sections.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e4cb78e77363938edf1_6ae53c647dca7618213c7024_adil-douane-export-main.webp) Morocco’s Customs and Excise Administration (ADII) has opened ADIL to exports, the online assistant it had until now reserved for preparing imports, according to a statement carried this week by the Moroccan press. ![Two customs officers in blue uniforms look over a document beside a customs pickup truck, next to a white truck cab parked under a canopy.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c78f60da09293159000_6ae60a24d10e1b06c9ba58e5_adil-douane-export-inline.webp) *Moroccan customs officers next to a freight truck. Photo: Hespress.* For each good, the tool gathers the required documents, the formalities, the tax regimes and the tariff advantages provided by the agreements in force. The main addition is a simulator of import duties and taxes: users get an estimate of what they will owe, depending on whether the operation falls under the ordinary regime or a preferential one. The new version also opens statistics on Moroccan foreign trade by tariff heading. The assistant will thus let traders gauge the cost of clearing goods well before the operation. *Photo: screenshot of the ADII portal, via EcoActu.* ## References - Hespress - [Douane : l’assistant en ligne ADIL fait peau neuve](https://fr.hespress.com/491429-douane-lassistant-en-ligne-adil-fait-peau-neuve.html) - InfoMagazine - [La Douane modernise son outil de préparation des opérations d’import-export](https://www.infomagazine.ma/economie/la-douane-modernise-son-outil-de-preparation-des-operations-dimport-export-17903-2026/) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [Douanes : L’assistant en ligne ADIL s’élargit à l’export](https://aujourdhui.ma/economie/douanes-lassistant-en-ligne-adil-selargit-a-lexport) - La Vie éco - [Douane : ADiL fait peau neuve et étend ses services à l’export](https://www.lavieeco.com/au-royaume/douane-adil-fait-peau-neuve-et-etend-ses-services-a-lexport/) --- --- title: "Royal Air Maroc: Boeing to Refurbish the Cabins of Its Seven 787-8s" description: "Royal Air Maroc and Boeing signed on Thursday, at the Marrakech Air Show, an agreement to renew the cabins of the airline’s seven Boeing 787-8s: new seats, upgraded in-flight entertainment and Starlink connectivity, to bring them in line with its newer long-haul aircraft." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-boeing-cabines-787 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-boeing-cabines-787 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-09T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:29:51.476Z tags: ["Tourism", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac8c6207b740179d86c975b_6ac8c61ec28f2b9bca5b8fee_ram-787-8-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Royal Air Maroc: Boeing to Refurbish the Cabins of Its Seven 787-8s *Royal Air Maroc and Boeing signed on Thursday, at the Marrakech Air Show, an agreement to renew the cabins of the airline’s seven Boeing 787-8s: new seats, upgraded in-flight entertainment and Starlink connectivity, to bring them in line with its newer long-haul aircraft.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-8 in oneworld alliance livery, its main gear touching down on the runway.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac8c6207b740179d86c975b_6ac8c61ec28f2b9bca5b8fee_ram-787-8-main.webp) The national carrier will rejuvenate the interiors of its oldest long-haul jets. Royal Air Maroc and Boeing signed on Thursday, October 8, on the sidelines of the Marrakech Air Show, an agreement to renew the cabins of the fleet’s seven Boeing 787-8s, according to MAP. ![A man in a gray suit and a woman in a navy jacket hold a framed document in front of the red Royal Air Maroc logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55251cf18edc9b43bf302_6ae55129dc78061d9ba8163f_ram-boeing-cabines-787.webp) *Fahad Al Mheiri, Boeing’s regional president, and Royal Air Maroc’s Naoual Ait Hammou at the Marrakech Airshow. Photo: Saouri, Le Matin.* The work covers new seats, an upgraded in-flight entertainment system and Starlink internet connectivity. These seven aircraft make up, with six Boeing 787-9s, the carrier’s long-haul fleet, the one linking its Casablanca hub to New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Beijing. The aim is to bring their comfort in line with the long-haul aircraft that entered service more recently. Neither the cost of the program nor its schedule has been made public. The work will join the Starlink program RAM unveiled this week. *Photo: Dylan Agbagni, CC0.* ## References - MAP - [Marrakech Airshow 2026: Signature d’une convention de partenariat entre la Royal Air Maroc et Boeing](https://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/economie-et-finance/marrakech-airshow-2026-signature-dune-convention-partenariat-royal-air-maroc-boeing/) - Médias24 - [Sept Boeing 787-8 de la RAM seront remis à neuf](https://medias24.com/2026/10/08/sept-boeing-787-8-de-la-ram-seront-remis-a-neuf-1775121/) - Morocco World News - [Royal Air Maroc, Boeing Sign Deal to Renovate Seven 787-8 Cabins](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/341291/royal-air-maroc-boeing-sign-deal-to-renovate-seven-787-8-cabins/) --- --- title: "Tangier Tech: China’s GATD Moves Its 105 Million Euro Forging Plant From Slovakia" description: "Shanghai-listed Chinese group GATD is moving its forging plant project, capped at 105 million euros, from Slovakia to the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City. Its board decided on October 8, citing approval times in Slovakia that had become uncertain." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gatd-forge-tanger-tech language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gatd-forge-tanger-tech type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.714Z tags: ["Industry", "Tangier", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac818efe6bc08cf021dc05a_6ac818edaa16ac3c0d2e0620_gatd-leap-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tangier Tech: China’s GATD Moves Its 105 Million Euro Forging Plant From Slovakia *Shanghai-listed Chinese group GATD is moving its forging plant project, capped at 105 million euros, from Slovakia to the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City. Its board decided on October 8, citing approval times in Slovakia that had become uncertain.* ![A CFM LEAP-1B engine seen side-on under the wing of a Boeing 737 MAX, its chevron nozzle in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac818efe6bc08cf021dc05a_6ac818edaa16ac3c0d2e0620_gatd-leap-main.webp) Chinese forging group Guizhou Aviation Technical Development (GATD), listed in Shanghai, will build in Morocco the plant it had planned for Slovakia. Its board approved on October 8 the transfer of the project to the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City. ![A colored plan of the zone divided into lots and crossed by a stream, with the A4 highway, the main entrance and the direction of Tanger Med port.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552539716384d93de1bb5_6ae5512a514ff03751591c2c_gatd-forge-tanger-tech.webp) *The master plan of the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, between the A4 highway and road P4608. Map: SATT.* The budget remains capped at 105 million euros, for forging lines for industrial equipment parts. The site will be run by a company provisionally named Atlas Advanced Materials. The reason given is administrative. In Slovakia, review procedures added along the way stretched approval times so far that the schedule had become uncertain, and the Slovak subsidiary will be dissolved. In Morocco, GATD says it obtained assurances from the authorities that no additional procedure would be required. Nothing is settled yet: the investment still awaits clearance from Chinese authorities and a building permit, and the group has signed only a letter of intent for the land. The project will be carried out by a wholly owned unit of its subsidiary Sichuan Delan Hangyu, a ring-forging supplier to the major civil engine makers. *Photo: Hugo LUC, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Guizhou Aviation Technical Development - [贵州航宇科技发展股份有限公司关于变更海外生产基地建设地点的公告 (2026-065)](https://static.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2026-10-09/1225597383.PDF) - Guizhou Aviation Technical Development - [贵州航宇科技发展股份有限公司关于向全资子公司增资的公告 (2026-067)](https://static.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2026-10-09/1225597369.PDF) --- --- title: "Tangier: Four Seasons Announces a Cap Malabata Resort, Its Fourth in Morocco" description: "Four Seasons announced on October 8 a luxury resort at Cap Malabata, in Tangier, with Royal Resort Cap Malabata, a company backed by GFH. Ninety-nine rooms and suites, twenty-seven of them villas, facing the Strait of Gibraltar: the group’s fourth property in Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/four-seasons-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/four-seasons-tanger type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.565Z tags: ["Hospitality", "Tourism", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7c40a58fc4be277f629f2_6ac7c40867ad9190ec034734_four-seasons-tanger-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tangier: Four Seasons Announces a Cap Malabata Resort, Its Fourth in Morocco *Four Seasons announced on October 8 a luxury resort at Cap Malabata, in Tangier, with Royal Resort Cap Malabata, a company backed by GFH. Ninety-nine rooms and suites, twenty-seven of them villas, facing the Strait of Gibraltar: the group’s fourth property in Morocco.* ![The steep, scrub-covered coast of Cap Malabata dropping into the Strait of Gibraltar under a clear sky, a rocky headland in the distance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7c40a58fc4be277f629f2_6ac7c40867ad9190ec034734_four-seasons-tanger-main.webp) Canadian hotel group Four Seasons announced on October 8, 2026, the development of Four Seasons Resort Tangier at Cap Malabata, in partnership with Royal Resort Cap Malabata, a luxury development company backed by GFH. ![Aerial computer rendering of white villas and terraced buildings on a wooded cliff above the sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5522ca4cb9ac5c9ee7847_6ae5511b3b9a03db7f28959a_four-seasons-tanger.webp) *Architect’s rendering of Four Seasons Resort Tangier at Cap Malabata, designed by Arjitec. Image: Four Seasons.* Facing the Strait of Gibraltar and the Spanish shore, the resort will have 99 rooms and suites, including 27 standalone villas, along more than 260 meters of waterfront. It includes four restaurants, a spa and the brand’s children’s club. After Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat, Tangier becomes the group’s fourth Moroccan address. The resort will sit some fifteen minutes from the high-speed rail station and three quarters of an hour from Ibn Battouta Airport. Neither an opening date nor an investment figure was disclosed. *Photo: Alexey Komarov, CC BY 3.0. The view from Cap Malabata, east of Tangier.* ## References - Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts - [Four Seasons to Expand in Morocco with New Luxury Resort in Tangier’s Royal Resort Cap Malabata](https://press.fourseasons.com/news-releases/2026/new-four-seasons-in-tangier) --- --- title: "Tourism: Morocco Welcomed 15.7 Million Visitors Through September, Up 5%" description: "Morocco welcomed 15.7 million tourists through the end of September 2026, up 5% year on year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. September passed 1.5 million arrivals, 8% more than a year earlier, bringing the kingdom closer to its 2030 target." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/touristes-fin-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/touristes-fin-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:18.585Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7c40c653d33ed79d97411_6ac7c4084d35c5a18ab88bfd_touristes-septembre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tourism: Morocco Welcomed 15.7 Million Visitors Through September, Up 5% *Morocco welcomed 15.7 million tourists through the end of September 2026, up 5% year on year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. September passed 1.5 million arrivals, 8% more than a year earlier, bringing the kingdom closer to its 2030 target.* ![The hall of Terminal 1 at Marrakech-Menara Airport, under its white lattice vault, travelers pulling suitcases across the polished floor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7c40c653d33ed79d97411_6ac7c4084d35c5a18ab88bfd_touristes-septembre-main.webp) Morocco received 15.7 million tourists in the first nine months of 2026, 5% more than in the same period of 2025 and more than 717,000 additional arrivals, according to the Ministry of Tourism, as carried by MAP on October 8. ![A woman with short hair smiles in front of a cluster of Moroccan media microphones and a Moroccan flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55274382b682ce24107d8_6ae55139b7739b3ed1487bc6_touristes-fin-septembre-2026.webp) *Fatim-Zahra Ammor, then Minister of Tourism, speaking to the press on the sidelines of the International Tourism Investment Forum in Taghazout in 2022. Photo: Alyaoum24, CC BY 3.0.* September alone passed 1.5 million arrivals, up 8% year on year. At the end of August, the count stood at 14.1 million arrivals, up 4.5%: September therefore picked up the pace. Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor sets the horizon: “The 26 million tourist mark in 2030 is closer than ever.” The last quarter, carried by the winter season in Marrakech and Agadir, will complete the year’s tally. *Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0. Terminal 1 at Marrakech-Menara Airport.* ## References - Médias24 - [15,7 millions de touristes au Maroc à fin septembre, en hausse de 5%](https://medias24.com/2026/10/08/15-7-millions-de-touristes-au-maroc-a-fin-septembre-en-hausse-de-5-1774835/) - Finances News Hebdo - [Tourisme : le Maroc franchit la barre des 15,7 millions de visiteurs en neuf mois](https://fnh.ma/articles/tourisme-economie-2026-maroc-stats) - Hespress FR - [Le Maroc a accueilli 15,7 millions de touristes à fin septembre 2026](https://fr.hespress.com/491521-le-maroc-a-accueilli-157-millions-de-touristes-a-fin-septembre-2026.html) --- --- title: "Aerospace: Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin Seal the UM6P’s ACME Consortium in Marrakech" description: "UM6P made official on October 7, at the Marrakech Air Show, the consortium agreement of ACME, its advanced manufacturing center at Nouaceur. Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Safran Nacelles and CETIM join the Ministry of Industry, the National Defense Administration and OCP." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/acme-consortium-um6p language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/acme-consortium-um6p type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T10:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.278Z tags: ["Industry", "Technology", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7706b6f1973595bfc0372_6ac77068645dd3c9406f44f9_acme-consortium-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Aerospace: Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin Seal the UM6P’s ACME Consortium in Marrakech *UM6P made official on October 7, at the Marrakech Air Show, the consortium agreement of ACME, its advanced manufacturing center at Nouaceur. Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Safran Nacelles and CETIM join the Ministry of Industry, the National Defense Administration and OCP.* ![Ten signatories standing behind a table branded Marrakech Airshow 2026, beneath a giant screen announcing the Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence consortium agreement and its members’ logos.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7706b6f1973595bfc0372_6ac77068645dd3c9406f44f9_acme-consortium-main.webp) It was on the opening stage of the Marrakech Air Show, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, that Mohammed VI Polytechnic University made official the consortium agreement of the Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence (ACME), its advanced manufacturing research center at Nouaceur. ![Four people talk in front of the UM6P and ACME stand D2, with panels on industrial manufacturing and a screen presenting the Nouaceur campus.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bbdd2740562ba4bea37_6ae60635975a08ca9618ecec_acme-consortium-um6p-inline.webp) *The UM6P’s Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence stand at the 2026 Marrakech Air Show. Photo: Morocco World News.* Boeing, the center’s co-founder, is joined among others by Airbus, Safran Nacelles, OCP Group and Lockheed Martin, which comes in as a founding member. The agreement sets the consortium’s rules on governance, funding and intellectual property, and provides for tiered membership so that other organizations can join. Announced in October 2024 at the same show, ACME will pool equipment, research and training, project by project, in answer to manufacturers’ needs. No funding figure or timetable was disclosed. The aim is to move Morocco’s aerospace industry from assembly to design, and it is at Nouaceur that this ambition will be tested. *Photo: Boeing Middle East (@BoeingMidEast). The signing of the ACME consortium agreement on October 7, 2026, at the Marrakech Air Show.* ## References - Lockheed Martin - [At @MAS_Airshow_ma, we signed an agreement to join the Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence (ACME) at @UM6P_officiel as a founding member](https://x.com/LMMiddleEast/status/2107875223718834190) - Boeing - [Industrial excellence, made in Morocco](https://x.com/BoeingMidEast/status/2108139117628317762) - Aeronautique.ma - [Marrakech Airshow 2026: l’ACME officialise son consortium avec Boeing, Airbus et les industriels partenaires](https://www.aeronautique.ma/Marrakech-Airshow-2026-l-ACME-officialise-son-consortium-avec-Boeing-Airbus-et-les-industriels-partenaires_a6105.html) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [A travers le lancement de l’Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence : L’UM6P fédère les grands acteurs de l’industrie aéronautique](https://aujourdhui.ma/actualite/a-travers-le-lancement-de-lafrica-center-of-manufacturing-excellence-lum6p-federe-les-grands-acteurs-de-lindustrie-aeronautique) --- --- title: "Fes Stadium: SGTM Wins the First Upgrade Lot for More Than 2.8 Billion Dirhams" description: "The National Agency for Public Facilities has selected SGTM for the first lot of the Fes sports complex upgrade, ahead of the 2030 World Cup. Its bid, 2.825 billion dirhams including tax, beat that of the EMB-Inter Tridim consortium, at 3.152 billion." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sgtm-stade-fes-lot1 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sgtm-stade-fes-lot1 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T10:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.490Z tags: ["Sport", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7706d3d50a56b93190fa9_6ac77069244b951ec238636b_sgtm-stade-fes-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fes Stadium: SGTM Wins the First Upgrade Lot for More Than 2.8 Billion Dirhams *The National Agency for Public Facilities has selected SGTM for the first lot of the Fes sports complex upgrade, ahead of the 2030 World Cup. Its bid, 2.825 billion dirhams including tax, beat that of the EMB-Inter Tridim consortium, at 3.152 billion.* ![The main stand of the Fes sports complex, with its blue seats and two floodlight towers, above the red track and the pitch during a match, spectators in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac7706d3d50a56b93190fa9_6ac77069244b951ec238636b_sgtm-stade-fes-main.webp) The Societe Generale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM) has been selected by the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP) to carry out the first lot of the upgrade of the Fes sports complex, one of the projects under way ahead of the 2030 World Cup. ![The red and green stands of the Fes stadium, its blue running track and the field, seen from a stairway in the stands under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b95c9c7b5d3229cdec2_6ae6062ad099feb8b5bc76f9_sgtm-stade-fes-lot1-inline.webp) *The Fes sports complex stadium, renovated a few months before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: SNRTnews.* Its bid stands at 2,825,100,670.80 dirhams including tax, against a single rival, the consortium of Entreprise Moussadak Bouchta and Inter Tridim, which offered 3,151,650,079.80. At the end of September, ANEP had put two other lots, electricity and fluids, out to tender for more than 1.5 billion dirhams. The first lot, by far the heaviest, shows the scale of the operation. It is the stadium itself that is being reworked, not only its equipment. *Photo: KSKB1935, CC BY-SA 4.0. The Fes sports complex during a Botola 2 match.* ## References - Médias24 - [Stade de Fès : SGTM chargée d’un premier lot de la mise à niveau pour 2,83 milliards de DH](https://medias24.com/2026/10/06/stade-de-fes-sgtm-chargee-dun-premier-lot-de-la-mise-a-niveau-pour-283-milliards-de-dh-1772521/) - LesEco.ma - [Grand stade de Fès : SGTM décroche un marché de 2,82 MMDH](https://leseco.ma/business/grand-stade-de-fes-sgtm-decroche-un-marche-de-282-mmdh.html) - Infomédiaire - [SGTM décroche un marché de 2,825 MMDH pour la mise à niveau du complexe sportif de Fès](https://www.infomediaire.net/sgtm-marche-mise-a-niveau-complexe-sportif-fes/) --- --- title: "Safi: Morocco Authorizes OCP to Set Up Two Logistics Subsidiaries for the Mzinda-Safi Axis" description: "A decree published in the Official Bulletin of October 8 authorized OCP to create Mzinda Logistic I and Mzinda Logistic II, two wholly owned subsidiaries in charge of transport, handling and storage between Mzinda and Safi, serving the integrated Mzinda-Meskala program." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-mzinda-logistic language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-mzinda-logistic type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.583Z tags: ["Logistics", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad3554919f9f16d2aa624d5_6ad3554545433fd0d6ec2791_news-ocp-mzinda-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Safi: Morocco Authorizes OCP to Set Up Two Logistics Subsidiaries for the Mzinda-Safi Axis *A decree published in the Official Bulletin of October 8 authorized OCP to create Mzinda Logistic I and Mzinda Logistic II, two wholly owned subsidiaries in charge of transport, handling and storage between Mzinda and Safi, serving the integrated Mzinda-Meskala program.* ![A bulk carrier berthed beneath the gantry cranes of the new port of Safi, behind the breakwater, seen from the cliff above the Atlantic.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad3554919f9f16d2aa624d5_6ad3554545433fd0d6ec2791_news-ocp-mzinda-main.webp) Published in the Official Bulletin of October 8, 2026, a decree by the head of government dated September 22 authorized the OCP Group to create two wholly owned subsidiaries, Mzinda Logistic I and Mzinda Logistic II. ![A gray and red electric locomotive hauls a long line of white hopper cars through green hills.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5522bb78e773639418278_6ae5511a36df6e180b91af3c_ocp-mzinda-logistic.webp) *An ONCF phosphate train near Tamdrost, on the line from the Khouribga area to the port of Casablanca. Photo: David Gubler, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The first is tasked with transport and handling between the Mzinda zone and the city of Safi, the second with storage at Safi’s industrial and port units. The decree’s statement of reasons ties both companies to the integrated strategic program Mzinda-Meskala, which aims to turn the axis linking Mzinda to Safi into a complete industrial corridor. They are to secure flows between production sites, processing units and export platforms, and open the way to partnerships with specialized operators and investment funds. It is through these two subsidiaries that Mzinda’s rock will now travel the road to the Atlantic. *Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement, Bulletin officiel n° 7550 du 8 octobre 2026 - [Décret n° 2.25.1094 du 22 septembre 2026 autorisant l’Office chérifien des phosphates à créer deux filiales dénommées « Mzinda Logistic I » et « Mzinda Logistic II »](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7550_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Insurance: Sanlam Maroc Becomes SanlamAllianz Maroc as Allianz Maroc Loses Its License" description: "An ACAPS decision of July 15, published in the Official Bulletin of October 8, authorizes Sanlam Maroc to continue operating as SanlamAllianz Maroc and withdraws the license of Allianz Maroc, whose absorption had been approved in early July." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sanlamallianz-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sanlamallianz-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-08T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.428Z tags: ["Finance", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad3a5e4b366bb72680fa551_6ad3a5e2e562f4b1ea01f0fc_sanlamallianz-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Insurance: Sanlam Maroc Becomes SanlamAllianz Maroc as Allianz Maroc Loses Its License *An ACAPS decision of July 15, published in the Official Bulletin of October 8, authorizes Sanlam Maroc to continue operating as SanlamAllianz Maroc and withdraws the license of Allianz Maroc, whose absorption had been approved in early July.* ![Boulevard Mohamed Zerktouni in Casablanca, with the Twin Center towers rising above the buildings and the traffic.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad3a5e4b366bb72680fa551_6ad3a5e2e562f4b1ea01f0fc_sanlamallianz-maroc-main.webp) In a decision dated July 15 and published in the Official Bulletin of October 8, 2026, the board of the Insurance and Social Welfare Supervisory Authority (ACAPS) authorized the insurance and reinsurance company Sanlam Maroc to continue operating under the name SanlamAllianz Maroc. ![A man speaks into a microphone on a stage before a screen reading “Sanlam et Allianz unissent leurs forces, conference de presse, 7 juillet 2026.”](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b7105e834b547fc75e9_6ae60622d099feb8b5bc7548_sanlamallianz-maroc-inline.webp) *Sanlam and Allianz’s press conference on their merger, in July 2026. Photo: Finances News Hebdo.* The same text withdraws the license granted on November 4, 2020 to Allianz Maroc, and repeals the decision of March 28, 2022 under which Saham Assurance had become Sanlam Maroc. The change of name closes the file on the merger by absorption of Allianz Maroc into Sanlam Maroc, which the head of ACAPS had approved on July 2, 2026. In four years, the former Saham Assurance will thus have changed its name twice, and the two insurers will now face their customers under a single banner. *Photo: HombreDHojalata, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement, Bulletin officiel n° 7550 du 8 octobre 2026 - [Décision du conseil de l’Autorité de contrôle des assurances et de la prévoyance sociale n° P/EA/4.26 du 15 juillet 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7550_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Atlas Lionesses: Frenchman Eric Blahic Takes Over from Jorge Vilda" description: "The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has named Frenchman Eric Blahic head coach of the Atlas Lionesses, replacing Jorge Vilda. He has called up thirty-one players for two friendlies against Uzbekistan in Rabat on October 9 and 12." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/lionnes-eric-blahic language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/lionnes-eric-blahic type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-07T22:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.480Z tags: ["Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c81721b8cb9d98ed982a_6ac6c8148712a10931230612_lionnes-blahic-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Atlas Lionesses: Frenchman Eric Blahic Takes Over from Jorge Vilda *The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has named Frenchman Eric Blahic head coach of the Atlas Lionesses, replacing Jorge Vilda. He has called up thirty-one players for two friendlies against Uzbekistan in Rabat on October 9 and 12.* ![A Moroccan forward in a white number 9 shirt waits beside an opponent in red who places the ball on the pitch, in front of the bench and a crowded stand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c81721b8cb9d98ed982a_6ac6c8148712a10931230612_lionnes-blahic-main.webp) The Royal Moroccan Football Federation handed the women’s national team on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to the French coach Eric Blahic, who succeeds the Spaniard Jorge Vilda after nearly three years in the post. ![A coach in a gray tracksuit gives instructions to players in red shirts and white bibs on a pitch.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5522ee7ff07b7b0e30870_6ae5511ca31725713a42b773_lionnes-eric-blahic.webp) *Eric Blahic during a training session at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. Photo: FRMF.* The new head coach promptly called up thirty-one players, among them Ghizlane Chebbak, for a training camp in Maamora built around two friendlies against Uzbekistan, on October 9 at the Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat, then on October 12 at the Al Madina stadium. Eric Blahic was assistant to Corinne Diacre and then to Herve Renard with the France women’s team until 2024. He inherits a squad that finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations played in Morocco this summer. The double header against Uzbekistan will be his first test before competitive fixtures. *Photo: Marouane Hamousse, CC BY-SA 4.0. Ibtissam Jraidi, called up by Eric Blahic, during Morocco v Namibia at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in October 2023.* ## References - Fédération royale marocaine de football - [The squad called up by Mr. Éric Blahic, the new head coach of the Morocco Women’s National Team](https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2107868085646409911) - Atlasinfo - [Eric Blahic, nouveau sélectionneur des Lionnes de l’Atlas, retient 31 joueuses pour affronter l’Ouzbékistan](https://atlasinfo.fr/eric-blahic-nouveau-selectionneur-des-lionnes-de-latlas-retient-31-joueuses-pour-affronter-louzbekistan.html) - Afrik-Foot - [Le Maroc féminin annonce son nouveau sélectionneur français et sa première liste !](https://www.afrik-foot.com/le-maroc-feminin-annonce-son-nouveau-selectionneur-francais-et-sa-premiere-liste) - H24info - [Lionnes de l’Atlas: Eric Blahic prend les commandes et remplace Jorge Vilda](https://h24info.ma/sport/lionnes-de-latlas-eric-blahic-prend-les-commandes-et-remplace-jorge-vilda/) - Mountakhab - [Lionnes de l’Atlas : Jorge Vilda n’est plus le sélectionneur du Maroc](https://mountakhab.net/lionnes-de-latlas-jorge-vilda-nest-plus-le-selectionneur-du-maroc) --- --- title: "Fertilizer: Dhaka Orders 40,000 Tonnes of DAP from OCP Nutricrops at $866 a Tonne" description: "Bangladesh’s government purchase committee approved on October 7 the purchase of 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate from OCP Nutricrops at $866 a tonne, down from $894 for the lot cleared in early September, under the government-to-government agreement." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bangladesh-dap-ocp-octobre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bangladesh-dap-ocp-octobre type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-07T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.091Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c819fd3be0fb28a76976_6ac6c814e4b3592764f743c2_bangladesh-dap-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fertilizer: Dhaka Orders 40,000 Tonnes of DAP from OCP Nutricrops at $866 a Tonne *Bangladesh’s government purchase committee approved on October 7 the purchase of 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate from OCP Nutricrops at $866 a tonne, down from $894 for the lot cleared in early September, under the government-to-government agreement.* ![A container ship stacked with multicolored boxes, flanked by barges, at anchor on calm water near the port of Chittagong, under a hazy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c819fd3be0fb28a76976_6ac6c814e4b3592764f743c2_bangladesh-dap-main.webp) Bangladesh’s cabinet committee on government purchase approved on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Dhaka, the import of 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) from OCP Nutricrops, the fertilizer arm of the OCP group. ![A large bulk carrier with a black and red hull is moored along a quay fitted with conveyors, with tugboats in the background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55276edca88a5ea2c7817_6ae5513a8def6e61aa155046_bangladesh-dap-ocp-octobre.webp) *The bulk carrier Patricia Oldendorff alongside at Jorf Lasfar during a record OCP fertilizer loading in 2023. Photo: Hespress.* The purchase is direct, under the government-to-government agreement that binds the Moroccan supplier to the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation. The tonne is priced at $866, for an estimated outlay of 4.28 billion taka. The price marks a drop from the DAP lot the same committee approved on September 2, at $894 a tonne. Dhaka, which relies on these deliveries to keep its farming seasons supplied, keeps adding direct orders with the Moroccan group. At this pace, Bangladesh will remain one of the steadiest outlets for OCP’s fertilizers. *Photo: Tanim, CC BY-SA 4.0. A container ship near the port of Chittagong, the gateway for fertilizer imported by Bangladesh.* ## References - BSS - [Govt approves import of 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertiliser from Morocco](https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/govt-approves-import-40000-tonnes-dap-fertiliser-morocco-1565606) --- --- title: "Hydrocarbons: ONHYM and Viridien Join Forces to Survey Morocco’s Basins" description: "The geoscience firm Viridien, formerly CGG, has signed a multi-client collaboration agreement with ONHYM to supply oil companies with subsurface data and analytics on Morocco’s sedimentary basins, offshore and onshore. Neither its length nor its value has been disclosed." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/onhym-viridien language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/onhym-viridien type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-07T22:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.094Z tags: ["Energy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c81c7d3de6223b8045c0_6ac6c815d3b19a10ecdd47db_onhym-viridien-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Hydrocarbons: ONHYM and Viridien Join Forces to Survey Morocco’s Basins *The geoscience firm Viridien, formerly CGG, has signed a multi-client collaboration agreement with ONHYM to supply oil companies with subsurface data and analytics on Morocco’s sedimentary basins, offshore and onshore. Neither its length nor its value has been disclosed.* ![The stern of a blue and white seismic survey vessel at the quay, its streamer reels lined up beneath the deck, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac6c81c7d3de6223b8045c0_6ac6c815d3b19a10ecdd47db_onhym-viridien-main.webp) The French geoscience company Viridien, formerly CGG, announced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, a multi-client collaboration agreement with Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). ![Amina Benkhadra speaks at the blue IAEA lectern behind a placard reading MOROCCO.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55255ee7459bdf5e893d7_6ae5512b3c58e1800cff997d_onhym-viridien.webp) *Amina Benkhadra, then energy minister, at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna in 2010. Photo: Dean Calma, IAEA, CC BY-SA 2.0.* The two partners will supply oil companies with subsurface data and analytics covering the Kingdom’s sedimentary basins, offshore and onshore, which the group describes as extensive and underexplored. Under the multi-client model, such studies are carried out once and then licensed to several operators, which spreads their cost. For Amina Benkhadra, director general of ONHYM, the alliance should improve understanding of the subsurface, attract investment and accelerate exploration. Morocco, which imports most of its energy, is counting on partnerships of this kind to turn its basins into an exploration destination in their own right. *Photo: Ludovic Peron, CC BY-SA 3.0. The Oceanic Vega, a seismic vessel in the colors of CGGVeritas, Viridien’s predecessor.* ## References - Viridien - [Viridien enters into landmark multi-client collaboration with ONHYM to advance Morocco’s hydrocarbon exploration](https://www.viridiengroup.com/company/newsroom/news/viridien-enters-landmark-multi-client-collaboration-onhym-advance-moroccos) --- --- title: "Royal Air Maroc to Offer Starlink Wi-Fi on Forty-One Aircraft from 2027" description: "Royal Air Maroc will fit forty-one of its aircraft with Starlink satellite Wi-Fi from early 2027, becoming the first African airline to offer the service, which will be free for members of its Safar Flyer loyalty program." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-starlink-wifi language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-starlink-wifi type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-07T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.209Z tags: ["Technology", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac674988a438fea97ac8430_6ac674962fe87dcc4d3af2d0_ram-starlink-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Royal Air Maroc to Offer Starlink Wi-Fi on Forty-One Aircraft from 2027 *Royal Air Maroc will fit forty-one of its aircraft with Starlink satellite Wi-Fi from early 2027, becoming the first African airline to offer the service, which will be free for members of its Safar Flyer loyalty program.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 parked on the apron at Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport, hitched to a tug, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac674988a438fea97ac8430_6ac674962fe87dcc4d3af2d0_ram-starlink-main.webp) Royal Air Maroc announced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, that it will fit 41 of its aircraft with Starlink satellite internet, the network run by the American company SpaceX, becoming the first African airline to offer the service in flight. ![Portrait of a bearded Hamid Addou in a blue suit and tie, in front of a red Royal Air Maroc pennant.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552561596dcfd31dc03cb_6ae5512ccf18edc9b43ba49a_ram-starlink-wifi.webp) *Hamid Addou, chairman and chief executive of Royal Air Maroc. Photo: Forbes Middle East.* The first installations will begin early in 2027 and will then spread gradually across the fleet concerned. High-speed access will be free for members of the Safar Flyer loyalty program. For Hamid Addou, chairman and chief executive of the national carrier, “this agreement reflects a clear and firm ambition,” part of a multi-year plan that covers fleet renewal and redesigned cabins. The airline is targeting business travelers, tourists, students and Moroccans abroad, for whom an uninterrupted connection has become a deciding factor. *Photo: MBurch, CC BY-SA 4.0. A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 at Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport.* ## References - Les Éco - [RAM devient la première compagnie africaine à proposer le Wi-Fi Starlink à bord](https://leseco.ma/business/ram-devient-la-premiere-compagnie-africaine-a-proposer-le-wi-fi-starlink-a-bord.html) - Barlamane - [Royal Air Maroc fait entrer Starlink dans le ciel africain pour la première fois](https://barlamane.com/fr/royal-air-maroc-fait-entrer-starlink-dans-le-ciel-africain-pour-la-premiere-fois-et-branche-41-avions-sur-la-constellation-de-spacex-a-partir-du-debut-de-2027/) - Infomédiaire - [Royal Air Maroc va équiper 41 avions du Wi-Fi Starlink dès 2027](https://www.infomediaire.net/royal-air-maroc-va-equiper-41-avions-du-wi-fi-starlink-des-2027/) --- --- title: "World Bank: Morocco Seen Growing 4.4% in 2026 as AI Remains Rare in Its Firms" description: "In its October update, the World Bank forecasts Moroccan growth of 4.4% in 2026 and 4% in 2027, and notes that only 4.3% of the Kingdom’s firms use big data or artificial intelligence, even as high-tech goods pass 5% of manufactured exports." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/banque-mondiale-menaap-octobre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/banque-mondiale-menaap-octobre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-07T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.586Z tags: ["Economy", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e8dc07a7dd1fedf07a4_6ae53c82f4328ec8a0e7d8e7_banque-mondiale-menaap-octobre-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # World Bank: Morocco Seen Growing 4.4% in 2026 as AI Remains Rare in Its Firms *In its October update, the World Bank forecasts Moroccan growth of 4.4% in 2026 and 4% in 2027, and notes that only 4.3% of the Kingdom’s firms use big data or artificial intelligence, even as high-tech goods pass 5% of manufactured exports.* ![A technician assembles wiring at a workstation on the shop floor of the Safran Electrical & Power plant at Ain Atiq.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e8dc07a7dd1fedf07a4_6ae53c82f4328ec8a0e7d8e7_banque-mondiale-menaap-octobre-2026-main.webp) In its October economic update on the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, posted on October 6, 2026, the World Bank kept Morocco among the region’s sturdiest economies. After estimated growth of 4.9% in 2025, gross domestic product would expand by 4.4% in 2026, then by 4% in 2027, as the lift from good harvests fades. The region as a whole would contract by 2.1% under the weight of the conflict that broke out at the end of February. The report, titled *From Divide to Opportunity: AI, Jobs, and Growth*, places the Kingdom, alongside Tunisia, among the region’s leading exporters of AI-related products. The productive fabric is lagging behind. According to a survey the World Bank carried out in 2024, 98.8% of firms have basic digital tools, but only 4.3% use big data or artificial intelligence, with cost cited as the main obstacle. It is in this gap between equipment and use, the institution concludes, that the productivity gain is lost. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Banque mondiale - [Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Economic Update, October 2026: From Divide to Opportunity: AI, Jobs, and Growth](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/items/1d4449a1-109f-45d5-b9e1-b70c8c7d6bdc) --- --- title: "United States: Purchases of Moroccan Goods Hit a Record Since 1992 in August" description: "According to figures released on October 6 by the U.S. Census Bureau, American imports of Moroccan goods reached 262.6 million dollars in August 2026, a monthly record since 1992, narrowing the U.S. trade surplus with the Kingdom to 414.3 million dollars." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/commerce-etats-unis-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/commerce-etats-unis-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-07T10:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.713Z tags: ["Economy", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac61f40c1c64d68d158b98f_6ac61f3d963e02cee6a4c9ea_commerce-etats-unis-aout-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # United States: Purchases of Moroccan Goods Hit a Record Since 1992 in August *According to figures released on October 6 by the U.S. Census Bureau, American imports of Moroccan goods reached 262.6 million dollars in August 2026, a monthly record since 1992, narrowing the U.S. trade surplus with the Kingdom to 414.3 million dollars.* ![Aerial view of the port of Tanger Med, its container terminals and breakwaters at the foot of the hills, on the edge of the strait.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac61f40c1c64d68d158b98f_6ac61f3d963e02cee6a4c9ea_commerce-etats-unis-aout-2026-main.webp) According to figures released on Tuesday, October 6, by the U.S. Census Bureau, American imports of Moroccan goods reached 262.6 million dollars in August 2026, their highest monthly level since 1992, the first year of the published series. ![A glass building with facades clad in wooden slats, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c20a5d3f837ad798a0d_6ae6064d66e53b0708ffde2a_commerce-etats-unis-aout-2026-inline.webp) *The U.S. Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. Photo: U.S. Census Bureau.* The previous peak, 255.7 million, dated back to January 2019, and the rise comes to 67.7% year on year. In the other direction, American exports to Morocco stood at 676.9 million dollars, up 15.8%, so that the U.S. trade surplus narrowed to 414.3 million. Over the first eight months of the year, the surplus reaches 3.248 billion dollars in Washington’s favor. American exports have topped 600 million dollars every month since March, a threshold they had never crossed before. These figures are compiled on the American side, in current dollars and without seasonal adjustment. *Photo: Adam Cli, CC BY-SA 4.0. The port of Tanger Med from the air.* ## References - U.S. Census Bureau - [Trade in Goods with Morocco](https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c7140.html) --- --- title: "Real Estate Funds: Net Assets Neared 134 Billion Dirhams at End-2025, Led by Education" description: "According to indicators the AMMC published on October 6, the market’s sixty-five real estate investment funds held net assets of 133.97 billion dirhams at the end of 2025, built on a portfolio in which education buildings make up 50.3% of the value." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/opci-actif-net-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/opci-actif-net-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-06T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.376Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae613fc064237583a85f1d7_6ae60605bc0ed2f9666afd33_opci-actif-net-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Real Estate Funds: Net Assets Neared 134 Billion Dirhams at End-2025, Led by Education *According to indicators the AMMC published on October 6, the market’s sixty-five real estate investment funds held net assets of 133.97 billion dirhams at the end of 2025, built on a portfolio in which education buildings make up 50.3% of the value.* ![The Casablanca Ain Sebaa Private Hospital, a white building on a street corner under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae613fc064237583a85f1d7_6ae60605bc0ed2f9666afd33_opci-actif-net-2025-main.webp) The Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) published on Tuesday, October 6, its half-yearly indicators for real estate investment funds (OPCI), as of the end of December 2025. ![AI-generated concept image: an empty classroom with rows of desks, lit by large windows.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae613fc064237583a85f1db_6ae609f744d07ced1138e71e_opci-actif-net-2025-inline.webp) *An empty classroom. AI-generated concept image.* Sixty-five OPCI, run by eight management companies, held net assets of 133.97 billion dirhams, up from 109.62 billion at the end of the third quarter, when there were only fifty-eight of them. Their portfolio, valued at 176.04 billion dirhams, is dominated by education and training buildings (50.3% of the value), ahead of health facilities (18.5%). It is almost fully let, with an average physical occupancy rate of 98.7%. Banks held 38% of net assets, insurance companies and pension bodies 36.6%, and the Caisse de Depot et de Gestion 9.2%. A property market that, for now, is played among institutions. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Autorité marocaine du marché des capitaux - [Indicateurs semestriels des OPCI, 2e semestre 2025](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/INDICATEURS%20SEMESTRIELS%20DES%20OPCI%202e%20SMT%202025.pdf) --- --- title: "Defense: Morocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Takes to the Air" description: "Lockheed Martin announced on October 6 the successful first flight of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s first F-16 Block 72, which now enters flight testing ahead of delivery. The manufacturer also highlighted the future Benslimane maintenance center, designed for the C-130 and later the F-16." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/f16-block72-premier-vol language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/f16-block72-premier-vol type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-06T16:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.578Z tags: ["Security", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac520e85be42ecf3c85fff6_6ac520e63caea1e22d9a58c8_f16-block72-premier-vol-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Defense: Morocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Takes to the Air *Lockheed Martin announced on October 6 the successful first flight of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s first F-16 Block 72, which now enters flight testing ahead of delivery. The manufacturer also highlighted the future Benslimane maintenance center, designed for the C-130 and later the F-16.* ![A two-seat F-16 Block 72 in sand livery, climbing against a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac520e85be42ecf3c85fff6_6ac520e63caea1e22d9a58c8_f16-block72-premier-vol-main.webp) Lockheed Martin announced on Tuesday, October 6, from Greenville, South Carolina, the successful first flight of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s first F-16 Block 72. ![A four-propeller military transport plane in sand camouflage with the Moroccan star stands on the tarmac as another plane flies overhead.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552316e325be1a8b0e274_6ae5511dc4ee1a2d8ec4c257_f16-block72-premier-vol.webp) *A Royal Moroccan Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules, registered CN-AOG, at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. Photo: Colin Cooke, CC BY-SA 2.0.* The aircraft now begins its flight-test campaign, the last stage before a first delivery for which the manufacturer gives no date. The most advanced variant of the Fighting Falcon, the Block 72 carries modernized avionics, advanced sensors and improved mission systems. For Lockheed Martin’s Mike Shoemaker, the flight marks a critical step for the Kingdom’s future airpower. The tie between Lockheed Martin and the Royal Armed Forces goes back to the delivery of the first C-130H in 1974. Morocco’s forces today operate F-16s, C-130s and Black Hawk helicopters, and are due to receive HIMARS rocket launchers. The release also highlights the future maintenance center at Benslimane, with Maintenance Aero Maroc: more than 8,000 square meters devoted first to C-130 Hercules aircraft, then to other platforms, the F-16 among them. *Photo: Lockheed Martin.* ## References - Lockheed Martin - [Lockheed Martin Announces First Flight of Morocco’s First F-16 Block 72](https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2026-10-06-Lockheed-Martin-Announces-First-Flight-of-Moroccos-First-F-16-Block-72) --- --- title: "Business Climate: Moroccan Industry Slows in August as Textiles Slide" description: "According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s monthly business survey, industrial output fell in August in every branch except agri-food, with capacity utilization at 80%. Textiles and leather slid sharply, but manufacturers expect a recovery over the next three months." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/conjoncture-industrie-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/conjoncture-industrie-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-06T10:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:26.925Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac4ceab5ed4c01ef55b5f1d_6ac4cea9440af08682b58569_conjoncture-industrie-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Business Climate: Moroccan Industry Slows in August as Textiles Slide *According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s monthly business survey, industrial output fell in August in every branch except agri-food, with capacity utilization at 80%. Textiles and leather slid sharply, but manufacturers expect a recovery over the next three months.* ![The cranes, silos and conveyors of the port of Jorf Lasfar, seen from the heights of the industrial zone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac4ceab5ed4c01ef55b5f1d_6ac4cea9440af08682b58569_conjoncture-industrie-main.webp) Moroccan manufacturers eased off in August. According to Bank Al-Maghrib’s monthly business survey, 37% of respondents reported output falling from July against 14% reporting a rise, an opinion balance of -23 points, after +27 the month before. ![Women and men bent over sewing machines along production lines loaded with yellow garments.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55258ea8f9d4d73df93d6_6ae5512d84ac985b1d55c45c_conjoncture-industrie-aout-2026.webp) *A garment factory in Tangier. Photo: Le360.* Sales are said to have stagnated, new orders weakened and capacity utilization stood at 80%. Only agri-food escaped the downturn. Textiles and leather took the hardest hit: the orders balance there sank to -72 points, and 63% of the branch’s manufacturers judge their order books below normal. These figures measure opinions, not volumes. For the next three months, business owners are nonetheless optimistic, with the balance of expected output at +39 points, though more than one firm in four admits it cannot tell what comes next. The autumn will tell whether August was a summer air pocket or the first sign of a more lasting slowdown. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0. The port and industrial zone of Jorf Lasfar.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Enquête mensuelle de conjoncture dans l’industrie, n° 234, août 2026](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/851707/9191323/EMC%20ao%C3%BBt%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Defense: Oshkosh Receives a Second Moroccan Order for Fifty HET A1 Tank Transporters" description: "Oshkosh Defense announced on October 5 a second order for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces: fifty HET A1 heavy tractors and fifty MN573 semi-trailers, with parts, services and training. The first tranche, ordered in 2024, has already been delivered and is in service." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oshkosh-het-a1-far language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oshkosh-het-a1-far type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-05T21:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.128Z tags: ["Security", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac42616d31499581d980425_6ac4261271d439321d165b36_oshkosh-het-a1-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Defense: Oshkosh Receives a Second Moroccan Order for Fifty HET A1 Tank Transporters *Oshkosh Defense announced on October 5 a second order for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces: fifty HET A1 heavy tractors and fifty MN573 semi-trailers, with parts, services and training. The first tranche, ordered in 2024, has already been delivered and is in service.* ![A camouflaged Royal Armed Forces tank-transporter tractor, loaded with an Abrams tank, on the quay of the port of Agadir as Moroccan soldiers secure the armor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac42616d31499581d980425_6ac4261271d439321d165b36_oshkosh-het-a1-main.webp) The American manufacturer Oshkosh Defense announced on Monday, October 5, a second order for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, placed as a direct commercial sale through Optimum Vehicle Logistics, its exclusive distributor in Morocco. ![A sand-colored tractor with a square cab pulls a low trailer carrying a tank, raising dust on a desert track.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5525bdc78061d9ba89b4c_6ae5512e174753539d066b67_oshkosh-het-a1-far.webp) *An Oshkosh HET A1 tractor hauling an Abrams tank. Photo: Oshkosh Defense.* It covers fifty HET A1 heavy tractors and fifty MN573 semi-trailers, designed with the Dutch firm Broshuis, along with parts, services and training. The first tranche, from an order announced in September 2024, is already in service. The HET A1 is built to move an army’s heaviest equipment: battle tanks, recovery vehicles and self-propelled artillery, which are spared long journeys on their own tracks. Oshkosh places the order within the modernization of the Royal Armed Forces’ mobility. Neither the value of the contract nor the delivery schedule has been made public. *Photo: Pfc. Donald Franklin, U.S. Army, public domain. A Royal Armed Forces tank transporter at the port of Agadir in June 2022, during the African Lion exercise.* ## References - Oshkosh Defense - [Oshkosh Defense Receives Follow-On Order from Morocco for HET A1 Tractors and Trailers](https://oshkoshdefense.com/oshkosh-defense-receives-follow-on-order-from-morocco-for-het-a1-tractors-and-trailers/) --- --- title: "M’diq: Region Approves a 40 Million Dirham Underwater Park for Diving" description: "On October 5, the council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region approved an agreement for an underwater park off M’diq: 40 million dirhams for a recreational diving area, a reception center, a training hub and a marine research hub, billed as the first of its kind in Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mdiq-cite-sous-marine language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mdiq-cite-sous-marine type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-05T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.133Z tags: ["Tourism", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acb6507018523cfee2a75cf_6acb650581513cf526d13ad9_mdiq-cite-sous-marine-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # M’diq: Region Approves a 40 Million Dirham Underwater Park for Diving *On October 5, the council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region approved an agreement for an underwater park off M’diq: 40 million dirhams for a recreational diving area, a reception center, a training hub and a marine research hub, billed as the first of its kind in Morocco.* ![The beach and seafront promenade at M’diq, facing the Mediterranean, with the coastal hills behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6acb6507018523cfee2a75cf_6acb650581513cf526d13ad9_mdiq-cite-sous-marine-main.webp) Meeting in Tangier on October 5, the council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region approved an agreement to finance, build and run an underwater park off M’diq, devoted to recreational diving and underwater sports. ![In green water, a diver with a flashlight lights up a hollow concrete block resting on the seabed under strands of algae.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c7a064237583a8454e4_6ae60663c8210b6b1fc346b5_mdiq-cite-sous-marine-inline.webp) *A diver shines a light on a concrete artificial reef submerged in the harbor of Toulon, in the Mediterranean. Photo: Olivier Dugornay, Ifremer, CC BY 4.0.* Costed at 40 million dirhams in all, the project binds the region to the ministry in charge of sports and to several public bodies. It provides for a fitted-out underwater diving area, an onshore reception center, a training hub and a marine research hub. Billed as the first site of its kind in the kingdom, the park is meant to widen a tourism offer that still leans heavily on the beach, and to host underwater sports competitions. Work will only begin, however, once a first construction contract is awarded, and no date has been announced for it. *Photo: mustapha ennaimi, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Le Matin - [M’diq se prépare à accueillir une « Ville sous-marine » pour 40 millions de dirhams](https://lematin.ma/regions/mdiq-une-ville-sous-marine-dediee-a-la-plongee-pour-40-mdh/369598) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [Dans le cadre d’un partenariat multipartite: Quelque 40 millions DH pour une cité sous-marine au large de M’Diq](https://aujourdhui.ma/economie/dans-le-cadre-dun-partenariat-multipartite-quelque-40-millions-dh-pour-une-cite-sous-marine-au-large-de-mdiq) - TelQuel - [M’diq: une cité sous-marine dédiée à la plongée en projet pour 40 MDH](https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2026/10/09/mdiq-une-cite-sous-marine-dediee-a-la-plongee-en-projet-pour-40-mdh_2012193/) --- --- title: "Tourism: GNV and the ONMT Seal a Three-Year Partnership in Marrakech" description: "The ferry company GNV, part of the MSC group, formalized a three-year partnership in Marrakech with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to promote Morocco in Europe from 2027 to 2029, and unveiled four future ships powered by liquefied natural gas." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gnv-onmt-partenariat-2027-2029 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gnv-onmt-partenariat-2027-2029 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-05T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.441Z tags: ["Tourism", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac3d1f0f12a31a8064338f7_6ac3d1ebc8d2866386adbf7c_gnv-onmt-ferry-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tourism: GNV and the ONMT Seal a Three-Year Partnership in Marrakech *The ferry company GNV, part of the MSC group, formalized a three-year partnership in Marrakech with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to promote Morocco in Europe from 2027 to 2029, and unveiled four future ships powered by liquefied natural gas.* ![GNV’s white-hulled cruise ferry Excellent moored at the port of Tanger Med in October 2023.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac3d1f0f12a31a8064338f7_6ac3d1ebc8d2866386adbf7c_gnv-onmt-ferry-main.webp) Meeting in Marrakech from October 2 to 4 for the seventh edition of its GNV Awards, the MSC group’s ferry company formalized a three-year partnership there with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), covering 2027 to 2029. ![Travel agency representatives pose on stage with their awards before a blue screen listing the winning agencies.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b733eb74873888f3673_6ae60623fa7b52c0225cb063_gnv-onmt-partenariat-2027-2029-inline.webp) *The prize-giving for travel agencies at the GNV Awards in Marrakech. Photo: Managers.* The agreement provides for joint promotion of the Kingdom in the main European markets and offers combining the sea crossing with stays in Morocco, aimed at European travelers and at Moroccans living in Europe alike. GNV carried some 2.2 million passengers over the first nine months, up 2% year on year, with Morocco itself staying close to its 2025 levels. The company also named the next four ships of its fleet, powered by liquefied natural gas and under construction in Canton: GNV Jupiter, GNV Mars, GNV Venus and GNV Mercury. The first, with room for 2,500 passengers, is due to join the fleet by the end of 2027. *Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - GNV, communiqué repris par Economia del Mare - [GNV Awards 2026: crescono passeggeri e merci, accordo strategico con l’ONMT e svelata la nuova nave GNV Jupiter](https://www.economiadelmare.org/gnv-awards-2026-crescono-passeggeri-e-merci-accordo-strategico-con-lonmt-e-svelata-la-nuova-nave-gnv-jupiter) - Médias24 - [GNV Awards 2026: croissance des activités, partenariat avec l’ONMT et nouvelle génération de navires](https://medias24.com/2026/10/05/gnv-awards-2026-croissance-des-activites-partenariat-avec-lonmt-et-nouvelle-generation-de-navires-1772141/) --- --- title: "Royal Air Maroc: ACG Delivers the Year’s Sixth Boeing 737-8 and Completes Its Order" description: "Aviation Capital Group delivered a Boeing 737-8 to Royal Air Maroc on October 5, the last of six the lessor was due to hand over to the national carrier in 2026. Six aircraft of the type have joined its fleet in six months." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ram-acg-sixieme-737-8 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ram-acg-sixieme-737-8 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-05T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.727Z tags: ["Logistics", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac3d1eef98624a70542a860_6ac3d1ea016d128a3e9812a4_ram-acg-737-8-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Royal Air Maroc: ACG Delivers the Year’s Sixth Boeing 737-8 and Completes Its Order *Aviation Capital Group delivered a Boeing 737-8 to Royal Air Maroc on October 5, the last of six the lessor was due to hand over to the national carrier in 2026. Six aircraft of the type have joined its fleet in six months.* ![A red and green Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-8, registered CN-MAY, taxiing at London Heathrow airport, seen from the front section.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac3d1eef98624a70542a860_6ac3d1ea016d128a3e9812a4_ram-acg-737-8-main.webp) Aviation Capital Group (ACG), the lessor based in Newport Beach, California, announced on Monday, October 5, the delivery of a Boeing 737-8 to Royal Air Maroc. ![A white Boeing in Royal Air Maroc livery stands on the tarmac under a gray sky, with stairs at the front door.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5523429f46b9e4e58ee6c_6ae5511e50c7c2062b0d0ad2_ram-acg-sixieme-737-8.webp) *The sixth Boeing 737-8 delivered by ACG to Royal Air Maroc. Photo: ACG.* The aircraft is the last of six the company was due to hand over to the national carrier in 2026 from its own order book. Six 737-8s have thus joined the Moroccan fleet this way within six months. A wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Tokyo Century, ACG reports some five hundred owned, managed and committed aircraft, leased to roughly eighty-five airlines. These six latest-generation narrow-bodies come on lease, and the release says nothing of their deployment or of the terms of the contract. It is on the airline’s routes that their contribution will now be measured. *Photo: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Aviation Capital Group - [Aviation Capital Group Delivers Sixth Boeing 737-8 to Royal Air Maroc](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviation-capital-group-delivers-sixth-boeing-737-8-to-royal-air-maroc-302897730.html) --- --- title: "Cement: Deliveries Jumped 19.31% in September to 1.46 Million Tonnes" description: "According to Housing Ministry data released on Monday, October 5, Moroccan cement deliveries jumped 19.31% in September to 1.46 million tonnes, bringing the year’s cumulative total at the end of the month to 10.99 million tonnes, up 1.17% on 2025." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ciment-septembre-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ciment-septembre-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-05T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.402Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61408243f9be6275cb26b_6ae60a04d2740562ba4b891e_ciment-septembre-2026-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Cement: Deliveries Jumped 19.31% in September to 1.46 Million Tonnes *According to Housing Ministry data released on Monday, October 5, Moroccan cement deliveries jumped 19.31% in September to 1.46 million tonnes, bringing the year’s cumulative total at the end of the month to 10.99 million tonnes, up 1.17% on 2025.* ![AI-generated concept image: a concrete mixer truck pours concrete into the formwork of a highway bridge site under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61408243f9be6275cb26b_6ae60a04d2740562ba4b891e_ciment-septembre-2026-hero-main.webp) Figures from the Housing Ministry, released on Monday, October 5, 2026, showed a cement market back on the move in September: 1.46 million tonnes delivered in the month, against 1.22 million in September 2025, a jump of 19.31%. ![Fresh concrete pours from a metal chute on a construction site, a worker in a yellow T-shirt blurred in the background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61409243f9be6275cb29f_6ae6061517aeade90b9b53f2_ciment-septembre-2026-inline.webp) *Fresh concrete poured on a construction site. Photo: Le Matin.* At the end of September, cumulative deliveries reached 10.99 million tonnes, up 1.17% on a year. The market is moving at two speeds. Infrastructure led the way, up 19.49% since January, while building held almost steady (+0.87%). Distribution, the sector’s largest channel, fell 2.75% to 5.79 million tonnes. The final quarter will tell whether September’s momentum holds. *AI-generated concept image.* ## References - Infomédiaire - [Livraisons de ciment à fin septembre 2026](https://www.infomediaire.net/livraisons-ciment-septembre-2026/) - Les Éco - [Ciment: les livraisons reprennent des couleurs](https://leseco.ma/business/ciment-les-livraisons-reprennent-des-couleurs.html) - Boursenews - [Ciment: livraisons de septembre 2026](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/ciment-livraisons-septembre-2026) --- --- title: "Industrial Acceleration Zones: Jorf Redrawn Over 501 Hectares as Bouknadel 2 Is Created" description: "Two decrees published in the Official Bulletin of October 5 redrew the Jorf industrial acceleration zone, near El Jadida, over three plots totaling 501 hectares, and created Bouknadel 2, on nearly 43 hectares in the commune of Ameur, in Sale." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/zai-jorf-bouknadel language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/zai-jorf-bouknadel type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-05T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.046Z tags: ["Industry", "El Jadida", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad356b5180640d766cb6346_6ad356b4db6551282f9669b6_news-zai-jorf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Industrial Acceleration Zones: Jorf Redrawn Over 501 Hectares as Bouknadel 2 Is Created *Two decrees published in the Official Bulletin of October 5 redrew the Jorf industrial acceleration zone, near El Jadida, over three plots totaling 501 hectares, and created Bouknadel 2, on nearly 43 hectares in the commune of Ameur, in Sale.* ![Industrial storage tanks in the foreground, with the cranes and breakwater of the port of Jorf Lasfar behind them, south of El Jadida.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ad356b5180640d766cb6346_6ad356b4db6551282f9669b6_news-zai-jorf-main.webp) Two decrees dated September 22 and published in the Official Bulletin of October 5, 2026 reshaped the map of the kingdom’s industrial acceleration zones. ![A dirt road runs past industrial buildings under construction, with bare concrete pillars, under a gray sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c4ff60da09293157b3d_6ae60656a15abb334ec3eac8_zai-jorf-bouknadel-inline.webp) *Construction of the Bouknadel industrial acceleration zone, May 2022. Photo: Le360.* The first rewrites the perimeter of the Jorf zone, created in March 2024 in the commune of Moulay Abdellah, El Jadida province. It now spans three plots totaling more than 501 hectares, backing onto the OCP industrial complex to the north. The second creates the Bouknadel 2 zone, on a plot of more than 42 hectares in the commune of Ameur, Sale prefecture. That decree admits, among others, textiles and leather, food processing, automotive, aircraft and renewable energy equipment, metallurgy and non-polluting chemicals. Both texts rest on Law 19.94 on industrial acceleration zones. On the north bank of the Bouregreg, the new zone will thus host factories a few kilometers from the capital. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement, Bulletin officiel n° 7549 du 5 octobre 2026 - [Décret n° 2.26.98 du 22 septembre 2026 modifiant le décret n° 2.24.257 portant création de la zone d’accélération industrielle de Jorf ; décret n° 2.26.593 du 22 septembre 2026 portant création de la zone d’accélération industrielle de Bouknadel 2](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7549_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Football: Mali Holds Morocco to a Draw in Tangier to Close the Break" description: "The Atlas Lions were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali on Sunday evening in Tangier in a friendly: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Gaoussou Diarra equalized. Morocco end the break unbeaten, with two wins and a draw." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-mali-nul-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-mali-nul-tanger type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-05T09:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.501Z tags: ["Football", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfc6f84d251da3548eb_6ac37df8e57e07b1dd61ee73_maroc-mali-tanger-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Football: Mali Holds Morocco to a Draw in Tangier to Close the Break *The Atlas Lions were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali on Sunday evening in Tangier in a friendly: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Gaoussou Diarra equalized. Morocco end the break unbeaten, with two wins and a draw.* ![Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, in Morocco’s red number 16 shirt, runs with the ball ahead of a Burkina Faso player during a 2023 friendly.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfc6f84d251da3548eb_6ac37df8e57e07b1dd61ee73_maroc-mali-tanger-main.webp) Mali snatched a draw (1-1) on Sunday evening at the Grand Stade de Tanger in a friendly, denying the Atlas Lions a third win in three matches in this October window. ![Morocco’s players pose on the field in white shirts, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in light blue, with a Morocco pennant in the front row.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b98d2740562ba4bde90_6ae6062a5ffcb4a37421c8ed_maroc-mali-nul-tanger-inline.webp) *Morocco’s starting eleven before the friendly against Mali at the Grand Stade de Tangier. Photo: Seddik, Le Matin.* Abdessamad Ezzalzouli had opened the scoring about ten minutes before the break, from a penalty he had won himself. The Eagles equalized in the seventy-seventh minute through Gaoussou Diarra. Called in to replace Ghana, who had pulled out of the trip, Mali gave Mohamed Ouahbi’s side the toughest test of the window. The record still reads well: two wins in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, against Gabon and then Lesotho, and this draw, for five goals scored and only one conceded in three matches. *Photo: A.Nawfel, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Médias24 - [Football. Le Maroc bute sur le Mali (1-1)](https://medias24.com/2026/10/04/football-le-maroc-bute-sur-le-mali-1-1-1771807/) - Morocco World News - [Morocco Held 1-1 by Mali in Tangier Friendly](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/340659/morocco-held-1-1-by-mali-in-tangier-friendly/) --- --- title: "Foreign Trade: Unit Values Rise 10% on Imports and 10.9% on Exports in the Second Quarter" description: "According to the High Commission for Planning, the unit values of Morocco’s imports rose 10.0% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, driven by energy and mineral products, and those of its exports rose 10.9%, led by semi-finished products." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/valeurs-unitaires-t2-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/valeurs-unitaires-t2-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-05T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.165Z tags: ["Economy", "Energy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfa313326c3115a58ae_6ac37df72ff6fa48f0cece98_indices-valeurs-unitaires-t2-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Foreign Trade: Unit Values Rise 10% on Imports and 10.9% on Exports in the Second Quarter *According to the High Commission for Planning, the unit values of Morocco’s imports rose 10.0% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, driven by energy and mineral products, and those of its exports rose 10.9%, led by semi-finished products.* ![Stacks of shipping containers and two gantry cranes on a quay at the port of Casablanca, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfa313326c3115a58ae_6ac37df72ff6fa48f0cece98_indices-valeurs-unitaires-t2-2026-main.webp) The High Commission for Planning has released its foreign trade indices for the second quarter of 2026, and they describe a marked rise in the price of goods crossing the Kingdom’s borders. ![Three spherical tanks and two cylindrical silos in the foreground, in front of the cranes and docked ships of the port of Jorf Lasfar.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bc0a15abb334ec566b9_6ae60636da84eca6922828e7_valeurs-unitaires-t2-2026-inline.webp) *Spherical storage tanks and the quays of the port of Jorf Lasfar. Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* The import unit value index rose 10.0% in a year. Two groups carry most of the movement: energy and lubricants, up 53.1%, and crude products of mineral origin, which jumped 97.0%. On the export side the rise is sharper still: up 10.9%, the highest level among the ten quarters the note covers since early 2024. Semi-finished products drive it, with unit values up 23.4%. With selling prices rising slightly faster than buying prices, Morocco’s terms of trade improved a little over the year. The third-quarter figures will tell whether the surge in imported mineral products, which grew month after month from April to June, was passing or lasting. *Photo: Farid mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [Les indices du commerce extérieur (ICE) au Maroc, deuxième trimestre 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/Les-indices-du-commerce-exterieur-ICE-au-Maroc-deuxieme-trimestre-2026_a4352.html) --- --- title: "Marrakech: Yves Saint Laurent Museum Revives Desert Explorer Odette du Puigaudeau" description: "The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech is devoting an exhibition until March 7, 2027 to Odette du Puigaudeau, explorer and ethnologist of the Sahara’s nomadic cultures, who lived in Rabat from 1961 until her death. More than two hundred works and documents trace her journey." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/odette-du-puigaudeau-mysl language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/odette-du-puigaudeau-mysl type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-04T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.627Z tags: ["Exploration", "Arts"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac22bc067fe58a335541ac7_6ac22bbe7d86faad9e4ee1ee_puigaudeau-oualata-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marrakech: Yves Saint Laurent Museum Revives Desert Explorer Odette du Puigaudeau *The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech is devoting an exhibition until March 7, 2027 to Odette du Puigaudeau, explorer and ethnologist of the Sahara’s nomadic cultures, who lived in Rabat from 1961 until her death. More than two hundred works and documents trace her journey.* ![A doorway in Oualata, Mauritania, framed by white, yellow and brown painted motifs on a red clay wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac22bc067fe58a335541ac7_6ac22bbe7d86faad9e4ee1ee_puigaudeau-oualata-main.webp) Since Saturday, October 3, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech has devoted its new exhibition, “Sur les traces d’Odette du Puigaudeau,” to one of the keenest observers of the nomadic cultures of the Sahara, a woman unjustly forgotten. It runs until March 7, 2027. ![A pink poster shows the exhibition title, the dates October 3, 2026 to March 7, 2027, and an old photograph of a woman riding a camel.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55278e7ff07b7b0e31847_6ae5513bcf18edc9b43ba6cf_odette-du-puigaudeau-mysl.webp) *The poster for the exhibition “In the Footsteps of Odette du Puigaudeau” at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech. Image: Musee Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech.* Born in Saint-Nazaire in 1894 (she died in Rabat in 1991), she was a scientific illustrator, a designer at Jeanne Lanvin and a deckhand on Breton tuna boats. On November 28, 1933, she left for Mauritania with the painter Marion Senones, with no official mission and at their own expense. From Chinguetti to Timbuktu, she would spend five years fully immersed among the nomads, and follow the azalai, the great salt caravan of Taoudeni, in the winter of 1937. Settled in Rabat in 1961, the two travelers would never leave Morocco again. Odette du Puigaudeau would complete there *Arts et coutumes des Maures*, the sum of thirty years of observation. More than two hundred works and documents (drawings, watercolors, photographs, manuscripts, objects, sound archives and films) trace that journey. It is the very first exhibition devoted to her in Morocco, the country she had chosen. *Photo: a decorated doorway in Oualata, one of the towns Odette du Puigaudeau documented. Kurt Dundy at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech - [« Sur les traces d’Odette du Puigaudeau », une inconnue amoureuse des déserts (communiqué de presse)](https://www.museeyslmarrakech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/cp_odp_fra_20270806_CB_DEF.pdf) - Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech - [Exposition en cours: Sur les traces d’Odette du Puigaudeau](https://www.museeyslmarrakech.com/fr/expositions/temporaires/expositions-en-cours/) - Wikimedia Commons - [Oualata Decorative Entrance 1, Kurt Dundy at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oualata_Decorative_Entrance_1.jpg) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Two Memoranda with the UAE Central Bank, from Supervision to Payments" description: "Bank Al-Maghrib and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates signed two memoranda of understanding in Abu Dhabi: one on banking supervision and Islamic finance, the other on interlinking their payment systems and mutual acceptance of national cards." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-cbuae-memorandums language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-cbuae-memorandums type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-04T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.897Z tags: ["Finance", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e501e9e2ef6d37a4e30_6ae53c66b589893811eeb6c6_bam-cbuae-memorandums-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Two Memoranda with the UAE Central Bank, from Supervision to Payments *Bank Al-Maghrib and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates signed two memoranda of understanding in Abu Dhabi: one on banking supervision and Islamic finance, the other on interlinking their payment systems and mutual acceptance of national cards.* ![Abdellatif Jouahri, governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, and Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, hold up a signed memorandum before a backdrop bearing both banks’ logos.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e501e9e2ef6d37a4e30_6ae53c66b589893811eeb6c6_bam-cbuae-memorandums-main.webp) Over the weekend of October 3 and 4, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) announced that its governor, Khaled Mohamed Balama, and the governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, Abdellatif Jouahri, had signed two memoranda of understanding at its Abu Dhabi headquarters. ![Abdellatif Jouahri and Khaled Mohamed Balama seated at either end of a long white table between the Moroccan and Emirati flags, before a wall of both banks’ logos.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bf8b410fb1323e74153_6ae60643fd5e23d293d0fca1_bam-cbuae-memorandums-inline.webp) *Abdellatif Jouahri and Khaled Mohamed Balama at the signing table at the CBUAE headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Morocco World News.* The first covers banking supervision, from the exchange of prudential information to the coordination of regulations. It extends to Islamic finance, notably cross-border Shariah-compliant financing for trade and infrastructure. The second explores interlinking the two countries’ instant payment platforms, national card switches and financial messaging systems, to eventually allow mutual acceptance of domestic payment cards. It also covers the exchange of expertise on central bank digital currencies and the framework for virtual assets, crypto-assets and stablecoins included. Abdellatif Jouahri called it an important step in the partnership between the two institutions. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Central Bank of the UAE, communiqué repris par Zawya - [CBUAE and Bank Al-Maghrib sign two MoUs](https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/cbuae-and-bank-al-maghrib-sign-two-mous-1498383) --- --- title: "Hunting: The 2026-2027 Season Opens on October 4 Across the Country" description: "Morocco’s 2026-2027 hunting season opens this Sunday, October 4, across the whole country except for turtle dove, with quotas and fees unchanged. ANEF now counts one thousand seven hundred thirty-seven leased hunting lots, covering nearly 4.39 million hectares." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/saison-chasse-2026-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/saison-chasse-2026-2027 type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-03T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.401Z tags: ["Tourism", "Traditions"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac17f4daf742f9a048a9151_6ac17f4c05d4b004c15671de_saison-chasse-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Hunting: The 2026-2027 Season Opens on October 4 Across the Country *Morocco’s 2026-2027 hunting season opens this Sunday, October 4, across the whole country except for turtle dove, with quotas and fees unchanged. ANEF now counts one thousand seven hundred thirty-seven leased hunting lots, covering nearly 4.39 million hectares.* ![A Barbary partridge, its head and white-spotted breast against a background of vegetation.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac17f4daf742f9a048a9151_6ac17f4c05d4b004c15671de_saison-chasse-main.webp) The 2026-2027 hunting season will open this Sunday, October 4, across the whole national territory, with the exception of turtle dove, whose season will not open until July 24, 2027, MAP reports, relaying the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF). ![A group of hunters with rifles on their shoulders and backpacks climbs a hillside path, seen from behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5525db7739b3ed148def5_6ae5512f3c58e1800cff9a95_saison-chasse-2026-2027.webp) *Hunters in Ait Boukhayou, Morocco. Photo: Yassine Mabrouki, public domain.* The Higher Hunting Council kept harvest quotas, the rules for organized drives and permit fees unchanged. The past season had drawn more than sixty-five thousand Moroccan hunters and nearly five thousand visiting hunters. At the official start of the season, on Friday in Marrakech, ANEF’s director general, Abderrahim Houmy, highlighted the leasing system, which entrusts the hunting rights over a territory to an association or a company. The number of leased lots rose from 1,278 in the 2020-2021 season to 1,737 in 2025-2026, and their area from 3.35 to nearly 4.39 million hectares. Tourist hunting now rests on 146 specialized companies, and the agency intends to diversify it, notably through bow hunting. *Photo: Federation royale marocaine de chasse.* ## References - MAP - [Chasse: le Maroc lance la saison 2026-2027 et mise sur le développement de la chasse touristique](https://medias24.com/2026/10/03/chasse-le-maroc-lance-la-saison-2026-2027-et-mise-sur-le-developpement-de-la-chasse-touristique-1770915/) - MAP - [La saison de chasse 2026-2027 débute le 4 octobre](https://fr.hespress.com/481387-la-saison-de-chasse-2026-2027-debute-le-4-octobre.html) - Fédération royale marocaine de chasse - [Photographie de la perdrix gambra](https://www.frmc.ma/) --- --- title: "U20 AFCON: Morocco’s Young Lions Beat Egypt in Ismailia and Qualify for Ghana" description: "On October 3 in Ismailia, Morocco’s under-twenty side beat Egypt 2-0 with goals from Adam Baallal and Sami Bouhoudane. Top of the UNAF qualifiers on seven points, they have qualified for the 2027 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/can-u20-2027-qualification language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/can-u20-2027-qualification type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-03T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.683Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfee57e07b1dd61f2b9_6ac37df8bdd1e4bf01d5ab16_can-u20-qualification-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # U20 AFCON: Morocco’s Young Lions Beat Egypt in Ismailia and Qualify for Ghana *On October 3 in Ismailia, Morocco’s under-twenty side beat Egypt 2-0 with goals from Adam Baallal and Sami Bouhoudane. Top of the UNAF qualifiers on seven points, they have qualified for the 2027 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.* ![The entrance of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale, with its gate and floodlights.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac37dfee57e07b1dd61f2b9_6ac37df8bdd1e4bf01d5ab16_can-u20-qualification-main.webp) On Saturday, October 3, Morocco’s under-twenty side beat hosts Egypt (2-0) in Ismailia, in the North African Football Union (UNAF) zone qualifiers for the 2027 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. ![Eleven players in white shirts pose in two rows on the pitch, one holding a Moroccan pennant, in front of a stand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55235cf18edc9b43be9b7_6ae5511fc4ee1a2d8ec4c2b3_can-u20-2027-qualification.webp) *Morocco’s under-twenty starting eleven at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia. Photo: Le Matin.* Adam Baallal opened the scoring in the twenty-fifth minute and Sami Bouhoudane doubled the lead in the thirty-third, according to MAP. Morocco went top of the table with seven points, ahead of Egypt on six. Only the top two of the five teams entered will go to Ghana, and the Young Atlas Lions are assured of a place whatever the result of their last match, against Libya on October 6. *Photo: Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0. The Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale.* ## References - MAP - [CAN U20 (Éliminatoires UNAF): le Maroc bat l’Égypte (2-0) et se qualifie pour la phase finale](https://mapsport.ma/a-la-une/can-u20-eliminatoires-unaf-le-maroc-bat-legypte-2-0-et-se-qualifie-pour-la-phase-finale/) - Elbotola - [Le Maroc U20 bat l’Égypte (2-0) et se qualifie pour la CAN U20](https://www.elbotola.com/fr/article/2026-10-03-19-06-731.html) --- --- title: "Al Omrane: First-Half Net Profit Jumps 89% to 126 Million Dirhams" description: "Holding Al Omrane has published its first-half 2026 accounts: consolidated revenue of 2.11 billion dirhams, up 34%, net profit of 126 million, up 89%, and housing starts more than four times higher than a year earlier." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/al-omrane-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/al-omrane-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-03T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.405Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac12ca3f4c91f7ba8e74315_6ac12ca230ac114b1907861b_al-omrane-s1-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Al Omrane: First-Half Net Profit Jumps 89% to 126 Million Dirhams *Holding Al Omrane has published its first-half 2026 accounts: consolidated revenue of 2.11 billion dirhams, up 34%, net profit of 126 million, up 89%, and housing starts more than four times higher than a year earlier.* ![Al Omrane’s social housing sales office, with billboards for apartments on sale in front of the entrance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac12ca3f4c91f7ba8e74315_6ac12ca230ac114b1907861b_al-omrane-s1-main.webp) Holding Al Omrane’s management board approved the group’s accounts for the first half of 2026 on September 28, since published by the Moroccan Capital Market Authority. ![AI-generated concept image: concrete apartment blocks at different stages of construction, with two tower cranes, on the edge of a city.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae614121ec471d877f80696_6ae60a1e3eb74873888eb28d_al-omrane-s1-2026-inline.webp) *Apartment blocks under construction, with tower cranes. AI-generated concept image.* Consolidated revenue at the state-owned planning and housing group reached 2.11 billion dirhams, up 34%, and consolidated net profit 126 million, against 67 million a year earlier. Investment stood at 2.93 billion dirhams. It is on the building sites, however, that the half-year reads best. The group started work on 15,765 units, against 3,607 in the first half of 2025, completed 3,932, 65% more, and delivered 5,649, up 15%. Al Omrane has thus more than quadrupled its launches in a year. It is these projects that, as they are completed, will become the deliveries of the years ahead. *Photo: Hamza Izourane, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Holding Al Omrane - [Communiqué financier, résultats au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Al_Omrane_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "World Bank: Two Decrees Approve 567 Million Euros for Digital and Climate Risk" description: "Two decrees of September 22, published in the Official Bulletin on October 1, approve World Bank loans of 349.1 and 218.2 million euros, one to finance climate and risk resilience, the other to accelerate Morocco’s digital transformation." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/banque-mondiale-prets-decrets language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/banque-mondiale-prets-decrets type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-03T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.032Z tags: ["Finance", "Technology", "Climate"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e916a5d9b85e6accb19_6ae53c84dc78061d9ba4c5d1_banque-mondiale-prets-decrets-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # World Bank: Two Decrees Approve 567 Million Euros for Digital and Climate Risk *Two decrees of September 22, published in the Official Bulletin on October 1, approve World Bank loans of 349.1 and 218.2 million euros, one to finance climate and risk resilience, the other to accelerate Morocco’s digital transformation.* ![Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, speaks at her desk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e916a5d9b85e6accb19_6ae53c84dc78061d9ba4c5d1_banque-mondiale-prets-decrets-main.webp) The Official Bulletin of October 1, in its Arabic edition, published the two decrees of September 22 by which the government approves the loans signed in June with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank’s lending arm. ![A full hall watches a presentation on two screens, under a banner reading “Lancement officiel de la strategie nationale Digital Morocco 2030”.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c52fd5e23d293d2d920_6ae6065742f73d1f68305abd_banque-mondiale-prets-decrets-inline.webp) *The official launch of the national Digital Morocco 2030 strategy in Rabat, September 2024. Photo: Le Matin.* The first, of 349.1 million euros, is for the climate and risk finance program; the second, of 218.2 million euros, is devoted to the program to accelerate Morocco’s digital transformation. Built on the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, the digital component is to deliver a single national portal for public services, a sovereign wallet tied to the national identity card and the move of public administrations to the cloud. The climate component targets financial resilience against climate shocks, disasters and cyberattacks, including one billion dollars of pre-arranged disaster financing. It is against these goals, set through 2031 for the digital program, that the borrowing will be judged. *Photo: A. Gadrouz/Le360.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7548 (édition arabe) du 1er octobre 2026, décrets n° 2.26.639 et n° 2.26.759 du 22 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7548_Ar.pdf) - Banque mondiale - [Two New Programs to Advance Morocco’s Digital Transformation and Climate Resilience](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/06/12/two-new-programs-to-advance-morocco-s-digital-transformation-and-climate-resilience) --- --- title: "Tetouan: Ten Films in Competition for the Thirty-First Mediterranean Film Festival" description: "The thirty-first Mediterranean Film Festival of Tetouan, from October 3 to 10, puts ten feature films in competition, among them Mira by Nour-Eddine Lakhmari and Cinq regards by Karim Debbagh, before a jury chaired by Spanish actress Monica Lopez." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/festival-tetouan-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/festival-tetouan-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-02T10:55:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.630Z tags: ["Cinema", "Tetouan"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abf88cf0fa8b5425c8ef4a3_6abf88cbb3cbf88c55370c3d_feddan-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tetouan: Ten Films in Competition for the Thirty-First Mediterranean Film Festival *The thirty-first Mediterranean Film Festival of Tetouan, from October 3 to 10, puts ten feature films in competition, among them Mira by Nour-Eddine Lakhmari and Cinq regards by Karim Debbagh, before a jury chaired by Spanish actress Monica Lopez.* ![Feddan Square in Tetouan, where the festival holds its free open-air screenings.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abf88cf0fa8b5425c8ef4a3_6abf88cbb3cbf88c55370c3d_feddan-main.webp) From October 3 to 10, Tetouan reopens its Mediterranean Film Festival for a thirty-first edition, whose official selection has just been unveiled. ![A girl in a patterned sweater walks through a pine forest crossed by sunlight.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5523829f46b9e4e58f2a5_6ae5512065ce97890aefaa95_festival-tetouan-2026.webp) *A still from Mira by Nour-Eddine Lakhmari, one of the ten feature films in competition. Photo: Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival.* Ten feature films are competing, from Morocco, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia and Palestine among others. Morocco will be represented by *Mira* by Nour-Eddine Lakhmari and *Cinq regards* by Karim Debbagh. The jury is chaired by Spanish actress Monica Lopez. Six “favorites,” among them *Palestine 36* by Annemarie Jacir, and free open-air screenings on Feddan Square accompany the competition. Six figures of Mediterranean cinema will be honored, among them Moroccan director Hicham Lasri, Syrian actress Sulafa Memar and Italian filmmaker Roberto Ando. Born in 1985, the festival enters this edition under a new chair: its foundation elected former minister Charafat Afailal in April, while Ahmed Housni, the event’s historic figure, keeps the artistic direction. *Photo: Oumaima Achoua, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Le Matin - [Le Festival de Cinéma Méditerranéen de Tétouan dévoile sa sélection](https://lematin.ma/culture/le-festival-de-cinema-mediterraneen-de-tetouan-devoile-sa-selection/367989) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [Festival du Cinéma Méditerranéen de Tétouan: la sélection officielle dévoilée](https://aujourdhui.ma/culture/mira-de-nour-eddine-lakhmari-cinq-regards-de-karim-debbagh-festival-du-cinema-mediterraneen-de-tetouan-la-selection-officielle-devoilee) - LesEco.ma - [Festival de Cinéma Méditerranéen de Tétouan: la 31e édition dévoile ses jurys et ses hommages](https://leseco.ma/culture/festival-de-cinema-mediterraneen-de-tetouan-la-31e-edition-devoile-ses-jurys-et-ses-hommages.html) --- --- title: "Casablanca Marathon: 15,000 Runners and an Elite Label for the Seventeenth Edition" description: "The Casablanca Marathon will hold its seventeenth edition on October 25, starting and finishing at the foot of the Hassan II Mosque. Listed on the World Athletics calendar with the Elite label, it expects fifteen thousand runners from some sixty countries, 120% more than last year." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marathon-casablanca-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marathon-casablanca-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-10-02T10:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.509Z tags: ["Athletics", "Casablanca", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abf88cd5b19a8ada7300c6d_6abf88ca5e98f2ea3d34a864_marathon-casa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Marathon: 15,000 Runners and an Elite Label for the Seventeenth Edition *The Casablanca Marathon will hold its seventeenth edition on October 25, starting and finishing at the foot of the Hassan II Mosque. Listed on the World Athletics calendar with the Elite label, it expects fifteen thousand runners from some sixty countries, 120% more than last year.* ![Casablanca at sunrise, seen from the twin towers, with the Hassan II Mosque and the ocean on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abf88cd5b19a8ada7300c6d_6abf88ca5e98f2ea3d34a864_marathon-casa-main.webp) The start will be given on Sunday, October 25, at the foot of the Hassan II Mosque, where the finish will also be judged. For its seventeenth edition, the Casablanca Marathon, renamed the Credit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon, now appears with its half marathon on World Athletics’ calendar of label road races, at Elite level. ![El Hassan El Abbassi runs in Bahrain’s red kit, bib reading EL ABBASSI, in a pack on the track.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5525f2951c969dc1c9e92_6ae5512fcf18edc9b43ba59b_marathon-casablanca-2026.webp) *El Hassan El Abbassi, running for Bahrain, in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photo: Tim Hipps, U.S. Army, public domain.* The marathon, a four-runner relay and the half marathon will share one certified course, which the organizers describe as flat. They expect fifteen thousand participants from some sixty countries, 120% more than at the previous edition. Among the men, El Hassan El Abbassi comes with a personal best of 2:04:43, among the women Ethiopia’s Bere Ayalew with 2:22:52. The winners of both the men’s and the women’s marathon will receive 20,000 dollars. The label has its other side, since it imposes its own requirements on organization, safety and anti-doping. The Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca, which organizes the race, is aiming for twenty thousand participants by 2030. This October 25 will tell whether Casablanca can become the African capital of road running it means to be. *Photo: SpreeTom, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca - [Event presentation, 17th edition](https://casablancamarathon.com/en/presentation-evenement) - Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca - [Casablanca Marathon 2026 route: maps, GPX files and aid stations](https://casablancamarathon.com/en/actualite/parcours-2026-devoile) - Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca - [Rewards](https://casablancamarathon.com/en/recompenses) - World Athletics - [Label Road Races, calendar 2026](https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results) - Le360 - [Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon 2026: 15.000 participants attendus pour la 17e édition](https://sport.le360.ma/athletisme/credit-du-maroc-casablanca-marathon-2026-15000-participants-attendus-pour-la-17e-edition_LTNXWBYVWJAAXNZDD56OOJB5NU/) --- --- title: "Northern Ports: ANP Tenders 18 Million Dirhams of Solar Plants at Five Harbors" description: "Morocco’s National Ports Agency has launched an international tender, estimated at 18 million dirhams, to fit solar photovoltaic plants at the ports of Nador, Ras Kebdana, Tangier Ville, M’diq and Al Hoceima. The bids will be opened on October 22." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/anp-solaire-ports-nord language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/anp-solaire-ports-nord type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.532Z tags: ["Energy", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abee09dd4845693d416251d_6abee09c72a47e3be02d8ea8_anp-solaire-nord-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Northern Ports: ANP Tenders 18 Million Dirhams of Solar Plants at Five Harbors *Morocco’s National Ports Agency has launched an international tender, estimated at 18 million dirhams, to fit solar photovoltaic plants at the ports of Nador, Ras Kebdana, Tangier Ville, M’diq and Al Hoceima. The bids will be opened on October 22.* ![The port of Al Hoceima seen from above, its two breakwaters reaching into a deep blue sea below a rocky headland.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abee09dd4845693d416251d_6abee09c72a47e3be02d8ea8_anp-solaire-nord-main.webp) Morocco’s National Ports Agency, ANP, has launched an open international tender for the supply, installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic plants at five ports in the north of the kingdom: Nador, Ras Kebdana, Tangier Ville, M’diq and Al Hoceima. ![Fishing boats moored in a calm basin at dusk, with a mountain on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5523aa405c0af48804241_6ae55121dc78061d9ba81155_anp-solaire-ports-nord.webp) *Fishing boats in the basin of the port of M’diq. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC0.* Published on September 25, the notice puts the cost of the works and services at 18 million dirhams including taxes. The bids will be opened in a public session on October 22 at the agency’s headquarters in Casablanca. Bidders are invited to visit the sites from October 13 to 15. The notice specifies neither the capacity of the plants nor the share of the ports’ consumption they will cover. After the quays and the breakwaters, it is the power supply of the small ports of the Mediterranean and the Strait that will now turn to the sun. *Photo: Rockthebeater, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agence nationale des ports - [Avis d’appel d’offres ouvert international n° 12/AOO/DIE-DG-ANP/2026](https://www.anp.org.ma/fra/Lists/AppelOffres/Attachments/4541/AVIS%20APPEL%20D%27OFFRES%2012DIEDGANP2026.pdf) --- --- title: "ONCF: Half-Year Net Loss Widens to 716 Million Dirhams as EBITDA Falls 13%" description: "ONCF’s accounts for the first half of 2026 show EBITDA down by about 13% to 842 million dirhams and a parent-company net loss of 716 million, against 641 million, while investment reached 4.8 billion dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oncf-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oncf-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.101Z tags: ["Logistics", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8caf020884b4c5799144_6abe8cab7afabb523689821f_oncf-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # ONCF: Half-Year Net Loss Widens to 716 Million Dirhams as EBITDA Falls 13% *ONCF’s accounts for the first half of 2026 show EBITDA down by about 13% to 842 million dirhams and a parent-company net loss of 716 million, against 641 million, while investment reached 4.8 billion dirhams.* ![An orange and white ONCF electric locomotive pulls a long passenger train through dry hills under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8caf020884b4c5799144_6abe8cab7afabb523689821f_oncf-s1-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s national railway office, ONCF, published its accounts for the first half of 2026 through the AMMC on September 30: its net loss widened to 716 million dirhams in its parent-company accounts, against 641 million a year earlier. ![A silver high-speed train with the ONCF logo stands at a platform, with a yellow locomotive and travelers on the next platform.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5523d36df6e180b921e5b_6ae551226a5d9b85e6afd0c1_oncf-s1-2026.webp) *An ONCF Al Boraq high-speed trainset at a station platform. Photo: TelQuel.* Its EBITDA fell by about 13%, to 842 million dirhams, under the weight of rising operating costs. Excluding infrastructure capital charges, the result would have been a profit of 358 million, the office says. At group level, consolidated revenue rose 6%, to 3,139 million dirhams, for a net loss of 846 million. Investment reached 4.8 billion dirhams over the half, as work on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line and the projects for 2030 gathers pace. Financing debt rose from 45.72 billion dirhams at the end of 2025 to 48.95 billion on June 30, including 2 billion raised in green bonds. *Photo: Kabelleger, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - ONCF, via l’AMMC - [Communiqué de presse, situation des comptes sociaux du 1er semestre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/ONCF_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Copper: US Fund Nebari Takes 15.2% of the Company Behind Agadir Melloul" description: "US fund Nebari is investing 2 million dollars in Critical Mineral Resources, the company developing Morocco’s Agadir Melloul copper project, and will hold about 15.2% of it, with a right of first refusal on financing the construction of the mine." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cmr-nebari-agadir-melloul language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cmr-nebari-agadir-melloul type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:30.316Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8cb11220057b7be185f0_6abe8cac81a6b83f3bf3d507_cmr-nebari-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Copper: US Fund Nebari Takes 15.2% of the Company Behind Agadir Melloul *US fund Nebari is investing 2 million dollars in Critical Mineral Resources, the company developing Morocco’s Agadir Melloul copper project, and will hold about 15.2% of it, with a right of first refusal on financing the construction of the mine.* ![A cluster of green malachite, a copper mineral, on ocher limestone, photographed by Critical Mineral Resources for its Agadir Melloul project.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8cb11220057b7be185f0_6abe8cac81a6b83f3bf3d507_cmr-nebari-main.webp) Critical Mineral Resources, the London-listed company developing the Agadir Melloul copper and silver project in Morocco’s western Anti-Atlas, announced on October 1 that Nebari, a US investment fund specializing in natural resources, has joined its capital. ![Two hands hold a greenish cylinder of rock in front of wooden core trays.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5527c61a40d5fffba6fb1_6ae5513c4551f0f8d2666335_cmr-nebari-agadir-melloul.webp) *A drill core of copper-bearing rhyolite from Agadir Melloul. Photo: Critical Mineral Resources.* The fund subscribed 2 million dollars for more than seventy-five million new shares at 2 pence. It will hold about 15.2% of the capital, making it the company’s second-largest shareholder. Above all, the agreement gives Nebari a right of first refusal on financing the construction of Agadir Melloul and the company’s other mine developments, on market terms: a priority, not a commitment to fund. The fund also gets an observer on the board and a seat on the technical committee, with its shares locked up for twelve months. The proceeds will go mainly to defining the deposit’s resource, some 250 kilometers southwest of Marrakech. The first JORC-compliant resource estimate is expected in the fourth quarter. *Photo: Critical Mineral Resources.* ## References - Critical Mineral Resources, via Investegate - [Strategic investment](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/critical-mineral-resources-plc--cmrs/strategic-investment/9800229) --- --- title: "Dakhla: Urban Master Plan for the Bay of Oued Ed-Dahab Approved by Decree" description: "A decree of September 22, published in the Official Bulletin of September 28, approves the urban development master plan for the Bay of Oued Ed-Dahab, which covers the municipalities of Dakhla and El Argoub and will frame their urban growth for up to twenty-five years." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sdau-oued-ed-dahab language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sdau-oued-ed-dahab type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-01T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.514Z tags: ["Architecture", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8cb4dab760b737efb89d_6abe8cadc7b9d43d60ce5397_dakhla-sdau-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Dakhla: Urban Master Plan for the Bay of Oued Ed-Dahab Approved by Decree *A decree of September 22, published in the Official Bulletin of September 28, approves the urban development master plan for the Bay of Oued Ed-Dahab, which covers the municipalities of Dakhla and El Argoub and will frame their urban growth for up to twenty-five years.* ![A panoramic view of central Dakhla, with its avenues, a square planted with palm trees and the ocean on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe8cb4dab760b737efb89d_6abe8cadc7b9d43d60ce5397_dakhla-sdau-main.webp) The Official Bulletin No. 7547 of September 28 published Decree No. 2.26.755 of September 22, 2026, which approves the urban development master plan for the Bay of Oued Ed-Dahab, covering the municipalities of Dakhla and El Argoub. ![Orbital view of a long sandy peninsula enclosing a dark blue bay along a desert coast.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5526161a40d5fffba6442_6ae55130514ff03751591d49_sdau-oued-ed-dahab.webp) *Dakhla Bay photographed from the International Space Station. Photo: NASA, public domain.* The text concludes a procedure that went before the central monitoring committee on March 30, then before the municipal councils of Dakhla and El Argoub in July. The plan itself, annexed to the original decree, is not reproduced in the Official Bulletin, so neither its area nor its population projections were made public. Provided for by Law 12-90 on urban planning, a master plan sets the broad lines of urban expansion for up to twenty-five years, to be worked out later in detailed development plans. The Bay of Dakhla now holds the map that will frame its growth for the next quarter century. *Photo: YoTuT from United States, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7547 (édition arabe), décret n° 2.26.755 du 22 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7547_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Artificial Intelligence: Morocco Among the Nineteen New Signatories of the US Statement" description: "The US State Department announced on October 1 that Morocco is among the nineteen new signatories of its Joint Statement on AI Opportunity Partnership, adopted in June at the Pax Silica Summit and now endorsed by fifty-four countries." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-declaration-ia-washington language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-declaration-ia-washington type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-01T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.112Z tags: ["Technology", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eb5514ff0375154cb82_6ae53c9750c7c2062b07cbe5_maroc-declaration-ia-washington-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Artificial Intelligence: Morocco Among the Nineteen New Signatories of the US Statement *The US State Department announced on October 1 that Morocco is among the nineteen new signatories of its Joint Statement on AI Opportunity Partnership, adopted in June at the Pax Silica Summit and now endorsed by fifty-four countries.* ![Morocco’s UN ambassador Omar Hilale with representatives of countries endorsing the AI Opportunity Partnership, posing with the signed statement.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eb5514ff0375154cb82_6ae53c9750c7c2062b07cbe5_maroc-declaration-ia-washington-main.webp) On October 1, the US State Department announced that 19 more countries, Morocco among them, had joined its Joint Statement on AI Opportunity Partnership. ![Dozens of delegates pose in three rows before a “Pax Silica, Securing the Silicon Supply Chain” backdrop, between two rows of national flags, above a banner reading “The AI Opportunity.”](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c7cbc0ed2f9666c8d00_6ae60663ec8a77d1ea4e2777_maroc-declaration-ia-washington-inline.webp) *Delegations gathered at the second Pax Silica summit in Washington in June 2026. Photo: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.* First signed in June in Washington at the second Pax Silica Summit, the text now counts 54 signatories. The Kingdom comes in alongside, among others, Austria, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam. Signatories commit to fostering regulation that favors investment and innovation, and to cooperating on what the statement calls the physical backbone of AI, from energy to critical minerals and semiconductors. The State Department adds a more political commitment: aligning their super intelligence supply chains with those of the United States and the Pax Silica economies, the initiative launched in December 2025 by the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg. Morocco has thus picked its technological camp, and the reach of this signature will be measured in its data centers and its minerals. *Photo: Morocco World News.* ## References - U.S. Department of State - [AI Opportunity Statement: Joint Statement on AI Opportunity Partnership](https://www.state.gov/ai-opportunity-statement) --- --- title: "Casablanca: Maarif’s New Zoning Plan Took Effect for the Next Ten Years" description: "Published in the Official Bulletin on October 1, the decree approving the Maarif zoning plan sets the planning rules for ten years in this central Casablanca district, with the rehabilitation of Derb Ghallef and 56 hectares set aside around the Ibn Rochd hospital." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/plan-amenagement-maarif language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/plan-amenagement-maarif type: news category: actu published: 2026-10-01T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:30.430Z tags: ["Architecture", "Casablanca", "Health"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac27e8b3d85113cd69fa83c_6ac27e89635f7748773203a7_maarif-rue2-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca: Maarif’s New Zoning Plan Took Effect for the Next Ten Years *Published in the Official Bulletin on October 1, the decree approving the Maarif zoning plan sets the planning rules for ten years in this central Casablanca district, with the rehabilitation of Derb Ghallef and 56 hectares set aside around the Ibn Rochd hospital.* ![White apartment blocks with balconies in the Maarif district of Casablanca, above a palm tree.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac27e8b3d85113cd69fa83c_6ac27e89635f7748773203a7_maarif-rue2-main.webp) The Official Bulletin of October 1 published decree No. 2.26.658, which approves the zoning plan for the Maarif district, in the heart of Casablanca, together with its regulations. ![A street lined with eyewear and accessory shops under a green awning, with passersby and a scooter.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5527a3b9a03db7f2925fe_6ae5513b6e325be1a8b0b418_plan-amenagement-maarif.webp) *Part of the Derb Ghallef flea market, in the heart of Maarif in Casablanca. Photo: Le360.* Signed on September 16 by Aziz Akhannouch, then head of government, after a public inquiry opened in September 2025, the text counts as a declaration of public utility, opening the way to the expropriations needed for the planned facilities. Replacing the plan approved in 2014, the document will set the planning rules for the coming decade in a district where land is scarce. Two projects took shape in it: the on-site rehabilitation of the Derb Ghallef joutiya, the city’s famous flea market, and the redevelopment of the 56 hectares of the Ibn Rochd university hospital, where an integrated health hub could rise. *Photo: karel291, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7548 du 1er octobre 2026, décret n° 2.26.658 du 16 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7548_Ar.pdf) - Médias24 - [Après sa publication, le nouveau plan d’aménagement de Maarif entre en phase d’exécution](https://medias24.com/2026/10/04/apres-sa-publication-le-nouveau-plan-damenagement-de-maarif-entre-en-phase-dexecution-1771553/) - Wikimedia Commons - [Maârif, Morocco - panoramio (2), karel291, CC BY 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ma%C3%A2rif,_Morocco_-_panoramio_(2).jpg) --- --- title: "Ghana: Attijariwafa Bank to Take Control of Societe Generale Ghana" description: "Attijariwafa bank announced on October 1 an agreement to acquire 55.22% of Societe Generale Ghana, which the French group is selling in full, giving the Moroccan lender control of a forty-branch bank, subject to approval by Moroccan and Ghanaian authorities." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/attijariwafa-sg-ghana language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/attijariwafa-sg-ghana type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.765Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b46a5d3f837ad79678b_6ae60a06a15abb334ec4b6fb_attijariwafa-sg-ghana-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Ghana: Attijariwafa Bank to Take Control of Societe Generale Ghana *Attijariwafa bank announced on October 1 an agreement to acquire 55.22% of Societe Generale Ghana, which the French group is selling in full, giving the Moroccan lender control of a forty-branch bank, subject to approval by Moroccan and Ghanaian authorities.* ![An office building bearing the Societe Generale Ghana sign, lined with palm trees, under an evening sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b46a5d3f837ad79678b_6ae60a06a15abb334ec4b6fb_attijariwafa-sg-ghana-hero-main.webp) Attijariwafa bank announced on October 1 that it has signed an agreement with the Societe Generale group, which is selling its entire 60.22% stake in its Ghanaian subsidiary. ![A blue bank sign and glass office buildings along a paved street in Accra’s Airport City district.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b46a5d3f837ad79678f_6ae60615fd5e23d293d0e43a_attijariwafa-sg-ghana-inline.webp) *Bank signs in Accra’s Airport City district. Photo: Fanti Salms, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The Moroccan bank will take 55.22%, and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust, Ghana’s social security fund, the remaining 5%. Based in Accra and listed on its stock exchange, Societe Generale Ghana has more than five hundred employees and forty branches. In 2025 it posted net income of 397 million cedis. The deal remains subject to approvals from the Moroccan and Ghanaian authorities, and no price has been disclosed. Once it closes, Attijariwafa bank will take control of the bank and take over its activities, clients and staff. The Moroccan group sees the deal as strengthening its presence in English-speaking Africa. *Photo: Forbes Afrique.* ## References - Société Générale Ghana, via la Ghana Stock Exchange - [PR. No.395/2026: Societe Generale Group has signed an agreement with Attijariwafa Bank to sell its subsidiary Societe Generale Ghana](https://gse.com.gh/pressrelease/pr-395-societe-generale-ghana-plc-societe-generale-group-has-signed-an-agreement-with-attijariwafa-bank-to-sell-its-subsidiary-societe-generale-ghana/) - Attijariwafa bank, via Boursenews - [Attijariwafa bank signe un accord pour acquérir 55,22% de Société Générale Ghana](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/attijariwafa-bank-accord-acquisition-societe-generale-ghana) --- --- title: "External Trade: Travel Receipts Reach 97.9 Billion Dirhams by the End of August" description: "Morocco’s travel receipts reached 97,926 million dirhams by the end of August 2026, up 9.7%, according to the Office des Changes, while the trade deficit deepened by 25.4% to 282,615 million dirhams as imports rose 15.8%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/echanges-exterieurs-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/echanges-exterieurs-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T11:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.162Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe3ba06bb50d556ae06b6b_6abe3b9abe6fae851c2915ac_echanges-exterieurs-aout-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # External Trade: Travel Receipts Reach 97.9 Billion Dirhams by the End of August *Morocco’s travel receipts reached 97,926 million dirhams by the end of August 2026, up 9.7%, according to the Office des Changes, while the trade deficit deepened by 25.4% to 282,615 million dirhams as imports rose 15.8%.* ![A stepped alley in Chefchaouen, its walls and steps painted blue, leading to a turquoise door.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe3ba06bb50d556ae06b6b_6abe3b9abe6fae851c2915ac_echanges-exterieurs-aout-2026-main.webp) Morocco’s Office des Changes published its provisional external trade indicators to the end of August 2026 on September 30: travel receipts reached 97,926 million dirhams, up 9.7% on the year. ![A blue container ship is moored under tall loading cranes, in front of a hill and stacks of containers.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5527edc78061d9ba8b37d_6ae5513d1596dcfd31db83ab_echanges-exterieurs-aout-2026.webp) *The container ship Maersk Congo calling at the port of Tanger Med. Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The travel surplus gained 10.8%, to 74,621 million, and remittances from Moroccans living abroad climbed 9%, to 89,215 million dirhams. Trade in goods, by contrast, widened the gap. Imports rose 15.8%, to 617,508 million dirhams, nearly twice as fast as exports, and the trade deficit deepened by 25.4%, to 282,615 million. Net foreign direct investment inflows rose 65%, to 34,334 million dirhams. Between them, tourism receipts and diaspora remittances thus cover two-thirds of the trade deficit. *Photo: Fbrandao.1963, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Office des Changes - [Indicateurs mensuels des échanges extérieurs, août 2026](https://www.oc.gov.ma/sites/default/files/2026-09/IMEE_Ao%C3%BBt_2026_0.pdf) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Credit to the Non-Financial Sector Accelerates to 10.5% in August" description: "Bank credit to Morocco’s non-financial sector grew 10.5% year on year in August 2026, after 10.1% in July, according to Bank Al-Maghrib, driven by private companies and equipment loans, while lending to households held at 3.4%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/credit-bancaire-aout-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/credit-bancaire-aout-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:10:08.807Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e538def6e61aa138c73_6ae53c681b68b88e881e9ff9_credit-bancaire-aout-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Credit to the Non-Financial Sector Accelerates to 10.5% in August *Bank credit to Morocco’s non-financial sector grew 10.5% year on year in August 2026, after 10.1% in July, according to Bank Al-Maghrib, driven by private companies and equipment loans, while lending to households held at 3.4%.* ![Peugeot 208 cars, one with its hood open, in a workshop of the Stellantis plant in Kenitra, watched by operators in orange vests.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e538def6e61aa138c73_6ae53c681b68b88e881e9ff9_credit-bancaire-aout-2026-main.webp) According to the monetary statistics published by Bank Al-Maghrib on September 30, bank credit to the non-financial sector grew 10.5% year on year in August 2026, after 10.1% in July, to an outstanding 1,070 billion dirhams. The acceleration came from companies: lending to private non-financial firms grew 11.7%, against 11% the previous month, while loans to households held almost steady at 3.4%. Equipment loans remain the most dynamic, at 25.5%, and cash facilities accelerated to 9.7%. Real estate loans stalled at 3.9%. Non-performing loans rose 3.7%, and their ratio to bank credit stood at 8.2%, after 8.1% in July. Corporate investment thus carried most of the summer’s demand for credit. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Indicateurs clés des statistiques monétaires, août 2026](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/851550/9190228/DSGD%20SM%20aout%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Card Payments: Interchange Fees Capped at 0.50% From October 1" description: "Since October 1, interchange fees on domestic card payments in Morocco are capped at 0.50% excluding tax, down from 0.65%, and at 0.15% for payments owed to the administration and purchases from neighborhood merchants, under a Bank Al-Maghrib decision." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/interchange-050 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/interchange-050 type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T11:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.194Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe3ba47b7e7262eb2ad97c_6abe3b9b338634b3c8f919c2_interchange-050-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Card Payments: Interchange Fees Capped at 0.50% From October 1 *Since October 1, interchange fees on domestic card payments in Morocco are capped at 0.50% excluding tax, down from 0.65%, and at 0.15% for payments owed to the administration and purchases from neighborhood merchants, under a Bank Al-Maghrib decision.* ![An electronic payment terminal on a checkout counter.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abe3ba47b7e7262eb2ad97c_6abe3b9b338634b3c8f919c2_interchange-050-main.webp) Bank Al-Maghrib’s regulatory decision No. 265/W/2026 takes effect on October 1: the interchange fee that a merchant’s bank pays to the bank that issued the card, on every domestic payment, may no longer exceed 0.50% of the transaction excluding tax, against 0.65% since October 2024. ![A grocer, seen from behind, stocks a shelf in a shop lined with canned goods, with a scale on the counter and crates of pulses.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5526329f46b9e4e590b40_6ae551313b9a03db7f289912_interchange-050.webp) *A neighborhood grocer in his hanout. Photo: Bladi.net.* A lower cap of 0.15% applies to electronic payments owed to the State and local authorities, and to purchases from neighborhood merchants, independent retail shops whose annual turnover does not exceed 500,000 dirhams for self-employed traders, or 2 million under the single professional contribution regime. The central bank expects acquirers to pass the cut on to merchant commissions, and reiterates that this commission may in no case be billed to the customer. Adopted after consultations with the Competition Council, the measure will now have to show up on small merchants’ statements. *Photo: Mikarbo02, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Décision réglementaire n° 265/W/2026 relative aux frais d’interchange monétique domestique](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/847297/9161385/file/D%C3%A9cision+R%C3%A9glementaire+relative+aux+frais+d%E2%80%99interchange+mon%C3%A9tique+domestique.pdf) - Conseil de la concurrence - [Communiqué conjoint du Conseil de la concurrence et de Bank Al-Maghrib](https://conseil-concurrence.ma/communique-conjoint-du-conseil-de-la-concurrence-et-de-bank-al-maghrib/) --- --- title: "Microfinance: CDG Takes Control of Jaida by Buying Out France’s CDC" description: "The Caisse de Depot et de Gestion bought on September 29 the 18.29% that France’s CDC held in Jaida, the fund that refinances microcredit associations, and now owns 50.3% of it, according to a statement published on October 1." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cdg-jaida-majoritaire language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cdg-jaida-majoritaire type: news category: eco published: 2026-10-01T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.643Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2a975a08ca9619b220_6ae606075207f4b3f42712e6_cdg-jaida-majoritaire-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Microfinance: CDG Takes Control of Jaida by Buying Out France’s CDC *The Caisse de Depot et de Gestion bought on September 29 the 18.29% that France’s CDC held in Jaida, the fund that refinances microcredit associations, and now owns 50.3% of it, according to a statement published on October 1.* ![Khalid Safir, director general of CDG, speaks at a lectern in Rabat, July 12, 2024.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2a975a08ca9619b220_6ae606075207f4b3f42712e6_cdg-jaida-majoritaire-main.webp) On October 1, Jaida, the institution that refinances the Kingdom’s microcredit associations, announced that the Caisse de Depot et de Gestion (CDG) had completed on September 29 the acquisition of six hundred thousand of its shares, until then held by France’s Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC). ![The arched gateway of the Caisse des Depots headquarters in Paris, beneath French and European flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2b975a08ca9619b246_6ae60606206de5b296192208_cdg-jaida-majoritaire-inline.webp) *The entrance to the Caisse des Depots et Consignations headquarters on Quai Anatole France in Paris. Photo: Copyleft, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The shares represent 18.29% of the capital and voting rights, and the transaction lifts CDG’s holding from 32.01% to 50.3%. Founded in 2007 by CDG, the German development bank KfW, the CDC and the French Development Agency, and joined in 2010 by Barid Al-Maghrib, Jaida lends to microcredit associations so that they can lend in turn. With the CDC gone, it is CDG that will now hold the majority on its own in this quiet cog of credit to small entrepreneurs. *Photo: Y. Mannan/Le360.* ## References - Jaïda - [Communiqué: L’actionnariat de JAIDA évolue avec le renforcement de la participation de la CDG, portée de 32,01 % à 50,3 %](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Jaida_evolution_actionnariat.pdf) - Jaïda - [Document de référence relatif à l’exercice 2023](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/DR_Jaida_024_2024_0.pdf) --- --- title: "BCP Group: Net Income Group Share Rises 10.4% in the First Half" description: "Morocco’s BCP Group posted first-half 2026 net income group share of 3,218 million dirhams, up 10.4%, as its cost of risk fell by more than half, even though net banking income slipped 3.2% on weaker market activities." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bcp-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bcp-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.219Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8916af6ba4b818a443_6abd8e851b6f86929d05bd38_bcp-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # BCP Group: Net Income Group Share Rises 10.4% in the First Half *Morocco’s BCP Group posted first-half 2026 net income group share of 3,218 million dirhams, up 10.4%, as its cost of risk fell by more than half, even though net banking income slipped 3.2% on weaker market activities.* ![The Banque Populaire building in central Casablanca, a former branch of the British West African Bank, with the bank’s bilingual sign above its columns.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8916af6ba4b818a443_6abd8e851b6f86929d05bd38_bcp-s1-2026-main.webp) Filed on September 30 with the Moroccan Capital Market Authority, the half-year financial statements of Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire show, at the end of June 2026, net income group share of 3,218 million dirhams, up 10.4%. ![Orange wooden counters under carved arches and lanterns, between zellige-clad columns, inside a Banque Populaire branch.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bc2975a08ca9619e41c_6ae606378f7591899402be33_bcp-s1-2026-inline.webp) *The counters of the Banque Populaire branch in the Fes medina. Photo: Bjorn Christian Torrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The improvement is owed entirely to the cost of risk, cut from 2,704 to 1,084 million dirhams, a 60% drop, while net banking income slipped 3.2%, to 13,462 million. The dip comes from market activities, whose result shrank 28%, while the interest margin gained 5.9% and the fee margin 9.1%. On the balance sheet, customer deposits stood at 429.5 billion dirhams, up 4.3% since December, and net loans at 306.1 billion, up 2.5%. Retail banking will have carried the half, where the markets held it back. *Photo: Boubloub, CC0.* ## References - Groupe BCP, via l’AMMC - [Résultats financiers du 1er semestre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/BCP_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Alliances: First-Half Net Income Rises 6% to 229.6 Million Dirhams" description: "Moroccan developer Alliances posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 229.6 million dirhams, up 6%, on revenue of 1,418.7 million dirhams, with its gross margin rising to 38% of revenue and net debt falling since March." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/alliances-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/alliances-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T22:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.572Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8d7847e9543e628c47_6abd8e8625777011f8fb89a4_alliances-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Alliances: First-Half Net Income Rises 6% to 229.6 Million Dirhams *Moroccan developer Alliances posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 229.6 million dirhams, up 6%, on revenue of 1,418.7 million dirhams, with its gross margin rising to 38% of revenue and net debt falling since March.* ![The patio of a riad on the Al Maaden estate in Marrakech, with its pool lit at dusk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8d7847e9543e628c47_6abd8e8625777011f8fb89a4_alliances-s1-2026-main.webp) Meeting on September 30 under the chairmanship of Alami Lazraq, the board of the Alliances group approved half-year accounts showing growth: at the end of June 2026, consolidated net income reached 229.6 million dirhams, against 215.7 million a year earlier. ![Seven people in business dress pose standing in a wood-paneled room, two of them holding green and red signing folders.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5523f873e2c1f2bc18d86_6ae551231b68b88e8820b73e_alliances-s1-2026.webp) *The signing of the partnership between the Alliances group and Rixos Hotels. Photo: Khalil Essalak / Le360.* Consolidated revenue rose 6.5%, to 1,418.7 million dirhams, and the gross margin 16%, to 538 million. A non-recurring charge of 105.7 million, against 21.4 million, nonetheless held back the rise in profit. The developer reports 3,267 pre-sales, 1,703 final sales and an order book of 4,356 units. Net debt fell to 1,179 million dirhams, against 1,278 million at the end of March. The group says it holds a project portfolio with estimated future revenue of 23 billion dirhams, including hotel projects with the Rixos group. *Photo: Didierlefort, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Alliances Développement Immobilier - [Résultats financiers au 30 juin 2026](https://lnt.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/adi-resultats-financiers-au-30-juin-2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Fes Stadium: Two New Tenders Worth More Than 1.5 Billion Dirhams" description: "Morocco’s National Agency for Public Facilities has launched two international tenders to upgrade the Fes stadium ahead of the 2030 World Cup: electrical work estimated at 1,291.2 million dirhams and fluids at 228.2 million, with bids opening on November 10." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/stade-fes-lots language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/stade-fes-lots type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-30T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:30.355Z tags: ["Sport", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8f73a9ed46865c3bfb_6abd8e87bc203bb9db550dda_stade-fes-lots-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fes Stadium: Two New Tenders Worth More Than 1.5 Billion Dirhams *Morocco’s National Agency for Public Facilities has launched two international tenders to upgrade the Fes stadium ahead of the 2030 World Cup: electrical work estimated at 1,291.2 million dirhams and fluids at 228.2 million, with bids opening on November 10.* ![A panoramic view inside the Fes sports complex, with its pitch, running track and blue stands, during a Botola 2 match.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e8f73a9ed46865c3bfb_6abd8e87bc203bb9db550dda_stade-fes-lots-main.webp) On September 29, the National Agency for Public Facilities published two open international tenders to upgrade the Fes stadium, as part of the preparations for the 2030 World Cup. ![Aerial view of a stadium with red and green stands, surrounded by building sites, a crane and apartment blocks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae5528394b3f33215876612_6ae5513e3b9a03db7f289d3b_stade-fes-lots.webp) *The Fes Grand Stadium under renovation, seen from the air. Photo: Le360.* Lot No. 2, covering high- and low-voltage electrical work, is estimated at 1,291.2 million dirhams including taxes, and Lot No. 3, for fluids, at 228.2 million. Together, they exceed 1.5 billion dirhams. Bids are to be submitted electronically until November 9 and opened on November 10. The complex of Morocco’s spiritual capital is entering a new phase of works. *Photo: KSKB1935, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agence nationale des équipements publics, via le Portail des marchés publics - [AOOI/02/GSF/2026/ANEP, lot n° 2: électricité courants forts - courants faibles](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&refConsultation=1043481&orgAcronyme=o8p) - Agence nationale des équipements publics, via le Portail des marchés publics - [AOOI/03/GSF/2026/ANEP, lot n° 3: fluides](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailsConsultation&refConsultation=1043910&orgAcronyme=o8p) --- --- title: "Shipping: MSC Extends Two Surcharges to Casablanca, Agadir and Nador From October 19" description: "From October 19, MSC will apply its piracy risk surcharge of 55 dollars per twenty-foot container and its Suez Canal surcharge of 36 dollars to cargo from Asia bound for Casablanca, Agadir and Nador, citing security around the Arabian Peninsula." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/msc-surcharges-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/msc-surcharges-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T22:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.033Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e9116af6ba4b818a656_6abd8e88f37694d2911c0ffa_msc-surcharges-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Shipping: MSC Extends Two Surcharges to Casablanca, Agadir and Nador From October 19 *From October 19, MSC will apply its piracy risk surcharge of 55 dollars per twenty-foot container and its Suez Canal surcharge of 36 dollars to cargo from Asia bound for Casablanca, Agadir and Nador, citing security around the Arabian Peninsula.* ![The port of Agadir seen from the heights, with its cranes, ships at the quay and its breakwater on the Atlantic.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd8e9116af6ba4b818a656_6abd8e88f37694d2911c0ffa_msc-surcharges-maroc-main.webp) Mediterranean Shipping Company announced on September 30 that from October 19 it will extend its piracy risk surcharge and its Suez Canal surcharge to all cargo moving from Asia to 43 additional ports, among them Casablanca, Agadir and Nador. ![A black container ship marked MSC, loaded with colored containers, at the quay under a red and white crane, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552654bf7b29bab7ef8df_6ae5513261a40d5fffba0be5_msc-surcharges-maroc.webp) *The container ship MSC Tamara at the port of Casablanca. Photo: Farid mernissi, CC BY 4.0.* The first amounts to 55 dollars per twenty-foot equivalent unit, the second to 36 dollars, until further notice. The carrier cites the security situation around the Arabian Peninsula. Two days earlier, MSC set freight from the Far East to Casablanca at 4,550 dollars for a twenty-foot container and 5,500 dollars for a forty-foot one. For Moroccan importers, every container arriving from Asia will now cost a little more. *Photo: Adville, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - MSC - [Piracy Risk and Suez Canal Surcharges - Trade from Asia to Mediterranean (inc. West Med, East Med, Adriatic and North Africa)](https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/customer-advisories/2026/september/prs-and-scs-trade-from-asia-to-mediterranean) - MSC - [Trade from Asia to NWC, Mediterranean (Inc. West Med, East Med, Adriatic and North Africa) and Black Sea](https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/customer-advisories/2026/september/pa-trade-asia-to-nwc-med-and-black-sea) --- --- title: "Football: Mali Replace Ghana Against the Atlas Lions on Sunday in Tangier" description: "Morocco’s national team will face Mali in a friendly on Sunday, October 4, at six in the evening at the Grand Stade de Tanger, the FRMF announced according to MAP, after the Ghanaian federation withdrew for internal reasons." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-mali-amical language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-mali-amical type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-30T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.850Z tags: ["Football", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b43ec7f895792629981_6abd3b3b70d18e9fa02f6a7e_maroc-mali-amical-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Football: Mali Replace Ghana Against the Atlas Lions on Sunday in Tangier *Morocco’s national team will face Mali in a friendly on Sunday, October 4, at six in the evening at the Grand Stade de Tanger, the FRMF announced according to MAP, after the Ghanaian federation withdrew for internal reasons.* ![Morocco’s national team players lined up for the anthems before their match against Brazil at the World Cup on June 13, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b43ec7f895792629981_6abd3b3b70d18e9fa02f6a7e_maroc-mali-amical-main.webp) The Atlas Lions will face Mali in a friendly on Sunday, October 4, at six in the evening at the Grand Stade de Tanger, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced on Wednesday, according to MAP. ![Inside the Grand Stade de Tanger under its roof, with blue and white stands and the pitch, a few spectators in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bfcc9c7b5d3229d006a_6ae60644ec8a77d1ea4e1b30_maroc-mali-amical-inline.webp) *The stands and pitch of the Grand Stade de Tanger. Photo: Ymax2016, CC0.* The match was meant to pit Morocco against Ghana, but the Ghanaian federation informed the FRMF by letter that it was withdrawing “for internal reasons,” the communique states. For its part, the Malian Football Federation announced that its friendly against Tunisia, scheduled for Saturday, October 3, would not take place, the two sides having agreed to change opponents. The test extends a successful start to the season for the national team, which beat Gabon and then Lesotho 2-0 in the first two rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. *Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Fédération royale marocaine de football, via MAP Sport - [Amical: le Maroc affronte le Mali dimanche prochain à Tanger, le Ghana se désiste](https://mapsport.ma/a-la-une/amical-le-maroc-affronte-le-mali-dimanche-prochain-a-tanger-le-ghana-se-desiste/) - Fédération malienne de football, via Hespress - [En remplacement du Ghana, le Maroc affrontera le Mali en amical à Tanger](https://fr.hespress.com/490609-en-remplacement-du-ghana-le-maroc-affrontera-le-mali-en-amical-a-tanger.html) --- --- title: "Nador: Development Plan for the Marchica Lagoon Approved by Decree" description: "A decree of September 16, 2026, published in the Official Bulletin of September 28, approves the development plan and regulations for the Marchica lagoon site in Nador, following a public inquiry and deliberations by four municipal councils." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marchica-plan-amenagement language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marchica-plan-amenagement type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-30T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.661Z tags: ["Rif", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b407e7dc5255a5815c4_6abd3b3aec7f8957926295cf_marchica-plan-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Nador: Development Plan for the Marchica Lagoon Approved by Decree *A decree of September 16, 2026, published in the Official Bulletin of September 28, approves the development plan and regulations for the Marchica lagoon site in Nador, following a public inquiry and deliberations by four municipal councils.* ![Sunset over the Marchica lagoon near Nador, with the exposed shore in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b407e7dc5255a5815c4_6abd3b3aec7f8957926295cf_marchica-plan-main.webp) Official Bulletin No. 7547, dated September 28, publishes Decree No. 2.26.744 of September 16, 2026, which approves the development plan for the Marchica lagoon site, together with its regulations, and declares it a matter of public utility. ![Aerial view of a marina with sailboats along its pontoons, sheltered by a breakwater, with buildings under construction and green spaces on the shore.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c229c46b66e120df260_6ae6064eb410fb1323e5d3db_marchica-plan-amenagement-inline.webp) *The Marchica marina on the lagoon, seen from the air. Photo: Le360.* Signed by outgoing head of government Aziz Akhannouch and countersigned by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, the text implements Law 25-10 on the lagoon site, promulgated in July 2010. The plan followed the required procedure: a public inquiry from March 24 to April 24, 2026, then, in April, deliberations by the councils of the municipalities of Nador, Arkmane, Beni Ansar and Bouarg. The decree states neither the area covered nor the plan’s duration, and the Official Bulletin does not reproduce its detail. From now on, it will decide what may be built on the shores of the Mar Chica. *Photo: Houssain tork, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7547 du 28 septembre 2026 (édition arabe), décret n° 2.26.744 du 16 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7547_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Akdital: First-Half Net Income Rises 20% to 252 Million Dirhams" description: "Akdital posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 252 million dirhams, up 20%, on consolidated revenue of 2,532 million dirhams, up 21%, driven by oncology, higher admissions and a hospital network of forty-five facilities across twenty-five Moroccan cities." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/akdital-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/akdital-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:22.320Z tags: ["Health", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b3ca9bd79e801c25a18_6abd3b38ad3eacd18bd7aef7_akdital-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Akdital: First-Half Net Income Rises 20% to 252 Million Dirhams *Akdital posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 252 million dirhams, up 20%, on consolidated revenue of 2,532 million dirhams, up 21%, driven by oncology, higher admissions and a hospital network of forty-five facilities across twenty-five Moroccan cities.* ![An operating room in an Akdital group facility, with its surgical table, operating lights and a beach mural on the wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abd3b3ca9bd79e801c25a18_6abd3b38ad3eacd18bd7aef7_akdital-s1-2026-main.webp) Meeting on September 29, the board of Akdital approved half-year accounts that confirm the hospital group’s pace: at the end of June 2026, consolidated revenue reached 2,532 million dirhams, up 21%. ![A white three-story hospital building lit at dusk, behind a lawn and a parking lot.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552423c58e1800c00049a_6ae55124c07a7dd1fee3963d_akdital-s1-2026.webp) *Akdital’s Al Olaya hospital in Riyadh, the group’s first facility in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Akdital.* Consolidated net income gained 20%, to 252 million dirhams, holding the net margin at 10%. Oncology now accounts for 36% of revenue, against 31% a year earlier. The network now counts forty-five facilities and four thousand eight hundred and sixty-four beds across twenty-five cities. Investment for the half came to 875 million dirhams, nearly 55% of it for projects in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where its Riyadh and Mecca facilities entered service in September. Net debt reached 4,858 million dirhams, up 14% since December. By 2028, the group aims for fifty-nine facilities and more than six thousand beds. *Photo: Akdital.* ## References - Akdital, via l’AMMC - [Résultats financiers du 1er semestre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Akdital_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Current Account Deficit Widens to 32 Billion Dirhams in the First Half" description: "According to the Office des Changes, which published its accounts on September 30, Morocco’s current account deficit widened to 32 billion dirhams in the first half of 2026, from 20.3 billion a year earlier, as imports rose 15.3%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/balance-paiements-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/balance-paiements-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.101Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac575bf95c0085b95e14c3d_6ac575bd95c0085b95e14a1a_bdp-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Current Account Deficit Widens to 32 Billion Dirhams in the First Half *According to the Office des Changes, which published its accounts on September 30, Morocco’s current account deficit widened to 32 billion dirhams in the first half of 2026, from 20.3 billion a year earlier, as imports rose 15.3%.* ![Stacks of containers and handling gantries on the quays of the port of Casablanca, seen from a ship.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac575bf95c0085b95e14c3d_6ac575bd95c0085b95e14a1a_bdp-s1-2026-main.webp) On September 30, 2026, the Office des Changes published Morocco’s external accounts for the first half: the current account deficit grew from 20.3 billion dirhams at the end of June 2025 to 32 billion a year later. ![Rows of new cars lined up on the Tanger Med yards, with a car carrier ship moored behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b9cfd5e23d293d29c43_6ae6062bbbbd9f296de1baa0_balance-paiements-s1-2026-inline.webp) *Vehicles ready for export on the yards of the port of Tanger Med. Photo: Ministry of Equipment and Transport, CC BY 3.0.* Trade in goods was the main cause, its deficit deepening by 34.3 billion, to 174.2 billion. Imports jumped 15.3%, outpacing exports (+10%), and the coverage ratio fell from 59.6% to 56.9%. Services and transfers cushioned the blow: the surplus on trade in services climbed from 68.5 to 82.7 billion dirhams, and the secondary income surplus from 62 to 71.2 billion. The international investment position showed a net debit of 776 billion dirhams at the end of June, against 765.9 billion at the end of March, as liabilities to the rest of the world grew faster than assets. The second half will tell whether the gap narrows. *Photo: Industrial Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0. The port of Casablanca.* ## References - Office des Changes - [Communiqué: Résultats des échanges extérieurs à fin juin 2026 (30 septembre 2026)](https://www.oc.gov.ma/sites/default/files/2026-10/Communiqu%C3%A9%20FR%20R%C3%A9sultats%20%C3%A0%20fin%20Juin%202026.pdf) --- --- title: "Unimer: The Sardine Recovery Returns the Group to Profit in the First Half" description: "Unimer posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 29 million dirhams, against a loss of 40 million a year earlier, driven by a 13% rise in revenue and a 37% increase in sardine landings in Moroccan ports." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/unimer-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/unimer-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T10:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T02:31:27.002Z tags: ["Fisheries", "Finance", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce60ebfde74f12ef62d57_6abce604304fd635466b6849_unimer-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Unimer: The Sardine Recovery Returns the Group to Profit in the First Half *Unimer posted first-half 2026 consolidated net income of 29 million dirhams, against a loss of 40 million a year earlier, driven by a 13% rise in revenue and a 37% increase in sardine landings in Moroccan ports.* ![The weathered hull of a sardine boat moored in the port of Essaouira, above a blue fishing skiff.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce60ebfde74f12ef62d57_6abce604304fd635466b6849_unimer-s1-2026-main.webp) Meeting on September 25 under the chairmanship of Mehdi Alj, the board of Unimer approved half-year accounts that close the chapter of losses: consolidated net income reached 29 million dirhams at the end of June 2026, against a loss of 40 million a year earlier. ![Dozens of silver sardines laid side by side on white plastic.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55267b78e77363941a168_6ae551339716384d93ddf6bd_unimer-s1-2026.webp) *Fresh sardines in Essaouira. Photo: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 3.0.* Consolidated revenue rose 13%, to 444 million dirhams, and gross operating income 52%, to 24 million. The group credits the sea first: sardine landings in the Kingdom’s ports rose 37% in the first half, reviving its canning business. The board also approved in principle a reorganization of certain holdings, notably through sales of subsidiaries. Unimer expects the momentum to continue in the coming months. *Photo: Donald Scott Lee, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Unimer, via l’AMMC - [Communication financière au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Unimer_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Airports: AfDB Signs 270 Million Euros to Expand Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fes" description: "The African Development Bank signed a 270 million euro loan to ONDA on Tuesday in Casablanca to expand the airports of Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fes, in an 863.4 million euro program aiming for fourteen million passengers in Marrakech by 2030." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bad-onda-aeroports language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bad-onda-aeroports type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T10:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.036Z tags: ["Finance", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eb79f58d7fc365b5a98_6ae53c983b9a03db7f24aa9c_bad-onda-aeroports-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Airports: AfDB Signs 270 Million Euros to Expand Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fes *The African Development Bank signed a 270 million euro loan to ONDA on Tuesday in Casablanca to expand the airports of Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fes, in an 863.4 million euro program aiming for fourteen million passengers in Marrakech by 2030.* ![A Royal Air Maroc airliner on the apron at Tangier Ibn Battouta airport at sunset, beneath the tail of another aircraft.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eb79f58d7fc365b5a98_6ae53c983b9a03db7f24aa9c_bad-onda-aeroports-main.webp) On Tuesday in Casablanca, African Development Bank Group president Sidi Ould Tah and Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah presided over the signing of a 270 million euro loan to the National Airports Office (ONDA) for the Airport Infrastructure Extension and Modernization Program. ![Three men sign documents at a covered table under an Official Signing Ceremony banner, with a man and a woman standing behind them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c55bc0ed2f9666c7f03_6ae60657bbbd9f296de1cf72_bad-onda-aeroports-inline.webp) *The signing of the AfDB loan to ONDA in Casablanca, with Sidi Ould Tah and Nadia Fettah standing behind. Photo: Le Matin.* Guaranteed by Tamwilcom, the loan covers 31% of a program valued at 863.4 million euros, about 9.08 billion dirhams, with ONDA funding the rest. The program covers four airports, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fes. It provides for terminal extensions, a new control tower in Marrakech, aircraft parking and 7.6 kilometers of taxiways. By 2030, the Bank expects capacity of fourteen million passengers in Marrakech, five million in Agadir, three million six hundred thousand in Tangier and three million in Fes. Marrakech will remain, by far, the program’s largest site. *Photo: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Banque africaine de développement, via Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [En visite au Maroc, le président de la BAD conclut un accord de financement de 270 millions d’euros pour l’extension des infrastructures aéroportuaires du Royaume](https://aujourdhui.ma/economie/en-visite-au-maroc-le-president-de-la-bad-conclut-un-accord-de-financement-de-270-millions-deuros-pour-lextension-des-infrastructures-aeroportuaires-du-royaume) - Banque africaine de développement - [Maroc: la Banque africaine de développement accorde 270 millions d’euros pour moderniser les infrastructures aéroportuaires et faire du Royaume un hub aérien de référence](https://www.afdb.org/fr/news-and-events/press-releases/maroc-la-banque-africaine-de-developpement-accorde-270-millions-deuros-pour-moderniser-les-infrastructures-aeroportuaires-et-faire-du-royaume-un-hub-aerien-de-reference-89586) - Banque africaine de développement - [Morocco - Airport Infrastructure Extension and Modernisation Program](https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/projects-and-operations/morocco_-_airport_infrastructure_extension_and_modernisation_program.pdf) --- --- title: "Growth: Morocco’s Economy Slows to 4% in the Second Quarter as Farming Jumps 21.2%" description: "According to the High Commission for Planning, Moroccan growth slowed to 4% in the second quarter of 2026, against 5.8% a year earlier: farm output jumped 21.2%, but non-farm activities grew by just 1.5% over the same period." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/croissance-t2-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/croissance-t2-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-30T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.124Z tags: ["Economy", "Agriculture"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce606bfde74f12ef629fa_6abce5ff23fc32eb9d1e6289_hcp-t2-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Growth: Morocco’s Economy Slows to 4% in the Second Quarter as Farming Jumps 21.2% *According to the High Commission for Planning, Moroccan growth slowed to 4% in the second quarter of 2026, against 5.8% a year earlier: farm output jumped 21.2%, but non-farm activities grew by just 1.5% over the same period.* ![Rows of vegetable crops under plastic mulch on a farm in Taroudant Province, in the Souss-Massa region.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce606bfde74f12ef629fa_6abce5ff23fc32eb9d1e6289_hcp-t2-2026-main.webp) The High Commission for Planning published its national accounts for the second quarter of 2026 on Wednesday morning: Moroccan economic growth stood at 4%, against 5.8% a year earlier. ![A high view over the basin of Agadir’s fishing port, packed with trawlers and blue boats, with sheds and trucks on the quays.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c7ed2740562ba4c36b2_6ae606641b7ba233b796cf8a_croissance-t2-2026-inline.webp) *Agadir’s fishing port seen from the old kasbah. Photo: Daniel*D, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The slowdown did not come from the fields, where value added jumped 21.2%, nor from fishing, up 15.9%. It came from non-farm activities, whose growth fell from 4.9% to 1.5%: the secondary sector contracted 3.9%, dragged down by a 28.6% drop in mining and quarrying. Domestic demand remained the engine, rising 5% and adding 5.6 points to growth, against 10.3 points a year earlier. Foreign trade still subtracted 1.6 points. The national economy’s financing need widened to 5% of GDP from 2.4%. The fields will have carried a quarter that industry could not hold. *Photo: Ali.toufella, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [Situation économique nationale au deuxième trimestre 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/Situation-economique-nationale-au-deuxieme-trimestre-2026_a4350.html) --- --- title: "The King Appoints Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the First Woman to Lead the Government" description: "The first woman to lead a Moroccan government, PAM coordinator Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri was appointed by King Mohammed VI on Tuesday. She opens consultations this Wednesday with the RNI and Istiqlal to assemble a majority of at least one hundred and ninety-eight seats." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cheffe-gouvernement language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cheffe-gouvernement type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-30T07:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.235Z tags: ["Politics", "Elections"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abcb37208a8de4b28281ff3_6abcb33fa4e82187cd08b3e8_cheffe-gouvernement-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The King Appoints Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the First Woman to Lead the Government *The first woman to lead a Moroccan government, PAM coordinator Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri was appointed by King Mohammed VI on Tuesday. She opens consultations this Wednesday with the RNI and Istiqlal to assemble a majority of at least one hundred and ninety-eight seats.* ![Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri speaks at a meeting of the PAM political bureau, beside the national flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abcb37208a8de4b28281ff3_6abcb33fa4e82187cd08b3e8_cheffe-gouvernement-main.webp) Received on Tuesday, September 29, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri left it as head of government. King Mohammed VI appointed the coordinator of the collegial leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and tasked her with forming the new executive. Six days after the legislative elections of September 23, in which the PAM came first with 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, the Kingdom is entrusting its government to a woman for the first time. A lawyer by training, mayor of Marrakech and housing minister since 2021, she succeeds Aziz Akhannouch, whose minister she had been for five years. Consultations open this Wednesday with the National Rally of Independents (RNI), then Istiqlal. No party holds the 198 seats of a majority on its own, while the three parties of the outgoing coalition together hold 228. Istiqlal leaves the decision to its National Council, while the PJD, fourth with 54 seats, has ruled out joining a PAM-led government. The King will name the ministers on Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri’s proposal, and the new team will then have to win the confidence of the House. The steps of the vote are set out in our [dossier on the legislative elections](/en/news/legislatives-2026-resultats). *Photo: Authenticity and Modernity Party.* ## References - Ministère de la Maison royale, du Protocole et de la Chancellerie, via la MAP - [SM le Roi nomme Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Cheffe du gouvernement et la charge de former le nouveau gouvernement](https://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/flashinfo/sm-roi-nomme-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-cheffe-du-gouvernement-charge-former-nouveau-gouvernement/) - Le360 - [Gouvernement El Mansouri: les consultations débutent mercredi avec le RNI et l’Istiqlal](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/gouvernement-el-mansouri-les-consultations-debutent-mercredi-avec-le-rni-et-listiqlal_EEMYTRJNBZACLKILJGXOXNSOEU/) --- --- title: "Saham Bank: Group Net Income Rises 15.5% in the First Half" description: "Saham Bank, chaired by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 927 million dirhams, up 15.5%, with net banking income up 8.5%, fees up 12.9% and its cost-to-income ratio brought down to 47.8%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/saham-bank-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/saham-bank-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-29T21:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.494Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e589f58d7fc365b4a46_6ae53c6a4bf7b29bab7aae17_saham-bank-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Saham Bank: Group Net Income Rises 15.5% in the First Half *Saham Bank, chaired by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 927 million dirhams, up 15.5%, with net banking income up 8.5%, fees up 12.9% and its cost-to-income ratio brought down to 47.8%.* ![A Saham Bank executive speaks at the lectern before a screen showing the bank’s logo and its slogan, Accelerateur de vos ambitions, facing journalists in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e589f58d7fc365b4a46_6ae53c6a4bf7b29bab7aae17_saham-bank-s1-2026-main.webp) The supervisory board of Saham Bank, meeting on September 24 under the chairmanship of Moulay Hafid Elalamy, reviewed half-year accounts showing clear growth: net income attributable to the group reached 927 million dirhams at the end of June 2026, against 803 million a year earlier, a rise of 15.5%. ![Five executives in business attire pose side by side against a brown backdrop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b759c46b66e120de878_6ae6062332b76b5356bd6b6c_saham-bank-s1-2026-inline.webp) *Members of Saham Bank’s management board. Photo: EcoActu.* Consolidated net banking income stood at 3,360 million dirhams, up 8.5%, driven by the interest margin and by fees. The cost-to-income ratio fell 1.4 points, to 47.8%. In the accounts of the bank itself, customer loans rose 8.1%, to 88,703 million, and deposits 4.4%, to 88,038 million. The solvency ratio stood at 14.10%, well above regulatory requirements. The bank says it is sharpening its focus on the Kingdom’s small and medium-sized businesses, whose partner of reference it aims to become. *Photo: K. Essalak/Le360.* ## References - Saham Bank, via l’AMMC - [Communication financière au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Saham_Bank_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Bank of Africa: First-Half Group Net Income Rises 10% to 2.5 Billion Dirhams" description: "Bank of Africa posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 2,481 million dirhams, up 10%, or 5% on a like-for-like basis, as a 16% drop in the cost of risk offset falling market revenue." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bank-of-africa-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bank-of-africa-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-29T21:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.583Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2d5d4ac37746bb3e70_6ae609f832b76b5356bd8a0b_bank-of-africa-s1-2026-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank of Africa: First-Half Group Net Income Rises 10% to 2.5 Billion Dirhams *Bank of Africa posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 2,481 million dirhams, up 10%, or 5% on a like-for-like basis, as a 16% drop in the cost of risk offset falling market revenue.* ![Othman Benjelloun, chairman of Bank of Africa, speaks at a CNEA lectern.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2d5d4ac37746bb3e70_6ae609f832b76b5356bd8a0b_bank-of-africa-s1-2026-hero-main.webp) Meeting on September 25 in Casablanca, the board of Bank of Africa approved half-year accounts in which net income attributable to the group reached 2,481 million dirhams at the end of June 2026, up 10%. ![A passerby walks past the Bank of Africa branch in Bukavu, its shutters down.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b2e5d4ac37746bb3e74_6ae606099c46b66e120d0dbd_bank-of-africa-s1-2026-inline.webp) *The Bank of Africa branch in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Leandre Lsam, CC0.* The bank itself tempers the figure: on a like-for-like basis, growth falls to 5%, because it raised its stake in BOA Holding, its Luxembourg subsidiary, from 72.41% to 81.82%. Consolidated net banking income gained only 1%, to 10.5 billion dirhams, as market revenue dropped 37% after an exceptional first half of 2025. The cost of risk made the difference. It fell 16%, to 1.4 billion, and now represents just 1% of outstanding loans, against 1.5% a year earlier. Morocco provides 54% of the group’s earnings, sub-Saharan Africa 44% and Europe 2%. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Bank of Africa, via l’AMMC - [La dynamique de croissance se poursuit au premier semestre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/BOA_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Artificial Intelligence: Digital Ministry and Mistral Unveil Two Models for Darija" description: "Morocco’s Digital Transition Ministry and Mistral AI on Tuesday presented two models for Darija, an Arabic dialect identifier and a speech transcription model, which the ministry says will soon be released as open source for public bodies, researchers and companies." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/darija-mistral language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/darija-mistral type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-29T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.114Z tags: ["Technology", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce60be6ace8a2a9e41d4e_6abce602b3f30cf8f085d196_darija-mistral-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Artificial Intelligence: Digital Ministry and Mistral Unveil Two Models for Darija *Morocco’s Digital Transition Ministry and Mistral AI on Tuesday presented two models for Darija, an Arabic dialect identifier and a speech transcription model, which the ministry says will soon be released as open source for public bodies, researchers and companies.* ![Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, at a press conference at the 2024 Web Summit in Lisbon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abce60be6ace8a2a9e41d4e_6abce602b3f30cf8f085d196_darija-mistral-main.webp) The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform on Tuesday presented the first results of its partnership with the French company Mistral AI: two models built for Darija. ![The minister, in a red jacket, and Arthur Mensch, in a dark suit, shake hands, each holding a red signing folder.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55269e37fa824d36dd059_6ae55134c00e65dcf85f7bc5_darija-mistral.webp) *Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Arthur Mensch, cofounder and chief executive of Mistral AI, at the signing of their partnership in Rabat in September 2025. Photo: Le360.* The first is a classifier able to identify the language of a text and to tell apart several Arabic dialects, Moroccan Darija among them. The second, a speech recognition model from the Voxtral family, transcribes Darija into text, including when the speaker switches between Arabic, French and English. The ministry says the tools will be “soon available in open source.” Other models are in development under this multi-year partnership, in generative AI as well as speech recognition. “By enabling AI to better understand Darija and, gradually, the national languages, we are strengthening digital inclusion, the quality of public services and Morocco’s capacity to master its technological choices,” the ministry said. The language of the street will thus reach the government counter. *Photo: Web Summit, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Ministère de la Transition numérique et de la Réforme de l’administration - [Le Ministère de la Transition Numérique et de la Réforme de l’Administration du Royaume du Maroc et Mistral AI annoncent les premières briques d’IA développées dans le cadre de leur partenariat](https://www.mmsp.gov.ma/fr/actualites/le-minist%C3%A8re-de-la-transition-num%C3%A9rique-et-de-la-r%C3%A9forme-de-l%E2%80%99administration-du-royaume-du-maroc-et-mistral-ai-annoncent-les-premi%C3%A8res-briques-d%E2%80%99ia-d%C3%A9velopp%C3%A9es-dans-le-cadre-de-leur-partenariat) --- --- title: "AFCON 2027: Morocco Win in Lesotho for a Perfect Start After Two Matchdays" description: "The Atlas Lions beat Lesotho 2-0 on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, with goals from Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi, and lead Group A of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with six points from two games and no goals conceded." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/lesotho-can-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/lesotho-can-2027 type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-29T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:30:01.487Z tags: ["Football", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abc3af551447e0355d4f4ef_6abc3af16bbe5b92f5b2eda5_lesotho-can-2027-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # AFCON 2027: Morocco Win in Lesotho for a Perfect Start After Two Matchdays *The Atlas Lions beat Lesotho 2-0 on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, with goals from Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi, and lead Group A of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with six points from two games and no goals conceded.* ![Brahim Diaz, Morocco’s number 10, runs with the ball during the Brazil v Morocco match at the 2026 World Cup.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abc3af551447e0355d4f4ef_6abc3af16bbe5b92f5b2eda5_lesotho-can-2027-main.webp) The Atlas Lions beat Lesotho 2-0 on Tuesday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on the second matchday of Group A in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. ![Eleven players in red shirts and green shorts pose in two rows in front of a nearly empty stand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae552853b9a03db7f292cb3_6ae551406e325be1a8b0b554_lesotho-can-2027.webp) *Morocco’s starting eleven before the match against Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Photo: Le360.* Brahim Diaz opened the scoring just before the break against a stubborn side. Off the bench, Soufiane Rahimi set up Azzedine Ounahi for the second goal in the eighty-second minute. After beating Gabon 2-0 on Friday in Rabat, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side now has six points from two games, with four goals scored and none conceded. It stands alone at the top of the group, ahead of Gabon and Niger on three points each, while Lesotho is still without a point. Four matchdays remain. *Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Confédération africaine de football (CAF) - [Egypt hit five as Morocco and Senegal win while Algeria fight back in AFCON 2027 qualifiers](https://www.cafonline.com/afcon2025/news/egypt-hit-five-as-morocco-and-senegal-win-while-algeria-fight-back-in-afcon-2027-qualifiers/) - LNT - [Éliminatoires CAN 2027: le Maroc enchaîne face au Lesotho et conserve la tête de son groupe](https://lnt.ma/eliminatoires-can-2027-le-maroc-enchaine-face-au-lesotho-et-conserve-la-tete-de-son-groupe/) --- --- title: "Investment: Washington Notes Morocco Does Not Screen Foreign Capital in Critical Sectors" description: "In its 2026 report on Morocco’s investment climate, the State Department praises an export hub built on strong infrastructure but flags bureaucracy, corruption and slow reform, and the absence of any screening of investment in critical sectors." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/climat-investissement-departement-etat language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/climat-investissement-departement-etat type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-29T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.686Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac22bc247d4bd66eb0a91f8_6ac22bbfab61aea6a89d1dcc_ics-cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Investment: Washington Notes Morocco Does Not Screen Foreign Capital in Critical Sectors *In its 2026 report on Morocco’s investment climate, the State Department praises an export hub built on strong infrastructure but flags bureaucracy, corruption and slow reform, and the absence of any screening of investment in critical sectors.* ![The towers of Casablanca Finance City and a palm-lined esplanade under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac22bc247d4bd66eb0a91f8_6ac22bbfab61aea6a89d1dcc_ics-cfc-main.webp) The U.S. State Department published its 2026 report on Morocco’s investment climate at the end of September, an annual assessment written for American companies. ![Aerial view of a large container port on a green coastline, with its terminals, breakwaters and container yards.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55245cf18edc9b43beeed_6ae55125b7739b3ed1486f8a_climat-investissement-departement-etat.webp) *Aerial view of the Tanger Med port complex. Photo: Tanger Med, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The document describes a country positioning itself as a regional manufacturing and export hub, and investing heavily in roads, rail, airports, stadiums and ports ahead of the 2030 World Cup. It points, however, to inefficient bureaucracy, nontransparent decision making, corruption and the slow pace of regulatory reform. The Kingdom also has no investment screening process for critical industries. Morocco remains the only African country with a free trade agreement with the United States, and bilateral trade in goods has grown nearly eightfold since it came into effect. Restrictions remain, including a 49% cap on foreign capital in air and maritime transport and a ban on foreigners owning agricultural land. The report finally cites the High Commission for Planning, which puts unemployment among 15 to 24-year-olds at about 37.2%. All of it will land on the new government’s desk. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - U.S. Department of State - [2026 Investment Climate Statements: Morocco](https://www.state.gov/reports/2026-investment-climate-statements/morocco) - Wikimedia Commons - [Casablanca Finance City 21, AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Casablanca_Finance_City_21.jpg) --- --- title: "OCP: Soaring Sulfur Prices Push the First Half into the Red" description: "Hit by soaring sulfur prices it could not pass on to its fertilizers, OCP Group closed the first half of 2026 with a net loss attributable to the group of 2.84 billion dirhams, against a profit of 8.25 billion a year earlier." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-s1-2026-resultats language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-s1-2026-resultats type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-29T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.618Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb5185f236595bf7df82_6abbea6e5a9e80b0f7813927_ocp-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # OCP: Soaring Sulfur Prices Push the First Half into the Red *Hit by soaring sulfur prices it could not pass on to its fertilizers, OCP Group closed the first half of 2026 with a net loss attributable to the group of 2.84 billion dirhams, against a profit of 8.25 billion a year earlier.* ![The port and industrial platform of Jorf Lasfar, with its gantries and silos, seen from the heights.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb5185f236595bf7df82_6abbea6e5a9e80b0f7813927_ocp-s1-2026-main.webp) On September 29, OCP Group published its first-half 2026 accounts, and they end in a loss: net income attributable to the group stands at minus 2,837 million dirhams, against a profit of 8,252 million a year earlier. ![Portrait of Mostafa Terrab, smiling, in a dark suit and tie.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ea58b2b668bc9c26bde_6ae55dbd29f46b9e4e5a4c18_ocp-s1-2026-resultats.webp) *Mostafa Terrab, chairman and chief executive of OCP Group. Photo: Amaury Luret, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Revenue fell 7% to 48,372 million dirhams, but it is the margin that gave way: EBITDA dropped to 13,307 million, from 18,612 million, and its share of sales fell from 36% to 28%. The group puts it plainly: “The exceptional rise in the cost of sulfur could not be fully passed on to fertilizer prices, as affordability constraints limited the market’s capacity to absorb higher prices.” Depreciation, amortization and impairments rose from 2,868 to 6,493 million dirhams, and the financial result turned into a charge of 4,831 million. The group did not slow its investment, which reached 16,067 million dirhams, and its net financial debt eased to 115,466 million. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - OCP, via l’AMMC - [OCP publie ses résultats à fin juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/OCP_S1_26.pdf) - Finances News Hebdo - [OCP: premier semestre 2026](https://fnh.ma/article/actualites-marocaines/ocp-premier-semestre-2026) --- --- title: "Marsa Maroc: First-Half Profit Rises 12% to 869 Million Dirhams" description: "Driven by container import-export and tight cost control, Marsa Maroc posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 869 million dirhams, up 12%, and invested 3.4 billion dirhams, mostly in the new terminals at Nador West Med." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marsa-maroc-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marsa-maroc-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-29T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.585Z tags: ["Logistics", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb54b98080d5ea9b3c13_6abbeb4b51427eae6c310cb1_marsa-maroc-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marsa Maroc: First-Half Profit Rises 12% to 869 Million Dirhams *Driven by container import-export and tight cost control, Marsa Maroc posted first-half 2026 net income attributable to the group of 869 million dirhams, up 12%, and invested 3.4 billion dirhams, mostly in the new terminals at Nador West Med.* ![Two container gantry cranes rising above stacks of containers in the port of Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb54b98080d5ea9b3c13_6abbeb4b51427eae6c310cb1_marsa-maroc-s1-2026-main.webp) In the first half of 2026, Marsa Maroc’s terminals handled 34.5 million tonnes, up 3%, and earnings grew much faster than volumes, according to the financial statement published on September 29. ![Aerial view of a container terminal: a container ship moored along the quay in front of stacked containers, with the city spreading out behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e7bb8398978c24c3f01_6ae55daddad7e607dc883673_marsa-maroc-s1-2026.webp) *The port of Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: Liberia Maritime Authority.* Consolidated revenue reached 3,214 million dirhams, up 13%, EBITDA 1,873 million, up 20%, and net income attributable to the group 869 million, against 773 million a year earlier. The port operator attributes its wider margin to operating costs, excluding depreciation, held to a 4.7% increase. It committed 3.4 billion dirhams in investment over the half, mostly at Nador West Med. Terminal Investment Limited has entered West Med Container Terminal there, at 50% minus one share. Beyond the Kingdom, the group signed a contract in February to manage two jetties at the port of Monrovia, Liberia. *Photo: Farid mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Marsa Maroc, via l’AMMC - [Communication financière au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Marsa_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "Innovation: Morocco Reaches Its Best WIPO Ranking at 54th" description: "In WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2026, Morocco gains three places to rank 54th out of one hundred and thirty-nine economies, its best position yet, lifted by industrial designs, where it ranks 5th in the world." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gii-2026-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gii-2026-maroc type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-29T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.216Z tags: ["Technology", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eba382b682ce23af833_6ae53c9cee5fe82e96015fff_gii-2026-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Innovation: Morocco Reaches Its Best WIPO Ranking at 54th *In WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2026, Morocco gains three places to rank 54th out of one hundred and thirty-nine economies, its best position yet, lifted by industrial designs, where it ranks 5th in the world.* ![WIPO Director General Daren Tang, flanked by Sacha Wunsch-Vincent and Samar Shamoon, briefs reporters on the Global Innovation Index 2022 at a press conference.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eba382b682ce23af833_6ae53c9cee5fe82e96015fff_gii-2026-maroc-main.webp) The World Intellectual Property Organization published the 2026 edition of its Global Innovation Index in Geneva on September 29, and Morocco gains three places to reach 54th out of 139 economies, with a score of 32.8. ![The cover of the “Global Innovation Index 2026: Powering entrepreneurs at the frontier of science” report, set at an angle on a blue background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b9ef60da0929315344f_6ae60a165d4ac37746bb0daa_gii-2026-maroc-inline.webp) *The cover of WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2026. Photo: WIPO.* The report says so in as many words: the Kingdom “reaches its best GII rank.” On the continent, only Mauritius, at 50th, is ahead of it, while Tunisia ranks 71st, Egypt 83rd and Algeria 111th. Morocco ranks 76th for the resources it puts into innovation, but 46th for what it gets out of them. It is 5th in the world for industrial designs, 8th for intangible asset intensity and 16th for trademarks. WIPO lists it among the countries that “have been climbing up the ranks quickly” over the past decade, alongside China, India and Viet Nam among others. At the top, Switzerland leads Sweden and the United States. *Photo: WIPO | OMPI, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Organisation mondiale de la propriété intellectuelle (OMPI) - [Global Innovation Index 2026](https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2026/article_0014.html) - OMPI - [Global Innovation Index 2026: Powering Entrepreneurs at the Frontier of Science](https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2026/assets/110523/2000-2026-en-global-innovation-index-2026-powering-entrepreneurs-at-the-frontier-of-science.pdf) --- --- title: "Kenitra: Gotion and Volkswagen Team Up for 100,000 Tonnes of Cathode Material a Year" description: "China’s Gotion High-Tech and PowerCo, Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary, plan a 100,000-tonne-a-year lithium iron phosphate cathode plant in Kenitra, estimated at 480 million euros. Its output will go first to two cell plants in Spain and Slovakia." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gotion-kenitra-cathodes language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gotion-kenitra-cathodes type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-28T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.025Z tags: ["Industry", "Automotive", "Energy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb4d7715a35b0781d3fa_6abbea6d48f26774c942860a_gotion-kenitra-cathodes-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Kenitra: Gotion and Volkswagen Team Up for 100,000 Tonnes of Cathode Material a Year *China’s Gotion High-Tech and PowerCo, Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary, plan a 100,000-tonne-a-year lithium iron phosphate cathode plant in Kenitra, estimated at 480 million euros. Its output will go first to two cell plants in Spain and Slovakia.* ![A technician in white coveralls in front of a battery cell production line in a clean room.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abbeb4d7715a35b0781d3fa_6abbea6d48f26774c942860a_gotion-kenitra-cathodes-main.webp) The board of China’s Gotion High-Tech approved on September 28 an investment agreement, still to be signed, with the Volkswagen Group and its battery subsidiary PowerCo. It covers three sites and some 3.22 billion euros, one of them in Morocco. ![About thirty Moroccan and Chinese officials pose for a group photo on the steps of a tiled courtyard.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ec6e37fa824d36ed65a_6ae55dcab7739b3ed14a8b2a_gotion-kenitra-cathodes.webp) *The signing of the strategic investment agreement between Gotion High-Tech and the Moroccan state in Rabat, June 6, 2024. Photo: Le360.* In Kenitra, a lithium iron phosphate cathode materials plant will produce 100,000 tonnes a year. Its cost is estimated at 480 million euros, excluding land and buildings, and it will be held 51% by Gotion, which keeps control, and 49% by the German carmaker. Its output will go first to the two cell joint ventures that the same agreement plans in Europe, in Valencia, Spain, and in Surany, Slovakia. The whole package remains subject to regulatory approvals and to a vote of Gotion’s shareholders, called for October 20. If it goes through, the Kingdom will supply the European battery industry with one of its most strategic materials. *Photo: Volkswagen Group, illustrative image.* ## References - Gotion High-Tech - [关于与关联方共同投资暨关联交易的公告 (annonce n° 2026-072)](https://static.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2026-09-29/1225583913.PDF) - Volkswagen Group - [Volkswagen Group, PowerCo and Gotion deepen strategic partnership](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-group-powerco-and-gotion-deepen-strategic-partnership-20710) --- --- title: "Marrakech Short Film Festival Spotlights Malta at an Africa-Focused Sixth Edition" description: "Until September 30, the Marrakech Short Film Festival holds its sixth edition with Malta as guest country, more than four hundred films submitted, two juries chaired by Tuba Buyukustun and Rachid El Ouali, and two new features: the AMANAR industry platform and an African documentary program." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marrakech-short-film-festival-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marrakech-short-film-festival-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-27T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.171Z tags: ["Cinema"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8f1c2f53ee85383ac0715_6ab8f1c1f77d8c41977c51de_msff-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marrakech Short Film Festival Spotlights Malta at an Africa-Focused Sixth Edition *Until September 30, the Marrakech Short Film Festival holds its sixth edition with Malta as guest country, more than four hundred films submitted, two juries chaired by Tuba Buyukustun and Rachid El Ouali, and two new features: the AMANAR industry platform and an African documentary program.* ![The rammed-earth walls of El Badi Palace in Marrakech reflected in the great pool of its courtyard.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8f1c2f53ee85383ac0715_6ab8f1c1f77d8c41977c51de_msff-2026-main.webp) Until September 30, the Marrakech Short Film Festival (MARRAKECHsFF) is holding its sixth edition across El Badi Palace, the Cyber Parc Moulay Abdessalam, the Institut francais and other venues around the city, with Malta as guest country. ![Five women pose in front of a wall of festival logos, the actress at the center in a red caftan.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ea78b2b668bc9c26d3e_6ae55dbea4bf35eb516b160c_marrakech-short-film-festival-2026.webp) *Tuba Buyukustun (center), president of the international jury, in front of the Marrakech Short Film Festival backdrop. Photo: Turkiye Today.* More than four hundred short films from more than ninety countries had been submitted to the selectors. The national competition jury is chaired by Rachid El Ouali, the international one by the Turkish actress Tuba Buyukustun. The real novelty, however, plays out behind the scenes. Built with AFAC and the British Council, the AMANAR industry platform brings together mentoring, Industry Talks and Pitch Days, to connect young filmmakers with producers, programmers and funders. Alongside it comes “Bridges of Reality,” a program devoted to African documentary and the diasporas, developed with the Embassy of Spain. Moroccan short film will thus gain one more bridge to festivals on the continent and beyond. *Photo: Jakub Halun, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Marrakech Short Film Festival - [Marrakech Short Film Festival 6th EDITION](https://filmfreeway.com/marrakechshortfilmfestival) - Mondafrique - [Marrakech mise sur le court métrage (25-30 septembre)](https://mondafrique.com/loisirs-culture/marrakech-mise-sur-le-court-metrage-25-30-septembre/) --- --- title: "Billiards: Morocco Claims Its Second World Team Title on Home Soil in Marrakech" description: "In Marrakech, Morocco’s eightball pool team won its second world team title on Saturday, twelve years after the first, beating Northern Ireland by eleven frames to nine. It also took the African crown on home soil." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/billard-mondial-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/billard-mondial-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-27T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.625Z tags: ["Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab9985a5cd223a118b5bf46_6ab99856d1f9f531c890705c_billard-mondial-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Billiards: Morocco Claims Its Second World Team Title on Home Soil in Marrakech *In Marrakech, Morocco’s eightball pool team won its second world team title on Saturday, twelve years after the first, beating Northern Ireland by eleven frames to nine. It also took the African crown on home soil.* ![A black number eight ball resting on the red cloth of an English pool table near a corner pocket.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab9985a5cd223a118b5bf46_6ab99856d1f9f531c890705c_billard-mondial-2026-main.webp) Before its home crowd in Marrakech, Morocco’s national eightball pool team, the English form of the game played with plain-colored balls, won the world team title on Saturday, September 26, beating Northern Ireland by 11 frames to 9 in a final that stayed tight from start to finish. ![Eleven players in green star-patterned jerseys pose in two rows around a large gold cup, between two Moroccan flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e7db7739b3ed14aa44d_6ae55dae9716384d93e06d33_billard-mondial-2026.webp) *Morocco’s eightball team posing with its trophy in Marrakech. Photo: Hespress.* The side coached by Yasser El Amrani had seen off Ireland in the quarterfinal, then Wales in the semifinal. The same tournament also brought it, according to MAP, the African team crown. These African and world championships, held from September 17 to 27, brought together some 18 countries. It took the Moroccans 12 years to return to the summit: their first world team title dated back to 2014, in Blackpool, England. For Abderrahmane Cherfi, one of the squad’s ten players, it was the group’s concentration and competitive spirit that made the difference. *Photo: Stuart Kerr, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - MAP - [Marrakech: Le Maroc sacré champion d’Afrique et du monde de billard 2026](https://mapsport.ma/a-la-une/marrakech-le-maroc-sacre-champion-dafrique-et-du-monde-de-billard-2026/) - Morocco World News - [Morocco Win Second World Eightball Pool Title in Marrakech](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/09/339995/morocco-win-second-world-eightball-pool-title-in-marrakech/) --- --- title: "Atlasarts: Eight Moroccan Artists to Take Up Residencies at the Cite des Arts in Paris" description: "Morocco’s Culture Ministry, the Cite internationale des arts and the Institut francais du Maroc launch Atlasarts: eight Moroccan artists will receive a three-month residency in Paris from January 2027, with a studio apartment and a monthly grant. Applications close October 15." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/atlasarts-residences language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/atlasarts-residences type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-26T23:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.032Z tags: ["Arts", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8464c45a02f95d4dd0300_6ab8464b77606d0bcf9fbc33_atlasarts-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Atlasarts: Eight Moroccan Artists to Take Up Residencies at the Cite des Arts in Paris *Morocco’s Culture Ministry, the Cite internationale des arts and the Institut francais du Maroc launch Atlasarts: eight Moroccan artists will receive a three-month residency in Paris from January 2027, with a studio apartment and a monthly grant. Applications close October 15.* ![The entrance of the Cite internationale des arts, under its colonnade in the Marais, Paris, its name set in gold letters on the marble.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8464c45a02f95d4dd0300_6ab8464b77606d0bcf9fbc33_atlasarts-main.webp) Opened on September 1 by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Atlasarts call for applications closes on October 15. Eight Moroccan artists will be chosen for a three-month residency at the Cite internationale des arts in Paris, starting in January 2027. ![An artist with curly hair adjusts a large work made of red threads and shapes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ec9382b682ce2443709_6ae55dca873e2c1f2bc3a143_atlasarts-residences.webp) *Moroccan artist Ghizlane Sahli in her studio at the Cite internationale des arts. Photo: Le Courrier de l’Atlas.* Designed with the Cite and the Institut francais du Maroc, the program gives each of them a furnished studio apartment at the Marais site, a living grant of 1,000 euros net per month and professional mentoring. It is open to any artist of Moroccan nationality, with no age limit, who has practiced for at least three years or holds an art school diploma, in the visual or digital arts, film, the performing arts or writing. The ministry ties the name to Atlas, the Titan who carries the world on his shoulders and who gave his own name to Morocco’s mountain range. Founded in 1965, the Cite describes itself as the largest artists’ residency in the world, hosting more than three hundred artists at a time. *Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Ministère de la Jeunesse, de la Culture et de la Communication - [Appel à candidatures – Programme Atlasarts](https://mjcc.gov.ma/fr/appel-a-candidatures-programme-atlasarts/) - Cité internationale des arts - [Atlasarts](https://www.citeinternationaledesarts.fr/appels-a-candidature/atlasarts/) --- --- title: "Jazz a Rabat: Six European Bands and Six Moroccan Projects Meet at Parc Hassan II" description: "The twenty-eighth edition of Jazz a Rabat, the European Union’s festival in Morocco, closes on September 26 at Parc Hassan II after three evenings in which six European bands and six Moroccan projects created together, from Portuguese fado to Antonio Lizana’s flamenco jazz." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/jazz-rabat-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/jazz-rabat-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-26T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.425Z tags: ["Music", "Rabat", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab7f30676a5f592a5c1f4fc_6ab7f304ceb091fbb0a2522b_jazz-rabat-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jazz a Rabat: Six European Bands and Six Moroccan Projects Meet at Parc Hassan II *The twenty-eighth edition of Jazz a Rabat, the European Union’s festival in Morocco, closes on September 26 at Parc Hassan II after three evenings in which six European bands and six Moroccan projects created together, from Portuguese fado to Antonio Lizana’s flamenco jazz.* ![A concert on the Jazz au Chellah stage, the former name of the Jazz a Rabat festival, in front of the edition’s illustrated banners.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab7f30676a5f592a5c1f4fc_6ab7f304ceb091fbb0a2522b_jazz-rabat-main.webp) Opened on Thursday, September 24, at the Parc Hassan II amphitheater, the twenty-eighth edition of Jazz a Rabat, the European Union’s festival in Morocco, closes this Saturday, September 26, after three evenings of concerts and one-off creations. ![A band plays under purple lights, with saxophone, qanun, oud, bass guitar and drums, in front of a large circle bearing the Jazz a Rabat 28 logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e7fc4ee1a2d8ec80d4b_6ae55daf138cc6a1b0160b93_jazz-rabat-2026.webp) *A concert at the 28th Jazz a Rabat, at Parc Hassan II. Photo: Saouri / Le Matin.* Six European bands and six Moroccan projects meet there in pairs, on a stage conceived as a laboratory, from the contemporary fado of Amara Quartet to the flamenco jazz of Spain’s Antonio Lizana, paired with the Abir El Abed Sextet. The festival is only in its second year at Parc Hassan II: it was in 2025 that the former Jazz au Chellah left the Marinid necropolis, changed its name and moved to this garden in the heart of the capital. The European Union’s ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, sees it as “one of the liveliest expressions of the partnership between the European Union and Morocco.” The formula has not moved, and the creations born on this stage will be played nowhere else. *Photo: Nomadz, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Délégation de l’Union européenne au Maroc - [28ᵉ édition de Jazz à Rabat : découvrez les artistes à l’affiche](https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/morocco/28-edition-de-jazz-rabat-programmation_fr) - Délégation de l’Union européenne au Maroc - [Pour sa 28ème édition, Jazz à Rabat revient du 24 au 26 septembre 2026 au Parc Hassan II](https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/morocco/pour-sa-28eme-edition-jazz-rabat-revient-du-24-au-26-septembre-2026-au-parc-hassan-ii_fr) - LesEco.ma - [Festival : Jazz à Rabat donne le ton de sa 28e édition](https://leseco.ma/culture/festival-jazz-a-rabat-donne-le-ton-de-sa-28e-edition.html) - LesEco.ma - [Jazz au Chellah devient Jazz à Rabat : nouveau nom, nouveau lieu, même passion](https://leseco.ma/culture/jazz-au-chellah-devient-jazz-a-rabat-nouveau-nom-nouveau-lieu-meme-passion.html) --- --- title: "Bocuse d’Or Africa: Morocco Win the Agadir Selection and Head for the Final in Lyon" description: "Morocco’s team, led by chef Abdessamad Dandani, won the African selection of the Bocuse d’Or in Agadir on September 24, ahead of Mauritius and Egypt, a day after winning the African selection of the Pastry World Cup. Next stop: Lyon, in January 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bocuse-dor-afrique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bocuse-dor-afrique type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-26T11:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.027Z tags: ["Gastronomy", "Hospitality"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab79d604234702c305fa929_6ab79d5d60e95da32d39c8ad_bocuse-afrique-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bocuse d’Or Africa: Morocco Win the Agadir Selection and Head for the Final in Lyon *Morocco’s team, led by chef Abdessamad Dandani, won the African selection of the Bocuse d’Or in Agadir on September 24, ahead of Mauritius and Egypt, a day after winning the African selection of the Pastry World Cup. Next stop: Lyon, in January 2027.* ![The three Bocuse d’Or trophies, in gold, silver and bronze, depicting Paul Bocuse standing on a globe.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab79d604234702c305fa929_6ab79d5d60e95da32d39c8ad_bocuse-afrique-main.webp) After five and a half hours of competition, it was Morocco’s team that won the African continental selection of the Bocuse d’Or on September 24, in Taghazout Bay, Agadir, ahead of Mauritius and Egypt. ![Chefs in white toques with medals stand on a podium, the Moroccan flag at the center and the flags of Mauritius and Egypt at the sides.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eab9af18491607fe656_6ae55dbfdad7e607dc88412d_bocuse-dor-afrique.webp) *The teams of Morocco, Mauritius and Egypt on the Bocuse d’Or Africa podium in Agadir. Photo: TelQuel.* It was led by chef Abdessamad Dandani, with his commis Ahmed El Hilali and coach Issam Rhachi. The day before, Morocco had already won the African selection of the Pastry World Cup. Morocco and Mauritius will represent Africa at the Bocuse d’Or Grand Final, in January 2027 in Lyon, as part of the Sirha trade show. Created in 1987 by Paul Bocuse, the contest has become one of the most demanding stages in haute cuisine. In Lyon, it will be a matter of defending Moroccan know-how against the best-drilled kitchen brigades in the world. *Photo: Thesurvived99, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Bocuse d’Or - [Sélection Afrique du Bocuse d’Or, 24 septembre 2026, Agadir](https://www.bocusedor.com/content/continentale-afrique) - La Presse de Tunisie - [Maroc - Bocuse d’Or Afrique 2026: La Tunisie termine au pied du podium](https://www.lapresse.tn/2026/09/25/maroc-bocuse-dor-afrique-2026-la-tunisie-termine-au-pied-du-podium/) - Premium Travel News - [Bocuse d’Or Afrique 2026: le Maroc décroche l’or et son billet pour Lyon](https://premiumtravelnews.com/2026/09/25/bocuse-dor-afrique-2026-le-maroc-decroche-lor-et-son-billet-pour-lyon/) - Biladi - [Le Maroc remporte la Coupe d’Afrique de pâtisserie et le Bocuse d’Or Afrique](https://www.biladi.ma/le-maroc-remporte-la-coupe-dafrique-de-patisserie-et-le-bocuse-dor-afrique/) --- --- title: "Managem: Tizert and Boto Lift the Mining Group’s Half-Year Profit Nearly Tenfold" description: "Managem reported first-half revenue of 11,764 million dirhams on September 25, up 166%, and net income attributable to the group of 3,778 million, against 380, driven by its new mines at Tizert in Morocco and Boto in Senegal." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/managem-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/managem-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-26T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.164Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab79d5e05bdd4c6b601d7bb_6ab79d5c43a1ff6008b93d9a_managem-s1-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Managem: Tizert and Boto Lift the Mining Group’s Half-Year Profit Nearly Tenfold *Managem reported first-half revenue of 11,764 million dirhams on September 25, up 166%, and net income attributable to the group of 3,778 million, against 380, driven by its new mines at Tizert in Morocco and Boto in Senegal.* ![The facilities and tailings dam of the Bou Azzer mine, operated by Managem, in the Anti-Atlas.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab79d5e05bdd4c6b601d7bb_6ab79d5c43a1ff6008b93d9a_managem-s1-main.webp) In the first half of 2026, Managem’s consolidated revenue reached 11,764 million dirhams, against 4,422 million a year earlier: that is the change of scale the group announced on September 25. ![A mine processing plant with tanks and steel structures on red earth under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ecb8b2b668bc9c273ab_6ae55dcba405c0af48834d7d_managem-s1-2026.webp) *The facilities of the Boto gold mine in the Kedougou region of Senegal. Photo: Le Soleil.* Its EBITDA climbed from 1,442 to 6,197 million dirhams, and its net income attributable to the group jumped to 3,778 million, against 380 million in the first half of 2025. Managem credits the leap to two mines brought into production, Tizert in Morocco and Boto in Senegal, which reached nameplate capacity during the half, as well as to higher gold, silver and copper prices. The picture is not uniform, however. Silver output fell at Imiter and gold output at Tri-K, both hit by operational difficulties. At Imiter, the subsidiary SMI puts the drop at 35%, offset by a silver price up 120%. Managem describes the second half as a period of consolidating its new size. It will be, for a group that has been mining for more than ninety years, the first full year of output that no longer depends on Moroccan ground alone. *Photo: Mhobl, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Managem - [Communiqué de presse, indicateurs semestriels au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Managem_S1_26.pdf) - SMI - [Communiqué de presse, indicateurs semestriels au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_SMI_S1_26.pdf) --- --- title: "AFCON 2027: Morocco Beat Gabon in Rabat to Open Their Qualifying Campaign" description: "The Atlas Lions beat Gabon 2-0 on Friday night in Rabat to open qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with goals from Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi. Without the suspended Hakimi and Saibari, they face Lesotho on Tuesday in Bloemfontein." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-gabon-can-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-gabon-can-2027 type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-25T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:30:12.585Z tags: ["Football", "Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab6f61d43a1ff60089e94b0_6ab6f618d513fb650cc6ad21_maroc-gabon-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # AFCON 2027: Morocco Beat Gabon in Rabat to Open Their Qualifying Campaign *The Atlas Lions beat Gabon 2-0 on Friday night in Rabat to open qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with goals from Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi. Without the suspended Hakimi and Saibari, they face Lesotho on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.* ![The pitch of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat before a national team match.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab6f61d43a1ff60089e94b0_6ab6f618d513fb650cc6ad21_maroc-gabon-main.webp) Two goals, a clean sheet and a match without sparkle: the Atlas Lions opened their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday night in Rabat by beating Gabon 2-0, on the first matchday of Group A. ![Moroccan players in red shirts congratulate one another on the pitch, numbers 16 and 21 seen from behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e81a4bf35eb516b440e_6ae55db0174753539d09d75f_maroc-gabon-can-2027.webp) *Atlas Lions players celebrating against Gabon in Rabat. Photo: Le360.* Noussair Mazraoui opened the scoring in the thirty-sixth minute with a slightly deflected strike, and Soufiane Rahimi made it two in the eighty-fourth. Without Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, both suspended, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side owed its quiet finish to Yassine Bounou, who made several first-class saves late in the match. The coach had started three of the Under-20 world champions he led to the title in Chile: Yassir Zabiri, Gessime Yassine and Ali Maamar. On Tuesday, September 29, Morocco will face Lesotho in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in a group that also includes Niger and from which only the top two go through to the finals. *Photo: Reda benkhadra, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Médias24 - [CAN 2027. Le Maroc s’impose face au Gabon (2-0) avec ses champions du monde U20](https://medias24.com/2026/09/25/can-2027-le-maroc-simpose-face-au-gabon-2-0-avec-ses-champions-du-monde-u20-1765671/) - LNT - [Éliminatoires CAN-2027: Les Lions de l’Atlas s’imposent avec sérieux](https://lnt.ma/eliminatoires-can-2027-les-lions-de-latlas-simposent-avec-serieux/) - Infomédiaire - [CAN 2027: les Lions de l’Atlas peaufinent leurs réglages avant le Gabon](https://www.infomediaire.net/can-2027-lions-atlas-derniers-reglages-gabon/) --- --- title: "Oukaimeden: NASA Picks the Ghosts of Five Supernovas Photographed From the Atlas" description: "NASA chose as its Astronomy Picture of the Day on September 24 a mosaic made from the Oukaimeden Observatory: nearly two hundred hours of exposure, a thousand full moons of sky in Auriga and the remnants of five supernovas, signed by Stephane Vetter and Yann Sainty." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oukaimeden-nasa-supernovas language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oukaimeden-nasa-supernovas type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-25T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.678Z tags: ["Astronomy", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ecc514ff0375154d596_6ae53d4461a40d5fffb3c49d_oukaimeden-nasa-supernovas-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Oukaimeden: NASA Picks the Ghosts of Five Supernovas Photographed From the Atlas *NASA chose as its Astronomy Picture of the Day on September 24 a mosaic made from the Oukaimeden Observatory: nearly two hundred hours of exposure, a thousand full moons of sky in Auriga and the remnants of five supernovas, signed by Stephane Vetter and Yann Sainty.* ![The remnants of several supernovas, bubbles of red and blue gas in the constellation Auriga, in the mosaic made from the Oukaimeden Observatory.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ecc514ff0375154d596_6ae53d4461a40d5fffb3c49d_oukaimeden-nasa-supernovas-main.webp) It was from the Oukaimeden Observatory, in the High Atlas south of Marrakech, that the image NASA chose on September 24 as its Astronomy Picture of the Day was taken. ![White telescope shelters and a domed tower on a rocky ridge under a deep blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c24d10e1b06c9bb0f56_6ae6064e4dec2ab8f2ad128f_oukaimeden-nasa-supernovas-inline.webp) *Domes and buildings of the Oukaimeden Observatory. Photo: Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Titled “The Ghosts of Five Supernovas” and signed by the astrophotographers Stephane Vetter and Yann Sainty, it adds up to nearly two hundred hours of observation, exposures over ten fields then assembled into a mosaic. The frame covers a patch of sky in the constellation of Auriga equal to a thousand full moons, and gathers the remnants of five supernovas, among them the so-called Spaghetti Nebula. The filaments are the gas blown out by each explosion, red for hydrogen and blue for oxygen. The five blasts happened independently, at distances of up to several thousand light-years. The image belongs to the observatory’s PRO-AM program, which pairs high-level astrophotographers with scientific rigor. *Photo: Stephane Vetter and Yann Sainty.* ## References - NASA - [Astronomy Picture of the Day, The Ghosts of Five Supernovas, 24 septembre 2026](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260924.html) - Médias24 - [Cinq “fantômes” stellaires captés depuis l’Oukaïmeden, l’image du jour de la NASA](https://medias24.com/2026/09/25/cinq-fantomes-stellaires-captes-depuis-loukaimeden-limage-du-jour-de-la-nasa-1765301/) --- --- title: "Growth: the EBRD Raises Its 2026 Forecast for Morocco to 4.8%" description: "The EBRD raised its growth forecast for Morocco to 4.8% for 2026 on September 24, up from 4.4% in June, on the back of a good harvest. It expects 3.9% in 2027, while the region as a whole would contract by 0.7% this year." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/berd-croissance-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/berd-croissance-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-25T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.379Z tags: ["Economy", "Agriculture"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab6f6201f7fdff91ef742f4_6ab6f6198a6ac06f5f8fcfc4_berd-croissance-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Growth: the EBRD Raises Its 2026 Forecast for Morocco to 4.8% *The EBRD raised its growth forecast for Morocco to 4.8% for 2026 on September 24, up from 4.4% in June, on the back of a good harvest. It expects 3.9% in 2027, while the region as a whole would contract by 0.7% this year.* ![Sheaves of wheat after the harvest in a field at El Attaouia, in the Marrakech-Safi region.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab6f6201f7fdff91ef742f4_6ab6f6198a6ac06f5f8fcfc4_berd-croissance-main.webp) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has raised its growth forecast for Morocco to 4.8% for 2026 in its Regional Economic Prospects published on September 24, up from 4.4% in June. For 2027 it now expects 3.9%. ![AI-generated concept image: a cement mixer truck pours concrete beside a building under construction bristling with rebar.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae6140e483664b0eb742a83_6ae60a193eb74873888eb04a_berd-croissance-2026-inline.webp) *A cement mixer truck at a construction site. AI-generated concept image.* The bank attributes the revision to a vigorous recovery in agricultural output after several years of drought. In the first half, agriculture offset weaker industry and construction, and inflation stayed very low. The contrast with the rest of the region is striking. For the southern and eastern Mediterranean as a whole, the EBRD now forecasts a 0.7% contraction in 2026, driven by the collapse of the Iraqi economy, cut off from part of its oil exports by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Kingdom will remain, according to the bank, among the best-performing economies in the region. Yet this lead owes much to the rain, and industry will have to take over for it to survive the next dry season. *Photo: SuSanA Secretariat, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - BERD - [EBRD cuts SEMED growth outlook amid regional tensions](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-cuts-semed-growth-outlook-amid-regional-tensions.html) - BERD - [EBRD forecasts SEMED region growth of 2.5 per cent in 2026](https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2026/ebrd-forecasts-semed-region-growth-in-2026.html) --- --- title: "Trade Defense: Morocco Imposes Five-Year Duties on Galvanized Wire From Egypt and the UAE" description: "An order published in the Official Bulletin makes anti-dumping duties on galvanized wire from Egypt and the UAE definitive for five years: 18.44% to 52.71% depending on the Emirati exporter, 46% for Egypt. Chinese plywood stays taxed at 76% until August 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fils-galvanises-antidumping language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fils-galvanises-antidumping type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-25T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.238Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8efc4c60700aabf83f75c_6ab8efc38914511ec727285e_fils-galvanises-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Trade Defense: Morocco Imposes Five-Year Duties on Galvanized Wire From Egypt and the UAE *An order published in the Official Bulletin makes anti-dumping duties on galvanized wire from Egypt and the UAE definitive for five years: 18.44% to 52.71% depending on the Emirati exporter, 46% for Egypt. Chinese plywood stays taxed at 76% until August 2027.* ![Container cranes and two container ships at berth in the port of Casablanca, seen from the basin.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab8efc4c60700aabf83f75c_6ab8efc38914511ec727285e_fils-galvanises-main.webp) Since September 25, galvanized wire imported from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates has carried a definitive anti-dumping duty at Moroccan customs, for a period of five years, under a joint order published in the Official Bulletin of September 24. ![Close-up of stacked coils of silver metal wire.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eaedc78061d9bad0d97_6ae55dc0adcc5f14707176d8_fils-galvanises-antidumping.webp) *Coils of galvanized steel wire. Photo: Le360.* The rates are 18.44% for the Emirati producer Al Khaleej Steel Industries, 52.71% for other Emirati producer-exporters and 46% for all Egyptian exporters. This steel wire serves farming and industry alike, from fencing mesh to barbed wire and automotive parts. According to the Industry Ministry, its imports had risen markedly, to the point of threatening serious injury to Morocco’s own producers. The same Official Bulletin also extends until August 28, 2027 the 76% anti-dumping duty on Chinese plywood. *Photo: Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Industrie et du Commerce - [Avis public n° DDC/10/2026 relatif aux résultats et la clôture de l’enquête antidumping sur les importations des fils galvanisés originaires d’Egypte et des Emirats Arabes Unis](https://www.mcinet.gov.ma/sites/default/files/documents/Avis%20public%20n%C2%B0DDC-10-2026-%20VFr.pdf) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [Ail, contreplaqué et fils galvanisés: Le Maroc renforce les mesures de contrôle](https://aujourdhui.ma/economie/ail-contreplaque-et-fils-galvanises-le-maroc-renforce-les-mesures-de-controle) - Le Matin - [Importations: droits antidumping de 76% sur le contreplaqué chinois et jusqu’à 52,71% sur les fils galvanisés](https://lematin.ma/economie/importations-droits-antidumping-de-76-sur-le-contreplaque-chinois/366885) --- --- title: "Hydrogen: Bern Makes Morocco Its Priority Partner for Technical Cooperation" description: "In a report approved on September 25, the Swiss Federal Council names Morocco as the preferred partner for technical cooperation on renewable hydrogen derivatives, ahead of South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, without creating any new support instrument." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/suisse-hydrogene-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/suisse-hydrogene-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-25T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.155Z tags: ["Energy", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab99858ba2f51d17fe6e463_6ab99855b34bf1ccbfb7414c_suisse-hydrogene-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Hydrogen: Bern Makes Morocco Its Priority Partner for Technical Cooperation *In a report approved on September 25, the Swiss Federal Council names Morocco as the preferred partner for technical cooperation on renewable hydrogen derivatives, ahead of South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, without creating any new support instrument.* ![The parabolic trough mirror fields of the Noor solar complex near Ouarzazate under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab99858ba2f51d17fe6e463_6ab99855b34bf1ccbfb7414c_suisse-hydrogene-maroc-main.webp) On September 25, the Swiss Federal Council approved a report on supporting, in partner countries, the production of synthetic energy carriers, meaning for the most part derivatives of hydrogen made from renewable electricity. ![Eight people in business attire, seated and standing in a gilded salon, with photographers at work in the background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bc5d10e1b06c9baeb8d_6ae60638206de5b296192f88_suisse-hydrogene-maroc-inline.webp) *The Swiss Federal Council in its official 2026 photograph. Photo: Swiss Federal Council (Nathan Bugniet, Eileen Fraefel, Samantha Keller, Leo Margueron).* Four countries show potential for targeted technical cooperation according to Bern: South Africa, Indonesia, Morocco and Vietnam. Because of its geographic proximity to Europe, the Kingdom “seems the most interesting country” among them. For the partnerships it envisages between the federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, Swiss companies and Moroccan institutions, the report settles the matter: “Morocco would be the priority.” Bern points to a national strategy that covers the whole value chain, considerable solar and wind resources and the experience of large solar projects. It also notes the shortage of water in the south. Federal generosity stops there, however: citing among other things a lack of funds, the Federal Council rules out both a climate fund and a state guarantee against investment risk, and considers any new support instrument unnecessary for now. *Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Secrétariat d’État à l’économie (SECO) - [Agents énergétiques de synthèse: l’introduction de nouveaux instruments de soutien n’est pas nécessaire](https://www.seco.admin.ch/fr/newnsb/8RwpNcZgrZ8a) - Conseil fédéral suisse - [Énergies synthétiques. Développement de sites de production et approvisionnement international. Rapport du Conseil fédéral en exécution du postulat 23.4268 Schaffner](https://cms.news.admin.ch/fileservice/sdweb-docs-prod-nsbcch-files/files/2026/09/25/dbc1a47a-df70-4f8f-affd-53672aa05df2.pdf) --- --- title: "Aradei Capital: First-Half Revenue Jumped 28% as the Dar Bouazza Villas Were Delivered" description: "Lifted by the delivery of villas at Dar Bouazza, Aradei Capital’s first-half revenue rose 28% to 393 million dirhams. The real estate company, 97% occupied, is pursuing a 3.3 billion dirham investment program through 2030 under its strategic roadmap." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aradei-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aradei-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-24T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.039Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9650c7c2062b088eed_6ae53c86f4328ec8a0e7d998_aradei-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Aradei Capital: First-Half Revenue Jumped 28% as the Dar Bouazza Villas Were Delivered *Lifted by the delivery of villas at Dar Bouazza, Aradei Capital’s first-half revenue rose 28% to 393 million dirhams. The real estate company, 97% occupied, is pursuing a 3.3 billion dirham investment program through 2030 under its strategic roadmap.* ![Shoppers cross the food court of a shopping center in Aradei Capital’s portfolio, beneath a wooden slatted ceiling.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9650c7c2062b088eed_6ae53c86f4328ec8a0e7d998_aradei-s1-2026-main.webp) The real estate company Aradei Capital published its first-half 2026 accounts on September 24: consolidated revenue of 393 million dirhams, up 28%. ![Officials cut a ribbon between two Sela Park signs, beside a Moroccan flag and a portrait of the King, with the WAW sign behind them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c58206de5b29619d0e6_6ae60658da84eca692282e6b_aradei-s1-2026-inline.webp) *The opening of Sela Park Casablanca in the Almaz neighborhood, November 2025. Photo: Le Matin.* That total includes 60 million in non-recurring income from the delivery of twenty-three of the fifty-five villas in its residential program attached to Sela Plaza Dar Bouazza. Excluding property development, the rental business grew 8% to 334 million, driven notably by the opening of Sela Park Casablanca at the end of 2025. The portfolio of thirty-five assets, valued at about 8.5 billion dirhams, was 97% occupied. Gross debt stood at 3.66 billion dirhams, for a loan-to-value ratio of 38% against 34.1% at the end of 2025. The company confirmed its financial trajectory for 2026 and is pursuing a roadmap that plans 3.3 billion dirhams of investment to lift the portfolio to 11.3 billion by 2030. *Photo: Aradei Capital.* ## References - Aradei Capital - [Communication financière au 30 juin 2026 (AMMC)](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Aradei_Capital_S1_26.pdf) - Médias24 - [Aradei Capital: 70% de la feuille de route 2030 déjà sécurisés](https://medias24.com/2026/10/04/aradei-capital-70-de-la-feuille-de-route-2030-deja-securises-1770479/) - Wikimedia Commons - [Borj Fez shopping mall DSCF6347, Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Borj_Fez_shopping_mall_DSCF6347.jpg) --- --- title: "Groundwater: Two Decrees Tightened Protection of Aquifers and Water Intakes" description: "Published in the Official Bulletin of September 24, 2026, two decrees implementing the water law set protection perimeters around public water intakes and safeguard perimeters over overexploited aquifers, where any withdrawal permit now requires water-saving techniques." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/eaux-souterraines-decrets language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/eaux-souterraines-decrets type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-24T12:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.022Z tags: ["Climate", "Agriculture"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac52279ef881a247cca63b4_6ac5227701f421556594a3d7_eaux-souterraines-decrets-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Groundwater: Two Decrees Tightened Protection of Aquifers and Water Intakes *Published in the Official Bulletin of September 24, 2026, two decrees implementing the water law set protection perimeters around public water intakes and safeguard perimeters over overexploited aquifers, where any withdrawal permit now requires water-saving techniques.* ![The stone rim of a rural well and its wooden tripod, in front of green fields.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac52279ef881a247cca63b4_6ac5227701f421556594a3d7_eaux-souterraines-decrets-main.webp) On September 24, 2026, Official Bulletin No. 7546 published two decrees implementing Law No. 36-15 on water. One delimits protection perimeters around the facilities that draw water for public supply, the other sets the procedures for safeguard and prohibition perimeters. ![A lined basin filled with water from a gushing inlet, at the edge of a farm.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb01596dcfd31ddab5b_6ae55dc0382b682ce243c82b_eaux-souterraines-decrets.webp) *An irrigation water reservoir in the Souss. Photo: Ramagri, CC BY-SA 4.0.* A safeguard perimeter may be drawn when the average volume drawn from an aquifer each year exceeds the volume that can be exploited sustainably. It is set on the proposal of the river basin agency concerned. Inside it, the digging of new wells and boreholes is strictly regulated, and no authorization to exploit groundwater can be granted without a commitment to use water-saving techniques. The prohibition perimeter targets aquifers threatened by overexploitation or by declining quality, when pollutant concentrations exceed thresholds set by the director of the basin agency. The text repeals the decree of February 4, 1998 that had governed these zones until then. It will now fall to the basin agencies to draw their outlines, aquifer by aquifer. *Photo: Gharbal, CC BY-SA 4.0. A well in the Moroccan countryside.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7546, décrets n° 2.25.61 et n° 2.25.62 du 16 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7546_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Foreign Trade: Imported Garlic Placed Under License for Eighteen Months" description: "Published in the Official Bulletin of September 24, 2026, an order by the Minister of Industry and Trade placed imports of fresh or chilled garlic under license for eighteen months, sparing operations already covered by a documentary credit or an earlier transport document." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ail-licence-importation language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ail-licence-importation type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-24T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.648Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b4b8f75918994041583_6ae60a08bc0ed2f9666bc0aa_ail-licence-importation-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Foreign Trade: Imported Garlic Placed Under License for Eighteen Months *Published in the Official Bulletin of September 24, 2026, an order by the Minister of Industry and Trade placed imports of fresh or chilled garlic under license for eighteen months, sparing operations already covered by a documentary credit or an earlier transport document.* ![AI-generated concept image: white and purple garlic heads and cloves on a wooden stall in a souk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b4b8f75918994041583_6ae60a08bc0ed2f9666bc0aa_ail-licence-importation-hero-main.webp) On September 24, 2026, Official Bulletin No. 7546 published an order by the Minister of Industry and Trade that placed garlic imports under license, effective immediately. ![Bunches of garlic with dry stalks and earthy roots laid on red soil at the edge of a field.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b4b8f759189940415d9_6ae60616fd5e23d293d0e4af_ail-licence-importation-inline.webp) *Freshly pulled bunches of garlic laid on the soil. Photo: TelQuel.* Signed by Ryad Mezzour on August 13, the order adds fresh or chilled garlic to the list of goods subject to quantitative restrictions on imports. Every new import operation now needs a prior license. The regime was set for eighteen months, until March 2028. The text spared operations already under way, covered by an irrevocable and confirmed documentary credit or by transport documents issued before the entry into force. The order did not close the market. It placed every shipment of garlic under the eye of the administration, which would decide, license by license, what comes in. *AI-generated concept image.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7546, arrêté du ministre de l’Industrie et du Commerce n° 1825.26 du 13 août 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7546_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib Holds Its Key Rate at 2.25% and Cuts 2026 Growth to 4.4%" description: "Bank Al-Maghrib kept its key rate at 2.25% on September 22. The central bank cuts its 2026 growth forecast from 5.2% to 4.4%, carried by a harvest of 93 million quintals, and expects inflation of 0.7% this year." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bam-taux language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bam-taux type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-22T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:10:13.184Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ebda31725713a3fb22f_6ae53c9da31725713a3edd98_bam-taux-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib Holds Its Key Rate at 2.25% and Cuts 2026 Growth to 4.4% *Bank Al-Maghrib kept its key rate at 2.25% on September 22. The central bank cuts its 2026 growth forecast from 5.2% to 4.4%, carried by a harvest of 93 million quintals, and expects inflation of 0.7% this year.* ![Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri reviews his papers at a meeting of the House of Representatives’ finance committee.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ebda31725713a3fb22f_6ae53c9da31725713a3edd98_bam-taux-main.webp) The Council of Bank Al-Maghrib held its third quarterly meeting of the year in Rabat on Tuesday, September 22, and left the price of money where it was: the key rate stays at 2.25%. The central bank rates the uncertainty as “very high,” between renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine dragging on and soaring energy prices. At home, however, prices have not followed: inflation averaged 0.3% over the first eight months. Bank Al-Maghrib expects it at 0.7% for 2026 as a whole, then 1.5% in 2027. The figure that moves is growth, now expected at 4.4% this year, against the 5.2% announced in June. Farming alone carries the upturn, on a cereal harvest estimated at 93 million quintals, while non-farm activity would slow from 4.5% to 3.1%. The energy bill would rise 28.4% to 138.1 billion dirhams, and the current account deficit would widen from 2.4% to 4.6% of GDP. The Council will keep deciding meeting by meeting. *Photo: Hespress.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Communiqué de presse: réunion du Conseil de Bank Al-Maghrib, Rabat, le 22 septembre 2026](https://www.bkam.ma/content/download/851045/9186656/CdP_ConseilBAM_T3_2026_fr.pdf) --- --- title: "Handball: Morocco’s Under-18s Take Bronze in Abidjan and Qualify for the 2027 U19 Worlds" description: "Morocco’s under-18 men took third place at the African Youth Handball Championship in Abidjan, beating Guinea 18-17 on September 22. The podium qualifies them for the 2027 U19 World Championship, alongside Egypt, Tunisia, Guinea and Cameroon." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/handball-u18 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/handball-u18 type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-22T16:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:46.852Z tags: ["Sport", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691acb62fb3db9874d381_6ab690a4415ab6e9a70d39b3_handball-u18-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Handball: Morocco’s Under-18s Take Bronze in Abidjan and Qualify for the 2027 U19 Worlds *Morocco’s under-18 men took third place at the African Youth Handball Championship in Abidjan, beating Guinea 18-17 on September 22. The podium qualifies them for the 2027 U19 World Championship, alongside Egypt, Tunisia, Guinea and Cameroon.* ![Morocco’s under-18 players celebrate on the court in Abidjan.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691acb62fb3db9874d381_6ab690a4415ab6e9a70d39b3_handball-u18-main.webp) Morocco’s under-eighteen men finished third at the twenty-second African Men’s Youth Handball Championship in Abidjan, beating Guinea by a single goal, 18-17, on Tuesday, September 22. ![About twenty young players in red tracksuits pose with their staff under a Royal Air Maroc banner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ecd1e9e2ef6d38234c2_6ae55dccb174645b2a1b18cc_handball-u18.webp) *Morocco’s under-18 squad and staff in an airport hall. Photo: TelQuel.* The day before, in the semifinal, Egypt had crushed them 44-12. Their run had nevertheless begun without a slip: wins over Rwanda and Libya, first place in Group C, then a quarterfinal won against the host nation, Ivory Coast. Above all, the bronze is worth a ticket. The tournament’s top five will represent Africa at the 2027 IHF Men’s U19 World Championship, planned for North Macedonia. Egypt, unbeaten, beat Tunisia 28-25 in the final for a fourth straight title. Morocco’s generation will have a year to close the gap measured in the semifinal. *Photo: La Releve (lareleve.ma).* ## References - Confédération africaine de handball - [22e CAN Cadets Masculins 2026, Abidjan 2026: l’Egypte conserve son titre et s’offre un nouveau doublé continental](https://cahbonline.info/dtls/n/88/22e-CAN-CADETS-MASCULINS-2026--ABIDJAN-2026---l-Egypte-conserve-son-titre-et-s-offre-un-nouveau-doubl---continental) - Confédération africaine de handball - [CAN Cadets Masculins 2026: la phase de groupes a livré son verdict, place aux quarts de finale](https://cahbonline.info/fdtls/n/84/CAN-CADETS-MASCULINS-2026---LA-PHASE-DE-GROUPES-A-LIVR---SON-VERDICT--PLACE-AUX-QUARTS-DE-FINALE?c=95) --- --- title: "Mohammed V Airport: ONDA Relaunches Engineering for Its 15 Billion Dirham Terminal" description: "ONDA published tender No. 179/26/AOO/ONDA on September 21 for the engineering of the new terminal zone at Mohammed V Airport, estimated at 144 million dirhams. The first call, issued in June, had ended without an award. Bids open on November 3." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cmn-terminal language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cmn-terminal type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-22T13:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.108Z tags: ["Logistics", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69156d9e31090e4461eeb_6ab690a4193c8cfc69d4412f_cmn-terminal-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mohammed V Airport: ONDA Relaunches Engineering for Its 15 Billion Dirham Terminal *ONDA published tender No. 179/26/AOO/ONDA on September 21 for the engineering of the new terminal zone at Mohammed V Airport, estimated at 144 million dirhams. The first call, issued in June, had ended without an award. Bids open on November 3.* ![The departures hall of Terminal 1 at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, with its duty-free shop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69156d9e31090e4461eeb_6ab690a4193c8cfc69d4412f_cmn-terminal-main.webp) The National Airports Office published an open tender on September 21 for an engineering and technical assistance assignment on the construction of the new terminal zone at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport. The notice puts the contract at 144 million dirhams including taxes. ![Rendering of a vast pale-floored hall under a copper honeycomb roof pierced with skylights, travelers walking toward counters at the back.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e8306c28c449434f223_6ae55db11f79fd9e82f4f1a0_cmn-terminal.webp) *The hall of the future terminal at Mohammed V Airport, an architect’s view. Image: Le360.* It is a relaunch: a first call for the same assignment, issued on June 19, ended without an award. Valued at some 15 billion dirhams, the new terminal is sized for twenty million passengers a year. Its construction has been awarded to the SGTM-TGCC consortium for 12.8 billion dirhams, according to the Moroccan press. The winner will carry out the design studies and steer the works, from the follow-up of construction contracts to risk management. The terminal is expected before the 2030 World Cup, and the months lost since June will have to be won back on a timetable that had none to spare. *Photo: Hamza Izourane, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Office national des aéroports - [Appel d’offres ouvert n° 179/26/AOO/ONDA: mission d’ingénierie et d’assistance technique pour le projet de construction de la nouvelle zone terminale à l’aéroport Casablanca Mohammed V](https://www.marchespublics.gov.ma/index.php?page=entreprise.EntrepriseDetailConsultation&refConsultation=1041566&orgAcronyme=o8p) - Médias24 - [Aéroport Casablanca Mohammed V: l’ONDA relance la mission d’ingénierie de la nouvelle zone terminale de 15 MMDH](https://medias24.com/2026/09/22/aeroport-casablanca-mohammed-v-londa-relance-la-mission-dingenierie-de-la-nouvelle-zone-terminale-de-15-mmdh-1761433/) - La Vérité - [Nouveau terminal Mohammed V: l’ONDA relance l’ingénierie et le pilotage](https://www.laverite.ma/nouveau-terminal-mohammed-v-onda-ingenierie-pilotage/) --- --- title: "Prices: Inflation Dips Below Zero Year on Year in August as Fuel Jumps 9.8%" description: "The High Commission for Planning released the August price index on September 22: a 0.3% fall over a year, driven by a 3.9% drop in food, but a 0.8% rise over the month, with fuel up 9.8%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ipc-aout language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ipc-aout type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-22T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.112Z tags: ["Economy", "Energy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69108d9e31090e445ef69_6ab690a5e3a15dcf6ff77ce3_ipc-aout-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Prices: Inflation Dips Below Zero Year on Year in August as Fuel Jumps 9.8% *The High Commission for Planning released the August price index on September 22: a 0.3% fall over a year, driven by a 3.9% drop in food, but a 0.8% rise over the month, with fuel up 9.8%.* ![A gas station in Ait Melloul, its pumps under a blue and white canopy.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69108d9e31090e445ef69_6ab690a5e3a15dcf6ff77ce3_ipc-aout-main.webp) Over a year, prices fell. The consumer price index released on September 22 by the High Commission for Planning shows a 0.3% drop in August compared with August 2025, food down 3.9% while non-food items rose 2.5%. ![Crates of fish and shrimp on a tiled counter under the white arches of a market.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb21b68b88e88249ae8_6ae55dc165ce97890af0eb78_ipc-aout.webp) *A fishmonger’s stall at the Essaouira fish market. Photo: Donar Reiskoffer, CC BY 3.0.* Month on month, however, the index climbed 0.8%. One line stands above all the others: fuel, up 9.8% in a single month. The two figures do not contradict each other: one compares August with July, the other with August last year. The annual decline rests almost entirely on food, and core inflation rose only 0.1% over the year. Bank Al-Maghrib noted the same day that the energy surge was still reaching domestic prices only faintly, cushioned by subsidies to road carriers and by unchanged prices for butane and electricity. Will the cushion hold? Winter will tell. *Photo: Abdeaitali, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [L’Indice des prix à la consommation (IPC) du mois d’Août 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/L-Indice-des-prix-a-la-consommation-IPC-du-mois-d-Aout-2026_a4348.html) --- --- title: "OCP Taps Its April Perpetual Hybrid for an Additional $149.9 Million" description: "OCP raised an additional $149.9 million on the 10.25-year tranche of its April perpetual hybrid bond, at a fixed coupon of 7.3682% until 2036. The deal, struck on September 14 with J.P. Morgan, settled on September 21." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-hybride language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-hybride type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-21T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.213Z tags: ["Finance", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69157e8a2b2e3fdd60a71_6ab690a5ce65878403770934_ocp-hybride-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # OCP Taps Its April Perpetual Hybrid for an Additional $149.9 Million *OCP raised an additional $149.9 million on the 10.25-year tranche of its April perpetual hybrid bond, at a fixed coupon of 7.3682% until 2036. The deal, struck on September 14 with J.P. Morgan, settled on September 21.* ![Mostafa Terrab, chairman and chief executive of OCP Group, in his official portrait.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab69157e8a2b2e3fdd60a71_6ab690a5ce65878403770934_ocp-hybride-main.webp) The OCP Group announced on September 21 that it had raised an additional $149.9 million by reopening the 10.25-year tranche of the subordinated perpetual hybrid bond it placed in April. ![Two rusty tanks and a square tower in front of a vast beige phosphate spoil heap in Khouribga.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60ba28f759189940437d7_6ae6062c975a08ca9618e916_ocp-hybride-inline.webp) *OCP facilities and a former phosphate spoil heap in Khouribga, in 2024. Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY 4.0.* That tranche, $500 million in April, now stands at $649.9 million. The new notes carry a fixed coupon of 7.3682% until the first reset date, July 22, 2036. The choice of instrument is not incidental. Rating agencies treat a perpetual hybrid partly as quasi-equity, which lets an issuer raise long-dated money without adding as much to its debt, at the price of a high coupon. The gap between the ratings shows it: the issuer is rated Baa3 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P, the instrument Ba2 and BB, two notches lower. The proceeds will go to the group’s general needs. Five months after opening that door, the phosphate group will have walked back through it, just as international rates are climbing. *Photo: WonderingCamel, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Les Inspirations Éco - [OCP réussit une levée de près de 150 millions de dollars](https://leseco.ma/business/ocp-reussit-une-levee-de-pres-de-150-millions-de-dollars.html) - La Nouvelle Tribune - [OCP lève 149,9 millions de dollars supplémentaires sur son emprunt hybride perpétuel](https://lnt.ma/ocp-leve-1499-millions-de-dollars-supplementaires-sur-son-emprunt-hybride-perpetuel/) - Aujourd’hui le Maroc - [Marchés internationaux: OCP mobilise 149,9 millions de dollars supplémentaires](https://aujourdhui.ma/economie/marches-internationaux-ocp-mobilise-1499-millions-de-dollars-supplementaires) --- --- title: "Morocco and Mauritania to Rehabilitate 480 km of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou Road" description: "Nizar Baraka and his Mauritanian counterpart Ely Ould El Veirik signed a framework convention in Rabat on September 21 to rehabilitate and widen 480 km of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road. A joint engineering office based in Mauritania will supervise the project." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/route-nouadhibou language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/route-nouadhibou type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-21T16:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.158Z tags: ["Logistics", "Diplomacy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691aaf10defeb4e6a4c01_6ab690a6e3a15dcf6ff77d74_route-nouadhibou-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco and Mauritania to Rehabilitate 480 km of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou Road *Nizar Baraka and his Mauritanian counterpart Ely Ould El Veirik signed a framework convention in Rabat on September 21 to rehabilitate and widen 480 km of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road. A joint engineering office based in Mauritania will supervise the project.* ![A street in Nouadhibou, at the foot of a wind-carved sand mound.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691aaf10defeb4e6a4c01_6ab690a6e3a15dcf6ff77d74_route-nouadhibou-main.webp) Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, and his Mauritanian counterpart for Equipment and Transport, Ely Ould El Veirik, signed a framework convention in Rabat on Monday, September 21, to rehabilitate and widen national road No. 4, which links Nouakchott to Nouadhibou. ![Two delegations sit facing each other at a long U-shaped table beneath a portrait of the king, filmed by television cameras.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e85e37fa824d36eacfd_6ae55db24288ab0a4db738e8_route-nouadhibou.webp) *The Moroccan and Mauritanian delegations meeting in Rabat. Photo: Le Matin.* The route runs for 480 km and is the Mauritanian stretch of the road that links Morocco to West Africa. The text provides for a joint engineering office in Mauritania to supervise the work. Nizar Baraka stressed the durability of the work in the face of climate change’s effects on the region’s roads. Neither the cost of the project, nor its financing, nor its timetable was made public at the signing. The joint engineering office will tell at what pace the 480 km will be taken back in hand. *Photo: Jah Abdul, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agence mauritanienne d’information - [La Mauritanie et le Maroc signent un accord-cadre pour la réhabilitation et l’élargissement de la route Nouakchott-Nouadhibou](https://ami.mr/fr/archives/302786) - Agence de Presse Africaine - [Maroc-Mauritanie: accord pour renforcer les liaisons routières](https://fr.apanews.net/integration/maroc-mauritanie-accord-pour-renforcer-les-liaisons-routieres/) --- --- title: "Green Hydrogen: The African Development Bank Picks Guelmim for $5.28 Million" description: "The African Development Bank named four African green hydrogen projects on September 18. The Guelmim Green Hydrogen Valley, sponsored by Nareva Holding, receives $5.28 million out of a $20 million envelope meant to prepare the projects for investment." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/guelmim-hydrogene-bad language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/guelmim-hydrogene-bad type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-21T11:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.222Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab10b7140226406fba1788b_6ab10b6d98abff21d0c0161e_guelmim-hydrogene-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Green Hydrogen: The African Development Bank Picks Guelmim for $5.28 Million *The African Development Bank named four African green hydrogen projects on September 18. The Guelmim Green Hydrogen Valley, sponsored by Nareva Holding, receives $5.28 million out of a $20 million envelope meant to prepare the projects for investment.* ![Guelmim seen from the heights, its ocher terraces and the plain running to the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab10b7140226406fba1788b_6ab10b6d98abff21d0c0161e_guelmim-hydrogene-main.webp) The African Development Bank released the four winners of its Africa Green Hydrogen Programme on September 18, and Morocco is among them with the Guelmim Green Hydrogen Valley, sponsored by Nareva Holding, which is allotted $5.28 million. ![Wind turbines and power pylons lined up across a desert plain under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bc717aeade90b9bd657_6ae6063805e834b547fb3951_guelmim-hydrogene-bad-inline.webp) *Wind turbines at the Akhfennir 1 and 2 wind farm, operated by Nareva. Photo: Nareva.* The call had drawn 81 proposals from 18 African countries. The other three winners are in Egypt, Namibia and South Africa, for a total envelope of $20 million. The money will come from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, pending approval by the Bank’s Board of Directors. It serves one purpose only: to carry these projects to the point where an investor can finance them. Together the four represent $23 billion of estimated investment, 20 GW equivalent of solar and wind capacity and 7 GW of electrolyzer capacity. Guelmim, like Egypt and Namibia, targets sustainable marine and aviation fuels. The sum set aside for Guelmim looks trifling against those orders of magnitude, and that is exactly its purpose: a reimbursable preparation grant builds nothing, it makes a project bankable. *Photo: Vanbasten 23, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Banque africaine de développement - [African Development Bank to back green hydrogen projects in Egypt, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa with grants worth a total of $20 million](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-bank-back-green-hydrogen-projects-egypt-morocco-namibia-and-south-africa-grants-worth-total-20-million-96872) - Banque africaine de développement - [African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa Launches Call for Proposals for New Green Hydrogen Programme](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-banks-sustainable-energy-fund-africa-launches-call-proposals-new-green-hydrogen-programme-92126) --- --- title: "Pioneer Schools: An Independent Evaluation Measures Nearly Three Years of Learning in One" description: "The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab has published the preliminary findings of its independent evaluation of the Pioneer Schools after three years. Across thirty-six thousand pupils, the program yields 0.6 standard deviations of gain in one year, nearly three ordinary school years." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ecoles-pionnieres-evaluation language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ecoles-pionnieres-evaluation type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-21T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.979Z tags: ["Education", "Science", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e60ee5fe82e96020607_6ae53c6ba4bf35eb51641ea0_ecoles-pionnieres-evaluation-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Pioneer Schools: An Independent Evaluation Measures Nearly Three Years of Learning in One *The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab has published the preliminary findings of its independent evaluation of the Pioneer Schools after three years. Across thirty-six thousand pupils, the program yields 0.6 standard deviations of gain in one year, nearly three ordinary school years.* ![A teacher hands out sheets to pupils seated at their desks in a classroom of a pioneer school in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e60ee5fe82e96020607_6ae53c6ba4bf35eb51641ea0_ecoles-pionnieres-evaluation-main.webp) Six thousand Moroccan primary schools, about 80% of the public network, were running the Pioneer Schools program in September 2026, a reform launched in 2023 in six hundred and twenty-six establishments alone. The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab, a laboratory of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, has published its preliminary findings. ![A teacher in a white coat and black headscarf leans toward a young pupil writing in his notebook.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bfe44d07ced1139c194_6ae60a1ad10e1b06c9ba55e3_ecoles-pionnieres-evaluation-inline.webp) *A teacher bent over a pupil’s notebook in a Moroccan primary school. Photo: World Bank.* On roughly thirty-six thousand pupils, measured against schools that had not yet joined the reform, the evaluation detects an average effect of 0.6 standard deviations on learning after one year. That would carry the median pupil from the 50th percentile to close to the 72nd, nearly three ordinary school years of progress in a single one. With the median effect of education programs at 0.10 standard deviations in low- and middle-income countries, the Pioneer Schools rank among the 10% most effective interventions ever measured. The gain is not captured by the strongest pupils: 0.59 standard deviations among those struggling most against 0.50 among the highest performers. The laboratory notes all the same that the magnitude slipped as the reform grew, before steadying in the third year. The full working paper, methodology included, is still to come. It will say whether Morocco, in these years, will have kept the promise every school system in the global South is trying to keep. *Photo: K. Essalak/Le360.* ## References - Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab - [Programme des Écoles Pionnières: résultats préliminaires de l’évaluation d’impact après trois ans de mise en œuvre](https://www.povertyactionlab.org/sites/default/files/Impact-evaluation-preliminary-results-pioneer-schools%202023-2026.pdf) - J-PAL - [J-PAL MENA: Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab](https://www.povertyactionlab.org/j-pal-mena-morocco-innovation-and-evaluation-lab) --- --- title: "ONCF: A Maintenance Company With Hyundai Rotem and a Property Venture With CDG" description: "Two decrees of September 10, published in the Official Bulletin on September 21, authorize ONCF to create with Hyundai Rotem a company to maintain its trains, with capital of 45 million dirhams, and a CDG subsidiary to found ONWANE with the Office to develop land around stations." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oncf-filiales-decrets language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oncf-filiales-decrets type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-21T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:25.573Z tags: ["Logistics", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abfda5bb9503c9e9a237427_6abfda597c2095f66cd8eff4_oncf-filiales-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # ONCF: A Maintenance Company With Hyundai Rotem and a Property Venture With CDG *Two decrees of September 10, published in the Official Bulletin on September 21, authorize ONCF to create with Hyundai Rotem a company to maintain its trains, with capital of 45 million dirhams, and a CDG subsidiary to found ONWANE with the Office to develop land around stations.* ![An ONCF electric multiple unit at the platform of Kenitra station at dusk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6abfda5bb9503c9e9a237427_6abfda597c2095f66cd8eff4_oncf-filiales-main.webp) The Official Bulletin of September 21, in its Arabic edition, published two decrees dated September 10 that give the Office National des Chemins de Fer two subsidiaries of a new kind. ![Two men in suits shake hands in front of a Signing Ceremony backdrop, between Moroccan and South Korean flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ecfa60e243c2aff5b04_6ae55dcd65ce97890af0f10e_oncf-filiales-decrets.webp) *Lee Yong-bae, chief executive of Hyundai Rotem, and Mohamed Rabie Khlie, director general of ONCF, after signing the train maintenance agreement in Rabat on June 18, 2026. Photo: Hyundai Rotem.* The first authorizes ONCF to create, with South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem Company, the Societe de Maintenance des Rames de Proximite, with initial capital of 45 million dirhams, of which the Office will hold no more than 55%. It will be responsible for maintaining the trains and managing spare parts. The text accompanies the purchase of 110 new trains, built by Hyundai Rotem. Entrusting their upkeep to a joint structure with the manufacturer is meant to guarantee their availability while rooting railway know-how in Morocco. The second authorizes Ewane Assets, a subsidiary of the Caisse de Depot et de Gestion, to found with ONCF a company named ONWANE, with initial capital of 300,000 dirhams, to operate multiservice centers around railway stations. The Office will later contribute land in kind to it. Each authorization is valid for one year from its publication. Moroccan rail will thus approach the 2030 horizon by sharing the effort with the company that builds its trains and with CDG. *Photo: Phil Richards from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7545 (édition arabe) du 21 septembre 2026, décrets n° 2.26.681 et n° 2.26.682 du 10 septembre 2026](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7545_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Historic Monuments: Over One Hundred Sites Listed, From Casablanca to Agadir Ntkenza" description: "Ten Culture Ministry orders, published in the Official Bulletin on September 21, list more than one hundred properties as historic monuments: around one hundred buildings and villas in Casablanca, five buildings in Tangier, Tetouan’s old bus station and the Agadir Ntkenza granary." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/monuments-historiques-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/monuments-historiques-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-21T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.424Z tags: ["Architecture", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ed4c4ee1a2d8ec03081_6ae53d45ea8f9d4d73da3b6a_monuments-historiques-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Historic Monuments: Over One Hundred Sites Listed, From Casablanca to Agadir Ntkenza *Ten Culture Ministry orders, published in the Official Bulletin on September 21, list more than one hundred properties as historic monuments: around one hundred buildings and villas in Casablanca, five buildings in Tangier, Tetouan’s old bus station and the Agadir Ntkenza granary.* ![The large painted departures and arrivals board, lettered in Arabic and Latin script around a red clock, above the cafe of the old Tetouan bus station.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ed4c4ee1a2d8ec03081_6ae53d45ea8f9d4d73da3b6a_monuments-historiques-2026-main.webp) The Official Bulletin of September 21, in its Arabic edition, published ten orders by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, that list more than one hundred properties as historic monuments. ![The white facade of Larbi Ben Barek stadium, with jagged concrete points above a street lined with palm trees and parked cars.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b793eb74873888f3958_6ae60624b410fb1323e5c927_monuments-historiques-2026-inline.webp) *Larbi Ben Barek stadium in Casablanca, one of the listed properties. Photo: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Casablanca accounts for most of them: three orders protect around one hundred twentieth-century buildings there, mostly apartment blocks and villas, among them the Larbi Ben Barek stadium and the former Hotel des Colis Postaux. Tangier sees five buildings listed, including Villa Moqri. The rest of the list runs from the old bus station in Tetouan to the Spanish bridge over the Kert river, in Nador province, and the Agadir Ntkenza collective granary, in Tiznit province. The listing has a concrete consequence for owners who, in Casablanca, are almost all private: no change to the general appearance of these properties may begin unless the culture department has been informed at least six months before work starts, as Law No. 22.80 requires. The list places on the same register a collective granary of the Anti-Atlas, an archaeological site of the Middle Atlas and the concrete of a metropolis that built itself, district by district, over the last century. *Photo: josiehen.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7545 (édition arabe) du 21 septembre 2026, arrêtés du ministre de la Jeunesse, de la Culture et de la Communication n° 1531.26, 1575.26, 1607.26 à 1613.26 et 1639.26](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7545_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Cuts 3,501 Grams of Silver per Tonne in the Central Zone" description: "Aya Gold & Silver released assays from ninety-seven drill holes at the Zgounder silver mine in Taroudant province on September 16. The best intersection returns 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters. The 2026 exploration program stands at 54.1%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/zgounder-forages-argent language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/zgounder-forages-argent type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-20T22:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.107Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab05df63d255023ef2687ff_6ab05df1d2d1ec3376f8fe52_zgounder-argent-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Cuts 3,501 Grams of Silver per Tonne in the Central Zone *Aya Gold & Silver released assays from ninety-seven drill holes at the Zgounder silver mine in Taroudant province on September 16. The best intersection returns 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters. The 2026 exploration program stands at 54.1%.* ![The summit of Jbel Sirwa, an old stratovolcano in the Anti-Atlas whose inlier hosts the Zgounder silver mine.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab05df63d255023ef2687ff_6ab05df1d2d1ec3376f8fe52_zgounder-argent-main.webp) One hole in the central zone at Zgounder, logged DZG-SF-26-945, cut 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters, including 7,717 grams over 1.5 meters: it is the best intersection in the set of results Aya Gold & Silver released on September 16. ![Aerial view of a terraced open-pit mine, trucks on the haul roads and mountains on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb4dc78061d9bad0fef_6ae55dc3edca88a5ea2d8d49_zgounder-forages-argent.webp) *The open pit of the Zgounder silver mine. Photo: Aya Gold & Silver.* The Canadian company, which operates in Taroudant province the only Moroccan mine devoted to silver alone, reports assays from ninety-seven holes. Around the open pit, ZG-RC-24-155 gives 783 grams per tonne over 13 meters. A drill intersection is not a reserve: it says where the mineralization lies, not what it will cost to take out. Zgounder, at the heart of the Anti-Atlas, is already a working mine, with 73 million ounces of silver in proven and probable reserves and a mine plan that carries the operation to 2036. The September 16 results add the continuity of the mineralization, around the pit and across the central zone. By that date 16,217 meters had been drilled, 54.1% of the exploration program planned for 2026. The drift opened at the 1,825 meter level is meant to allow drilling west of the fault in the fourth quarter, a sector the program has not yet reached. *Photo: Nawfal Kharbach, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Aya Gold & Silver - [Aya Gold & Silver Reports High-Grade Silver Exploration Results Near Pit and at Depth at Zgounder](https://www.ayagoldsilver.com/news/news-releases/aya-gold--silver-reports-high-grade-silver-exploration-results-near-pit-and-at-depth-at-zgounder) - Aya Gold & Silver - [Zgounder Silver Mine, fiche du portefeuille](https://www.ayagoldsilver.com/portfolio/zgounder/) --- --- title: "Marhaba 2026: 4,137,594 Arrivals, and Forty-Eight Passengers Between Air and Sea" description: "Operation Marhaba 2026 ended on September 15 with 4,137,594 arrivals of Moroccans living abroad, up 1.80%. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity splits that total into 2,068,821 arrivals by air and 2,068,773 by sea, forty-eight passengers apart." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marhaba-2026-bilan language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marhaba-2026-bilan type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-20T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.129Z tags: ["Diaspora", "Society", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e99a405c0af487e1e37_6ae53c8750c7c2062b07c7aa_marhaba-2026-bilan-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marhaba 2026: 4,137,594 Arrivals, and Forty-Eight Passengers Between Air and Sea *Operation Marhaba 2026 ended on September 15 with 4,137,594 arrivals of Moroccans living abroad, up 1.80%. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity splits that total into 2,068,821 arrivals by air and 2,068,773 by sea, forty-eight passengers apart.* ![Cars roll off a ferry at the Tanger Med port as uniformed officers look on beside an ambulance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e99a405c0af487e1e37_6ae53c8750c7c2062b07c7aa_marhaba-2026-bilan-main.webp) Operation Marhaba 2026 ended on September 15, after three months of mobilization, with 4,137,594 arrivals of Moroccans living abroad, up 1.80% on the previous edition. ![Two Marhaba staff members and four officers in beige uniforms stand by a yellow cart reading “Heureux de vous accueillir,” in front of a DFDS ferry.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c5a3615be706beb3a74_6ae60a22bbbd9f296de2d1bc_marhaba-2026-bilan-inline.webp) *Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity staff and uniformed officers welcoming Marhaba travelers in front of a ferry. Photo: Hicham Msselek, Hespress.* The figures of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, which runs the operation, split that total almost to the unit: 2,068,821 arrivals by air and 2,068,773 by sea, forty-eight passengers between the two. Peaks reached 80,000 arrivals in a single day over the weekend of July 31. Tanger Med alone took 670,169 arrivals, and the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca 544,089. Marhaba remains a relief operation: 1,134 social workers and 236 doctors, paramedical staff and temporary hires were deployed, and 66,993 people received direct support from the Foundation. The figure that will stay from this edition, though, is the split of the total between the plane and the ship. Arrival by sea, long the very image of the journey home, now only draws level with the air. Reception itself will have to be thought out in the air terminals as much as on the quays. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Fondation Mohammed V pour la Solidarité - [Opération Marhaba 2026: bilan d’une mobilisation renforcée](https://www.fm5.ma/fr/a-la-une/op%C3%A9ration-marhaba-2026-bilan-%E2%80%99-mobilisation-renforc%C3%A9e) - Fondation Mohammed V pour la Solidarité - [Dispositif d’accueil Marhaba et chiffres clés 2026 (infographie)](https://www.fm5.ma/sites/default/files/2026-09/infographie-marhaba-2026-fr.jpg) --- --- title: "September 23 Legislative Elections: The Parties, the Rules and the Diaspora Vote" description: "Three hundred and ninety-five seats, a quotient computed on registered voters, no threshold, regional constituencies now reserved for women. What is being elected on 23 September, who is standing, how one votes, and why the diaspora still votes by proxy." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/legislatives-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/legislatives-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-20T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.772Z tags: ["Politics", "Elections", "Diaspora"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8edb043f37b881681637f2_6a8edafdc0cc0452a6ccbbc6_scrutin-v2-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # September 23 Legislative Elections: The Parties, the Rules and the Diaspora Vote *Three hundred and ninety-five seats, a quotient computed on registered voters, no threshold, regional constituencies now reserved for women. What is being elected on 23 September, who is standing, how one votes, and why the diaspora still votes by proxy.* ![The Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, framed by palm trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8edb043f37b881681637f2_6a8edafdc0cc0452a6ccbbc6_scrutin-v2-main.webp) On Wednesday 23 September 2026, fifteen million eight hundred and one thousand one hundred and sixty-two registered voters are called to renew the House of Representatives. ![A woman places an envelope in a transparent ballot box, in front of polling station officials and a Moroccan flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ed106c28c44943510a0_6ae55dcdc4ee1a2d8ec7ca0c_legislatives-2026.webp) *A voter drops her ballot into the box at a polling station in Morocco during an earlier election. Photo: TelQuel.* The date was fixed by decree no. 2.26.190 of 12 March 2026, published in the Official Bulletin four days later, and it closes a legislature opened in 2021 under a three-party majority. In between, electoral law was remade: three texts promulgated in January 2026 reworked the organic law of the House, the law on political parties and the law on electoral rolls. What follows comes down to four questions: what exactly is being elected, who is standing, how one votes, and what Moroccans settled outside the Kingdom may do. The last is the one asked most often, and it is the one whose answer has changed least. ## What is being elected on 23 September Three hundred and ninety-five seats, on two floors. Three hundred and five are filled in ninety-two local constituencies, each carrying between two and six seats. The remaining ninety belong to twelve regional constituencies, one per region, from three seats for Dakhla-Oued Eddahab to twelve for Casablanca-Settat. An absolute majority is one hundred and ninety-eight. It is on that second floor that the main novelty of 2026 sits. Since the 2021 reform, the ninety regional seats had replaced the old national list, with an obligation to place a majority of women on them; organic law 53.25, promulgated by dahir on 16 January 2026, follows the reasoning to its end and reserves those regional constituencies for women alone. Women of course remain candidates on local lists, where nothing limits them. The thirty seats once reserved for those under forty have not come back: youth is now encouraged by public money rather than by a quota, with the age ceiling cut to thirty-five and a raised subsidy for the seats it wins. ### The electoral quotient, or the arithmetic that manufactures coalitions The ballot is proportional, on closed lists, by largest remainder. What remains to be settled is what gets divided. Since 2021 the electoral quotient is obtained by dividing the number of *registered voters* in the constituency by the number of seats to be filled, and not the number of votes cast. The difference is not technical: in a constituency of two to six seats where turnout rarely passes half the electorate, the quotient stands so high that a leading list almost never takes more than one seat. Parliament examined amendments in December 2025 that would have returned to votes cast, or restored a 3% threshold; they were set aside in committee. There is therefore no representation threshold at all: the 6% local and 3% national barriers disappeared in 2021 and have not been restored. Three figures circulate that must not be mistaken for one: 5% of votes cast conditions the refund of the candidacy deposit, 2% of registered voters opens public aid to independent lists, and one fifth of registered voters is required of a list standing alone in its constituency. The system hands out seats in thin slices, and that is where three-party governments come from, mechanically. ## The parties standing The landscape is still read through 8 September 2021, whose official turnout came in at 50.35%. The Rassemblement national des independants took one hundred and two seats there, the Parti authenticite et modernite eighty-seven, the Istiqlal eighty-one. Those three have governed together since, with two hundred and seventy seats at the outset. Behind them: the Union socialiste des forces populaires with thirty-four seats, the Mouvement populaire twenty-eight, the Parti du progres et du socialisme twenty-two, the Union constitutionnelle eighteen, and the Parti de la justice et du developpement thirteen, having held one hundred and twenty-five. ### The outgoing majority The RNI comes to this election with a president who is no longer its face. Aziz Akhannouch, head of government since October 2021, gave up a third term at the head of the party, which its statutes cap at two; an extraordinary congress held at El Jadida on 7 February 2026 elected Mohamed Chaouki in his place. Akhannouch remains head of government and the dominant figure of the campaign. Around them, the party holds Economy and Finance with Nadia Fettah Alaoui, National Education with Mohamed Saad Berrada, Health with Amine Tahraoui, Agriculture with Ahmed El Bouari, Tourism with Fatim-Zahra Ammor, and the speakership of the House of Representatives with Rachid Talbi Alami. The PAM has no secretary-general: since its congress of February 2024 it has been led collegially by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, minister of Territorial Planning and mayor of Marrakech, who coordinates that leadership, alongside Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth and Culture, and Salaheddine Aboulghali. Abdellatif Ouahbi, who led the party until 2024, kept Justice. The party also counts Younes Sekkouri at Employment and Leila Benali at Energy Transition, and in July 2026 it took into its political bureau Fouzi Lekjaa, minister delegate for the Budget and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The Istiqlal stands behind Nizar Baraka, secretary-general and minister of Equipment and Water, a candidate at Larache. The party is fielding several of its ministers in constituencies: Ryad Mezzour, at Industry and Trade, and Abdessamad Kayouh, at Transport. Mohamed Ould Errachid, of the Istiqlal, presides over the House of Councillors, which is not renewed on 23 September. ### The opposition The USFP refused to enter government in 2021 and pays for it in visibility more than in seats. Driss Lachgar has been its first secretary since 2012, returned for a fourth term at the Bouznika congress of October 2025; the parliamentary group is chaired by Abderrahim Chahid. The Mouvement populaire, led since November 2022 by Mohamed Ouzzine, who is also a deputy speaker of the House, is running a frontal opposition campaign. The PPS of Mohamed Nabil Benabdallah comes to the vote knowing that its secretary-general will leave the leadership after it, at the next congress. The PJD, finally, is playing the strangest hand. Abdelilah Benkirane, back at the general secretariat after the rout of 2021 and returned at the April 2025 congress for a mandate running to 2029, will not be a candidate: the party announced it in May 2026. He will campaign without standing, and it is Abdellah Bouanou, president of the parliamentary grouping, who carries the party’s voice in the chamber. ### The others The Union constitutionnelle, led by Mohamed Joudar since 2022, has no minister and sits with the Mouvement democratique et social in a single group. To the left of the left, the Federation de la gauche democratique and the Parti socialiste unifie formed a Left Alliance in June 2026 and are running joint lists without merging: two parties, two leaderships, one ballot line. It has to be added that five departments are not played out at the ballot box. Interior, with Abdelouafi Laftit, Foreign Affairs, with Nasser Bourita, Habous and Islamic Affairs, with Ahmed Toufiq, the administration of National Defense, with Abdellatif Loudyi, and the General Secretariat of the Government fall to royal appointment and not to the arithmetic of lists. Whatever coalition comes out of 23 September, those five will not change hands by its doing. ## How one votes The calendar is tight. Candidacy filing opens on 31 August at eight in the morning and closes on 9 September at noon, the electronic platform itself closing at noon the day before: a file filed online incomplete is void, and the original must be handed over in person at the prefecture or the province for local lists, at the wilaya for regional lists. The official campaign runs from midnight on 10 September to midnight on 22 September. On the 23rd, voting runs from eight in the morning to seven in the evening. One document alone is required at the polling station: the electronic national identity card. The notice handed out by local authorities between 24 August and 22 September gives the station, the date and the hours, but it is on no account required in order to vote, and the ministry of the Interior said so again in its statement of 24 August. Anyone who has lost theirs, or never received one, can find their station on the listeselectorales.ma portal, or by sending their identity card number free of charge to 2727. In the booth, a single ballot paper carries both elections. The voter puts one mark against the local list of their choice and a second against the regional list, then folds the paper and drops it in the urn. Closed lists rule out both split voting and preference voting: one chooses a list, never a name inside a list. Decree no. 2.26.278 of April 2026 fixes the layout, local lists ranged vertically from right to left in order of registration, each party’s regional list placed to the left of its local one. Marking two lists on the same floor voids the vote for that floor. Registration, for its part, is closed. The revision of the rolls ran from 15 May to 13 June, and the lists were stopped on 10 July 2026. Anyone not on them will not vote on 23 September. ## Moroccans abroad The answer comes down to one sentence: one does not vote in consulates, one votes by proxy. Article 17 of the 2011 Constitution recognizes for Moroccans residing abroad “the rights of full citizenship, including the right to be electors and to be elected”, and refers to the law the task of determining the conditions and the arrangements for the effective exercise of the right to vote and to stand “from the countries of residence”. That last phrase is an enabling clause, not a procedure. Fifteen years on, the organic law of the House of Representatives still creates no polling station outside the territory: its stations are designated by the governor, in Morocco. What the law does organize is the proxy, and it belongs to residents abroad alone: a voter settled in Morocco cannot vote by proxy. The principal, registered on the general rolls, fills in the form on the platform open from 24 August to noon on 22 September, entering an identity card number, a consular registration number, the commune of registration, then the identity of the proxy; the document is downloaded and sent on. The proxy must be registered on a communal roll in Morocco, with no requirement of kinship, and may carry only one proxy. On the day, the proxy votes in the principal’s station, identity card and proxy form in hand. The procedure is digital; the ballot still falls into a Moroccan urn. Standing, on the other hand, is open. Article 22 of the organic law allows Moroccans abroad to appear on local and regional lists, in the same forms and to the same deadlines as anyone else, under one reserve: they are ineligible if they hold a governmental, elective or public function in the country of residence. The January 2026 reform added two documents, a criminal record extract issued by the state of residence and a valid residence permit. There is, however, no diaspora constituency: one stands in a constituency of the Kingdom, not in a constituency of Europe or of the Americas. Consular voting is hardly inconceivable: the constitutional referendum of 1 July 2011 was held in embassies and consulates. The operation has never been repeated for a legislative election. Amendments to that effect were rejected in 2021, then again in December 2025, and the proposals tabled by the PPS, the PJD, the Istiqlal and the USFP, running from a direct vote in the country of residence to the creation of reserved seats, were not adopted. The Constitutional Court, seized of the 2026 text, held the electronic proxy to conform to the Constitution: it validated the means the legislator chose, it did not say that article 17 required another. On 23 September the diaspora will therefore vote through a proxy, or by coming home. What remains is the question neither the texts nor the rolls will settle before the evening of the 23rd. In 2021, one registered voter in two turned out. A quotient computed on the registered makes abstention a variable in the allocation of seats as much as a political verdict: the emptier the boxes stay, the higher the bar, and the more the remainders decide. It may be the only thing this election will say without ambiguity. ### Update of September 20: the government asks for facilities to go and vote In a communique issued on Friday, September 18, the Head of Government called on the heads of public administrations, the directors of public establishments and enterprises and the presidents of territorial collectivity councils to grant their cadres, civil servants, employees and agents the facilities needed to reach the polls on September 23, without prejudicing the proper functioning of services and administrations. The same call is addressed to the heads of private-sector companies, asked to take the measures that will let their employees exercise their right to vote on polling day. The communique sets neither a duration nor any modalities: the arrangement is left to each official. *Photo: Pilecka, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Le Matin - [Élections 2026: des facilités accordées aux salariés pour exercer leur droit de vote](https://lematin.ma/nation/elections-2026-des-facilites-accordees-aux-salaries-pour-voter/365892) - Le360 - [Élections législatives 2026: des facilités accordées aux salariés et fonctionnaires pour voter](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/elections-legislatives-2026-des-facilites-accordees-aux-salaries-et-fonctionnaires-pour-voter_VJSY7KWKX5AQBGDONNUCUDQKL4/) - Médias24 - [Le gouvernement appelle les secteurs public et privé à faciliter l’accès aux urnes](https://medias24.com/2026/09/20/le-gouvernement-appelle-les-secteurs-public-et-prive-a-faciliter-lacces-aux-urnes-1759583/) - Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco, 2011 — article 17. - Organic law no. 27-11 on the House of Representatives, as amended by organic law no. 53.25, dahir no. 1.25.70 of 16 January 2026, Official Bulletin no. 7478 of 29 January 2026. - Decree no. 2.26.190 of 12 March 2026 fixing the date of election of the members of the House of Representatives, Official Bulletin no. 7491 of 16 March 2026. - Decree no. 2.26.278 amending decree no. 2.11.605 on the ballot paper, Official Bulletin no. 7502 of 23 April 2026. - Constitutional Court — decision no. 259/25 M.D. of 24 December 2025. - Ministry of the Interior — statement of 24 August 2026 and electoral rolls portal. --- --- title: "Sidi Moktar: Sound Energy Seeks an Operator for Its Last Moroccan Permit" description: "In its September 17 half-year report, Sound Energy says it is seeking a partner for its Sidi Moktar onshore permit, 4,712 km2 in the Essaouira Basin, while negotiating with ONHYM over an initial period that expired in April 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sidi-moktar-farm-out language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sidi-moktar-farm-out type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-20T16:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.193Z tags: ["Energy", "Exploration", "Essaouira"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab0099e3a3089f25d0c017a_6ab009995a5f01cd01834998_sidi-moktar-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sidi Moktar: Sound Energy Seeks an Operator for Its Last Moroccan Permit *In its September 17 half-year report, Sound Energy says it is seeking a partner for its Sidi Moktar onshore permit, 4,712 km2 in the Essaouira Basin, while negotiating with ONHYM over an initial period that expired in April 2026.* ![Fields in the commune of Ounagha, in Essaouira Province, at the heart of the sedimentary basin of the same name.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab0099e3a3089f25d0c017a_6ab009995a5f01cd01834998_sidi-moktar-main.webp) Sound Energy has reopened the search for a partner at Sidi Moktar, the only exploration permit it still holds in Morocco, according to its half-year report published on September 17. The London AIM-quoted company would offer a partner a material position in the 4,712 km2 onshore permit, in the Essaouira Basin. ![A yellow and gray drilling derrick stands on a desert plateau under a cloud-streaked sky, with a crane and tanks to the right.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c818d222c080e61a713_6ae606651b7ba233b796cfe9_sidi-moktar-farm-out-inline.webp) *A drilling rig at the Tendrara gas site in eastern Morocco, where Sound Energy sold its last stake. Photo: Hespress.* The document sets out a contractual situation to be regularized: the permit’s initial period expired in April 2026, and ONHYM has sent the company a claim for not completing the minimum exploration work program. Sound Energy says it has accrued what it considers it owes. The company comes to that discussion unencumbered. The sale of its residual interest in Tendrara, completed in August for $57.0 million, let it repay all its term loans, and it reported $9.8 million of cash at the end of August. Its annual accounts had earlier booked an impairment of roughly £12.5 million on Sidi Moktar. The permit will thus have changed status without changing content, going from an asset carried to a file for sale. *Photo: Yassinoxinox, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Sound Energy plc - [Sound Energy plc - Half-year Report, six months ended 30 June 2026](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/sound-energy--sou/half-year-report/9776257) - Sound Energy plc - [Sound Energy plc - Final Results for the year ended 31 December 2025](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/sound-energy--sou/final-results/9581202) - Médias24 - [Sound Energy relance la recherche d’un opérateur pour son bloc onshore Sidi Moktar](https://medias24.com/2026/09/20/sound-energy-relance-la-recherche-dun-operateur-pour-son-bloc-onshore-sidi-moktar-1759731/) --- --- title: "Oued Beht: North Africa’s Oldest Fortification Outside the Nile Valley Is Dated" description: "The Oued Beht Archaeological Project’s third season, published in Libyan Studies, dates the ditch and rampart closing the Khemisset ridge to between 1896 and 1623 BC. It is the oldest known defensive system in North Africa outside the Nile Valley." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oued-beht-fortification language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oued-beht-fortification type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-20T16:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.569Z tags: ["Archaeology", "Ancient History", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab0099b5d7c729205fc82fd_6ab00998f1706b84ef0d5641_oued-beht-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Oued Beht: North Africa’s Oldest Fortification Outside the Nile Valley Is Dated *The Oued Beht Archaeological Project’s third season, published in Libyan Studies, dates the ditch and rampart closing the Khemisset ridge to between 1896 and 1623 BC. It is the oldest known defensive system in North Africa outside the Nile Valley.* ![Landscape of the rural commune of Ait Ikkou, in Khemisset Province, where the Oued Beht site lies.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab0099b5d7c729205fc82fd_6ab00998f1706b84ef0d5641_oued-beht-main.webp) Across the narrows of a ridge above the Oued Beht, in Khemisset Province, a ditch 1.84 meters wide, an earthen rampart and a wall preserved to 2.30 meters thick close off the approach. The Oued Beht Archaeological Project’s third field season, published on September 7 in the journal *Libyan Studies*, has managed to date them. ![A thick line of dry stones runs along a hilltop ridge between trees, above a valley.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e878b2b668bc9c25e81_6ae55db34288ab0a4db73938_oued-beht-fortification.webp) *The largest defensive wall at Oued Beht. Photo: G. Lucarini / Oued Beht Archaeological Project.* Radiocarbon places the main construction phase between 1896 and 1623 BC. Reported since the 1930s by a protectorate inspector of historic monuments, the structure is, to date, the oldest known defensive system in North Africa outside the Nile Valley. The settlement was no hamlet: earlier seasons credited it with 9 to 10 hectares occupied from the Final Neolithic. The rampart belongs to the Bronze Age, and a medieval stone wall still crowns it. Its co-director, Youssef Bokbot, tells Medias24 that the excavated sectors cover less than 1% of the estimated area, and that his team has had no access to the site for two years for want of funding and permits. What the ridge still holds will therefore be counted in generations of researchers. *Photo: Delpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Libyan Studies - [Expanding Oued Beht: Final Neolithic, Bronze Age, medieval and later discoveries from excavation and survey in 2023](https://doi.org/10.1017/lis.2026.10037) - Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale - [Morocco: The Oued Beht Archaeological Project uncovers the oldest known defensive structure in North Africa beyond the Nile Valley](https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/diplomazia-culturale/2026/09/marocco-scoperta-la-piu-antica-struttura-difensiva-in-nord-africa-al-di-fuori-della-valle-del-nilo/) - Médias24 - [Oued Beht: ce que les fortifications révèlent des sociétés préhistoriques marocaines](https://medias24.com/2026/09/20/oued-beht-ce-que-les-fortifications-revelent-des-societes-prehistoriques-marocaines-1759439/) --- --- title: "Athletics: Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha Sets a Moroccan Half Marathon Record in Copenhagen" description: "Ninth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on September 20, Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha ran 1:07:33, a new Moroccan record. Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich won in 1:05:15, a women-only world record." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/birdaha-record language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/birdaha-record type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-20T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:52:24.564Z tags: ["Athletics", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691abb62fb3db9874d2fb_6ab690a4e2374c9c708f17f6_birdaha-record-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Athletics: Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha Sets a Moroccan Half Marathon Record in Copenhagen *Ninth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on September 20, Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha ran 1:07:33, a new Moroccan record. Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich won in 1:05:15, a women-only world record.* ![Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha shows her Mediterranean Games gold medal on the track of the stadium in Taranto.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ab691abb62fb3db9874d2fb_6ab690a4e2374c9c708f17f6_birdaha-record-main.webp) Ninth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on Sunday, September 20, Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha crossed the line in 1:07:33, a national record according to World Athletics’ official results. The 22-year-old Moroccan ran her race from behind: fifteenth at 10 km, she gained six places over the second half of the course. Up front, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich won in 1:05:15, a women-only world record subject to ratification. The performance crowns an already crowded season. At the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Birdaha won a golden double over 5,000 m and the half marathon. Moroccan women’s half marathon running now has a new benchmark, and it belongs to an athlete whose road career is only beginning. *Photo: Le Guide du Maroc (leguide.ma).* ## References - World Athletics - [Ngetich breaks women-only world half marathon record at World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen](https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/copenhagen26/news/report/road-running-copenhagen-26-women-half-marathon) - World Athletics - [Copenhagen 26, half marathon women, final results](https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/copenhagen26/results/women/half-marathon/final/result) --- --- title: "Capital Raising: 70.9 Billion Dirhams by End-July as Long Debt Gives Way to Bank Paper" description: "The AMMC has published its July indicators: 70,877 million dirhams raised since January, against 71,759 a year earlier. The total holds, but bond issues fall 41% while bank certificates of deposit leap 90%, a wholesale change in the shape of the market." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/levees-capitaux-juillet-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/levees-capitaux-juillet-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-20T11:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.374Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aafb886d15e74f5074c2ad5_6aafb8830cbf210b6ba92e50_cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Capital Raising: 70.9 Billion Dirhams by End-July as Long Debt Gives Way to Bank Paper *The AMMC has published its July indicators: 70,877 million dirhams raised since January, against 71,759 a year earlier. The total holds, but bond issues fall 41% while bank certificates of deposit leap 90%, a wholesale change in the shape of the market.* ![The towers of Casablanca Finance City under a clear sky, palms and tram catenary in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aafb886d15e74f5074c2ad5_6aafb8830cbf210b6ba92e50_cfc-main.webp) The Moroccan Capital Market Authority has published its monthly indicators for July: 70,877 million dirhams raised since the start of the year, against 71,759 a year earlier, down 1%. ![The white facade of the AMMC headquarters, with its logo and name in Arabic, Tifinagh and French on the blue entrance canopy.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b7bfd5e23d293d2897f_6ae60a13d10e1b06c9ba519d_levees-capitaux-juillet-2026-inline.webp) *The headquarters of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority. Photo: SNRTnews.* The composition has changed entirely. Bond issues fall to 16,850 million dirhams against 28,400, a drop of 41%, and share issues are down 28%. Negotiable debt securities climb to 51,025 million against 39,189, and inside that mass certificates of deposit leap 90%, to 27,839 million. Put another way, the market raised almost as much money as a year earlier through a different window. Long corporate debt withdrew, and short bank paper took all the room. The MASI ends the month at 17,843.70 points, down 5.32% since January. Only collective management grows, and it is the short-term bond funds and the money-market funds that take most of the subscriptions. Moroccan savings are not leaving the market, then, they are shortening. It is that preference for the short end that will decide what financing costs Moroccan companies in the second half. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - AMMC - [Indicateurs mensuels du marché des capitaux — Juillet 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Indicateurs_mensuels%20juillet%202026.pdf) - AMMC - [L’AMMC publie les indicateurs mensuels du marché des capitaux pour le mois de juillet 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/fr/actualites/lammc-publie-les-indicateurs-mensuels-du-marche-des-capitaux-pour-le-mois-de-juillet) --- --- title: "CIH Bank: Deposits Pass 100 Billion Dirhams While Attributable Profit Holds Flat" description: "The board of CIH Bank has approved its accounts at June 30: 102.2 billion dirhams of customer deposits, up 14.0%, and 119.0 billion of credits, up 13.3%, for net profit attributable to the group of 617.0 million, flat to within 0.3%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cih-bank-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cih-bank-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-20T11:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.152Z tags: ["Finance", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec0c76b986c1f7c496a_6ae53c9f554eb202f0759cff_cih-bank-s1-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # CIH Bank: Deposits Pass 100 Billion Dirhams While Attributable Profit Holds Flat *The board of CIH Bank has approved its accounts at June 30: 102.2 billion dirhams of customer deposits, up 14.0%, and 119.0 billion of credits, up 13.3%, for net profit attributable to the group of 617.0 million, flat to within 0.3%.* ![Customers wait in line outside a CIH Bank branch in Agadir.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec0c76b986c1f7c496a_6ae53c9f554eb202f0759cff_cih-bank-s1-2026-main.webp) The board of directors of CIH Bank, meeting on September 16, approved the accounts at June 30: customer deposits reached 102.2 billion dirhams, against 89.7 a year earlier, crossing the hundred-billion mark for the first time. ![A freestanding white and blue CIH Bank cash machine on a tree-lined sidewalk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60ba444d07ced11399c2e_6ae6062e8f7591899402b8df_cih-bank-s1-2026-inline.webp) *A CIH Bank cash machine by the street. Photo: Hamza Izourane, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Sight deposits, up 17.6%, now make up 87% of that book, which lowers the cost of funding by as much. Credits keep the same pace, at 119.0 billion dirhams, up 13.3%. Profitability, for its part, moves by inches. Consolidated net banking income comes to 2,825.8 million dirhams, up only 2.8%, and the consolidated cost of risk is all but unchanged, at 590.2 million. Consolidated net profit gains 3.3%, to 695.4 million dirhams, and net profit attributable to the group does not move: 617.0 million, or 0.3% better than in the first half of 2025. The network now counts 444 branches, and a perpetual subordinated bond of 750 million dirhams has come to strengthen own funds. It is the shape of that deposit book, overwhelmingly sight money, that will decide the margin of the years to come. *Photo: Hamza Izourane, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - CIH Bank - [Communiqué du conseil d’administration: résultats au 30 juin 2026 du Groupe CIH Bank](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_CIH_Bank_S1_26.pdf) - AMMC - [Communiqués de presse des émetteurs](https://www.ammc.ma/fr/communiques-presse-emetteurs) --- --- title: "El Harraz: Melhoun Climbs Back Onto the Stage of the Mohammed V Theatre" description: "The Theatre Mohammed V in Rabat stages “El Harraz” on Friday, September 25 at half past eight in the evening. The thirty-fifth class of the ISADAC revives, in a production directed by Amine Nasseur, the melhoun-born play Tayeb Saddiki brought to the stage on a text by Abdeslam Chraibi." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/harraz-theatre-mohammed-v language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/harraz-theatre-mohammed-v type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-19T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.484Z tags: ["Traditions", "Music", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaf0f7e51c23c3144c8bd81_6aaf0f798f86ad8c209d024a_harraz-tm5-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # El Harraz: Melhoun Climbs Back Onto the Stage of the Mohammed V Theatre *The Theatre Mohammed V in Rabat stages “El Harraz” on Friday, September 25 at half past eight in the evening. The thirty-fifth class of the ISADAC revives, in a production directed by Amine Nasseur, the melhoun-born play Tayeb Saddiki brought to the stage on a text by Abdeslam Chraibi.* ![The hall of the Theatre Mohammed V in Rabat seen from the stage, music stands and orchestra chairs in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaf0f7e51c23c3144c8bd81_6aaf0f798f86ad8c209d024a_harraz-tm5-main.webp) Jealous jailer, sequestered beauty, suitor piling on disguises to slip past him: the argument of “El Harraz” fits into a single sentence, and Moroccan theater has built a monument on it. The Theatre Mohammed V in Rabat has programmed the play for Friday, September 25 at half past eight in the evening. ![On a blue-lit stage, actors in traditional costume surround a seated couple beneath a gilded horseshoe arch.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e899af18491607fd507_6ae55db4edca88a5ea2d86bc_harraz-theatre-mohammed-v.webp) *A scene from the revived production of “El Harraz.” Photo: Hespress.* This new adaptation after the work of Tayeb Saddiki and Abdeslam Chraibi, directed by Amine Nasseur, is the final project of the thirty-fifth graduating class of the Institut Superieur d’Art Dramatique et d’Animation Culturelle, the ISADAC. Written in the 1960s, the play draws on Moroccan oral heritage and on the world of melhoun. The company says it chose to question the play’s inheritance and its stage conventions rather than reproduce them to the letter. Born of an art sung before it was ever acted, “El Harraz” exists only in revival, and every revival rewrites it a little. For these young graduates the evening will be examination as much as performance. Above all it will say whether the national stage can pass on what is hardest to bequeath, not a text, but a way of speaking it. *Photo: Hamdi Maroc, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Théâtre Mohammed V - [El Harraz — الحراز, vendredi 25 septembre 2026, 20:30](https://tm5.ma/spectacles/2026-09-25/) - Les Inspirations Éco - [Théâtre populaire: « El Harraz » ressuscité au Théâtre Mohammed V](https://leseco.ma/culture/theatre-populaire-el-harraz-ressuscite-au-theatre-mohammed-v.html) --- --- title: "Solar: Masen Puts Twelve Future Sites Under Measurement for Fifty-Two Months" description: "The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy has opened a tender to measure the solar resource across twelve future photovoltaic sites. Six stations, two phases, twenty-four months of readings for each site and fifty-two months in all. Bids are due by October 1." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/masen-mesure-solaire language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/masen-mesure-solaire type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-19T22:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.284Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaf0f7aa1592fab09890363_6aaf0f785370a4232d95926d_masen-noor-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Solar: Masen Puts Twelve Future Sites Under Measurement for Fifty-Two Months *The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy has opened a tender to measure the solar resource across twelve future photovoltaic sites. Six stations, two phases, twenty-four months of readings for each site and fifty-two months in all. Bids are due by October 1.* ![The cylindrical parabolic mirror fields of the Noor solar plant at Ouarzazate, between the desert and the first ridges.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaf0f7aa1592fab09890363_6aaf0f785370a4232d95926d_masen-noor-main.webp) Before a plant is built, the sky that will feed it has to be measured. The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy has issued an open call for tenders to recruit the expert who will measure the solar resource across 12 future photovoltaic sites; bids are due by Thursday, October 1. ![Masts carrying radiation sensors, an anemometer and a small solar panel stand on red earth between rows of photovoltaic panels.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bc95d230cc1aeecec04_6ae606395ffcb4a37421cfd1_masen-mesure-solaire-inline.webp) *A station measuring solar irradiance and weather conditions at a photovoltaic plant. Photo: Geonica, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The arrangement will rest on six solar meteorological stations, deployed in two phases of six sites each. Each site will get 24 months of readings, for a projected total duration of 52 months. The stations will record the four components of irradiance, the albedo of the ground, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind and rainfall. The sensors must be class A under the ISO standards, and the agency requires more than 98% availability for raw data. The readings will travel back to an interface installed at Masen’s headquarters, which will archive them and share them through a programming interface. Morocco does not lack sun, it lacks the proof in figures, site by site, of what that sun is worth. These 52 months will say which of the 12 sites carry plants. *Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Masen - [Plateforme des consultations de Masen — appel d’offres ouvert n° 14/Masen/2026, campagne de mesure pour l’acquisition de bases de données solaires sur douze sites](https://etendering.masen.ma/) - Le Matin - [Masen relance sa campagne de mesure solaire pour le développement de 12 centrales photovoltaïques](https://lematin.ma/economie/masen-relance-sa-campagne-de-mesure-solaire-sur-douze-sites/365724) --- --- title: "Marrakech: 8.27 Million Overnight Stays by End-July, Up 10%" description: "Marrakech’s classified establishments recorded 8.27 million overnight stays by the end of July 2026, up 10% year on year, according to the Tourism Observatory. The city alone accounts for 32% of national overnight stays, which reached 25.85 million, a rise of 8%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marrakech-nuitees language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marrakech-nuitees type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-19T16:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.194Z tags: ["Tourism", "Hospitality"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaeb8e85b8290737a4381e5_6aaeb8e4e1749b141445d9ce_marrakech-nuitees-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Marrakech: 8.27 Million Overnight Stays by End-July, Up 10% *Marrakech’s classified establishments recorded 8.27 million overnight stays by the end of July 2026, up 10% year on year, according to the Tourism Observatory. The city alone accounts for 32% of national overnight stays, which reached 25.85 million, a rise of 8%.* ![The rooftops of the Marrakech medina at dusk, the Koutoubia minaret and the Atlas on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaeb8e85b8290737a4381e5_6aaeb8e4e1749b141445d9ce_marrakech-nuitees-main.webp) Marrakech recorded 8.27 million overnight stays in its classified tourist accommodation establishments by the end of July 2026, up 10% year on year, the Tourism Observatory reports. ![A pool lined with sun loungers and parasols in the courtyard of a hotel with ocher arcades and palm trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ed3a405c0af4883be71_6ae55dce174753539d09e178_marrakech-nuitees.webp) *The pool of the Les Jardins de la Koutoubia hotel in Marrakech. Photo: Elgaard, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The Red City alone accounts for 32% of all overnight stays sold in the Kingdom over the first seven months of the year, with an occupancy rate of 70%, one point higher than a year earlier. In July alone its establishments passed 1.1 million overnight stays, 11% more than in July 2025. Nationally, the same establishments totaled 25.85 million overnight stays by the end of July, up 8%, for an occupancy rate of 56%. The country’s average is rising, but Marrakech is what lifts it. That concentration is at once a commercial strength and a fragility, for it exposes the rest of the hotel network to the swings of one marketplace. The tourism roadmap is betting on widening the map. *Photo: Ty Terrasso from Houston, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Observatoire du Tourisme - [Tableau de Bord National Juillet 2026](https://observatoiredutourisme.ma/publication/tableau-de-bord-national-juillet-2026/) --- --- title: "Vienna: Morocco Takes the AFRA Chair for Two Years" description: "The African states party to the AFRA agreement elected Morocco by acclamation to its presidency for 2026-2027 on Thursday in Vienna, in the person of Hamid Marah, director general of CNESTEN. The Kingdom succeeds Botswana at the head of this continental nuclear cooperation run under the IAEA." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/afra-presidence language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/afra-presidence type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-19T16:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.939Z tags: ["Science", "Diplomacy", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ed8c76b986c1f7c51db_6ae53d48382b682ce23a607d_afra-presidence-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Vienna: Morocco Takes the AFRA Chair for Two Years *The African states party to the AFRA agreement elected Morocco by acclamation to its presidency for 2026-2027 on Thursday in Vienna, in the person of Hamid Marah, director general of CNESTEN. The Kingdom succeeds Botswana at the head of this continental nuclear cooperation run under the IAEA.* ![Hamid Marah, behind his “AFRA Chairperson” nameplate, sits at the rostrum beside IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the 37th meeting of AFRA representatives in Vienna.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ed8c76b986c1f7c51db_6ae53d48382b682ce23a607d_afra-presidence-main.webp) Morocco now chairs the African nuclear agreement. Meeting on Thursday, September 17, at the Vienna International Centre, the states party to AFRA, the African regional cooperative agreement on nuclear science and technology, elected the Kingdom by acclamation to its presidency for the 2026-2027 term, according to MAP. ![Azzeddine Farhane, seated behind a Morocco nameplate with a mask pulled under his chin, listens in a meeting room.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c00c9c7b5d3229d02e1_6ae60645a5d3f837ad784dd0_afra-presidence-inline.webp) *Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane, Morocco’s representative to the IAEA, at the 32nd AFRA Meeting of Representatives in Vienna in 2021. Photo: Dean Calma / IAEA, CC BY 2.0.* Morocco holds the seat in the person of Hamid Marah, director general of the National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Techniques, who succeeds David Tshere of Botswana. The vote was held on the margins of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency. What the Kingdom puts forward comes down to one word: ownership. The Moroccan presidency will work to strengthen African command of AFRA’s programs and the transfer of knowledge, in the service of health, agriculture, food security and the sustainable management of water, Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane said. Forty-six African countries today benefit from the agency’s initiatives, notably in the fight against cancer. Two years pass quickly for a cooperation measured in decades. They will nonetheless say whether the ownership announced in Vienna has changed the way the continent builds its own expertise. *Photo: Dean Calma/IAEA, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - MAP - [Élection du Maroc à la Présidence de l’AFRA pour la période 2026-2027](https://www.maroc.ma/fr/actualites/election-du-maroc-la-presidence-de-lafra-pour-la-periode-2026-2027) --- --- title: "Jorf Lasfar: Brazil and OCP Nutricrops Sign for 3.8 Million Tonnes of Fertilizer" description: "Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock signed a memorandum of understanding with OCP Nutricrops at Jorf Lasfar on September 18, covering 3.8 million tonnes of fertilizer for 2026-2027. Brasilia notes that purchases remain conditional on terms negotiated by Brazilian operators themselves." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-bresil language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-bresil type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-19T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.083Z tags: ["Agriculture", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae64bd92ecdfa853beb1d8_6aae64ba4af5ed8c725c1c99_ocp-bresil-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jorf Lasfar: Brazil and OCP Nutricrops Sign for 3.8 Million Tonnes of Fertilizer *Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock signed a memorandum of understanding with OCP Nutricrops at Jorf Lasfar on September 18, covering 3.8 million tonnes of fertilizer for 2026-2027. Brasilia notes that purchases remain conditional on terms negotiated by Brazilian operators themselves.* ![Storage tanks and cranes at the industrial port of Jorf Lasfar, on the Atlantic coast of the Doukkala.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae64bd92ecdfa853beb1d8_6aae64ba4af5ed8c725c1c99_ocp-bresil-main.webp) Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Andre de Paula, signed the memorandum of understanding binding his ministry to OCP Nutricrops on Friday, September 18, at the Jorf Lasfar industrial site. ![Two men in suits hold an open document in front of a screen bearing the OCP Nutricrops and Brazilian ministry logos, Moroccan and Brazilian flags on the table.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb6c94d95b14bc54073_6ae55dc3382b682ce243cb12_ocp-bresil.webp) *Faris Derrij (left), chief executive of OCP Nutricrops, and Andre de Paula, Brazil’s minister of agriculture and livestock, hold up the signed memorandum at Jorf Lasfar. Photo: Hespress.* The document sets a reference volume of 3.8 million tonnes of phosphate fertilizer for Brazilian operators over the 2026-2027 period, with triple superphosphate at its center. The purchase remains conditional, however, on the commercial terms operators will negotiate with the group themselves. A memorandum of understanding is not a sales contract. The text also opens five axes of cooperation, from securing supply to the health of Brazilian soils and research. Brazil, a considerable agricultural power, imports the bulk of the fertilizer it consumes, and that dependence has become a matter of public policy in Brasilia. By the end of 2027 it will be clear what this protocol actually loaded onto the ships. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária - [Ministro André de Paula cumpre missão oficial em Angola e Marrocos](https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/ministro-andre-de-paula-cumpre-missao-oficial-em-angola-e-marrocos) - Agência de Notícias Brasil-Árabe - [Brazilian minister to sign deal in Morocco](https://anba.com.br/en/brazilian-minister-to-sign-deal-in-morocco/) - CNN Brasil - [Brasil garante milhões de toneladas de fertilizantes com Marrocos](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/agro/brasil-garante-milhoes-de-toneladas-de-fertilizantes-com-marrocos/) - La Vie éco - [Brésil : OCP Nutricrops sécurise la vente de 3,8 millions de tonnes d’engrais](https://www.lavieeco.com/affaires/secteurs/bresil-ocp-nutricrops-securise-la-vente-de-38-millions-de-tonnes-dengrais/) --- --- title: "Addis Ababa: Fathallah Sijilmassi Named African Union Special Envoy for the G20" description: "The Chairperson of the African Union Commission on September 18 named the Moroccan diplomat Fathallah Sijilmassi Special Envoy for G20 and Global Affairs. He will support the Commission before the G20 and other multilateral platforms, under the authority of the AU G20 Sherpa." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sijilmassi-g20 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sijilmassi-g20 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-19T10:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.637Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Geopolitics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae64c0c7f3706031ae90da_6aae64bba90480deba72b72e_ua-sijilmassi-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Addis Ababa: Fathallah Sijilmassi Named African Union Special Envoy for the G20 *The Chairperson of the African Union Commission on September 18 named the Moroccan diplomat Fathallah Sijilmassi Special Envoy for G20 and Global Affairs. He will support the Commission before the G20 and other multilateral platforms, under the authority of the AU G20 Sherpa.* ![The African Union Conference Center in Addis Ababa at dusk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aae64c0c7f3706031ae90da_6aae64bba90480deba72b72e_ua-sijilmassi-main.webp) The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on September 18 named the Moroccan diplomat Fathallah Sijilmassi Special Envoy for G20 and Global Affairs. ![Portrait of a man in a dark suit and red tie, seated in front of a blue flag and a pale molded wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e8bd7596d1c36880a93_6ae55db51e9e2ef6d381a354_sijilmassi-g20.webp) *Moroccan diplomat Fathallah Sijilmassi. Photo: Le Matin.* The new envoy will support the Chairperson in advancing the Union’s strategic engagement with the G20, under the authority of the AU G20 Sherpa, and will carry the same work into other multilateral platforms. The mandate is broad: to strengthen Africa’s representation in discussions on global governance, the international financial architecture, sustainable development, trade, climate action and technology. The African Union now sits at the G20, and it is that place, long demanded, which the appointment comes to arm. Fathallah Sijilmassi had already been the first Director General of the African Union Commission. The Kingdom thus places a diplomat at the hinge between the Union and the great economic forums. *Photo: Andrew Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Union africaine - [The Chairperson of the AU Commission Appoints Special Envoy for G20 and Global Affairs](https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20260918/au-commission-chairperson-appoints-special-envoy-g20-and-global-affairs) - Union africaine - [Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Amb. Fathallah Sijilmassi Director General of the AUC](https://au.int/en/speeches/20230216/welcoming-remarks-he-amb-fathallah-sijilmassi-director-general-auc-african-union) --- --- title: "Andalusian Buttonquail: Eighteen Birds Leave Morocco for a Species Extinct in Spain" description: "Eighteen Andalusian buttonquails, hatched in Morocco from eggs gathered in the nest, reached Jerez on September 9 to found a conservation breeding stock. The last known population of the subspecies lives on the Oualidia coast, where the water and forests agency is launching its own program." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/turnix-andalousie language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/turnix-andalousie type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-18T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.079Z tags: ["Science", "Doukkala", "Andalusia"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aadbed832ddd2f673486812_6aadbed53c505183fff51dd7_turnix-oualidia-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Andalusian Buttonquail: Eighteen Birds Leave Morocco for a Species Extinct in Spain *Eighteen Andalusian buttonquails, hatched in Morocco from eggs gathered in the nest, reached Jerez on September 9 to found a conservation breeding stock. The last known population of the subspecies lives on the Oualidia coast, where the water and forests agency is launching its own program.* ![The strip fields of the oulja at Oualidia running down to the Atlantic, with their cane windbreaks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aadbed832ddd2f673486812_6aadbed53c505183fff51dd7_turnix-oualidia-main.webp) Eighteen Andalusian buttonquails landed at the port of Algeciras on September 9 and were taken to the biodiversity conservation center of the Zoobotanico de Jerez. They were born in Morocco, from eggs located in the nest and then incubated to hatching. ![Three small birds with speckled brown plumage on artificial grass scattered with twigs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ed5e37fa824d36ee28a_6ae55dcf1b68b88e88242b00_turnix-andalousie.webp) *Young Andalusian buttonquails. Photo: Austros.* The regional government of Andalusia reads the arrival as a new stage toward a reintroduction in Spain, where the bird has vanished. Turnix sylvaticus sylvaticus, one of the most threatened taxa in the world, survives with certainty only on the Moroccan Atlantic coast, in the Oualidia region, where probably a few hundred birds remain. On September 17, Morocco’s National Agency for Water and Forests set out its own ex situ conservation program. Two breeding nuclei will live in parallel, one at the Ain Sebaa zoological park in Casablanca, the other at Jerez, managed together. The method is the one that brought back the Iberian lynx. The financing comes from compensatory measures attached to renewable-energy projects in Cadiz and Seville. The bird that carries the name of Andalusia had left it, driven out by coastal urbanization and the intensification of farming in the 19th and 20th centuries. It will return there, if it returns at all, out of a Moroccan field. *Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente - [Llegan a la comunidad 18 torillos andaluces para iniciar la cría en cautividad de la especie en Jerez](https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/presidencia/portavoz/tierraymar/218607/torilloandaluz/ejemplares/Marruecos/cria/cautividad/ZoobotanicodeJerez/reintroduccion/especie/Andalucia/ConsejeriadeSostenibilidadyMedioAmbiente) - Médias24 - [Biodiversité: l’ANEF au chevet du Turnix d’Andalousie](https://medias24.com/2026/09/18/biodiversite-lanef-met-en-oeuvre-au-maroc-un-programme-de-conservation-du-turnix-dandalousie-1758877/) - Le360 - [Turnix d’Andalousie: les eaux et forêts lancent un programme de conservation](https://fr.le360.ma/societe/turnix-dandalousie-les-eaux-et-forets-lancent-un-programme-de-conservation_K72DO2EGQRG4VGWAHF4TJZIBNU/) - Hespress - [Turnix d’Andalousie: l’ANEF renforce son dispositif pour préserver une espèce menacée](https://fr.hespress.com/488874-turnix-dandalousie-lanef-renforce-son-dispositif-pour-preserver-une-espece-menacee.html) --- --- title: "Michelin Keys: Thirty-One Moroccan Hotels Distinguished, Two at the Highest Level" description: "The MICHELIN Guide unveiled its 2026 Key selection for the Middle East, Africa and India on September 18. Thirty-one Moroccan hotels appear on it, Kasbah Tamadot and La Mamounia at the highest level, out of one hundred and eighty-nine chosen across eleven destinations." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cles-michelin-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cles-michelin-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-18T22:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.487Z tags: ["Tourism", "Hospitality", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aadbed690f906f6e3b2002a_6aadbed4a44784dad0ee3a14_michelin-cles-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Michelin Keys: Thirty-One Moroccan Hotels Distinguished, Two at the Highest Level *The MICHELIN Guide unveiled its 2026 Key selection for the Middle East, Africa and India on September 18. Thirty-one Moroccan hotels appear on it, Kasbah Tamadot and La Mamounia at the highest level, out of one hundred and eighty-nine chosen across eleven destinations.* ![The olive walk in the grounds of La Mamounia in Marrakech, leading to the pavilion with its horseshoe arches.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aadbed690f906f6e3b2002a_6aadbed4a44784dad0ee3a14_michelin-cles-main.webp) Two Moroccan addresses now carry three keys, the highest distinction the MICHELIN Guide grants a hotel: Kasbah Tamadot, at Asni, and La Mamounia, in Marrakech. ![A courtyard planted with palms and low hedges, surrounded by white facades with arched windows and arcades.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e8e138cc6a1b0164103_6ae55db51b68b88e882422eb_cles-michelin-2026.webp) *The courtyard of Riad Mayfez in Fez, awarded a MICHELIN Key. Photo: Riad Mayfez.* The guide unveiled its 2026 Key selection for the Middle East, Africa and India from Dubai on September 18: 189 hotels chosen across eleven destinations, 31 of them in Morocco. Six Moroccan houses earn two keys, three Royal Mansour hotels among them, and 23 earn one. Marrakech gathers 16 on its own, Fes four, Essaouira three and Rabat two. The Keys are not stars: they judge the stay, not the table. The bulk of the Moroccan contingent is not made of glass towers but of riads and medina houses given back to hospitality, where the built heritage is the product itself. *Photo: muffinn from Worcester, UK, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Guide MICHELIN - [MICHELIN Guide Reveals 2026 MICHELIN Key Selection Across the Middle East, Africa and India](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/18/3364753/0/en/michelin-guide-reveals-2026-michelin-key-selection-across-the-middle-east-africa-and-india.html) - Guide MICHELIN - [Boutique and luxury hotels, Morocco — sélection Clés MICHELIN 2026](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/morocco) --- --- title: "Legal Time: Morocco Leaves GMT+1 for Good on Saturday Night" description: "At two in the morning on Sunday September 20, Morocco’s clocks will go back 60 minutes. Decree no. 2.26.530, published in the Bulletin officiel of June 29, repeals the permanent GMT+1 regime installed in 2018 and restores Greenwich Mean Time nationwide." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/heure-gmt-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/heure-gmt-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-18T17:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:49.869Z tags: ["Society", "Economy", "Diaspora"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad69fdfb5f53daf2eb875a_6aad69fb43179b59e8274285_heure-gmt-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Legal Time: Morocco Leaves GMT+1 for Good on Saturday Night *At two in the morning on Sunday September 20, Morocco’s clocks will go back 60 minutes. Decree no. 2.26.530, published in the Bulletin officiel of June 29, repeals the permanent GMT+1 regime installed in 2018 and restores Greenwich Mean Time nationwide.* ![The sun sets over the Atlantic at Mirleft, the road below and the village on the cliff.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad69fdfb5f53daf2eb875a_6aad69fb43179b59e8274285_heure-gmt-main.webp) Two in the morning, Sunday, September 20: at that precise moment the kingdom’s clocks will go back 60 minutes and it will be one o’clock again. Morocco will abandon the GMT+1 zone it adopted permanently in 2018 and return to Greenwich Mean Time. ![A clock tower with clock faces stands against a cloudy sky above the city rooftops.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ed81e9e2ef6d3823ccf_6ae55dd0a31725713a470d36_heure-gmt-2026.webp) *The clock tower of Casablanca’s old medina. Photo: elmadani, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The decision itself is not this week’s: decree no. 2.26.530, published in the Bulletin officiel no. 7521 of June 29, runs to three articles. It sets the moment and repeals decree no. 2.18.855 of October 26, 2018, which had installed permanent summer time. Eight years, then, will have been enough to undo what a study had recommended. The ministry in charge of administrative reform still sets out on its website the reasons for GMT+1: an extra hour of daylight, lower fossil-fuel consumption and a narrower time difference with the country’s main trading partners. The same text recalled the exception that had become a habit, the return to GMT during Ramadan. It is the exception that now becomes the rule. The gap with continental Europe will widen by an hour, and the kingdom, which returned to GMT each Ramadan before switching back, will have no clocks left to change. *Photo: fabien barbier, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7521 du 29 juin 2026 — décret n° 2.26.530 relatif à l’heure légale](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7521_Ar.pdf) - Ministère de la Transition numérique et de la Réforme de l’administration - [Horaires de travail et jours fériés — l’heure légale au Maroc](https://www.mmsp.gov.ma/fr/nos-metiers/horaires-de-travail-et-jours-f%C3%A9ri%C3%A9s) --- --- title: "Ouled Saleh: A 500-Million-Dirham Company for 70 Hectares of Logistics Platform" description: "A decree of September 4, published in the Bulletin officiel of the 10th, authorizes the AMDL and the Casablanca-Settat region to create a company capitalized at 500 million dirhams to develop 70 hectares of logistics and industrial platform at Ouled Saleh, south of Casablanca." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ouled-saleh-logistique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ouled-saleh-logistique type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-18T17:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.373Z tags: ["Logistics", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad6a0073ad92bd80fa57ce_6aad69fc45eaf77bcc0d9ea4_ouled-saleh-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Ouled Saleh: A 500-Million-Dirham Company for 70 Hectares of Logistics Platform *A decree of September 4, published in the Bulletin officiel of the 10th, authorizes the AMDL and the Casablanca-Settat region to create a company capitalized at 500 million dirhams to develop 70 hectares of logistics and industrial platform at Ouled Saleh, south of Casablanca.* ![The A3 motorway toward Casablanca at the Bouskoura Nord interchange, a tanker truck and the direction signs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad6a0073ad92bd80fa57ce_6aad69fc45eaf77bcc0d9ea4_ouled-saleh-main.webp) Adecree published in the Bulletin officiel of September 10 authorizes the Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development to found, together with the Casablanca-Settat region, a joint-stock company to lay out an integrated logistics and industrial platform. ![AI-generated concept image: semi-trailer trucks at the loading docks of a large logistics warehouse, on a wide paved yard.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61414de480245132daaa7_6ae60a1fa3eb9f6217a02060_ouled-saleh-logistique-inline.webp) *Trucks at the loading docks of a logistics warehouse. AI-generated concept image.* The site covers about 70 hectares in the commune of Ouled Saleh, south of Casablanca. Share capital is set at 500 million dirhams, the agency subscribing 80% and the region 20%, for a total investment put at about 550 million. Nothing here is improvised. A partnership agreement signed in July 2024 already gathered nine parties, from the ministries to the country’s employers’ confederation, and the regional council approved its stake in the capital in October 2025. The statement of reasons puts figures on the expectation without lyricism: about 800 million dirhams of cumulative revenue between 2025 and 2049, for an internal rate of return of 7.2%. Profitability is not what anyone comes here for. The decree aims at sharper logistics competitiveness, investment drawn in, jobs created, and a regional demand for logistics zones finally met. *Photo: Mohamedmehdi1994, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7542 du 10 septembre 2026 — décret n° 2.26.167 autorisant la création de la Société marocaine des installations logistiques de la région de Casablanca-Settat](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7542_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Sovereign Rating: Fitch Holds Morocco at BB+ and Expects a 4% Deficit" description: "Fitch Ratings affirmed Morocco’s sovereign rating at BB+ with a stable outlook on September 17. The agency expects a budget deficit of 4% of GDP in 2026 against 3.5% in 2025, public debt steady at about 67% of GDP in 2028, and growth easing to 4%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fitch-bb-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fitch-bb-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-18T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.140Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e648def6e61aa1392d1_6ae53c6ec76b986c1f7bb941_fitch-bb-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sovereign Rating: Fitch Holds Morocco at BB+ and Expects a 4% Deficit *Fitch Ratings affirmed Morocco’s sovereign rating at BB+ with a stable outlook on September 17. The agency expects a budget deficit of 4% of GDP in 2026 against 3.5% in 2025, public debt steady at about 67% of GDP in 2028, and growth easing to 4%.* ![A worker in blue overalls and gloves handles red butane gas cylinders on the line of a filling plant.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e648def6e61aa1392d1_6ae53c6ec76b986c1f7bb941_fitch-bb-2026-main.webp) Fitch Ratings affirmed on September 17 Morocco’s long-term issuer default rating at BB+, with a stable outlook. ![A vast stretch of graded red earth under a stormy sky, with a few construction machines, including a yellow excavator, on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c89fd5e23d293d2eb99_6ae60665bbbd9f296de1d4e6_fitch-bb-2026-inline.webp) *Earthworks for the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, in an image released by SGTM in March 2025. Photo: SGTM, via Le360.* It credits the kingdom with sound macroeconomic policies, external liquidity buffers it judges adequate, and the support of its official creditors. Against that it sets high public debt and an economy still sensitive to the weather. The central government deficit would widen to 4% of GDP this year, against 3.5% in 2025, as the subsidy bill grew heavier with butane gas, continued support for road hauliers and transfers to the national electricity and water utility. Fitch brings the deficit back to an average of 3.4% of GDP in 2027-2028 as energy prices normalize, and sees public debt settling at about 67% of GDP in 2028. Growth would slow to 4% this year after 4.9% in 2025. On-budget capital spending will hold at 7.5% of GDP as the 2030 World Cup approaches, and most of the large projects will be carried by state-owned companies, public-private partnerships and other vehicles outside the budget. Should costs overrun or state support have to be raised, the agency warns, those commitments will find their way back onto the sovereign balance sheet. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Infomediaire - [Fitch maintient la note souveraine du Maroc à BB+, avec perspective stable](https://www.infomediaire.net/fitch-maintient-la-note-souveraine-du-maroc-a-bb-avec-perspective-stable/) - Boursenews - [Fitch maintient la note du Maroc à « BB+ », avec une perspective stable](https://boursenews.ma/article/marches/fitch-maintient-note-maroc-bb-plus-perspective-stable) - La Vie éco - [Rating : Fitch maintient la note « BB+ » du Maroc avec perspective stable](https://www.lavieeco.com/au-royaume/rating-fitch-maintient-la-note-bb-du-maroc-avec-perspective-stable/) - AGBI - [Morocco faces risk from any World Cup cost overruns](https://www.agbi.com/economy/2026/09/morocco-faces-risk-from-world-cup-cost-overruns/) --- --- title: "Oulmes: Revenue Climbs to 1,620 Million Dirhams as Consolidation Entries Cut Profit" description: "The board of Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes approved a half-year running at two speeds: parent-company revenue of 1,620.2 million dirhams, up 8.8%, but net profit attributable to the group cut to 20.5 million, down 35.7% on consolidation restatements." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oulmes-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oulmes-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-18T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.105Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad15b15d8b0e90a918ac8e_6aad15ad7b8b64ac4df0d551_oulmes-plateau-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Oulmes: Revenue Climbs to 1,620 Million Dirhams as Consolidation Entries Cut Profit *The board of Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes approved a half-year running at two speeds: parent-company revenue of 1,620.2 million dirhams, up 8.8%, but net profit attributable to the group cut to 20.5 million, down 35.7% on consolidation restatements.* ![The Oulmes plateau in Khemisset province, its two reservoirs and the wooded hills on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad15b15d8b0e90a918ac8e_6aad15ad7b8b64ac4df0d551_oulmes-plateau-main.webp) The board of directors of Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes met on September 15 to approve the accounts at June 30. The bottler from Tarmilate reports consolidated revenue of 1,653.9 million dirhams, up 8.7%. ![Sidi Ali bottles move along a conveyor above rows of empty capped bottles, in black and white.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c5da15abb334ec58cde_6ae60659c8210b6b1fc342f0_oulmes-s1-2026-inline.webp) *Sidi Ali bottles on a bottling line at Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes. Photo: Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes.* The company credits that growth to its innovation effort, to the reorganization of its distribution network and to industrial efficiency gains. Parent-company net profit comes to 36.1 million dirhams, up 8.9%. It is on a consolidated basis that the machinery reverses. Group operating profit falls 8.2%, to 97.3 million dirhams, and net profit attributable to the group drops to 20.5 million against 31.8 a year earlier, or 35.7% less. The company attributes the decline to consolidation restatements rather than to trading. The half would therefore be one of divergence, between business up by nearly 9% and attributable profit down by more than a third. Listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange since 1943, the Holmarcom group company promises to keep pressing on innovation and on its distribution network. *Photo: Delpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmès - [Communiqué financier — Résultats au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CP_Oulmes_S1_26_0.pdf) - AMMC - [Communiqués de presse des émetteurs](https://www.ammc.ma/fr/communiques-presse-emetteurs) --- --- title: "Water Security: The OPEC Fund Commits $150 Million to a New Moroccan Dam" description: "The Governing Board of the OPEC Fund for International Development approved US$150 million for a major new dam in Morocco, the largest allocation granted to any single country in the session, out of a total of US$645 million committed across fourteen partner countries." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fonds-opep-barrage language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fonds-opep-barrage type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-18T11:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:37.042Z tags: ["Climate", "Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad15b66a74b437ffc8b159_6aad15ae0a38acb647cc92d5_barrage-massira-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Water Security: The OPEC Fund Commits $150 Million to a New Moroccan Dam *The Governing Board of the OPEC Fund for International Development approved US$150 million for a major new dam in Morocco, the largest allocation granted to any single country in the session, out of a total of US$645 million committed across fourteen partner countries.* ![The reservoir of the Al Massira dam, the pale drawdown line along the far shore.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aad15b66a74b437ffc8b159_6aad15ae0a38acb647cc92d5_barrage-massira-main.webp) The Governing Board of the OPEC Fund for International Development, meeting on September 16 in Vienna, approved US$150 million toward the financing of a major new dam in Morocco. ![A man in a blue suit and red tie leans over to sign a guest book on a green-covered table.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e909716384d93e0a946_6ae55db6dad7e607dc883d35_fonds-opep-barrage.webp) *OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa in July 2025. Photo: The President’s Office, Maldives, CC BY 4.0.* The institution describes a structure meant to strengthen the country’s water security and climate resilience, by reducing flood risk and supporting sustainable agriculture. It is the largest sum granted to any single country in the session, out of US$645 million committed since the previous meeting across fourteen partner countries. Created in 1976 by the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to finance development beyond their own borders, the Fund has become in Morocco a lender for water as much as for roads. The release names neither the structure nor its capacity, and the kingdom has yet to publish the corresponding agreement on its own account. This dam will be built under the regime of repeated droughts that emptied the reservoirs. *Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - OPEC Fund for International Development - [OPEC Fund approves US$645 million for water security, resilient transport and economic growth](https://opecfund.org/news-events/press-releases/2026/opec-fund-approves-us-645-million-for-water-security-resilient-transport-and-economic-growth) - AGBI - [Opec Fund allocates $200m for Oman and Morocco projects](https://www.agbi.com/energy/2026/09/opec-fund-allocates-200m-for-oman-and-morocco-projects/) --- --- title: "CFG Bank: The Loan Book Reaches 20.6 Billion Dirhams in the First Half" description: "The board of directors of CFG Bank approved half-year accounts carried by commercial banking: 20,587 million dirhams of loans, up 20%, 22,062 million of deposits, and net profit attributable to the group of 200 million, held back by the end of the carried-forward losses." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cfg-bank-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cfg-bank-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-17T23:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.540Z tags: ["Finance", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b300f8b73a049615164_6ae609fafa7b52c0225d12c4_cfg-bank-s1-2026-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # CFG Bank: The Loan Book Reaches 20.6 Billion Dirhams in the First Half *The board of directors of CFG Bank approved half-year accounts carried by commercial banking: 20,587 million dirhams of loans, up 20%, 22,062 million of deposits, and net profit attributable to the group of 200 million, held back by the end of the carried-forward losses.* ![CFG Bank executives and Casablanca Stock Exchange chairman Kamal Mokdad around the bell at the bank’s first listing, December 18, 2023.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b300f8b73a049615164_6ae609fafa7b52c0225d12c4_cfg-bank-s1-2026-hero-main.webp) The board of directors of CFG Bank approved the accounts at June 30 on September 16, which show a loan book of 20,587 million dirhams, up 20% over twelve months, carried for the most part by the corporate segment. ![Seven CFG Bank executives seated at a panel table beneath a screen announcing the bank’s stock market listing.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b300f8b73a04961516b_6ae6060a5ffcb4a37421bb3a_cfg-bank-s1-2026-inline.webp) *CFG Bank’s management, including chairman Adil Douiri and chief executive Younes Benjelloun, at the Casablanca Stock Exchange, November 2023. Photo: CFG Bank.* Customer deposits reach 22,062 million, up 17%. Recurring net banking income stands at 549 million dirhams, up 18%. Consolidated net banking income rises only 6%, to 634 million, because the less predictable businesses (brokerage, bond and equity trading, corporate finance) fall 36% after an exceptional first half of 2025. Net profit attributable to the group stops at 200 million dirhams, up only 10%. The bank has finished consuming its carried-forward losses, and its effective corporate tax rate moves from 30% to 37%. The bank confirms its outlook all the same, a rise of about 15% in net profit attributable to the group this year. CFG Bank will have built its half on corporate lending far more than on the markets. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - CFG Bank - [Communication financière — Résultats au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/CFG_Bank_S1_26.pdf) - AMMC - [Publications réalisées par les émetteurs en date du 17 septembre 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/fr/actualites/lammc-met-sur-son-site-internet-les-publications-realisees-par-les-emetteurs-en-1034) --- --- title: "TAQA Morocco Lifts Investment to 515 Million Dirhams and Targets 8.6 Gigawatts by 2030" description: "The management board of TAQA Morocco approved a half-year of maintenance: revenue down to 5,088 million dirhams, net profit attributable to the group up 5.8% to 462 million, investment lifted to 515 million, and a portfolio projected at 8.6 gigawatts by 2030." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/taqa-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/taqa-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-17T23:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.781Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "El Jadida"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aac6d0843dd0fc13b841416_6aac6d05d952d88e1ac211e3_taqa-jorf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # TAQA Morocco Lifts Investment to 515 Million Dirhams and Targets 8.6 Gigawatts by 2030 *The management board of TAQA Morocco approved a half-year of maintenance: revenue down to 5,088 million dirhams, net profit attributable to the group up 5.8% to 462 million, investment lifted to 515 million, and a portfolio projected at 8.6 gigawatts by 2030.* ![The port and industrial site of Jorf Lasfar, its silos, conveyor galleries and gantry cranes along the quay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aac6d0843dd0fc13b841416_6aac6d05d952d88e1ac211e3_taqa-jorf-main.webp) The management board of TAQA Morocco approved the accounts at June 30 on September 8. The operator of the thermal units at Jorf Lasfar reports consolidated revenue of 5,088 million dirhams against 5,379 a year earlier, and net profit attributable to the group of 462 million, up 5.8%. ![Three red-and-white striped chimneys rise above a power station, behind a breakwater and the sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55edae37fa824d36ee5ee_6ae55dd19716384d93e08189_taqa-s1-2026.webp) *The Jorf Lasfar thermal power station. Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The half would turn out to be one of maintenance: a minor overhaul on Unit 3 and scheduled inspections on the others brought the availability rate of Units 1 to 6 down from 91.7% to 86.6%. Investment reaches 515 million dirhams, against 210 a year earlier, and consolidated net debt is down 10.1%. Behind those figures the group is changing shape. The reorganization approved on July 17 moves it toward a holding company steering four businesses: desalination, renewable energy, natural gas, and low-carbon water and energy transport infrastructure. By 2030 that portfolio represents a projected capacity of 8.6 gigawatts. Long identified with the single plant at Jorf Lasfar, the company will have turned itself, if that calendar holds, into an operator of water as much as of electricity. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - TAQA Morocco - [Communiqué de presse — Résultats au 30 juin 2026](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Taqa_Morocco_S1_26.pdf) - AMMC - [Communiqués de presse des émetteurs](https://www.ammc.ma/fr/communiques-presse-emetteurs) --- --- title: "Casablanca Stock Exchange: A Technical Incident Cancels the Thursday Session" description: "The Casablanca Stock Exchange canceled its session of Thursday September 17 after a technical incident that switching to the backup site could not resolve. Every transaction recorded since the opening is void, and trading will resume on the order books closed on September 16." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bourse-seance-annulee language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bourse-seance-annulee type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-17T17:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.573Z tags: ["Finance", "Casablanca", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aac194e2531d25412c6783c_6aac194bb1903d72e53f1947_bourse-cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Stock Exchange: A Technical Incident Cancels the Thursday Session *The Casablanca Stock Exchange canceled its session of Thursday September 17 after a technical incident that switching to the backup site could not resolve. Every transaction recorded since the opening is void, and trading will resume on the order books closed on September 16.* ![The towers of Casablanca Finance City, the faceted tower rising over the district under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aac194e2531d25412c6783c_6aac194bb1903d72e53f1947_bourse-cfc-main.webp) The trading session of Thursday would never take place. The Casablanca Stock Exchange first announced its suspension, because of a technical incident that had occurred that same morning, then its definitive halt. ![A rounded blue-glass building with an illuminated stock ticker above the entrance, on a palm-lined corner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e95e37fa824d36eb8dc_6ae55db73b9a03db7f2f1b00_bourse-seance-annulee.webp) *The Casablanca Stock Exchange headquarters and its stock ticker. Photo: TelQuel.* Switching to the backup site did not resolve the incident, although, according to the communique, “all the teams of the Casablanca Stock Exchange are mobilized in order to identify the origin of the incident and to implement the appropriate measures to restore the normal functioning of the session as quickly as possible.” Every event recorded since the opening is canceled, transactions as well as order entries. Trading will resume on the order books closed at the end of September 16. No communique yet says where the fault came from. The Casablanca exchange will have to explain how a whole session could be erased without the backup site catching it. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Bourse de Casablanca - [Suspension de la séance de Cotation](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/apropos/communiques-officiels/43128-suspension-de-la-seance-de-cotation) - Bourse de Casablanca - [Communiqué de presse du 17 septembre 2026](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/sites/default/files/communiques-officiels/2026/09/cp-boursedecasa-du-170926.pdf) --- --- title: "Hospitality: Risma Halves Its Net Debt in the First Half" description: "Risma’s management board approved improved half-year accounts: revenue of 863 million dirhams, a 22% rise in net profit excluding exceptional items, and net debt cut by nearly half after the sale of the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/risma-s1-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/risma-s1-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-17T17:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.560Z tags: ["Tourism", "Finance", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b4f42f73d1f6831978f_6ae60a0b8f75918994037f05_risma-s1-2026-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Hospitality: Risma Halves Its Net Debt in the First Half *Risma’s management board approved improved half-year accounts: revenue of 863 million dirhams, a 22% rise in net profit excluding exceptional items, and net debt cut by nearly half after the sale of the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche.* ![The white tower of the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche between a Novotel hotel and other buildings in downtown Casablanca, under an evening sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b4f42f73d1f6831978f_6ae60a0b8f75918994037f05_risma-s1-2026-hero-main.webp) The management board of Risma approved half-year accounts on September 16 marked by net debt cut nearly in half, from 1,968 million dirhams at the end of 2025 to 1,029 million at June 30. ![Amine Echcherki, in a dark suit, speaks into a microphone and gestures, seated at a table with a Risma nameplate.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5042f73d1f683197c4_6ae60a09bbbd9f296de2c89e_risma-s1-2026-inline.webp) *Amine Echcherki, chairman of Risma’s management board. Photo: TelQuel.* Morocco’s largest hotel group posts revenue of 863 million dirhams, up 15% at comparable scope, and an occupancy rate of 64%, five points above the first half of 2025. Excluding exceptional items, net profit attributable to the group stands at 144 million dirhams against 118, even as corporate income tax applies at the full rate this year. The sale of the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche, effective on May 7, ended that asset’s losses. Together with the 500 million capital increase, it brings financial leverage down from 52% to 29%. The new franchise model, in force since April 1, weighed on only three months of the half. The group operates 23 hotels and is aiming at 28 under its CAP 2030 plan. *Photo: Financial Afrik.* ## References - Risma - [Communication financière sur les résultats au 30 juin 2026](https://risma.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RISMA-CP-S1-2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Financing: African Development Bank Signs 405 Million Euros in Rabat for Rail and Skills" description: "Morocco and the African Development Bank have signed two agreements in Rabat worth 405 million euros: 205 million to extend the high-speed line and upgrade the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor, and 200 million for the Cap Competences 2030 training and employment program." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bad-rail-competences language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bad-rail-competences type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-17T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.884Z tags: ["Finance", "Logistics", "Education"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aabc6aeefb654b702903fb3_6aabc6ab825b29c12434b6d7_rail-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Financing: African Development Bank Signs 405 Million Euros in Rabat for Rail and Skills *Morocco and the African Development Bank have signed two agreements in Rabat worth 405 million euros: 205 million to extend the high-speed line and upgrade the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor, and 200 million for the Cap Competences 2030 training and employment program.* ![An ONCF Al Boraq trainset running under the catenary in the Moroccan countryside.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aabc6aeefb654b702903fb3_6aabc6ab825b29c12434b6d7_rail-main.webp) Morocco and the African Development Bank signed two financing agreements in Rabat on Thursday, for 405 million euros. ![Six men in suits pose around a meeting table, two of them holding red signing folders, next to the flags of Morocco and the AfDB.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55edca60e243c2aff5ed2_6ae55dd1dad7e607dc8851f7_bad-rail-competences.webp) *The signing of the two financing agreements between Morocco and the African Development Bank in Rabat. Photo: EcoActu.* The first, of 205 million, targets the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor, where it is to finance the extension of the high-speed line, the upgrading of the conventional track and the equipment of the Casablanca rail hub. The second, Cap Competences 2030, mobilizes 200 million euros under results-based financing. The Bank expects from it a better passage out of training and into the labor market, for young people and women in particular. Both programs answer timetables the kingdom has set itself: the rail plan to 2040 for one, the national employment roadmap for 2025-2030 for the other. Since 1978, the institution has mobilized nearly 15 billion euros in Morocco, across more than one hundred and fifty projects and programs. *Photo: hakzelf, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Banque africaine de développement - [Morocco: African Development Bank Mobilises €205 Million to Extend High-Speed Rail Line and Strengthen the Kingdom’s Mobility and Logistics Competitiveness](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/morocco-african-development-bank-mobilises-eu205-million-extend-high-speed-rail-line-and-strengthen-kingdoms-mobility-and-logistics-competitiveness-95328) - Banque africaine de développement - [Morocco: African Development Bank commits €200 Million to boost employability and develop future skills](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/morocco-african-development-bank-commits-eu200-million-boost-employability-and-develop-future-skills-93473) --- --- title: "Telesurgery: The Link to Padua Drops and the Casablanca Operating Room Takes Over" description: "In Padua on September 9, the link that let Dr. Youness Ahallal steer a prostatectomy from a distance in a Casablanca operating room dropped, and the surgeon who had stayed there carried on with the procedure. The ERUS congress broadcast eight remote operations in three days." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/telechirurgie-casablanca language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/telechirurgie-casablanca type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-17T11:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:46.980Z tags: ["Health", "Technology", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aabc6b0919f17b9099f4c3d_6aabc6acc8d3bbd27f4e6afe_tele-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Telesurgery: The Link to Padua Drops and the Casablanca Operating Room Takes Over *In Padua on September 9, the link that let Dr. Youness Ahallal steer a prostatectomy from a distance in a Casablanca operating room dropped, and the surgeon who had stayed there carried on with the procedure. The ERUS congress broadcast eight remote operations in three days.* ![The wooden tiers of the anatomical theater of the University of Padua, seen from the floor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aabc6b0919f17b9099f4c3d_6aabc6acc8d3bbd27f4e6afe_tele-main.webp) The live surgery session of half past two was meant to show, on Wednesday, September 9 in Padua, how smoothly control of a robot passes from the remote console to the local one and back. It showed something else. ![A large darkened hall, moderators on stage below a wall of screens showing several surgical procedures, the audience seen from behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb73b9a03db7f2f88fb_6ae55dc4b174645b2a1b150f_telechirurgie-casablanca.webp) *Operations broadcast live to the audience of the ERUS26 congress in Padua. Photo: European Association of Urology.* Dr. Youness Ahallal, who was steering from the Italian congress a prostatectomy being performed in an operating room in Casablanca, could not reconnect as quickly as he had hoped. Dr. Hamza El Neil, who had stayed beside the patient, carried a larger part of the procedure than planned. With the link restored after a few minutes, control returned to Padua and the operation was completed. The congress of the European Association of Urology’s Robotic Urology Section had made these links its central demonstration. Of about fifty operations broadcast live, eight were conducted at a distance, with patients in Casablanca, Warsaw, London and Tashkent among other cities. The Moroccan incident recalled that operating from afar does not remove the team in the room, but gives it the last word. It is on that team, more than on the fiber, that the promise would rest. *Photo: PescediBabele, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - European Association of Urology - [Day 1 Report: Palpable tension during live (tele)surgery session](https://erus.uroweb.org/day-1-report-palpable-tension-during-live-telesurgery-session/) - European Association of Urology - [ERUS26: A glimpse at a new reality in telesurgery](https://uroweb.org/news/erus26-a-glimpse-at-a-new-reality-in-telesurgery) --- --- title: "Operation Marhaba: 4,137,594 Moroccans Abroad Welcomed, Up 1.8%" description: "The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity has closed Operation Marhaba on 4,137,594 Moroccans living abroad welcomed, up 1.8%. One thousand one hundred and thirty-four social workers and two hundred and thirty-six doctors staffed twenty-six reception spaces, in Morocco and in six European ports." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marhaba-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marhaba-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-16T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.197Z tags: ["Diaspora", "Society", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aab1b355d4f015d08b59904_6aab1b32e0c7dee4fc290ed0_marhaba-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Operation Marhaba: 4,137,594 Moroccans Abroad Welcomed, Up 1.8% *The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity has closed Operation Marhaba on 4,137,594 Moroccans living abroad welcomed, up 1.8%. One thousand one hundred and thirty-four social workers and two hundred and thirty-six doctors staffed twenty-six reception spaces, in Morocco and in six European ports.* ![The entrance to the maritime station of Tanger Ville port, its Arrival and Departure signs in Arabic, French, English and Spanish.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aab1b355d4f015d08b59904_6aab1b32e0c7dee4fc290ed0_marhaba-main.webp) Operation Marhaba closed its arrangements on September 15, after more than three months of mobilization. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, which supervises it, puts at 4,137,594 the number of Moroccans living abroad welcomed this year, 1.8% more than at the previous edition. ![Workers in medical team vests and a uniformed officer wave at a van leaving a ferry quay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eb91596dcfd31ddacb2_6ae55dc565ce97890af0edfe_marhaba-2026.webp) *A medical team and a Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity worker greet travelers on a quay beside a ferry. Photo: Le Matin.* The busiest days would approach 80,000 arrivals and pass 87,000 departures, with no notable congestion at the crossing points. The operation mobilized 1,134 social workers and 236 doctors, paramedics and temporary staff, along with twenty-six reception spaces open day and night, six of them in European ports. Assistance would reach 66,993 people, 14,089 of them on administrative, customs or legal steps and 8,495 on care, first aid or hospitalization. The summer passage of Moroccans of the world has turned, in a quarter of a century, into a seasonal administration in its own right. *Photo: Jobt1962, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Fondation Mohammed V pour la solidarité - [Opération Marhaba — Fondation Mohammed V pour la Solidarité](https://www.fm5.ma/fr/operations/operation-marhaba) --- --- title: "El Jadida Horse Show: The Show Jumping Class Moves Up to Five Stars" description: "The seventeenth El Jadida Horse Show runs from October 13 to 18. Its show jumping class, a leg of the Morocco Royal Tour, moves from CSI4*W to CSI5*W and adds a CSI2*, while three competitions stay given over to the Barb and the Arabian." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/salon-cheval-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/salon-cheval-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-16T22:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.621Z tags: ["Traditions", "El Jadida", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aab1b365d4f015d08b5996a_6aab1b33ab490f4c08fd0e6e_salon-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # El Jadida Horse Show: The Show Jumping Class Moves Up to Five Stars *The seventeenth El Jadida Horse Show runs from October 13 to 18. Its show jumping class, a leg of the Morocco Royal Tour, moves from CSI4*W to CSI5*W and adds a CSI2*, while three competitions stay given over to the Barb and the Arabian.* ![A rider and horse clearing a fence in the arena of the El Jadida Horse Show.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aab1b365d4f015d08b5996a_6aab1b33ab490f4c08fd0e6e_salon-main.webp) The El Jadida Horse Show will hold its seventeenth edition from October 13 to 18 at the Mohammed VI exhibition park, and it will move up a rung there. ![In black and white, a line of riders in traditional dress gallops their horses through a cloud of gunpowder smoke in front of a grandstand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e988b2b668bc9c2663d_6ae55db85e3930a0156363cc_salon-cheval-2026.webp) *A tbourida charge at the El Jadida Horse Show. Photo: TelQuel.* The show jumping class it hosts, the third leg of the Morocco Royal Tour and a World Cup qualifier, moves from the CSI4*W grade to CSI5*W, the highest on the circuit. Tetouan and Rabat likewise turn their CSI1* classes into CSI2* events. The rest of the program is what brings the breeders. Three competitions are given over to Barb, Arabian and Arab-Barb horses. On the tbourida esplanade, sorbas from every region give their daily displays. Born in 2008, the show would take seventeen editions to make the Moroccan horse something other than a memory of fantasia. The industry is now judged on poles and on pedigrees. *Photo: mustapha ennaimi, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida - [Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida — Nos événements, 17ème édition](https://www.salonducheval.ma/evenements) - Morocco Royal Tour - [Morocco Royal Tour 2026: Following El Jadida’s upgrade to CSI5*W and CSI2*, Rabat and Tetouan also move up from 1* to 2*](https://mrt.ma/en/2026/05/20/morocco-royal-tour-2026-following-el-jadidas-upgrade-to-csi5w-and-csi2-rabat-and-tetouan-also-move-up-from-1-to-2/) --- --- title: "Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Cuts 3,501 Grams of Silver per Tonne Over 3.5 Meters" description: "Aya Gold & Silver has released results from ninety-seven drill holes at its Zgounder silver mine in the Anti-Atlas. The best intercept grades 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters, including 7,717 grams over 1.5 meters. Drilling west of the fault starts in the fourth quarter." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aya-zgounder language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aya-zgounder type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-16T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:49.876Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaac8ce3f3883d182ffcb1b_6aaac8cd4e6b6b009a6d9f70_zgounder-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Zgounder: Aya Gold & Silver Cuts 3,501 Grams of Silver per Tonne Over 3.5 Meters *Aya Gold & Silver has released results from ninety-seven drill holes at its Zgounder silver mine in the Anti-Atlas. The best intercept grades 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters, including 7,717 grams over 1.5 meters. Drilling west of the fault starts in the fourth quarter.* ![The Zgounder mine site in the Anti-Atlas: the red flanks of the mountain, the haul road and the benches cut into the rock.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaac8ce3f3883d182ffcb1b_6aaac8cd4e6b6b009a6d9f70_zgounder-main.webp) The Zgounder mine has not finished yielding its grades. The Canadian company Aya Gold & Silver released on Wednesday the results of its at-depth drilling program on this Anti-Atlas silver deposit, the only one in the kingdom worked for that metal alone. ![Portrait of a bald man with glasses and a beard, in a dark jacket, against a black background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55edec94d95b14bc55953_6ae55dd2a31725713a470e05_aya-zgounder.webp) *Benoit La Salle, president and chief executive of Aya Gold & Silver. Photo: Stansberry Conferences.* In the central zone, the best intercept grades 3,501 grams of silver per tonne over 3.5 meters, including 7,717 grams over 1.5 meters, and a second 4,770 grams over 2.4 meters. The release covers 97 holes. These figures, in the words of President and CEO Benoit La Salle, “continue to reinforce the strength and continuity of silver mineralization both around the open pit and across the central zone.” He adds that development of the exploration drift at the 1,825-metre level is progressing well, and that drilling west of the fault would open in the fourth quarter. That is where the rest of the story sits: Zgounder has been known for decades by what it shows at surface, and the company is now after what the fault hides from it. *Photo: RockyMountains24, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Aya Gold & Silver - [Aya Gold & Silver Reports High-Grade Silver Exploration Results Near Pit and at Depth at Zgounder](https://ayagoldsilver.com/news/news-releases/aya-gold--silver-reports-high-grade-silver-exploration-results-near-pit-and-at-depth-at-zgounder) --- --- title: "Coastal Fishing: Laayoune and Tan-Tan Lift Landings as Dakhla and Agadir Fall Back" description: "At the end of August, marketed landings from coastal and small-scale fishing reached 723,490 tonnes, up 6% by volume but only 1% by value. Laayoune, Tan-Tan and Tarfaya carried the rise, while the port of Dakhla fell back 62%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/peche-ports-aout language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/peche-ports-aout type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-16T16:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.822Z tags: ["Fisheries", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaac7efadbf3db471bc4364_6aaac7ed16db93b8253acfe8_peche-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Coastal Fishing: Laayoune and Tan-Tan Lift Landings as Dakhla and Agadir Fall Back *At the end of August, marketed landings from coastal and small-scale fishing reached 723,490 tonnes, up 6% by volume but only 1% by value. Laayoune, Tan-Tan and Tarfaya carried the rise, while the port of Dakhla fell back 62%.* ![Small-scale fishing boats moored in the port of Laayoune, the low town and its warehouses lined up behind the beach.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaac7efadbf3db471bc4364_6aaac7ed16db93b8253acfe8_peche-main.webp) The first eight months of 2026 would redraw the map of Moroccan fishing. According to the August report of the Office National des Peches, marketed products of coastal and small-scale fishing reach 723,490 tonnes, 6% more by volume, for 7.44 billion dirhams, 1% more by value. ![Three blue-and-white hulled trawlers moored side by side along a quay, with more boats behind them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e9c50c7c2062b101488_6ae55dba4bf7b29bab821d30_peche-ports-aout.webp) *Coastal fishing boats moored in a Moroccan port. Photo: Hespress.* The tonne therefore sells for less than in 2025, because the rise is almost entirely pelagic: small blue fish goes from 538,866 to 597,975 tonnes, while white fish falls 23% by weight. The geography of this season would change faster than its tonnages. Laayoune lands 186,046 tonnes, up 36%, and Tan-Tan and Tarfaya both rise 44%. The other way, the port of Dakhla drops to 24,730 tonnes, down 62%, while the separate line the Office keeps for stock C holds at 172,675 tonnes. Agadir loses 54% of its landings and Safi 25%. A fishing port lives on what is landed at its halls. A fleet that follows the fish south will leave behind it auction floors, wholesalers and plants that will not follow. *Photo: cingularite, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Office national des pêches - [Rapport statistique — août 2026](https://www.onp.ma/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RAPPORT-STATISTIQUE-AOUT-2026.pdf) --- --- title: "Compagnie Miniere de Touissit: the Market Authority Clears a Tender Offer at 2,217 Dirhams" description: "Morocco’s Capital Market Authority declared receivable on September 15 the mandatory tender offer covering 36.40% of the capital of the Compagnie Miniere de Touissit, at 2,217 dirhams a share. Trading in the stock, suspended since July 17, resumes on September 16." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cmt-opa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cmt-opa type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-16T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.048Z tags: ["Finance", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713f3dd10cca8a7bce87_6aaa71390366d575c05afcf9_cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Compagnie Miniere de Touissit: the Market Authority Clears a Tender Offer at 2,217 Dirhams *Morocco’s Capital Market Authority declared receivable on September 15 the mandatory tender offer covering 36.40% of the capital of the Compagnie Miniere de Touissit, at 2,217 dirhams a share. Trading in the stock, suspended since July 17, resumes on September 16.* ![The Casablanca Finance City tower and the building sites of the Anfa business district, beside the pool.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713f3dd10cca8a7bce87_6aaa71390366d575c05afcf9_cfc-main.webp) Suspended since July 17, the shares of the Compagnie Miniere de Touissit return this Wednesday to the Casablanca Stock Exchange: the Moroccan Capital Market Authority declared receivable, on September 15, the mandatory tender offer filed by Ayrad Group Limited and its partners. ![A road leads to a mine headframe and buildings among green hills planted with eucalyptus.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ebce37fa824d36ecea5_6ae55dc6b174645b2a1b15c5_cmt-opa.webp) *A Compagnie Miniere de Touissit mine site, its headframe among green hills. Photo: Compagnie Miniere de Touissit.* The shareholders’ pact binding Ayrad to the Caisse Interprofessionnelle Marocaine de Retraite, in force since July 13, took the concert past the 40% threshold of voting rights and made the offer mandatory. The offer covers 36.40% of the capital, at 2,217 dirhams a share. That price is the average of two methods weighted equally: 2,523 dirhams for the average price over the twelve months preceding March 26, 2026, and 1,910 dirhams for the transaction by which Ayrad indirectly took 37.04% of the capital. Atlantic RE, Axa Assurance Maroc, the Caisse de Depot et de Gestion and the Regime Collectif d’Allocation de Retraite have waived their right to tender their shares. The bidders say they intend to keep the company listed. The final timetable, which the Casablanca Stock Exchange will have to validate, will say in which weeks the minority shareholders must decide. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Autorité marocaine du marché des capitaux - [Décision de recevabilité du projet d’Offre Publique d’Achat obligatoire sur les actions CMT](https://www.ammc.ma/sites/default/files/Avis_Recevabilit%C3%A9_OPA_CMT_VFR.pdf) --- --- title: "Foreign Trade: Morocco’s Goods Deficit Widens to 352 Billion Dirhams" description: "The French Treasury puts Morocco’s 2025 goods trade deficit at 352 billion dirhams. The financial account, by contrast, turns around: inbound foreign direct investment doubles to 31 billion dirhams, with France alone accounting for 90% of the increase." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/commerce-exterieur-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/commerce-exterieur-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-16T10:55:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:49.852Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713de9b1373c110d5166_6aaa7138e2f8ccbb038c6f4a_aerial-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Foreign Trade: Morocco’s Goods Deficit Widens to 352 Billion Dirhams *The French Treasury puts Morocco’s 2025 goods trade deficit at 352 billion dirhams. The financial account, by contrast, turns around: inbound foreign direct investment doubles to 31 billion dirhams, with France alone accounting for 90% of the increase.* ![An aerial view of Tanger Med port and the strait, its container terminals lined up below the Rif hills.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713de9b1373c110d5166_6aaa7138e2f8ccbb038c6f4a_aerial-main.webp) Morocco sells more than it did and buys faster still. In a profile published on September 10, the French Treasury’s Directorate General puts the kingdom’s 2025 goods trade deficit at 352 billion dirhams, or 21% of gross domestic product and a deterioration of 15.5% year on year. ![Hundreds of cars parked in tight rows above a slope bearing the letters Renault Group, Usine de Tanger.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ee2c4ee1a2d8ec82fd3_6ae55dd3a4bf35eb516b1d04_commerce-exterieur-2025.webp) *New cars lined up in the lot of Renault Group’s Tangier plant. Photo: Hespress.* Imports rise 8% while exports advance only 3%. The automobile industry, the leading export item at 151 billion dirhams, falls 2% on a slowing European market, while phosphates and derivatives rise 15% on Indian demand. The imbalance in goods has not carried away the external accounts, however. Inbound foreign direct investment doubles, from 17 to 31 billion, and France alone accounts for 90% of that increase. Services, in surplus by 157.7 billion, hold up on a record 19.8 million tourist arrivals, and receipts from Moroccans living abroad reach 122 billion. The current account deficit widens from 1.2% to 2.5% of gross domestic product, and 2025 would have paid for its imports with capital more than with its sales. *Photo: Adam Cli, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Direction générale du Trésor - [Profil du commerce extérieur du Maroc](https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Pays/MA/profil-du-commerce-exterieur-du-maroc) --- --- title: "Industrial Output: Chemicals Pull the Manufacturing Index Down 4.5% in the Second Quarter" description: "Excluding oil refining, Moroccan manufacturing output fell 4.5% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, the High Commission for Planning reports. Chemicals dropped 29.5% and extractive industries 28.8%, while the manufacture of metal products gained 14.1% and the automobile industry 6%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ipi-t2-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ipi-t2-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-16T10:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.938Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713bb323aea8f6daca7a_6aaa713713013c01def9ebd4_jorf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Industrial Output: Chemicals Pull the Manufacturing Index Down 4.5% in the Second Quarter *Excluding oil refining, Moroccan manufacturing output fell 4.5% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, the High Commission for Planning reports. Chemicals dropped 29.5% and extractive industries 28.8%, while the manufacture of metal products gained 14.1% and the automobile industry 6%.* ![The industrial zone of Jorf Lasfar seen from the road, its white storage spheres and production units lined up behind the scrubland.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aaa713bb323aea8f6daca7a_6aaa713713013c01def9ebd4_jorf-main.webp) Published on September 15 by the High Commission for Planning, the index of industrial, energy and mining production for the second quarter of 2026 puts manufacturing output excluding oil refining down 4.5% year on year. ![Overview of a factory whose lots are covered with new cars, with the words Renault Group, Usine de Tanger on the hillside in front.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e9fe37fa824d36ebef3_6ae55dba4288ab0a4db73ac1_ipi-t2-2026.webp) *Renault’s Tangier plant and its vehicle lots. Photo: Renault Group.* Chemicals carry most of the fall, dropping 29.5%, ahead of the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (19.5%). Extractive industries, for their part, fall 28.8%. The picture is not uniformly dark. The manufacture of metal products gains 14.1%, metallurgy 11.6%, the automobile industry 6% and food industries 5.7%. Two industrial systems thus emerge within a single quarter: one of metals, cars and materials, which pulls, and one of chemicals, electronics and textiles, which weighs. The third-quarter index will say which of the two set the tone of the year. *Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [L’indice de la production industrielle, énergétique et minière (IPI), deuxième trimestre 2026](https://www.hcp.ma/L-indice-de-la-production-industrielle-energetique-et-miniere-IPI--deuxieme-trimestre-2026_a4347.html) --- --- title: "Fisheries: Sardine Landings Jump 66% by the End of August" description: "The State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries reports a 66% rise in sardine landings by the end of August 2026, to close to 394,200 tonnes for 1.22 billion dirhams. National fisheries output reaches 786,000 tonnes, up 6% in volume on the same period a year earlier." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sardines-aout language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sardines-aout type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-15T22:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:46.896Z tags: ["Fisheries", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa9c86f8123f2cdcb6091e6_6aa9c868d55269b36202963c_agadir-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fisheries: Sardine Landings Jump 66% by the End of August *The State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries reports a 66% rise in sardine landings by the end of August 2026, to close to 394,200 tonnes for 1.22 billion dirhams. National fisheries output reaches 786,000 tonnes, up 6% in volume on the same period a year earlier.* ![The fishing port of Agadir seen from the old kasbah, its blue seiners moored in front of the halls and the refrigerated trucks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa9c86f8123f2cdcb6091e6_6aa9c868d55269b36202963c_agadir-main.webp) Sardine landings rose 66% over the first eight months of the year, reaching close to 394,200 tonnes against 237,800 tonnes a year earlier, the State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries announced. Value followed the same slope, from 735.1 million to 1.22 billion dirhams. ![Four plastic crates of iced sardines on a quay, fishermen standing around and a trawler behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ebfa31725713a4752ec_6ae55dc71b68b88e882428b9_sardines-aout.webp) *Crates of sardines on ice on the quay of a fishing port. Photo: TelQuel.* Carried by small pelagics and the recovery of coastal fishing, national fisheries output stands at 786,000 tonnes at the end of August for 12.5 billion dirhams, up 6% in volume and 4% in value on the year. The department reads this as a favorable signal for supplying the domestic market and the processing plants. This has been a year of several biological rest periods, decided on the strength of the scientific monitoring of the National Institute for Fisheries Research. These tonnages are what the effort spent on the resource has finally returned. Small pelagics are at once the raw material of the kingdom’s canneries and the cheapest fish on the stall. *Photo: Daniel*D, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - La Vie éco - [Sardines: Les débarquements en hausse de 66% à fin août](https://www.lavieeco.com/affaires/secteurs/sardines-les-debarquements-en-hausse-de-66-a-fin-aout) --- --- title: "Morocco Ranks Among the Heaviest Weights in J.P. Morgan’s New Bond Index" description: "J.P. Morgan will launch before the end of September the GBI-EM Edge, a local-currency sovereign debt index covering twenty-six frontier markets and close to 330 billion dollars. Morocco sits among the heaviest weightings, though its final share has not yet been confirmed." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/gbi-em-edge language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/gbi-em-edge type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-15T22:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:42:29.728Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b33a754fc2eba27f79b_6ae6060a42f73d1f68303ace_gbi-em-edge-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco Ranks Among the Heaviest Weights in J.P. Morgan’s New Bond Index *J.P. Morgan will launch before the end of September the GBI-EM Edge, a local-currency sovereign debt index covering twenty-six frontier markets and close to 330 billion dollars. Morocco sits among the heaviest weightings, though its final share has not yet been confirmed.* ![The glass entrance of JPMorgan Chase’s headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York, with a pedestrian walking past.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b33a754fc2eba27f79b_6ae6060a42f73d1f68303ace_gbi-em-edge-main.webp) Twenty-six frontier markets will enter, before the end of the month, a bond index that J.P. Morgan is launching under the name GBI-EM Edge. The basket will track local-currency government debt worth close to 330 billion dollars. ![AI-generated concept image: printed tables of figures and a pen on a desk beside a calculator and a laptop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61a701ca9e55bb18ff0f9_6ae61a6bdea8f77cde1fecd5_gbi-em-edge-inline.webp) *Bond yield tables on a desk. AI-generated concept image.* Morocco sits among the most heavily weighted markets, alongside Egypt, Vietnam and Nigeria among others. The per-country ceiling is set at 8%, and the kingdom’s final share is not confirmed. Africa will account for almost 45% of the index, for an expected nominal yield around 10.4%. What is at stake is not the ranking but the machinery. A benchmark is what passive managers replicate, and a market’s entry into a tracked basket calls in buying from funds that would not otherwise have looked at it. The Moroccan Treasury, which borrows in dirhams, will thus see a door open toward the large international allocators. The weight the bank grants it, not the list, will say what the kingdom really counts for in the new standard. *Photo: Ajay Suresh, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Reuters - [JPMorgan to launch long-awaited ‘frontier’ local currency debt index](https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/jpmorgan-to-launch-long-awaited-frontier-local-currency-debt-index) - J.P. Morgan - [Index Research - composition documents](https://www.jpmorgan.com/markets/index-research/composition-docs) --- --- title: "Western High Atlas: Gold Surfaces North of the Old Ait Zekri Mine" description: "Morocco Strategic Minerals reports new gold, copper and silver grades on the Tamdghoust permit, north of the old Ait Zekri mine. Forty-eight surface grab samples extend the mineralized trend of the Western High Atlas by 2,800 meters, ahead of first drilling targeted before the end of 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tamdghoust-or language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tamdghoust-or type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-15T22:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:49.800Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa9c86aed45eeea30e39ac7_6aa9c866a408684ad9125f58_atlas-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Western High Atlas: Gold Surfaces North of the Old Ait Zekri Mine *Morocco Strategic Minerals reports new gold, copper and silver grades on the Tamdghoust permit, north of the old Ait Zekri mine. Forty-eight surface grab samples extend the mineralized trend of the Western High Atlas by 2,800 meters, ahead of first drilling targeted before the end of 2026.* ![The ridges of the Western High Atlas and the switchbacks of the R 203 road dropping from the Tizi n’Test toward the plain.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa9c86aed45eeea30e39ac7_6aa9c866a408684ad9125f58_atlas-main.webp) Forty-eight grab samples taken at surface have just extended by 2,800 meters the mineralized trend running north of the old Ait Zekri mine, in the Western High Atlas. Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, published the assays on September 15. ![A hand holds a fragment of white rock veined with gray, green and ocher.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ee41b68b88e8824b8e1_6ae55dd42951c969dc202c92_tamdghoust-or.webp) *A sample of mineralized quartz taken in the Tamdghoust area, north of the old Ait Zekri mine. Photo: Le Matin.* On the Tamdghoust exploration permit, gold-bearing quartz veins, locally carrying silver and copper, return gold grades that peak at 2.57 g/t. Fourteen of the forty-eight samples run above 0.20 g/t. Ait Zekri is not a discovery. Eighteen historical diamond drill holes have already cut gold there down to 180 meters below surface, and that older data has been folded into a three-dimensional geological model. “Across the High Atlas portfolio, our focus is on advancing the strongest targets toward drilling,” says president Pierre-Olivier Goulet. The company is targeting its first drilling before the end of 2026, subject to the required authorizations. *Photo: Alexander Leisser, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Morocco Strategic Minerals - [Morocco Strategic Minerals Reports New Gold Mineralization North of Aït Zekri and Announces Stock Option Grants](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/15/3361960/0/en/morocco-strategic-minerals-reports-new-gold-mineralization-north-of-a%c3%aft-zekri-and-announces-stock-option-grants.html) --- --- title: "A Decree Declares High-Speed Rail to Agadir and Essaouira of Public Utility" description: "Decree no. 2.26.605 declares of public utility the construction of a high-speed line between Marrakech and Agadir and of a link between Chichaoua and Essaouira. The route is fixed by a plan at 1/50,000 and land procedures can now begin." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/lgv-essaouira language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/lgv-essaouira type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-15T18:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.331Z tags: ["Logistics", "Essaouira", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983f26f598b4a87055c69_6aa983ec17422bb2c1cdad61_lgv-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # A Decree Declares High-Speed Rail to Agadir and Essaouira of Public Utility *Decree no. 2.26.605 declares of public utility the construction of a high-speed line between Marrakech and Agadir and of a link between Chichaoua and Essaouira. The route is fixed by a plan at 1/50,000 and land procedures can now begin.* ![An ONCF Al Boraq trainset at the platform of the Tangier terminus, under the overhead lines.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983f26f598b4a87055c69_6aa983ec17422bb2c1cdad61_lgv-main.webp) Essaouira has just entered the map of Moroccan high-speed rail. Signed on September 1, 2026 by head of government Aziz Akhannouch, Decree no. 2.26.605 declares the public utility of building a high-speed line between Marrakech and Agadir on the one hand, and between Chichaoua and Essaouira on the other. ![The ochre ramparts and white houses of Essaouira’s medina above a rocky beach at low tide.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b7d9c46b66e120de9fb_6ae6062566e53b0708ffd3a1_lgv-essaouira-inline.webp) *The medina of Essaouira and its ramparts on the Atlantic shore. Photo: Kayaky, CC BY 3.0.* The decree builds nothing: it opens the land acquisitions and, where needed, the expropriations required along the route. It is nonetheless the act by which a long-announced service becomes a drawn and enforceable right of way. Essaouira had until now been no more than a hypothesis grafted onto the Marrakech-Agadir project. Here it is in the body of a regulatory text, with Chichaoua as its junction. From land surveys to the first spade, the distance remains long, but the kingdom would have, on that first of September, stopped talking about a route and begun buying its ground. *Photo: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat général du gouvernement - [Bulletin officiel n° 7541, décret n° 2.26.605 du 19 rabii I 1448 (1er septembre 2026)](https://www.sgg.gov.ma/BO/AR/3111/2026/BO_7541_Ar.pdf) --- --- title: "Chtouka-Ait Baha: BioFirst Buys Out Half of Biobest Maroc for 30 Million Euros" description: "The Belgian group Floridienne is buying, through its subsidiary BioFirst, the 50% of Biobest Maroc it did not own, for 30 million euros. The beneficial-insect plant at Chtouka-Ait Baha will pass under sole Belgian control, subject to Competition Council approval expected before the end of 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/biobest-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/biobest-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-15T18:05:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:46.937Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983ef7706dad80566312d_6aa983ebd5a8c2d96317d6ad_biobest-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Chtouka-Ait Baha: BioFirst Buys Out Half of Biobest Maroc for 30 Million Euros *The Belgian group Floridienne is buying, through its subsidiary BioFirst, the 50% of Biobest Maroc it did not own, for 30 million euros. The beneficial-insect plant at Chtouka-Ait Baha will pass under sole Belgian control, subject to Competition Council approval expected before the end of 2026.* ![A buff-tailed bumblebee settled on the orange flower head of a zinnia, the pollinating insect produced by the Chtouka-Ait Baha plant.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983ef7706dad80566312d_6aa983ebd5a8c2d96317d6ad_biobest-main.webp) South of Agadir, on the Chtouka-Ait Baha plain, Biobest Maroc breeds pollinating bumblebees, predatory insects and mites meant to take the place of synthetic pesticides under the greenhouses. The Belgian group Floridienne announced on September 11 that its subsidiary BioFirst had reached an agreement to acquire the 50% of the company it did not yet own. ![An industrial building with green and white cladding, surrounded by palms and trimmed hedges.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ec0a74339c3dcaa13da_6ae55dc7138cc6a1b0161219_biobest-maroc.webp) *The Biobest Maroc production site. Photo: Biobest.* The price is 30 million euros, financed from own funds and through borrowing. The Moroccan company, created in 1998, was held in equal shares with a historic partner the release does not name. Since Biobest Maroc is already controlled and fully consolidated, the buyout touches neither the group’s consolidated revenue nor its consolidated net result. The authorization of the Competition Council, which describes the operation as an acquisition of exclusive control, is expected before the end of the 2026 financial year. This production center for beneficial insects will stay Moroccan in its greenhouses, its breeding rooms and its teams. *Photo: Martin Kunz, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Floridienne - [FLORIDIENNE annonce l’acquisition par sa filiale BioFirst des 50% qu’elle ne détenait pas encore dans la société marocaine Biobest Maroc](https://www.floridienne.be/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FLO-G01-20260911-Biobest_Maroc.pdf) - Conseil de la concurrence - [Communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant la prise par la société « Biobest Group, NV » du contrôle exclusif de la société « Biobest Maroc, S.A.R.L »](https://conseil-concurrence.ma/communique-du-conseil-de-la-concurrence-relatif-au-projet-de-concentration-economique-concernant-la-prise-par-la-societe-biobest-group-nv-du-controle-exclusif-de-la-societe-biobe/) --- --- title: "Benguerir: OCP Powers Up Morocco’s First Large-Scale Battery Storage System" description: "OCP Green Energy has powered up at Benguerir the first large-scale battery storage system in Morocco: 25 MW for 125 MWh of lithium iron phosphate, close to 170 million dirhams invested, five hours of discharge and a peak-hour electricity bill lightened by 25%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/stockage-benguerir language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/stockage-benguerir type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-15T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.923Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983ed311aa6f510dde1ae_6aa983ea311aa6f510dde058_benguerir-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Benguerir: OCP Powers Up Morocco’s First Large-Scale Battery Storage System *OCP Green Energy has powered up at Benguerir the first large-scale battery storage system in Morocco: 25 MW for 125 MWh of lithium iron phosphate, close to 170 million dirhams invested, five hours of discharge and a peak-hour electricity bill lightened by 25%.* ![A dragline in the colors of the OCP group at the Benguerir phosphate mine, under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa983ed311aa6f510dde1ae_6aa983ea311aa6f510dde058_benguerir-main.webp) The Benguerir mining site has received the kingdom’s first large-scale battery storage system. OCP Green Energy, the energy arm of the OCP group, has powered up an installation there of 25 MW for 125 MWh, attached to the site’s photovoltaic plant. ![A white container with several doors, marked with the OCP Green Energy and Envision logos and electrical hazard signs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ee68def6e61aa182c2e_6ae55dd41f79fd9e82f4fdba_stockage-benguerir.webp) *A battery container bearing the OCP Green Energy and Envision logos. Photo: La Vie Eco.* The lithium iron phosphate batteries, supplied by Envision, represent an investment close to 170 million dirhams. A phase of performance testing comes before commercial operation. The installation is to carry the day’s solar output over to peak hours and lighten the site’s electricity bill by 25% across those windows. Storage was the missing piece. OCP Green Energy already runs 202 MWp of solar capacity over three sites, whose output until now followed the course of the sun rather than the needs of the washing plants and the factories. The African Development Bank had opened the way in February 2024, with a $20 million loan from the Clean Technology Fund intended for the group’s storage systems. *Photo: Solox44, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - OCP Group - [Media room](https://www.ocpgroup.ma/en/media-room) - Banque africaine de développement - [African Development Bank and OCP Group provide $188 million for green investment in Morocco](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-bank-and-ocp-group-provide-188-million-green-investment-morocco-68859) --- --- title: "Jebel Irhoud: An International Team Gives a Face to the Oldest Known Homo Sapiens" description: "Published on September 13, 2026 in the journal Heritage, a digital facial approximation of the Jebel Irhoud composite skull, about 315,000 years old, puts its brain volume at 1,230 cubic centimeters, close to today’s average, but finds a face far wider than ours." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/jebel-irhoud-visage language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/jebel-irhoud-visage type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-13T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:07.742Z tags: ["Archaeology", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adbde589a39b7f5956dace0_6adbde5669e1206a236d2c4f_irhoud-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jebel Irhoud: An International Team Gives a Face to the Oldest Known Homo Sapiens *Published on September 13, 2026 in the journal Heritage, a digital facial approximation of the Jebel Irhoud composite skull, about 315,000 years old, puts its brain volume at 1,230 cubic centimeters, close to today’s average, but finds a face far wider than ours.* ![The Irhoud 1 skull shown face-on in the Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6adbde589a39b7f5956dace0_6adbde5669e1206a236d2c4f_irhoud-main.webp) On September 13, 2026, the journal *Heritage* published a digital facial approximation of the Jebel Irhoud hominin, whose fossils, dated to about 315,000 years ago, are the oldest attributed to *Homo sapiens*. ![Three renderings of the same broad-cheeked bearded male face: one in grayscale in profile, one in color face-on, one in three-quarter view.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ea0a4bf35eb516b4b34_6ae55dbbc07a7dd1fee58c2a_jebel-irhoud-visage.webp) *Renderings of the face modeled from the Jebel Irhoud fossils, about 315,000 years old. Image: Cicero Moraes.* The study, signed by Brazilian facial reconstruction specialist Cicero Moraes with Australian, Italian and Malaysian researchers, starts from the composite skull that the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig released in 2017. The skull combines bones from three individuals found in the same layer of the site. Using open-source software, the authors deformed a CT scan of a present-day adult until it fit the fossil’s geometry. Converted to brain volume, the resulting endocast gives 1,230 cubic centimeters, barely below the average for today’s adult men, put at 1,234. The face, by contrast, belongs to another time: about 118 mm separate the outer rims of the orbits, against an average of 96.6 mm today. The skin and hair of the colored version are artistic interpretation. The brain of the first *Homo sapiens* had thus already reached our size, though not yet our features, and Jebel Irhoud will remain the place where the species shows its oldest face. *Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Heritage (MDPI) - [Digital Facial Approximation of Jebel Irhoud Composite Skull (~315,000 BP)](https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9090369) --- --- title: "Errachidia: The Boumadine Deposit Doubles in Value to $3.5 Billion" description: "Aya Gold & Silver has doubled the value of its Boumadine deposit in Errachidia province to $3.5 billion, with a 93% return. A 400,000-meter drilling campaign and a feasibility study are set to confirm, by the end of 2027, this new Moroccan mining prospect." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/boumadine-pea language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/boumadine-pea type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-09T19:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:47.171Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa16b1bef49c674d35c2ebf_6aa16b146d2c39c900692883_boumadine-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Errachidia: The Boumadine Deposit Doubles in Value to $3.5 Billion *Aya Gold & Silver has doubled the value of its Boumadine deposit in Errachidia province to $3.5 billion, with a 93% return. A 400,000-meter drilling campaign and a feasibility study are set to confirm, by the end of 2027, this new Moroccan mining prospect.* ![The mineral landscape of Errachidia province, in eastern Morocco: a limestone mesa above a gorge and a palm oasis.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa16b1bef49c674d35c2ebf_6aa16b146d2c39c900692883_boumadine-main.webp) The Boumadine deposit doubles in value in under a year. The Canadian company Aya Gold & Silver unveiled, this Tuesday, an updated preliminary economic assessment for this polymetallic site in Errachidia province, 220 kilometers east of Ouarzazate. ![A yellow drill rig with its mast raised on a stony plateau, a white pickup on the track.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ec2514ff037515c437c_6ae55dc84bf7b29bab82243a_boumadine-pea.webp) *A drill rig on the Boumadine project. Photo: Aya Gold & Silver.* The assessment lifts the after-tax net present value to $3.5 billion and the internal rate of return to 93%, more than double the November 4, 2025 study, which had put it at $1.475 billion. Initial capital stays close to its prior level, at $463 million. Over a 14-year mine life, the site would produce 2.3 million ounces of gold and 81.2 million ounces of silver. “Boumadine is a standout precious metals project among its global peers,” states President and CEO Benoit La Salle. The deposit is no recent find: underground mining there stopped in 1992. Aya Gold & Silver is now running a 400,000-meter drilling campaign and is targeting a feasibility study for the second half of 2027. If feasibility confirms these figures, Boumadine will join Zgounder in the Canadian company’s Moroccan portfolio. *Photo: Adrian Farwell, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Aya Gold & Silver - [Aya Gold & Silver Announces Updated PEA for Boumadine: After-Tax NPV Doubles to $3.5B with 93% IRR](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/09/3358494/0/en/aya-gold-silver-announces-updated-pea-for-boumadine-after-tax-npv-doubles-to-3-5b-with-93-irr.html) --- --- title: "Central Banking: Global Finance Marks Abdellatif Jouahri Down a Notch, to A-" description: "Global Finance published its Central Banker Report Cards 2026 on 8 September. Abdellatif Jouahri is given an A-, one notch below last year’s A, and stands among the twenty-five central bank governors on the top three rungs, the only North African among them." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/jouahri-global-finance language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/jouahri-global-finance type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-09T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:10:08.904Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e691596dcfd31d6a21c_6ae53c708b2b668bc9b9e0d1_jouahri-global-finance-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Central Banking: Global Finance Marks Abdellatif Jouahri Down a Notch, to A- *Global Finance published its Central Banker Report Cards 2026 on 8 September. Abdellatif Jouahri is given an A-, one notch below last year’s A, and stands among the twenty-five central bank governors on the top three rungs, the only North African among them.* ![Abdellatif Jouahri, governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, speaks into a microphone, seated at his desk during a press conference.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e691596dcfd31d6a21c_6ae53c708b2b668bc9b9e0d1_jouahri-global-finance-main.webp) Published on September 8, Global Finance’s Central Banker Report Cards 2026 give Abdellatif Jouahri an A-, one notch below the A the governor of Bank Al-Maghrib earned last year. The New York magazine, which has graded the central bank governors of nearly one hundred countries, territories and districts every year since 1994, has released only the top three rungs of its scale. Two governors take the A+, eight the A, and fifteen, the Moroccan among them, the A-. The grades turn on five criteria: control of inflation, growth targets, currency stability, the handling of interest rates and political independence. Of the twenty-five governors those three rungs bring together, Abdellatif Jouahri is the only North African. The rest of the scale, which runs from A+ down to F, will appear only in the magazine’s October edition. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Global Finance — [Central Banker Report Cards 2026](https://gfmag.com/award/winner-announcements/press-releases/central-banker-report-cards-2026/), published on 8 September 2026. - Global Finance — [Central Banker Report Cards 2025](https://gfmag.com/award/winner-announcements/central-banker-report-cards-2025/). --- --- title: "Khemisset: Oued Beht Yields the Earliest Bronze Age Constructions Confirmed in the Maghreb" description: "Libyan Studies put online on 7 September the results of the 2023 season of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project, near Khemisset. Twenty-four radiocarbon dates tie a wall, an embankment and a ditch to the second millennium BC, the earliest of their kind confirmed in the region." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oued-beht-2023 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oued-beht-2023 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-09T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T03:24:41.519Z tags: ["Archaeology", "Ancient History", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa12bf66755581e3edecdba_6aa12be4d5f9d7eb6a899aa3_oued-beht-2023-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Khemisset: Oued Beht Yields the Earliest Bronze Age Constructions Confirmed in the Maghreb *Libyan Studies put online on 7 September the results of the 2023 season of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project, near Khemisset. Twenty-four radiocarbon dates tie a wall, an embankment and a ditch to the second millennium BC, the earliest of their kind confirmed in the region.* ![A rolling landscape in Khemisset province: meadows, plowed land, olive groves and a line of hills on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa12bf66755581e3edecdba_6aa12be4d5f9d7eb6a899aa3_oued-beht-2023-main.webp) On a ridge above a perennial river, in Khemisset province, the site of Oued Beht has just established that it was in use long after the Final Neolithic. Libyan Studies put online on September 7 the results of the third season of the Oued Beht Archaeological Project, carried out in October and November 2023. ![Aerial view of a shrub-dotted plateau above a river, with a road and a village in the valley beyond.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ea31596dcfd31dda660_6ae55dbd4bf7b29bab821de7_oued-beht-2023.webp) *The Oued Beht site and its defensive structures, with the village of Ait Siberne behind. Photo: A. Garcia-Molsosa and T. Wilkinson / Oued Beht Archaeological Project.* From 24 new radiocarbon dates, a wall, an embankment and a ditch raised at the southern end of the site are tied to the early and middle second millennium BC. They are the earliest constructions of their kind ever confirmed in the region. Set beside the recent finds at Kach Kouch, they outline what the authors call a northwestern Maghrebian Bronze Age, contemporary with the El Argar culture in Iberia, for a period that has stayed almost mute until now. The same season uncovered a settlement and burials of the medieval Islamic period. Further seasons will be needed to say who raised this work, and why. *Photo: Delpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Libyan Studies (Cambridge University Press) — [Expanding Oued Beht: Final Neolithic, Bronze Age, medieval and later discoveries from excavation and survey in 2023](https://doi.org/10.1017/lis.2026.10037), published online on 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "PISA 2025: Morocco Slips in All Three Subjects, and the OECD Points to Wider Schooling" description: "The OECD published the PISA 2025 results on 8 September. Morocco scores 358 points in science, down 7 points since 2022 and 27 since 2015. The organization places the kingdom among six countries whose survey coverage has risen sharply, and qualifies the reading of the averages itself." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/pisa-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/pisa-2025 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-09T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.853Z tags: ["Education", "Science", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9bb78e773639390987_6ae53c896db72c7b0b2808a1_pisa-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # PISA 2025: Morocco Slips in All Three Subjects, and the OECD Points to Wider Schooling *The OECD published the PISA 2025 results on 8 September. Morocco scores 358 points in science, down 7 points since 2022 and 27 since 2015. The organization places the kingdom among six countries whose survey coverage has risen sharply, and qualifies the reading of the averages itself.* ![An empty classroom at the Abdellah Ben Hussein middle school in Tameslohte, near Marrakech, with its rows of desks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9bb78e773639390987_6ae53c896db72c7b0b2808a1_pisa-2025-main.webp) The OECD published on September 8 the results of PISA 2025, the largest edition of its survey to date. Morocco scores 358 points in science, the main subject of this round, and 374 points in computational problem solving, a domain assessed for the first time. ![A classroom with rows of desks filled with pupils, seen mostly from behind, facing a whiteboard and a projection screen.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bd2ddc35c3d53d06133_6ae6063abc0ed2f9666b0c74_pisa-2025-inline.webp) *Pupils at their desks in a classroom. Photo: Le Matin.* Against 2022, the country loses 7 points in science, 10 in mathematics and 18 in reading. Since 2015, the decline reaches 27 points in science, 18 in mathematics and 54 in reading. The organization places Morocco among six countries whose survey coverage, meaning the share of fifteen-year-olds eligible to sit the test, rose by 11 to 24 points in a decade. In these systems, the fall in mean scores is likely tied to bringing in more pupils from populations that had been marginalized. The report adds that in Morocco, the minimum score of the top-performing quarter of pupils held steady in at least two subjects. Moroccan schools, in other words, are taking in more children, and the average carries the mark of it. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - OECD — [PISA 2025 Results (Volume I): Future-Ready Students](https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2026/09/pisa-2025-results-volume-i_5265bfb1.html), published on 8 September 2026. - OECD — [PISA 2025: Students’ reading and mathematics performance declined sharply across the OECD](https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2026/09/pisa-2025-students-reading-and-mathematics-performance-declined-sharply-across-the-oecd.html), press release of 8 September 2026. --- --- title: "IFC Guarantees 125 Million Dirhams of Credit du Maroc Lending to Agricultural SMEs" description: "The International Finance Corporation disclosed on 3 September the terms of a risk-sharing facility agreed with Credit du Maroc. It will guarantee up to half the risk carried on a portfolio of loans to agricultural and rural SMEs, an exposure capped at 125 million dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cdm-ifc-agri language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cdm-ifc-agri type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-09T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.797Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa12bfe6755581e3eded303_6aa12bf023617b1216d4ed47_cdm-ifc-agri-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # IFC Guarantees 125 Million Dirhams of Credit du Maroc Lending to Agricultural SMEs *The International Finance Corporation disclosed on 3 September the terms of a risk-sharing facility agreed with Credit du Maroc. It will guarantee up to half the risk carried on a portfolio of loans to agricultural and rural SMEs, an exposure capped at 125 million dirhams.* ![A plastic-sheeted silage clamp on a farm in the Doukkala, ringed with straw bales.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa12bfe6755581e3eded303_6aa12bf023617b1216d4ed47_cdm-ifc-agri-main.webp) The International Finance Corporation disclosed on September 3 the terms of a risk-sharing facility agreed with Credit du Maroc, the kingdom’s seventh-largest privately owned bank. ![A man bends over rows of green crops in front of palm trees and a hazy mountain.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ee8dc78061d9bad1e98_6ae55dd5c26bca430f999509_cdm-ifc-agri.webp) *A farmer in a drip-irrigated plot in Zagora. Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0.* The World Bank Group’s private-sector arm will guarantee up to 50% of the credit risk the bank carries on a portfolio of loans to small and medium-sized enterprises in agriculture and rural areas, an exposure capped at 125 million dirhams. The structure is an unfunded guarantee: the institution pays out nothing while the loans perform, and covers half the losses if they do not. Advisory services come with it, meant to build up the bank’s internal capacity in farm lending, alongside an announced partnership with agricultural technology companies. Access to credit remains one of the locks on modernizing Moroccan farms, for want of collateral to put before a banker. *Photo: Lucyin, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - International Finance Corporation — [CdM Agri RSF, Summary of Investment Information, project 50058](https://disclosures.ifc.org/project-detail/SII/50058/cdm-agri-rsf), disclosed on 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Tan-Tan: Synhelion Signs With Rabat for a 100,000-Ton Synthetic Fuel Plant" description: "Swiss group Synhelion signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with four Moroccan institutions to build a synthetic fuel plant of 100,000 tons a year in Tan-Tan province. The land is reserved and the Moroccan branch is already incorporated and holds Casablanca Finance City status." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/synhelion-tan-tan language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/synhelion-tan-tan type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-08T19:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.902Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa121b165bcb1aa27bb3f55_6aa121a92daf2390ce28cbd9_synhelion-tan-tan-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tan-Tan: Synhelion Signs With Rabat for a 100,000-Ton Synthetic Fuel Plant *Swiss group Synhelion signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with four Moroccan institutions to build a synthetic fuel plant of 100,000 tons a year in Tan-Tan province. The land is reserved and the Moroccan branch is already incorporated and holds Casablanca Finance City status.* ![The gateway roundabout at Tan-Tan with its two monumental white dromedaries, under an overcast sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6aa121b165bcb1aa27bb3f55_6aa121a92daf2390ce28cbd9_synhelion-tan-tan-main.webp) Tan-Tan will host Synhelion’s first commercial synthetic fuel plant. The Swiss group announced on Tuesday, September 8, that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with three Moroccan ministries and the Investment and Export Development Agency. ![Aerial view of a field of hexagonal mirrors facing a white tower, among farm fields.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55ec49af18491607ff066_6ae55dc9dad7e607dc884a9c_synhelion-tan-tan.webp) *Synhelion’s DAWN demonstration plant in Julich, Germany, with its solar tower and heliostat field. Photo: Synhelion.* The plant, planned for Tan-Tan province in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, is to produce 100,000 tons of renewable fuel a year. The land is already reserved, and the Synhelion Morocco branch has been granted Casablanca Finance City status. Synthetic jet fuel, diesel and gasoline, these fuels are designed to replace petroleum products outright, without any modification to existing engines. Made from renewable energy and biogenic waste, they cut net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100%, according to the company. Synhelion is prospecting several regions of the world for plants at commercial scale, and Tan-Tan will be the first. *Photo: Ouazert, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Synhelion — [Synhelion advances scale-up with large-scale synthetic fuel project in Morocco](https://synhelion.com/news/synhelion-advances-scale-up-with-large-scale-synthetic-fuel-project-in-morocco), press release of 8 September 2026. --- --- title: "Craft: Moroccan Jewelry on Show in Paris Under the Maison de l’Artisan Pavilion" description: "Ten Moroccan exhibitors represented the Kingdom at the Bijorhca fair in Paris from 5 to 7 September. The national pavilion of the Maison de l’Artisan was inaugurated by consul general Habiba Zemmouri and director general Tarik Sadik." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bijorhca-paris language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bijorhca-paris type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T23:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.894Z tags: ["Craftsmanship", "Traditions", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f40882a41d062f4f67464_6a9f407a70cbbf5668097522_bijoux-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Craft: Moroccan Jewelry on Show in Paris Under the Maison de l’Artisan Pavilion *Ten Moroccan exhibitors represented the Kingdom at the Bijorhca fair in Paris from 5 to 7 September. The national pavilion of the Maison de l’Artisan was inaugurated by consul general Habiba Zemmouri and director general Tarik Sadik.* ![A Berber set in silver and coral, fibulas, chains and pendants, laid out on a dark display board.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f40882a41d062f4f67464_6a9f407a70cbbf5668097522_bijoux-main.webp) Ten Moroccan exhibitors represented the Kingdom at Bijorhca, the Paris trade fair for jewelry, fine jewelry and watchmaking, held from September 5 to 7 at the Porte de Versailles. ![A long blue and gold stand displays necklaces and earrings on busts under the arches of an exhibition hall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55eea50c7c2062b103e8c_6ae55dd6873e2c1f2bc3a60b_bijorhca-paris.webp) *The Maison de l’Artisan pavilion at the Bijorhca fair in Paris. Photo: La Vie Eco.* The national pavilion, set up by the Maison de l’Artisan, was inaugurated by the Kingdom’s consul general in Paris, Habiba Zemmouri. The exhibitors were selected, according to MAP, to cover the regional particularities of Moroccan craft jewelry. The stated aim is twofold: to make the national know-how familiar to European buyers and distributors, and to open trade with the luxury and high-end segments. Founded in 1930 and held twice a year, Bijorhca remains the only French professional fair given over entirely to fashion and precious jewelry and to watchmaking. *Photo: Manfred Ewel, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agence marocaine de presse (MAP) — dépêche sur le pavillon marocain au salon Bijorhca, Paris, 5 September 2026. - WSN pour la fédération BOCI — [dossier de presse du salon Bijorhca, 5-7 septembre 2026](https://assets.wsn.community/uploads/CP/Sept26/Bijorhca_FR.pdf), 25 June 2026. --- --- title: "England: Taha Majni Becomes the First Botola Player to Join a Premier League Club" description: "Crystal Palace announced on Monday the signing of defender Taha Majni, eighteen, from Union Touarga. The English club says he becomes the first player to move directly from the Botola to a Premier League side. He will play with the Under-21s." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/majni-palace language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/majni-palace type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-07T23:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.888Z tags: ["Football", "Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f408470cbbf5668097781_6a9f40752bf2b5aadf07cdde_selhurst-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # England: Taha Majni Becomes the First Botola Player to Join a Premier League Club *Crystal Palace announced on Monday the signing of defender Taha Majni, eighteen, from Union Touarga. The English club says he becomes the first player to move directly from the Botola to a Premier League side. He will play with the Under-21s.* ![Selhurst Park in London, the Holmesdale Stand and the pitch mown in stripes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f408470cbbf5668097781_6a9f40752bf2b5aadf07cdde_selhurst-main.webp) Crystal Palace confirmed on Monday, September 7, the arrival of Taha Majni, an eighteen-year-old Moroccan defender, from Union Touarga. According to the London club, he becomes the first player to move directly from the Moroccan league to a Premier League side. ![A young player seated at a desk signs a document, with a Crystal Palace shirt laid out in front of him.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c323f4e8767d6234898_6ae56b25f747c698de9edfc3_majni-palace.webp) *Taha Majni signing with the Crystal Palace academy. Photo: Crystal Palace FC.* Brought up at Touarga, able to play at center-back or right-back, Majni made his senior debut in June 2025. He has seventeen senior appearances. At seventeen he was part of the Moroccan squad crowned Under-20 world champions in Chile. He has since moved up to the Under-23s, with two caps in March. In London he joins first the Under-21 squad of Darren Powell. The door Majni has just opened, others will walk through. *Photo: Rockybiggs, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Crystal Palace Football Club — [Crystal Palace Academy sign Taha Majni](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-academy-sign-taha-majni/), 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "Rankings: Rabat Business School Enters the Financial Times Global Top 10" description: "The Financial Times published its Masters in Management ranking on Monday: Rabat Business School holds tenth place worldwide, the only African program in the top 10. The school of the International University of Rabat was twentieth last year and thirty-second in 2024." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rbs-top-10 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rbs-top-10 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T23:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.609Z tags: ["Education", "Rabat", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b53bc0ed2f9666c4332_6ae60a0c8d222c080e60ac24_rbs-top-10-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Rankings: Rabat Business School Enters the Financial Times Global Top 10 *The Financial Times published its Masters in Management ranking on Monday: Rabat Business School holds tenth place worldwide, the only African program in the top 10. The school of the International University of Rabat was twentieth last year and thirty-second in 2024.* ![A teaching building of the International University of Rabat with glass facades, behind planted gardens under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b53bc0ed2f9666c4332_6ae60a0c8d222c080e60ac24_rbs-top-10-hero-main.webp) Rabat Business School, the business school of the International University of Rabat, has held tenth place worldwide in the Financial Times Masters in Management ranking since Monday, September 7. ![Graduates in gowns throw their caps in the air on a stage beneath a lighting rig.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b54bc0ed2f9666c4339_6ae606171b7ba233b796b5ca_rbs-top-10-inline.webp) *The International University of Rabat’s first graduation ceremony, in February 2014. Photo: International University of Rabat, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Its Master in International Business is the only African program in the top 10 of a table of one hundred. It was thirty-second in 2024 and twentieth in 2025. Alumni report a salary increase of 81.84% between leaving the school and today, and 90% of them had found work three months after graduating. The school ranks fifth in the world for career progress. This program takes only 69 students in the 2025-26 year. A school enters a top 10 in three years, and it is over the years that follow that the exercise will turn hard. *Photo: International University of Rabat, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Financial Times — [Masters in Management 2026](https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/3047/masters-in-management-2026), 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "Women’s Champions League: FUS Rabat Qualifies for the Final Phase" description: "FUS Rabat qualified on Monday for the final phase of the CAF Women’s Champions League, beating FC Masar of Egypt three goals to one in Tunis. The club finishes the North African zone qualifiers with nine points from three matches." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fus-champions language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fus-champions type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-07T19:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.887Z tags: ["Football", "Sport", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0678a4512490a89449d1_6a9f066869fa0ecff2d4f744_stade-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Women’s Champions League: FUS Rabat Qualifies for the Final Phase *FUS Rabat qualified on Monday for the final phase of the CAF Women’s Champions League, beating FC Masar of Egypt three goals to one in Tunis. The club finishes the North African zone qualifiers with nine points from three matches.* ![The Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, its pitch, its track and its stands marked with the Moroccan star.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0678a4512490a89449d1_6a9f066869fa0ecff2d4f744_stade-main.webp) Fath Union Sport of Rabat qualified on Monday, September 7, for the final phase of the CAF Women’s Champions League, beating FC Masar of Egypt by three goals to one on the last day of the North African zone qualifiers, played in Tunis. ![FUS Rabat’s players, in red shirts with medals around their necks, jump for joy behind a “Winners UNAF Qualifiers - Tunisia 2026” banner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c035d4ac37746bb6900_6ae60647bbbd9f296de1c890_fus-champions-inline.webp) *FUS Rabat’s players, winners of the UNAF zone qualifiers in Tunisia. Photo: Le Matin.* Salma Tammar had opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, and the Rabat side, pegged back before the break, made the difference in the second half. With nine points from three matches, the club of the capital finishes these qualifiers without having dropped a single one, after a four-nil win over FC Akbou and a seven-nil rout of Association Sportive de Sousse. Three matches, three wins, fourteen goals scored. FUS will meet in the final phase the qualifiers from the other zones of the continent. *Photo: KSKB1935, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Hespress — [LdC féminine: le FUS Rabat valide son billet pour la phase finale](https://fr.hespress.com/487503-ldc-feminine-le-fus-rabat-valide-son-billet-pour-la-phase-finale.html), 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "Health: Akdital Opens Its First Hospital Outside Morocco in Riyadh" description: "The Saudi ministry of Health has authorized the opening of Akdital Hospitals Al Olaya in Riyadh, the Moroccan group’s first establishment outside Morocco. The hospital holds a hundred and forty beds over more than 17,600 square meters and is already taking patients." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/akdital-riyad language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/akdital-riyad type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-07T19:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.842Z tags: ["Health", "Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0674f0ddf78465722fbb_6a9f06632040332d6cfa640e_riyad-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Health: Akdital Opens Its First Hospital Outside Morocco in Riyadh *The Saudi ministry of Health has authorized the opening of Akdital Hospitals Al Olaya in Riyadh, the Moroccan group’s first establishment outside Morocco. The hospital holds a hundred and forty beds over more than 17,600 square meters and is already taking patients.* ![The Al Olaya district of Riyadh at dusk, its lit towers and the low city below.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0674f0ddf78465722fbb_6a9f06632040332d6cfa640e_riyad-main.webp) The Saudi ministry of Health has granted the Akdital group the authorization to open Akdital Hospitals Al Olaya, its first hospital in the Saudi kingdom. ![A bright operating room with a surgical table, overhead lights and medical monitors.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c502477af682361cba4_6ae56b33e5b13e11c8bc94a9_akdital-riyad.webp) *An operating room at Akdital Hospitals Al Olaya in Riyadh. Photo: Akdital.* Planted in the heart of Riyadh, in the Al Olaya district, the hospital is operational and is already taking its patients. It holds a hundred and forty beds, eleven operating theaters and procedure rooms and an eighteen-bed emergency department. The Casablanca group, which runs a network of forty-five establishments across twenty-five Moroccan cities, thus crosses its first border. The opening lands in a market that Riyadh is methodically reopening to private operators under its Vision 2030. Cardiology, oncology and hematology are among the disciplines announced. A listed group exporting its model of care will be judged over time, never on an opening day. *Photo: B.alotaby, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - AKDITAL Hospitals — [Annonce de l’ouverture du premier établissement du groupe à Al Olaya](https://x.com/AKDITAL_KSA/status/2096911242845729240), 7 September 2026. - La Vie éco — [Santé: Akdital Hospitals Al Olaya ouvre officiellement ses portes à Riyad](https://www.lavieeco.com/affaires/sante-akdital-hospitals-al-olaya-ouvre-officiellement-ses-portes-a-riyad/), 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "Vocational Training: OFPPT Opens Its Year With 424,000 Training Places" description: "OFPPT opened its training year on Monday 7 September from Casablanca-Settat, with an overall capacity of 424,000 training places across five hundred and thirteen institutes. Eighteen new establishments open and the catalogue gains a hundred and ninety-three new courses." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ofppt-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ofppt-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T19:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.407Z tags: ["Education", "Economy", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0671e8dc484a22dad45b_6a9f065fa4512490a894433d_ofppt-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Vocational Training: OFPPT Opens Its Year With 424,000 Training Places *OFPPT opened its training year on Monday 7 September from Casablanca-Settat, with an overall capacity of 424,000 training places across five hundred and thirteen institutes. Eighteen new establishments open and the catalogue gains a hundred and ninety-three new courses.* ![The courtyard of the OFPPT training complex for the new-technology trades, its two wings and its pool.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f0671e8dc484a22dad45b_6a9f065fa4512490a894433d_ofppt-main.webp) The Office de la formation professionnelle et de la promotion du travail formally opened its training year on Monday, September 7, from the City of Trades and Skills of Casablanca-Settat, in the presence of its director general Loubna Tricha. ![Trainees in white coats work around a table while a group of officials in suits watches them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c7bc6fddd5f557e77d8_6ae56b449e36ad55f83f71cd_ofppt-2026.webp) *OFPPT trainees at work as an official delegation looks on. Photo: Saouri, Le Matin.* Across a network of 513 institutes, the Office announces an overall capacity of 424,000 training places. Classes for first-year trainees will begin on September 11, and 18 new establishments open their doors this year. The Office says it cut its training map to fit the employment roadmap, the 2030 energy strategy and the industrial sovereignty guidelines, and opened courses where the trades are short of hands, from tourism to the gaming industry and cybersecurity. The catalog has 193 new courses this year, out of 658 across 19 sectors. Added to that are a guidance network raised to 75 centers and the 31,000 apprentices the Office intends to train under the Tadaroj program. *Photo: Jordna12, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - OFPPT — [Rentrée de formation 2026-2027: l’OFPPT consolide son dispositif de formation et renforce son offre au service des jeunes](https://www.ofppt.ma/index.php/fr/communiques-de-presse/rentree-de-formation-2026-2027-lofppt-consolide-son-dispositif-de-formation), 7 September 2026. --- --- title: "Offshore Wind: The EIB Appoints an OWC-Led Consortium to Study Morocco’s First Farm" description: "The European Investment Bank has appointed a consortium led by the consultancy OWC to carry out the feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm, endorsed by Masen and envisaged on the Atlantic coast near Essaouira. The study runs over two years." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/eolien-essaouira language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/eolien-essaouira type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-07T19:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.806Z tags: ["Energy", "Essaouira", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f066d40c226f9471d48a9_6a9f06590a12267768f0d534_eolien-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Offshore Wind: The EIB Appoints an OWC-Led Consortium to Study Morocco’s First Farm *The European Investment Bank has appointed a consortium led by the consultancy OWC to carry out the feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm, endorsed by Masen and envisaged on the Atlantic coast near Essaouira. The study runs over two years.* ![The beach at Essaouira in the morning, the wet sand, the ocean and a bank of cloud on the horizon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9f066d40c226f9471d48a9_6a9f06590a12267768f0d534_eolien-main.webp) The consortium led by OWC, a consultancy specialized in renewable energy, has been appointed by the European Investment Bank to carry out the feasibility study for Morocco’s first offshore wind farm. ![About twenty women and men pose as a group in a lobby beneath Masen’s illuminated logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c263eb74873888f7644_6ae60a1fc9c7b5d3229c7967_eolien-essaouira-inline.webp) *Consortium representatives at Masen’s offices in Morocco. Photo: OWC.* The project, endorsed by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, will be assessed with a particular focus on the Atlantic coast near Essaouira. The study runs over two years and is funded by the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership Trust Fund. It will cover site selection, an assessment of the wind resource through a meteorological measurement campaign, the full concept design of the farm, ports studies and the impact on the grid, among other work. Morocco built its renewable fleet on land, and it is at sea that the next stage will be played out. It will take two years to learn whether the Essaouira wind can be put to work in machines. *Photo: Goldfinchshuffle, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - OWC — [OWC is leading a consortium advising Morocco’s first offshore wind development](https://owcltd.com/media/news/owc-is-leading-a-consortium-advising-moroccos-first-offshore-wind-development/), 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Research: The Conseil de la Concurrence Opens the Fourth Edition of Its Prize" description: "The Conseil de la concurrence opened on Monday 7 September the call for applications of the fourth edition of its research prize, carrying awards of 50,000, 20,000 and 10,000 dirhams. Applications are received until 30 November." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/prix-concurrence language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/prix-concurrence type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T15:55:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.119Z tags: ["Education", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eda9f58d7fc365b686b_6ae53d4ae37fa824d36a6f29_prix-concurrence-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Research: The Conseil de la Concurrence Opens the Fourth Edition of Its Prize *The Conseil de la concurrence opened on Monday 7 September the call for applications of the fourth edition of its research prize, carrying awards of 50,000, 20,000 and 10,000 dirhams. Applications are received until 30 November.* ![Ahmed Rahhou, president of the Conseil de la Concurrence, speaks at the lectern during the Council’s annual meeting with the media.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eda9f58d7fc365b686b_6ae53d4ae37fa824d36a6f29_prix-concurrence-main.webp) The Conseil de la concurrence opened on Monday, September 7, the call for applications of the fourth edition of its research prize, running until November 30. ![A prizewinner and a man in a suit hold a giant 50,000-dirham check made out to Hafsa Achour for the competition research prize.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c5f483664b0eb72103d_6ae6065af105094f5b323814_prix-concurrence-inline.webp) *Hafsa Achour receives the first edition’s 50,000-dirham first prize from Ahmed Rahhou in Rabat, February 15, 2024. Photo: Conseil de la Concurrence.* The competition rewards doctoral theses and master’s dissertations in economics, management and competition law, defended within the three years preceding the closing of submissions. It is open to Moroccan researchers holding a degree from a Moroccan or foreign public university, and to foreign researchers holding one from a Moroccan public university. Three prizes will be awarded by the jury: 50,000 dirhams to the first work selected, 20,000 to the second, 10,000 to the third. The Council says it wants to strengthen its ties with the academic world. It is in the theses that a young competition authority’s doctrine is prepared. *Photo: Conseil de la concurrence.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — [Le Conseil de la concurrence lance la quatrième édition du prix de la recherche](https://conseil-concurrence.ma/le-conseil-de-la-concurrence-lance-la-quatrieme-edition-du-prix-de-la-recherche/), 7 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Casablanca Stock Exchange: Auto Hall Closes Its Capital Increase at 109.7% Subscribed" description: "Auto Hall has closed its cash capital increase at a subscription rate of 109.7%: 274,259,440 dirhams of subscriptions received for 249,993,250 dirhams allotted. Share capital rises to 541,405,780 dirhams and the new shares have been listed since 3 September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/auto-hall-capital language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/auto-hall-capital type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-07T15:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.817Z tags: ["Automotive", "Finance", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1f458d44923f5d089f4_6a9ed1832eb6c3362c51bece_twin-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca Stock Exchange: Auto Hall Closes Its Capital Increase at 109.7% Subscribed *Auto Hall has closed its cash capital increase at a subscription rate of 109.7%: 274,259,440 dirhams of subscriptions received for 249,993,250 dirhams allotted. Share capital rises to 541,405,780 dirhams and the new shares have been listed since 3 September.* ![Boulevard Mohamed Zerktouni in Casablanca, its heavy traffic and its buildings.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1f458d44923f5d089f4_6a9ed1832eb6c3362c51bece_twin-main.webp) Auto Hall has closed its cash capital increase, whose completion the board of directors recorded on Wednesday, September 2: subscribed at 109.7%, it drew subscriptions of 274,259,440 dirhams. ![An Auto Hall showroom with cars and Ford logos in its windows, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c53e3f20b9e1585e1f9_6ae56b34b7216185fb3f8b0e_auto-hall-capital.webp) *The glass front of an Auto Hall showroom. Photo: Boursenews.* The operation, cleared by the Moroccan Capital Market Authority on July 15, covered 3,846,050 new shares issued at 65 dirhams each, on a ratio of 13 new shares for 170 old ones. Share capital rises from 502,945,280 to 541,405,780 dirhams, and the new shares have been listed on the main market since September 3 under the ATH ticker. For a vehicle distributor whose growth is decided on its network and its stock, these 250 million dirhams will say, in next year’s accounts, what they actually financed. *Photo: HombreDHojalata, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Auto Hall — [Communiqué de presse: résultat de l’augmentation de capital](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/sites/default/files/pemetteur/2026-09/cp_auto_hall_rsultats_augmentation_capital.pdf), 4 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Transport: CTM Lifts Consolidated Revenue to 926 Million Dirhams at End-June" description: "The Compagnie de Transports au Maroc released its second-quarter indicators: 525 million dirhams of consolidated revenue over the quarter, up 22.9%, and 926 million at the end of June. Group debt falls to 255 million dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ctm-t2-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ctm-t2-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-07T15:45:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.929Z tags: ["Finance", "Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1ee467e87e293788b1c_6a9ed17c44a101a7fbd2227e_ctm-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Transport: CTM Lifts Consolidated Revenue to 926 Million Dirhams at End-June *The Compagnie de Transports au Maroc released its second-quarter indicators: 525 million dirhams of consolidated revenue over the quarter, up 22.9%, and 926 million at the end of June. Group debt falls to 255 million dirhams.* ![An Irizar i6 coach in CTM livery, number 5310, parked at the roadside.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1ee467e87e293788b1c_6a9ed17c44a101a7fbd2227e_ctm-main.webp) The Compagnie de Transports au Maroc released its second-quarter indicators on Monday, September 7. Consolidated revenue reached 525 million dirhams, against 427 million a year earlier, a rise of 22.9%. ![A blue and white CTM coach with its luggage holds open, surrounded by travelers and porters with handcarts on a paved square.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c7e074eaebb0e06711a_6ae56b45a40a75df52dff875_ctm-t2-2026.webp) *A CTM coach at its Inezgane stop as luggage is loaded. Photo: Bisel91, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The group attributes the movement to all of its activities, and points to the increased contribution of urban transport with the integration of the new ISSAL subsidiaries. Revenue at the parent company alone grows more soberly, from 141 to 150 million dirhams over the quarter. The gap says plainly enough where the centenarian house now finds its growth, on the side of the subsidiaries rather than the historic network. Investment falls by 19.0% over the half-year, and group debt drops to 255 million dirhams, down 21.4% since December 31. CTM will therefore enter the second half lighter than it was in January. *Photo: Anthony Levrot, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Compagnie de Transports au Maroc — [Communiqué de presse: indicateurs trimestriels au 30 juin 2026](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/sites/default/files/pemetteur/2026-09/cp_ctm_t2_26.pdf), 7 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Home Hygiene: Mutandis Signs a Letter of Intent to Take Control of Enosis" description: "Mutandis and Enosis have signed a letter of intent under which Mutandis would take a majority stake in Enosis, owner of the Mio and Zen brands, valued at 1,700 million dirhams. The operation remains subject to approval by the Conseil de la concurrence." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mutandis-enosis language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mutandis-enosis type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-07T15:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.819Z tags: ["Industry", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1902eb6c3362c51c7f8_6a9ed1762eb6c3362c51b706_jorf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Home Hygiene: Mutandis Signs a Letter of Intent to Take Control of Enosis *Mutandis and Enosis have signed a letter of intent under which Mutandis would take a majority stake in Enosis, owner of the Mio and Zen brands, valued at 1,700 million dirhams. The operation remains subject to approval by the Conseil de la concurrence.* ![The industrial port of Jorf Lasfar seen from the heights, its silos, its galleries and its gantry cranes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ed1902eb6c3362c51c7f8_6a9ed1762eb6c3362c51b706_jorf-main.webp) Mutandis and Enosis announced on Monday, September 7 that they had signed a letter of intent providing for Mutandis to acquire a majority stake in Enosis and its subsidiaries. ![Jugs, bottles and bags of Mio detergent lined up in front of a white brick wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c3448dbff1dabad7192_6ae56b26b7216185fb3f87a1_mutandis-enosis.webp) *The Mio detergent range, one of Enosis’s brands. Photo: Enosis.* The group founded by Anwar Radi, known to the public for its Mio and Zen home hygiene brands, is valued in it at 1,700 million dirhams for 100% of its capital. The acquisition would bring Mutandis some 150 million dirhams of additional EBITDA, before any synergies are counted. The combination sketches a national consumer-goods manufacturer: about 2 billion dirhams of revenue in the HPC category, and two industrial sites, one at Berrechid, the other at Jorf Lasfar. Both groups say they are aiming at a better capacity to substitute for imported hygiene products, and then at export growth toward Africa and southern Europe. The transaction remains subject to the customary conditions precedent, among them the approval of the Conseil de la concurrence and the conclusions of due diligence. *Photo: JOSIANE P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Mutandis et Enosis — [Communiqué de presse: signature d’une lettre d’intention prévoyant l’acquisition par Mutandis d’une participation majoritaire dans le capital d’Enosis et de ses filiales](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/sites/default/files/pemetteur/2026-09/cp_mutandis_lettre_intention_acquisition_enosis.pdf), septembre 2026. - Mutandis — [Communiqué de presse: indicateurs semestriels au 30 juin 2026](https://www.casablanca-bourse.com/sites/default/files/pemetteur/2026-09/cp_mutandis_s1_26.pdf), 7 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Chinese Visas: Rabat Becomes One of Three Filing Posts for Malian Applicants" description: "The Chinese embassy in Mali announced on 3 September that Malian citizens will have to file their visa applications in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire or Morocco from 15 September, for as long as it takes to rebuild the consular section in Bamako." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/visas-chine-rabat language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/visas-chine-rabat type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.613Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b368f75918994040b93_6ae6060dcfa0fda13eb0ac1e_visas-chine-rabat-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Chinese Visas: Rabat Becomes One of Three Filing Posts for Malian Applicants *The Chinese embassy in Mali announced on 3 September that Malian citizens will have to file their visa applications in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire or Morocco from 15 September, for as long as it takes to rebuild the consular section in Bamako.* ![The entrance to the terminal at Bamako-Senou airport, where travelers wait outside the doors.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b368f75918994040b93_6ae6060dcfa0fda13eb0ac1e_visas-chine-rabat-main.webp) The Chinese embassy in Mali announced on September 3 that Malian citizens would have to file their Chinese visa applications with China’s embassies in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire or Morocco from September 15. ![A Chinese visa sticker in a passport, resting on Chinese banknotes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b378f75918994040bdd_6ae6060cfa7b52c0225caa8e_visas-chine-rabat-inline.webp) *A Chinese visa in a passport next to yuan banknotes. Photo: APA.* The consular section of the mission in Bamako has to be rebuilt, road works requiring it. The measure follows the closure of the consular service announced on August 14 for a case of force majeure. Rabat therefore stands, for a period the notice does not specify, among the three capitals where a Malian applicant’s Chinese visa is processed, alongside Dakar and Abidjan. The journey is no small matter for a student, a trader or a civil servant, who will have to count travel, lodging and sometimes a second trip to collect the passport. The measure will last as long as the building site lasts. *Photo: Petter Lundkvist, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Ambassade de la République populaire de Chine au Mali — [Avis sur la modification du traitement des demandes relatives aux documents consulaires](http://ml.china-embassy.gov.cn/fra/lsfw/202609/t20260903_12015792.htm), 3 septembre 2026. - APA news — [Mali: les visas chinois désormais traités à Dakar, Abidjan et Rabat](https://fr.apanews.net/diplomacy/mali-les-visas-chinois-desormais-traites-a-dakar-abidjan-et-rabat/), 6 September 2026. --- --- title: "CAF Champions League: Maghreb de Fes Beats Rahimo Four Goals to One" description: "Maghreb de Fes beat Rahimo FC four goals to one on Sunday 6 September at the Complexe sportif de Fes, in the first leg of the CAF Champions League first preliminary round. The return leg is played in Burkina Faso on 12 September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mas-rahimo language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mas-rahimo type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-07T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.789Z tags: ["Football", "Sport", "Fes"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e9694c4673e31804f3b39_6a9e96882098253a84cb986c_stade-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # CAF Champions League: Maghreb de Fes Beats Rahimo Four Goals to One *Maghreb de Fes beat Rahimo FC four goals to one on Sunday 6 September at the Complexe sportif de Fes, in the first leg of the CAF Champions League first preliminary round. The return leg is played in Burkina Faso on 12 September.* ![The Complexe sportif de Fes seen from the stands, the pitch and the running track in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e9694c4673e31804f3b39_6a9e96882098253a84cb986c_stade-main.webp) On Sunday, September 6, at the Complexe sportif de Fes, Maghreb de Fes beat Burkina Faso’s Rahimo FC four goals to one in the first leg of the CAF Champions League first preliminary round. ![A player in a yellow and black shirt challenges a player in white in front of red and green stands.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c55cbfa332c693ba28c_6ae56b3561a40d5fffc295ff_mas-rahimo.webp) *Maghreb de Fes, in yellow and black, against Rahimo FC in the CAF Champions League. Photo: Africa Top Sports.* Brika opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Allouch doubled the lead before the break. The visitors pulled one back in the second half, then Titus and Ibayi closed the match out. The club from the spiritual capital returns to the continent’s leading competition with three goals to carry to Burkina Faso, where the return leg is played on September 12. The margin is comfortable and it decides nothing. The first preliminary round opens only onto a second, and only at the end of that one does the group stage come into view. *Photo: KSKB1935, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Morocco World News — [MAS Dominate Rahimo in CAF Champions League Return](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/09/337410/mas-dominate-rahimo-in-caf-champions-league-return/), 6 September 2026. - worldfootball.net — [CAF Champions League 2026-2027, all matches](https://www.worldfootball.net/competition/co730/caf-caf-champions-league/all-matches/). --- --- title: "Back to School: Morocco Opens Its 2026-2027 Year on Monday Across All Cycles" description: "The effective and compulsory start of classes takes place on Monday 7 September across every cycle and level of education, as set out in the ministerial order of 3 July 2026. The return was phased from 1 September, with pupils welcomed in stages from the 3rd to the 5th." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rentree-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rentree-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-07T08:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.805Z tags: ["Education", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e71283219e6c9143a0fa6_6a9e711e2b83ba7b29299596_ecole-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Back to School: Morocco Opens Its 2026-2027 Year on Monday Across All Cycles *The effective and compulsory start of classes takes place on Monday 7 September across every cycle and level of education, as set out in the ministerial order of 3 July 2026. The return was phased from 1 September, with pupils welcomed in stages from the 3rd to the 5th.* ![The Hassan II qualifying high school in Tiznit and pupils’ bicycles lined up along its wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e71283219e6c9143a0fa6_6a9e711e2b83ba7b29299596_ecole-main.webp) The effective and compulsory start of classes takes place this Monday, September 7, across every cycle and level of education in the Kingdom, under ministerial order No. 047.26 of July 3, 2026 on the organization of the 2026-2027 school year. ![Dozens of pupils with backpacks stand in a schoolyard lined with colorful pillars.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c81074eaebb0e06725f_6ae56b45dd19a63b7585d8c3_rentree-2026.webp) *Pupils gathered in their schoolyard at the start of the school year. Photo: Mounir Mehimdate, Hespress.* The Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports had restated the date on August 7 in a communique. The return was phased: the educational administration and inspection corps on September 1, teaching staff on the 2nd, then pupils welcomed in stages from September 3 to 5. Classes in non-formal education and second chance classes will open on October 5. The communique closes on a call to educational and administrative actors, to families and to partners to guarantee that school time and learning time are respected for every pupil. A school year is not judged by the day it begins, but by the number of hours it will have held until June. *Photo: Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, du Préscolaire et des Sports — [Rappel des dates de la rentrée scolaire 2026/2027](https://www.men.gov.ma/fr/actualites/rappel-des-dates-de-la-rentr%C3%A9e-scolaire-2026/2027), 7 August 2026. --- --- title: "Diamond League: Soufiane El Bakkali Beaten in the 3,000m Steeplechase Final in Brussels" description: "Soufiane El Bakkali finished second in the Diamond League 3,000m steeplechase final on Saturday 5 September at the Boudewijnstadion in Brussels, in 8:10.03. Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godana won in 8:08.67 and took the Diamond Trophy, a title the Moroccan had won once in his career." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bakkali-bruxelles language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bakkali-bruxelles type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-07T08:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:23.976Z tags: ["Athletics", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e712436fff37c44974595_6a9e711701695b95cf78e04b_bakkali-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Diamond League: Soufiane El Bakkali Beaten in the 3,000m Steeplechase Final in Brussels *Soufiane El Bakkali finished second in the Diamond League 3,000m steeplechase final on Saturday 5 September at the Boudewijnstadion in Brussels, in 8:10.03. Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godana won in 8:08.67 and took the Diamond Trophy, a title the Moroccan had won once in his career.* ![Soufiane El Bakkali alone on the track during the 3,000m steeplechase at Athletissima 2022 in Lausanne.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9e712436fff37c44974595_6a9e711701695b95cf78e04b_bakkali-main.webp) On Saturday, September 5, at the Boudewijnstadion in Brussels, Soufiane El Bakkali lost the Diamond League 3,000m steeplechase final. The double Olympic champion finished second in 8:10.03, behind Ethiopia’s Gemechu Godana, who won in 8:08.67. ![The trophy in close-up: a cut diamond set on an oval metal ring, against a dark background with blurred lights.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c8d5d230cc1aeed1878_6ae6066644d07ced11378d78_bakkali-bruxelles-inline.webp) *The Diamond League’s Diamond Trophy. Photo: APAnews.* Kenya’s Simon Koech completed the podium in 8:11.15. The other Moroccan in the field, Salah Eddine Ben Yazide, did not finish. The race turned on the final lap, when Godana, twenty years old, hardened the pace and the Moroccan stopped answering. The Diamond Trophy escapes him, and he had won only one until now. The steeplechase hierarchy, long settled by a single man, has just opened up. It is at the major championships that El Bakkali will answer a generation that no longer lets him run alone. *Photo: Johann Conus, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - World Athletics — [Official results, men’s 3000 metres steeplechase, Allianz Memorial van Damme, Brussels, 4 and 5 September 2026](https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7214029?eventId=10229614). - Wanda Diamond League — [Soufiane El Bakkali result table](https://www.diamondleague.com/athlete/14590424/). - World Athletics — [Soufiane El Bakkali profile and honours](https://worldathletics.org/athletes/morocco/soufiane-el-bakkali-14590424). --- --- title: "Botola: Wydad and Hakim Ziyech End His Contract by Mutual Consent" description: "Wydad Athletic Club announced on 6 September that it had terminated Hakim Ziyech’s contract by mutual consent, signed in October 2025 and running to June 2027. The Morocco international leaves the Casablanca club after sixteen official matches and nine goals." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ziyech-wydad language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ziyech-wydad type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-06T15:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.888Z tags: ["Sport", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d8540e7f5fc7226c5162a_6a9d84f284c1a8d6809dbf2f_ziyech-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Botola: Wydad and Hakim Ziyech End His Contract by Mutual Consent *Wydad Athletic Club announced on 6 September that it had terminated Hakim Ziyech’s contract by mutual consent, signed in October 2025 and running to June 2027. The Morocco international leaves the Casablanca club after sixteen official matches and nine goals.* ![Hakim Ziyech in Morocco colors during Portugal against Morocco, June 2018.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d8540e7f5fc7226c5162a_6a9d84f284c1a8d6809dbf2f_ziyech-main.webp) Less than a year after he arrived, Hakim Ziyech is leaving Wydad Athletic Club. The Casablanca club announced on September 6 that it had reached an agreement with the player to terminate their contract by mutual consent. ![Hakim Ziyech in Wydad’s red and white shirt against blurred red stands.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c57ee7e9a7a2693c845_6ae56b3661a40d5fffc29652_ziyech-wydad.webp) *Hakim Ziyech in Wydad’s red shirt. Photo: Le360.* The deal, signed on October 22, 2025, ran to June 30, 2027: it stops halfway. The Morocco international, thirty-three years old, would play sixteen official matches in the red shirt for nine goals. Wydad had made the signing the announcement of its autumn: a former Ajax Amsterdam and Chelsea player coming back to wear red in Casablanca. The tally is short. Sixteen matches in ten and a half months, for a club that plays more than twice that over a full campaign, describe a bet that never found its rhythm. What remains is a player free of any contract at thirty-three, and a Wydad that will have to replace, mid-season, the man it had made its headline. *Photo: Anton Zaitsev, soccer.ru, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Wydad Athletic Club — club statement announcing the termination of Hakim Ziyech’s contract by mutual consent, 6 September 2026. - L’Équipe — record of Hakim Ziyech’s appearances and goals for Wydad, 6 September 2026. --- --- title: "Digital Administration: Morocco and ESCWA Sign a Modernization Protocol" description: "Morocco and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia signed a memorandum of understanding on September 2 covering governance and the modernization of public administration. The Kingdom joins a regional project alongside Djibouti, Jordan and Somalia." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cesao-numerique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cesao-numerique type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-06T15:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.539Z tags: ["Technology", "Diplomacy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d84f78c257909859d79fc_6a9d84eb84c1a8d6809dbd3f_rabat-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Digital Administration: Morocco and ESCWA Sign a Modernization Protocol *Morocco and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia signed a memorandum of understanding on September 2 covering governance and the modernization of public administration. The Kingdom joins a regional project alongside Djibouti, Jordan and Somalia.* ![Rabat: the wall of the Kasbah of the Udayas and its palms, the medina on its cliff, the Hassan tower and the Mohammed VI tower.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d84f78c257909859d79fc_6a9d84eb84c1a8d6809dbd3f_rabat-main.webp) On September 2, Morocco and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia signed a memorandum of understanding on modernizing public administration. It was signed by the commission’s Executive Secretary, Rania Al-Mashat, and the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni. ![Two women standing behind a signing table hold red folders, between a Moroccan flag and a United Nations flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c83ee7e9a7a2693d148_6ae56b476f67776be2f2f672_cesao-numerique.webp) *Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Rania Al-Mashat hold up the memorandum of understanding signed in Rabat. Photo: Morocco World News.* The text covers e-government, digital public services and regional and South-South cooperation. Both sides also commit to transparency and integrity in the public sector. Above all, the Kingdom joins a regional project for inclusive, gender-responsive digital public administration, alongside Djibouti, Jordan and Somalia. A public administration index built on both dimensions will be developed and tested under it. Al-Mashat noted that Morocco had climbed eleven places since 2022 in the United Nations E-Government Development Index. A joint action plan is to govern what comes next. That is where, and not in the memorandum, the promised modernization will be judged. *Photo: Petar Milosevic, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) — press release “ESCWA and Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform sign MoU to strengthen cooperation”, Beirut and Rabat, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Gaming: Cirsa’s Moroccan Casinos Move Into Lottomatica’s Perimeter" description: "Lottomatica will absorb Spain’s Cirsa in an all-share cross-border merger announced on 2 September from Rome and Barcelona. The casinos Cirsa runs at Agadir and Tangier fall inside the Italian group’s perimeter; closing is expected in the second quarter of 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cirsa-lottomatica language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cirsa-lottomatica type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-06T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.692Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d4622979330a78ab2f8e1_6a9d4612979330a78ab2f173_agadir-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Gaming: Cirsa’s Moroccan Casinos Move Into Lottomatica’s Perimeter *Lottomatica will absorb Spain’s Cirsa in an all-share cross-border merger announced on 2 September from Rome and Barcelona. The casinos Cirsa runs at Agadir and Tangier fall inside the Italian group’s perimeter; closing is expected in the second quarter of 2027.* ![Agadir bay and its seafront hotel strip, seen from the heights.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d4622979330a78ab2f8e1_6a9d4612979330a78ab2f173_agadir-main.webp) Agadir and Tangier will change parent company without a single table moving. Lottomatica and Cirsa signed a binding merger agreement on September 2: the Spanish group will be absorbed by the Italian one and will cease to exist as a separate legal entity. ![An empty casino floor with red carpet, roulette tables and slot machines under a lit ceiling.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c36a73a75be2b553e01_6ae56b27dc78061d9bb1a621_cirsa-lottomatica.webp) *The gaming room of the Casino Atlantic in Agadir. Photo: Casino Atlantic Agadir.* Cirsa runs casinos in Morocco: its own venue directory lists, for the Kingdom, only two locations, Agadir and Tangier. The deal is entirely in shares, at 0.668 new Lottomatica shares for each Cirsa share. The combined group presents itself as the world’s second listed operator in gaming and sports betting, with pro forma adjusted EBITDA of about 2 billion euros. Lottomatica shareholders will hold roughly 67.5% of the capital, Cirsa shareholders 32.5%, and Blackstone, the Spanish group’s majority owner, will become the largest shareholder of the whole at close to 24%. Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2027. Until then, the casinos of Agadir and Tangier will keep opening under a Spanish name. *Photo: AJSPARK4444, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Lottomatica Group — press release “Proposta operazione di fusione per incorporazione di Cirsa in Lottomatica. Creazione di un leader globale nel settore del gaming”, Rome and Barcelona, 2 September 2026. - Cirsa — the group’s casino directory, cirsa.com, consulted on 6 September 2026. --- --- title: "Ocean Freight: CMA CGM Raises Its Morocco to United States Rates on 1 October" description: "CMA CGM published on 3 September a notice raising its rates from West Mediterranean ports and Morocco to the United States. The increase, effective 1 October, reaches 250 dollars per 20-foot container and 500 dollars per 40-foot container." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cma-cgm-usa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cma-cgm-usa type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-06T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.659Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d461ef9df5ade793858f9_6a9d460e56b7da391980352b_casa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Ocean Freight: CMA CGM Raises Its Morocco to United States Rates on 1 October *CMA CGM published on 3 September a notice raising its rates from West Mediterranean ports and Morocco to the United States. The increase, effective 1 October, reaches 250 dollars per 20-foot container and 500 dollars per 40-foot container.* ![Two container ships alongside at the terminal quay in the port of Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d461ef9df5ade793858f9_6a9d460e56b7da391980352b_casa-main.webp) On October 1, a container leaving a Moroccan quay for the United States will cost more. CMA CGM published on September 3 a tariff notice titled “Rate Restoration Initiative,” applying to West Mediterranean ports and Morocco, bound for the USA. ![A blue container ship marked CMA CGM, stacked with containers, beneath gantry cranes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c59c6fddd5f557e66c7_6ae56b3691882e809b16a7e2_cma-cgm-usa.webp) *The CMA CGM Aliaga container ship under the gantry cranes of the port of Casablanca. Photo: Farid Mernissi, CC BY 4.0.* The amount is 250 dollars per 20-foot container and 500 dollars per 40-foot container. It covers all cargo except out-of-gauge shipments. The wording is a trade euphemism, since a “restoration” of rates is an increase. It lands on a route that the free trade agreement between Rabat and Washington, in force since 2006, exists precisely to feed. The amount is graded neither by commodity nor by port, and bunker, handling and security charges remain payable on top. A shipper moving 40-foot boxes will see the bill rise by 500 dollars a box on October 1. *Photo: Farid mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - CMA CGM — tariff notice “Rate Restoration Initiative (RRI) - From the West Mediterranean to the USA”, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "ISS-PT Line: Nador Joins WEC Lines’ Short Sea Network on 10 September" description: "The ocean carrier WEC Lines brings Nador into its ISS-PT short sea service from 10 September. A weekly rotation will link eight Spanish ports and the Moroccan port to Setubal and Sines, from where containers reach Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and the British Isles." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nador-iss-pt language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nador-iss-pt type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-06T11:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.766Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d46192ad674a1313b40f6_6a9d4608cb5db07a0c632174_nador-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # ISS-PT Line: Nador Joins WEC Lines’ Short Sea Network on 10 September *The ocean carrier WEC Lines brings Nador into its ISS-PT short sea service from 10 September. A weekly rotation will link eight Spanish ports and the Moroccan port to Setubal and Sines, from where containers reach Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and the British Isles.* ![The port of Beni Ansar at Nador: quay cranes, ships alongside and a calm sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9d46192ad674a1313b40f6_6a9d4608cb5db07a0c632174_nador-main.webp) From September 10, a weekly rotation will make Nador a call on the European short sea network. WEC Lines, an ocean carrier headquartered in Rotterdam, announced on August 24 the overhaul of its ISS service, renamed ISS-PT. ![A container ship with a red and gray hull marked W.E.C. Lines sails past offshore wind turbines.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c86c6fddd5f557e7cb5_6ae56b47dc58cc75e1e60c88_nador-iss-pt.webp) *A W.E.C. Lines container ship off Broadstairs, Kent, in front of the Thanet wind farm. Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The link will connect the Spanish ports from Valencia to Cadiz, together with Nador, to the Portuguese terminals of Setubal and Sines. Two dedicated vessels of 868 TEU will work the rotation, closed in 14 days. Nador will not touch the northern ports directly: Setubal serves as the transshipment hub, from which containers reach Liverpool, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg among other ports. For an exporter in the Oriental region, the interest lies in the rhythm and in the cold chain: one sailing a week, 40-foot and 45-foot reefer boxes, and an alternative to long-distance road haulage. The first rotation, on September 10, will say what the promise is worth. *Photo: Lord_SKY, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - WEC Lines — “Enhanced ISS-PT service connects South Spain with Northwest Europe”, carrier announcement, 24 August 2026. --- --- title: "Call Centers: Morocco Puts Numbers on the French Cold-Calling Law" description: "Since 11 August, the French law of 30 June 2025 has barred calling a consumer who has not consented. The national federation of call centers puts at ten thousand the Moroccan positions exposed out of roughly one hundred and fifty thousand; the outsourcing federation reads it more coolly." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/centres-appels-france language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/centres-appels-france type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-05T19:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.891Z tags: ["Economy", "Society", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c6104b64aa5af2ba9da0d_6a9c60fb8177a3bcf98d902d_cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Call Centers: Morocco Puts Numbers on the French Cold-Calling Law *Since 11 August, the French law of 30 June 2025 has barred calling a consumer who has not consented. The national federation of call centers puts at ten thousand the Moroccan positions exposed out of roughly one hundred and fifty thousand; the outsourcing federation reads it more coolly.* ![Casablanca Finance City: the business district’s tower under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c6104b64aa5af2ba9da0d_6a9c60fb8177a3bcf98d902d_cfc-main.webp) Since August 11, a French operator may no longer telephone a consumer who has not asked to be called, and the wave is being read in Casablanca. ![Staff work at screens in cubicles divided by gray partitions.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c38c6fddd5f557e5570_6ae56b2870530f06352b0a14_centres-appels-france.webp) *Agents at their desks in a Casablanca call center. Photo: AFP via Le360.* Article L223-1 of the French consumer code, as rewritten by law no. 2025-594 of June 30, 2025, now forbids canvassing by telephone “a consumer who has not previously expressed consent to being the object of commercial prospecting by that means.” Bloctel, the opt-out list, disappears along with the articles that established it. Three weeks on, the National Federation of Call Centers and Offshoring Professions counts one center closed at the Casablanca Technopark and some fifty people out of work. It puts at ten thousand the number of positions exposed, out of roughly one hundred and fifty thousand in the sector. Its secretary-general, Ayoub Saoud, warns that the full effect is not yet visible, since the law took hold in the middle of August. The Moroccan Federation of Service Outsourcing takes a cooler view. Its president, Youssef Chraibi, notes that pure telephone prospecting accounts for less than 15% of call-center activity, and that no member company has closed. Both readings describe a trade that has already moved toward customer relations, technical support, back-office work and digital services, and whose oldest segment has just been shut by a law voted somewhere else. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Légifrance — code de la consommation, article L223-1, version en vigueur au 11 août 2026, issue de l’article 13 de la loi n° 2025-594 du 30 juin 2025 relative à la lutte contre toutes les fraudes aux aides publiques. - Morocco World News — reportage sur les premiers effets de l’interdiction française du démarchage téléphonique dans les centres d’appel marocains, 5 septembre 2026. - Consonews — « Centres d’appel au Maroc: 10.000 emplois exposés et des carrières appelées à se réorienter », 4 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Bottled Water: Nestle and Platinum Equity Notify Their Joint Venture in Rabat" description: "Morocco’s Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of the joint venture in which Nestle and the American fund Platinum Equity will hold the Swiss group’s water business in equal halves. Nestle Maroc falls inside the perimeter; third parties have until 14 September to file observations." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nestle-peranel language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nestle-peranel type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-05T19:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.771Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5705e834b547fc6e39_6ae60619064237583a8215bb_nestle-peranel-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bottled Water: Nestle and Platinum Equity Notify Their Joint Venture in Rabat *Morocco’s Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of the joint venture in which Nestle and the American fund Platinum Equity will hold the Swiss group’s water business in equal halves. Nestle Maroc falls inside the perimeter; third parties have until 14 September to file observations.* ![Executives and officials gathered on stage in front of the Nestle logo for the 30th anniversary of its El Jadida plant in Morocco.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5705e834b547fc6e39_6ae60619064237583a8215bb_nestle-peranel-main.webp) Nestle’s waters are leaving the Swiss group, and Morocco sits inside the perimeter of the deal. The Competition Council released in Rabat, on September 3, the non-confidential summary of the proposed concentration. ![Green bottles of S.Pellegrino packed in an open cardboard case.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5805e834b547fc6e49_6ae60619ba58831462d112f3_nestle-peranel-inline.webp) *Bottles of S.Pellegrino sparkling water, one of the brands Peranel is set to carry. Photo: Shutterstock.* The text covers the creation of a Luxembourg joint venture to carry Nestle’s water and non-alcoholic beverage business. Forward I, an acquisition vehicle ultimately controlled by Platinum Equity, will acquire 50%, and Nestle will keep the remaining 50%. The Swiss group is present in Morocco through its subsidiary Nestle Maroc, whose seat is in Casablanca, and the American fund books revenue there through its portfolio companies. Interested third parties have until September 14 to file observations. The two groups announced themselves on July 23 that the joint venture will be called Peranel. They presented it as a 5.6 billion dollar business, which will carry more than thirty brands, from S.Pellegrino to Perrier, sold in one hundred and twenty countries. Its seat will be in Paris, and closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory clearances. Rabat is one of those clearances. *Photo: TelQuel.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant la création d’une entreprise commune détenue à parts égales entre les sociétés « Nestlé SA » et « Platinum Equity, LLC », Rabat, 3 septembre 2026. - Platinum Equity — communiqué annonçant avec Nestlé la création de Peranel, 23 juillet 2026. --- --- title: "Azilal: The International Mountain Film Festival Opens Its Fourth Edition at Ouzoud" description: "The fourth edition of the International Mountain Film Festival opened on 2 September at Ouzoud, in the province of Azilal, under the theme “Mountain, Elevation and Peace”. The official competition brings together fiction features from eight countries and runs to 6 September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ouzoud-cinema language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ouzoud-cinema type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-05T15:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.845Z tags: ["Cinema", "Tourism"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2af59724af4ac17786de_6a9c2aea60e0201522c13f2b_ouzoud-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Azilal: The International Mountain Film Festival Opens Its Fourth Edition at Ouzoud *The fourth edition of the International Mountain Film Festival opened on 2 September at Ouzoud, in the province of Azilal, under the theme “Mountain, Elevation and Peace”. The official competition brings together fiction features from eight countries and runs to 6 September.* ![A shepherd and his flock in silhouette on a ridge in Azilal province at dusk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2af59724af4ac17786de_6a9c2aea60e0201522c13f2b_ouzoud-main.webp) Below the falls, the big screen has taken back its rights. The fourth edition of the International Mountain Film Festival opened on the evening of Wednesday, September 2, at Ouzoud, in the province of Azilal, under the theme “Mountain, Elevation and Peace,” and runs to September 6. ![A lit stage with large screens at night, facing an audience seated in the open air.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c5b8cb83748648fb5e5_6ae56b37c2e010f82ae2ff6f_ouzoud-cinema.webp) *The audience before the open-air stage of the International Mountain Film Festival at Ouzoud. Photo: Le Matin.* The evening honored the Moroccan director Daoud Aoulad-Syad, the Gabonese director and actor Jean-Claude M’Paka and the actor Saad Mouaffak, and paid posthumous tribute to Mostafa Derkaoui, one of the pioneers of Moroccan cinema. The official competition lines up feature fiction from Turkey, Italy, Togo, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Switzerland, Germany and Morocco, before a jury chaired by the thinker and critic Mohamed Noureddine Afaya. Around the screenings, the “Panorama” section takes Moroccan films out into the open air, and a conference moderated by the writer Mohamed Achaari returns to the figure of the mountain in Moroccan storytelling. The festival’s president, Bahija Simou, recalls that the event, born in 2023, has already brought the region close to four shoots. The first cinema hall in Ouzoud is under construction, and it will say whether the festival has done more than pass through. *Photo: Saidkarimail, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agence marocaine de presse (MAP) — dépêche sur l’ouverture de la quatrième édition du Festival international du cinéma de montagne à Ouzoud, province d’Azilal, septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Essaouira: Shellfish Zone at Oum Toyour-Chouika Closed After Marine Toxins Found" description: "The Department of Maritime Fisheries has banned the harvesting and sale of shellfish from the classified Oum Toyour-Chouika zone near Essaouira until the environment is fully purified. Analyses by the National Institute of Fisheries Research found marine toxins above permitted levels." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/coquillages-essaouira language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/coquillages-essaouira type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-05T15:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.926Z tags: ["Fisheries", "Essaouira", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2af291d85cf72893dd86_6a9c2ae6267b88576bc5d824_coq-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Essaouira: Shellfish Zone at Oum Toyour-Chouika Closed After Marine Toxins Found *The Department of Maritime Fisheries has banned the harvesting and sale of shellfish from the classified Oum Toyour-Chouika zone near Essaouira until the environment is fully purified. Analyses by the National Institute of Fisheries Research found marine toxins above permitted levels.* ![Essaouira beach at low tide, with two trawlers at the shipyard behind the breakwater.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2af291d85cf72893dd86_6a9c2ae6267b88576bc5d824_coq-main.webp) Mussels from Oum Toyour-Chouika may no longer be gathered or sold. The Department of Maritime Fisheries announced on September 4 a ban on the harvesting and the marketing of shellfish products from that classified zone in the Essaouira region, “until the environment is fully purified”. ![Close-up of a cluster of blue-black mussels attached to a rock covered with barnacles, beside a limpet.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c88a97d6bb9ad25afe1_6ae56b48142fb88ca10a6565_coquillages-essaouira.webp) *Mussels clinging to a rock among barnacles. Photo: H24info.* The decision rests on analyses carried out on site by the National Institute of Fisheries Research, which “show the presence of marine toxins in mussels at levels above the permitted standards”. The Department urges consumers to buy only packaged, labeled products, and warns that shellfish hawked or sold loose “constitute a danger to public health”. Nothing in the look of a mussel announces a marine toxin, and it is the sanitary classification of shellfish zones that stands as the guarantee. The closure carries no fixed term. The Institute’s monitoring, and nothing else, will say when Oum Toyour-Chouika reopens. *Photo: Adam Harangozo, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Secrétariat d’État chargé de la Pêche maritime — communiqué relatif à l’interdiction de la récolte et de la commercialisation des produits conchylicoles issus de la zone conchylicole classée Oum Toyour-Chouika, 4 septembre 2026. - Institut national de recherche halieutique (INRH) — résultats des analyses de la zone conchylicole classée Oum Toyour-Chouika, cités par le communiqué. --- --- title: "Solar: The Valoris Fund Takes Full Control of Unisystem Energy" description: "Morocco’s Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of an exclusive change of control: Valoris Alternative Investments Fund is acquiring the 49% of Unisystem Energy it did not yet hold. Third parties have until 14 September to file observations." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/valoris-unisystem language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/valoris-unisystem type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-05T15:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.381Z tags: ["Energy", "Finance", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2aefca7d99ea08140bbc_6a9c2ae0f1b189396238cf4a_noor-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Solar: The Valoris Fund Takes Full Control of Unisystem Energy *Morocco’s Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of an exclusive change of control: Valoris Alternative Investments Fund is acquiring the 49% of Unisystem Energy it did not yet hold. Third parties have until 14 September to file observations.* ![The Noor solar power station at Ouarzazate: rows of parabolic mirrors under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9c2aefca7d99ea08140bbc_6a9c2ae0f1b189396238cf4a_noor-main.webp) Wholly dedicated to the energy transition, a Moroccan fund now wants to own outright the solar integrator whose majority it already held. The Competition Council released on September 3 the summary of the deal, under which “Valoris Alternative Investments Fund” would take exclusive control of Unisystem Energy SA by acquiring the 49% of the capital it does not yet hold. ![AI-generated concept image: rows of solar panels on the flat roof of an industrial warehouse under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae6140ca754fc2eba2b7330_6ae60a14064237583a83488a_valoris-unisystem-inline.webp) *Solar panels on the roof of an industrial building. AI-generated concept image.* The market concerned is the sale of energy-efficiency equipment and solutions, and interested third parties have until September 14 to file observations. Launched by Valoris Capital, a subsidiary of Valoris Group, the fund presents itself as the first regulated fund in Morocco wholly devoted to the energy transition. Under the Enolis brand, it offers manufacturers and large farming operations a way to finance, install and maintain their photovoltaic plants. Unisystem Energy, a subsidiary of Unisystem Group, does precisely the job that puts the panels on the roof, in clinics, factories and corporate headquarters. By absorbing the installer, the financier will hold the whole chain, from the balance sheet to the roof. *Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant la prise du contrôle exclusif par le fonds d’investissement « Valoris Alternative Investments Fund » de la société « Unisystem Energy SA », Rabat, 3 septembre 2026. - Valoris Capital — présentation du fonds Valoris Alternative Investments Fund, organisme de placement collectif en capital agréé par l’AMMC, exploité sous la marque Enolis. - Unisystem Energy — présentation de la société et de sa société mère Unisystem Group. --- --- title: "Cinema: Tangier’s National Film Festival Postponed to March 2027" description: "The Centre cinematographique marocain has postponed the 26th edition of the National Film Festival of Tangier to March 2027, instead of 23 to 31 October 2026. It cites the concentration of festivals in October and the premiere status required by major international events." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fnf-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fnf-tanger type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-05T11:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.786Z tags: ["Cinema", "Tangier", "Media"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3b064237583a83d5e0_6ae606108d222c080e5fa469_fnf-tanger-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Cinema: Tangier’s National Film Festival Postponed to March 2027 *The Centre cinematographique marocain has postponed the 26th edition of the National Film Festival of Tangier to March 2027, instead of 23 to 31 October 2026. It cites the concentration of festivals in October and the premiere status required by major international events.* ![Award winners holding a certificate and a trophy on stage at the National Film Festival in Tangier, October 2024.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3b064237583a83d5e0_6ae606108d222c080e5fa469_fnf-tanger-main.webp) The 26th edition of the National Film Festival of Tangier will not be held from October 23 to 31, as the Centre cinematographique marocain had announced, but in March 2027. ![A group of men and women holding trophies on a stage in front of the words “Le Grand Prix.”](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3b064237583a83d5e4_6ae6060fb410fb1323e5c2e9_fnf-tanger-inline.webp) *On stage at the National Film Festival in Tangier in 2023, the year Adil Fadili’s “Mon pere n’est pas mort” won five awards. Photo: Said Kadry/Le360.* The Centre says it responded favorably to requests from several professional organizations and figures in the film industry. The argument is one of calendar. Professionals pointed to the heavy concentration of festivals in October and to the risk of overlapping schedules that limits the participation of Moroccan films, while several leading international festivals also require premiere status. By moving to March, the National Film Festival will now open the national cinema season, of which the Marrakech International Film Festival is to remain the culmination. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Centre cinématographique marocain — communiqué « Report de la 26-ème édition du Festival national du film de Tanger », septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Oscars 2027: La Más Dulce by Laila Marrakchi Will Represent Morocco" description: "Meeting on 2 September at the Centre cinematographique marocain, the selection commission unanimously chose La Más Dulce, by Laila Marrakchi, to represent Morocco at the 2027 Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Three other features were in contention for the designation." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oscar-2027 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oscar-2027 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-05T11:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:30:33.731Z tags: ["Cinema", "Media"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9bf3325375f5129c05532c_6a9bf2f3746a537b266704e4_mrkchi-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Oscars 2027: La Más Dulce by Laila Marrakchi Will Represent Morocco *Meeting on 2 September at the Centre cinematographique marocain, the selection commission unanimously chose La Más Dulce, by Laila Marrakchi, to represent Morocco at the 2027 Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Three other features were in contention for the designation.* ![The director Laila Marrakchi at a microphone, in profile, against a blue backdrop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9bf3325375f5129c05532c_6a9bf2f3746a537b266704e4_mrkchi-main.webp) Meeting on Wednesday, September 2, at the Centre cinematographique marocain, the commission charged with naming the feature that will carry the Kingdom’s colors to the 2027 Oscar for Best International Feature Film unanimously chose “La Más Dulce,” by Laila Marrakchi. ![A woman in a wide woven visor and headscarf raises a strawberry to her lips.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c5d2477af682361d329_6ae56b38c94d95b14bc95c38_oscar-2027.webp) *A still from La Mas Dulce, by Laila Marrakchi. Photo: Lumen.* The Centre grounds the choice in the film’s argument and subject, in its technical and artistic qualities, and in the distribution prospects open to it. Three other titles were in contention. The hard part begins now. A national designation is only a ticket to the door, and the film would have to make its own way through a contest in which the distribution campaign weighs as heavily as the work. The statement half concedes as much, by counting distribution prospects among its own criteria. *Photo: Ross (Hamilton, Canada), CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Centre cinématographique marocain — communiqué « Oscar du Meilleur Film International 2027: le Maroc sera représenté par LA MÁS DULCE de Laila Marrakchi », 2 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "License Plates: NARSA Denies Any General Obligation to Change Before the End of 2026" description: "Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency denies any general obligation to replace vehicle registration plates before 31 December 2026. Decision no. 640.26, published in the official gazette of 3 August, staggers the transition: resale for the ordinary series, the end of 2026 for international traffic." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/plaques-narsa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/plaques-narsa type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-05T11:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.711Z tags: ["Automotive", "Security", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9bf2fb0331fce3a7e0d307_6a9bf2ed8dd513bfc464951a_taxi-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # License Plates: NARSA Denies Any General Obligation to Change Before the End of 2026 *Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency denies any general obligation to replace vehicle registration plates before 31 December 2026. Decision no. 640.26, published in the official gazette of 3 August, staggers the transition: resale for the ordinary series, the end of 2026 for international traffic.* ![A Mercedes petit taxi crosses a Casablanca boulevard at daybreak.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9bf2fb0331fce3a7e0d307_6a9bf2ed8dd513bfc464951a_taxi-main.webp) The claim that every vehicle registration plate in circulation must be replaced before December 31, 2026 is wrong. Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) said so plainly in a statement issued on September 4, reminding road users to hold to official sources. ![Two hands hold up a white plate showing MA, a number, an Arabic letter above a Latin letter, and a digit.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c8a0ead21136b9c01cd_6ae56b49b00d2d865f86b8b5_plaques-narsa.webp) *A license plate in the new format, with the MA sign and the letter in both Arabic and Latin script. Photo: K. Essalak, Le360.* The text behind the confusion is real enough: decision no. 640.26 of the Minister of Transport and Logistics, published in Bulletin officiel no. 7531 of August 3, aligns the model and the dimensions of the plates carried inside the country with the ones a Moroccan vehicle shows abroad. Plates in the ordinary series stay valid until the first transfer of ownership, which is to say until the vehicle is sold on. Only vehicles registered in Morocco and used in international traffic have to carry the new model by December 31, 2026. The provisions covering mopeds and light three and four-wheelers are pushed to January 1, 2027. The reform that matters, though, is not painted metal: the decision allows the registration certificate and the ownership title to be drawn up on an electronic medium. No bumper will ever show that. *Photo: Jorge Lascar, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Agence nationale de la sécurité routière (NARSA) — communiqué sur les dispositions transitoires relatives aux plaques d’immatriculation, 4 septembre 2026. - Bulletin officiel n° 7531 du 3 août 2026 — décision du ministre du Transport et de la Logistique n° 640.26 du 7 chaoual 1447 (26 mars 2026) modifiant et complétant l’arrêté du ministre de l’Équipement et du Transport n° 2711.10 du 29 septembre 2010 relatif à l’immatriculation des véhicules à moteur et des remorques. --- --- title: "Software: The Casablanca Stock Exchange Notifies Its Takeover of NT Soft" description: "The Competition Council has published the filing in which the Casablanca Stock Exchange takes exclusive control of software house NT Soft, buying 80% of its capital and then all of its shares. Third parties have until 9 September to respond." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bourse-ntsoft language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bourse-ntsoft type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T23:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.483Z tags: ["Finance", "Technology", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5bbc0ed2f9666c44f0_6ae60a0ea754fc2eba276677_bourse-ntsoft-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Software: The Casablanca Stock Exchange Notifies Its Takeover of NT Soft *The Competition Council has published the filing in which the Casablanca Stock Exchange takes exclusive control of software house NT Soft, buying 80% of its capital and then all of its shares. Third parties have until 9 September to respond.* ![A polished brass bell in front of a wall bearing the Casablanca Stock Exchange logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5bbc0ed2f9666c44f0_6ae60a0ea754fc2eba276677_bourse-ntsoft-hero-main.webp) The market operator wants to own the tool its members work with. The Competition Council has made public the summary of an operation in which the Casablanca Stock Exchange takes exclusive control of NT Soft, acquiring 80% of its share capital in a first stage and then all of its shares. ![The corner of a building with glass upper floors and a blue Casablanca Stock Exchange sign on its stone facade, seen from below.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5bbc0ed2f9666c4507_6ae6061b8f7591899402b0d0_bourse-ntsoft-inline.webp) *The Casablanca Stock Exchange headquarters, with its sign. Photo: Boursenews.* The target, based in Casablanca, writes software for brokerage firms, insurance companies and intermediaries, pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers, and law practices. The acquirer is held mainly by the Caisse de Depot et de Gestion, banks, insurance companies and brokerage firms. The company that runs Morocco’s stock market is therefore buying one of the software houses that equip its own members. It will fall to the regulator to say whether that double position, infrastructure and supplier at once, raises a competition question. The price, the seller and the target’s turnover do not appear in the notice. Interested third parties have until September 9 to file observations. *Photo: Morocco World News.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant la prise du contrôle exclusif de la société « NT Soft SARL » par la société « Bourse de Casablanca SA », Rabat. --- --- title: "Social Security: CNSS Creates Two Subsidiaries for Digital and Its Polyclinics" description: "Meeting on 3 September under the chairmanship of Nadia Fettah, the CNSS board approved the creation of two subsidiaries, one for digital transformation and one to run its polyclinics. Compulsory health insurance now covers twenty-five million eighty thousand beneficiaries." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cnss-filiales language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cnss-filiales type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-04T23:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.821Z tags: ["Society", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b48b3bb592516c4fd752a_6a9b48a6cd637c4ad1b3b621_cnss-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Social Security: CNSS Creates Two Subsidiaries for Digital and Its Polyclinics *Meeting on 3 September under the chairmanship of Nadia Fettah, the CNSS board approved the creation of two subsidiaries, one for digital transformation and one to run its polyclinics. Compulsory health insurance now covers twenty-five million eighty thousand beneficiaries.* ![The CNSS branch at Missour with its mobile unit parked outside the entrance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b48b3bb592516c4fd752a_6a9b48a6cd637c4ad1b3b621_cnss-main.webp) The board of Morocco’s National Social Security Fund, meeting on September 3 under the chair of Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah, approved the creation of two subsidiaries, one dedicated to digital transformation, the other to running the Fund’s polyclinics. ![About twenty people seated around a large U-shaped table in a bright meeting room.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c39a5b28e7a3c90d62b_6ae56b28e5b13e11c8bc9109_cnss-filiales.webp) *The CNSS board meeting of September 3, 2026. Photo: Le360.* The general scheme is in good health: four million two hundred and forty thousand declared employees in 2025, up 4%, for a declared payroll that rose from 222.51 to 244.84 billion dirhams. Compulsory health insurance now covers twenty-five million eighty thousand beneficiaries, for 22.65 billion dirhams in benefits, up 17%. Yet the self-employed scheme pays out 157 dirhams in benefits for every 100 dirhams of contributions collected, a ratio that gained twenty-five points in a single year. Spinning off the polyclinics will not settle that imbalance. The Fund says it will answer it through enrollment and collection. *Photo: TIM97HA, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale — communiqué publié à l’issue de la session ordinaire de son conseil d’administration, 3 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Tourism: Morocco Passes Fourteen Million Arrivals by the End of August" description: "The Ministry of Tourism reports fourteen million one hundred thousand arrivals by the end of August 2026, up 4.5% year on year and close to six hundred and eight thousand more travelers. August crossed the two million threshold for the first time on record." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tourisme-aout language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tourisme-aout type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T23:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.536Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b48aebb592516c4fd7245_6a9b48a1bb592516c4fd6b5c_jemaa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tourism: Morocco Passes Fourteen Million Arrivals by the End of August *The Ministry of Tourism reports fourteen million one hundred thousand arrivals by the end of August 2026, up 4.5% year on year and close to six hundred and eight thousand more travelers. August crossed the two million threshold for the first time on record.* ![The terraces and parasols of Jamaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh in the late afternoon.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b48aebb592516c4fd7245_6a9b48a1bb592516c4fd6b5c_jemaa-main.webp) Fourteen million one hundred thousand travelers crossed the Kingdom’s borders between January 1 and the end of August, the Ministry of Tourism announced in a statement released on Friday, 4.5% more than in the same period of 2025. ![A woman in a blue jacket and a man in a suit seated at a meeting table before a Moroccan flag and a royal portrait.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c5f8cb83748648fb717_6ae56b398cb83748648f407d_tourisme-aout.webp) *Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor and Achraf Fayda, director general of the Moroccan National Tourist Office, at the office’s board meeting in Rabat, June 2026. Photo: Le360.* August alone passed the two million mark for the first time, up 3% year on year. The figures land as the 2023-2026 Roadmap runs out, and Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor reads them as proof of well-aimed investment: “The momentum of Moroccan tourism rests durably on solid foundations.” The statement leaves the question of distribution whole. The minister raises it herself, calling for the benefit to reach more of the country’s regions and the trade’s operators, and the answer will fall to the strategy taking over. *Photo: Jakub Halun, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Ministère du Tourisme, de l’Artisanat et de l’Économie sociale et solidaire — communiqué sur les arrivées touristiques à fin août 2026 et déclaration de la ministre Fatim-Zahra Ammor, 4 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Agrifood: Morocco Will Have Its First International Trade Fair in 2027" description: "Fenagri and Messe Dusseldorf signed in Rabat on 3 September the agreement launching Morocco Food World, the first international agro-industrial ecosystem fair in Morocco, expected in the second half of 2027. Agro-industry accounts for 22% of the country’s industrial output and added value." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/morocco-food-world language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/morocco-food-world type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T19:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.281Z tags: ["Industry", "Gastronomy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e6dd7596d1c3680da55_6ae53c723c58e1800cfb49ca_morocco-food-world-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Agrifood: Morocco Will Have Its First International Trade Fair in 2027 *Fenagri and Messe Dusseldorf signed in Rabat on 3 September the agreement launching Morocco Food World, the first international agro-industrial ecosystem fair in Morocco, expected in the second half of 2027. Agro-industry accounts for 22% of the country’s industrial output and added value.* ![Abdelmounim El Eulj, president of Fenagri, and Bernd Jablonowski, of Messe Dusseldorf, sign the Morocco Food World agreement behind a table bearing both organizations’ logos.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e6dd7596d1c3680da55_6ae53c723c58e1800cfb49ca_morocco-food-world-main.webp) The National Food Industry Federation and Germany’s Messe Dusseldorf signed in Rabat, on September 3, the agreement that will give Morocco its first international agro-industrial ecosystem fair. ![About fifteen people pose on a stage before a “Welcome to Morocco Food World 2027” screen, two of them holding green folders.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60ba73615be706beb0e97_6ae6062f8f7591899402b977_morocco-food-world-inline.webp) *Abdelmounim El Eulj and Bernd Jablonowski, holding the signed agreement, among guests at the Morocco Food World launch in Rabat. Photo: EcoActu.* Named Morocco Food World, it will be held in the second half of 2027 and will bring together processing manufacturers, suppliers of packaging and ingredient technologies, investors and foreign buyers. The venue and the dates are to be announced later. The Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Hejira, recalled that agro-industry accounts for 22% of the Kingdom’s industrial output and added value, and stands as the third pillar of its exports. The program contract signed with the federation targets a 16% rise in export turnover and the emergence of seventy new exporters by 2030. Messe Dusseldorf, which already runs the world’s leading packaging and food-processing gatherings, had never staged anything in Morocco. *Photo: La Vie eco.* ## References - Fédération nationale de l’agroalimentaire (Fenagri) and Messe Düsseldorf — announcement of the launch of Morocco Food World, Rabat, 3 September 2026. - MAP — report on the signing ceremony and statements, Rabat, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Outsourcing: Teleperformance’s Moroccan Holding Notifies Full Takeover of Unifitel" description: "Majorel Africa, the Moroccan holding of the Teleperformance group, has notified the Competition Council of its acquisition of 100% of the capital and voting rights of Unifitel, a Casablanca outsourcing company. The 3 September notice opens ten days of observations, until 14 September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/majorel-unifitel language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/majorel-unifitel type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T19:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.859Z tags: ["Economy", "Casablanca", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b12dccda84345aa3d09f1_6a9b124304679afba04fa21c_cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Outsourcing: Teleperformance’s Moroccan Holding Notifies Full Takeover of Unifitel *Majorel Africa, the Moroccan holding of the Teleperformance group, has notified the Competition Council of its acquisition of 100% of the capital and voting rights of Unifitel, a Casablanca outsourcing company. The 3 September notice opens ten days of observations, until 14 September.* ![The Casablanca Finance City business district.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b12dccda84345aa3d09f1_6a9b124304679afba04fa21c_cfc-main.webp) Morocco’s outsourcing market has tightened by a notch. The Competition Council made public on September 3 the summary of an operation in which Majorel Africa takes exclusive control of Unifitel by acquiring 100% of its capital. ![A large open floor of workstations with screens and phones and orange chairs, where call-center agents are at work.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bd5243f9be6275a9d34_6ae6063bb410fb1323e5cf22_majorel-unifitel-inline.webp) *A floor of customer-service agents in a call center. Photo: Le360.* The acquirer is a securities-holding entity belonging to the Teleperformance group. The target handles customer relations, after-sales service and collections for financial services. Third parties have until September 14 to file observations. The summary names the acquirer, the target and the sector, and leaves the seller, the price and the fate of the workforce in shadow. That is where the operation will be judged, for outsourcing is one of the few trades in which the Kingdom sells Europe skilled labor rather than goods. The Council’s decision will be published, as are all those it hands down under law 104-12. *Photo: Turdyfirst, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique concernant la prise du contrôle exclusif par la société « Majorel Africa SA » de la société « Unifitel SA », à travers l’acquisition de 100% de son capital et des droits de vote associés, Rabat, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Tangier Free Zone: An American Fund Notifies Its Takeover of Marelli in Rabat" description: "The Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of the acquisition of exclusive control of Japanese supplier Marelli by funds managed by Strategic Value Partners. The summary names Marelli Morocco SARL, established in the Tangier Free Zone, and opens ten days of observations." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marelli-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marelli-tanger type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T19:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.695Z tags: ["Automotive", "Tangier", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b124a04679afba04fa6fc_6a9b123c5a9b95d0136f2bc9_tanger-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tangier Free Zone: An American Fund Notifies Its Takeover of Marelli in Rabat *The Competition Council published on 3 September the notification of the acquisition of exclusive control of Japanese supplier Marelli by funds managed by Strategic Value Partners. The summary names Marelli Morocco SARL, established in the Tangier Free Zone, and opens ten days of observations.* ![Container lorries at the port of Tanger Med.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9b124a04679afba04fa6fc_6a9b123c5a9b95d0136f2bc9_tanger-main.webp) Tangier’s name appears in full in the notice the Competition Council published on September 3: funds managed by the American firm Strategic Value Partners have notified it of their acquisition of exclusive control of Marelli Corporation, whose portfolio includes “in particular” Marelli Morocco SARL, established in the Tangier Free Zone. ![Two men in suits shake hands holding red signing folders, surrounded by several other men.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c3cee7e9a7a2693bec0_6ae56b2a70530f06352b0b28_marelli-tanger.webp) *Moulay Hafid Elalamy and Magneti Marelli chief Pietro Gorlier at the signing for the second plant at Tanger Automotive City in 2018. Photo: TelQuel.* The market concerned is automotive lighting, and interested third parties have until September 14 to file observations. Behind the filing lies the end of a bankruptcy. Marelli Holdings opened voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware on June 11, 2025, with $1.1 billion in financing committed by its own lenders. The restructuring agreement, signed by roughly 80% of them, provided that those lenders would take ownership of the business on emergence. It is that handover the Rabat file now records, and it carries the Tangier site with it. The Council will say in the coming weeks whether it clears the operation, and on what terms. *Photo: NAC, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Conseil de la concurrence — communiqué relatif au projet de concentration économique portant sur la prise du contrôle exclusif de « Marelli Corporation » par des fonds gérés indirectement par « Strategic Value Partners, LLC », Rabat, 3 September 2026. - Marelli Holdings Co. Ltd. — press release “Marelli Initiates Voluntary U.S. Chapter 11 Proceedings to Strengthen Financial Position and Facilitate a Value-Maximizing Restructuring”, 11 June 2025. --- --- title: "Disability: Prevalence Reaches 8.7% in Morocco, Against 6.8% in 2014" description: "The third National Survey on Disability, presented on 3 September in Rabat, sets prevalence at 8.7% against 6.8% in 2014. Close to one household in three is concerned, the employment rate among disabled people reaches 12.7%, and 65.6% of families pay for medicines themselves." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/handicap-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/handicap-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-04T15:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.936Z tags: ["Society", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9f7dca7618213cb822_6ae53c8bb7739b3ed143185c_handicap-2026-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Disability: Prevalence Reaches 8.7% in Morocco, Against 6.8% in 2014 *The third National Survey on Disability, presented on 3 September in Rabat, sets prevalence at 8.7% against 6.8% in 2014. Close to one household in three is concerned, the employment rate among disabled people reaches 12.7%, and 65.6% of families pay for medicines themselves.* ![Abdeljabbar Rachidi, Secretary of State for people with disabilities, presents the survey at the lectern in Rabat.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e9f7dca7618213cb822_6ae53c8bb7739b3ed143185c_handicap-2026-main.webp) The third National Survey on Disability delivered its results on September 3 in Rabat. The disability prevalence rate is set at 8.7% of the population, against 6.8% in the 2014 survey, of which 2.3% is severe disability. ![A speaker at a lectern addresses an audience seated in rows in a hotel conference room.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c05b9d11511b36c33b8_6ae60648bbbd9f296de1c9ab_handicap-2026-inline.webp) *The presentation of the national disability survey results in Rabat. Photo: Hespress.* The rise owes first of all to the instruments: the new edition includes children from two to seventeen years old and applies an expanded list to adults, so that the gap with 2014 measures a change of gaze as much as a real evolution. The figures that follow leave less room for argument. Close to one Moroccan household in three counts at least one person living with a disability, and the employment rate among those concerned stands at 12.7%, that is 23% for men and 4% for women. Only 29.7% hold a medical diagnosis, and in 65.6% of cases the cost of medicines stays with the family. Prevalence ranges from 14.2% in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region to 2.4% in Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab. It is on those gaps that the announced programs will be judged. *Photo: Y. Mannan/Le360.* ## References - Secrétariat d’État chargé de l’Inclusion sociale — presentation of the results of the third Enquête nationale sur le handicap, Rabat, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Nador West Med: The Port Raises 2.2 Billion Dirhams Before Entering Service" description: "Nador West Med has closed a private-placement bond issue of 2.2 billion dirhams, subscribed by institutional investors and led by Valoris, Capital Trust and CIH Bank. The raise is to fund completion of the port complex, whose entry into service is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nwm-obligataire language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nwm-obligataire type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T15:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.670Z tags: ["Finance", "Logistics", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ad9188e2ef81c360d62a4_6a9ad90d8c13c17654d28714_nador-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Nador West Med: The Port Raises 2.2 Billion Dirhams Before Entering Service *Nador West Med has closed a private-placement bond issue of 2.2 billion dirhams, subscribed by institutional investors and led by Valoris, Capital Trust and CIH Bank. The raise is to fund completion of the port complex, whose entry into service is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.* ![The commercial port of Nador.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ad9188e2ef81c360d62a4_6a9ad90d8c13c17654d28714_nador-main.webp) Nador West Med has closed a bond issue of 2.2 billion dirhams, announced on September 2, in the form of a private placement subscribed by institutional investors. ![Aerial view of a long curved breakwater, bare quay platforms and gantry cranes on a turquoise bay.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c60c553788b2bed4b4d_6ae56b3a61a40d5fffc29916_nwm-obligataire.webp) *Aerial view of the Nador West Med port under construction. Photo: Nador West Med.* The operation was structured, coordinated and placed by a group bringing together Valoris Corporate Finance, Valoris Securities, Capital Trust Finance, Capital Trust Securities and CIH Bank. The company, which carries the port complex under construction in Betoya bay, west of Nador, presents the raise as a way of diversifying its financing sources. The port is due to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2026, and it is the completion of the complex that this money is to fund. The question is no longer one of financing but of operation, and it is the first months of traffic that will say what the wager is worth. *Photo: Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Nador West Med SA — press release on its private-placement bond issue, 2 September 2026. --- --- title: "Business Climate: Moroccan Manufacturers Expect Output to Rise in the Third Quarter" description: "The High Commission for Planning released its quarterly business surveys on 3 September. Manufacturing output would have risen in the second quarter, with capacity utilization at 75%, and company heads expect a further increase in the third quarter, in industry and in construction alike." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/conjoncture-t3 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/conjoncture-t3 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T15:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:42.775Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ad9152f01a1a79a46a91b_6a9ad907d0b6710d6d467d18_casa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Business Climate: Moroccan Manufacturers Expect Output to Rise in the Third Quarter *The High Commission for Planning released its quarterly business surveys on 3 September. Manufacturing output would have risen in the second quarter, with capacity utilization at 75%, and company heads expect a further increase in the third quarter, in industry and in construction alike.* ![A construction site in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ad9152f01a1a79a46a91b_6a9ad907d0b6710d6d467d18_casa-main.webp) The High Commission for Planning released its quarterly business surveys on September 3, and the portrait they give of the second quarter of 2026 is of an industry moving forward while carrying its constraints. ![A worker in a gray T-shirt works on the engine bay of a car being assembled in a factory hall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c8da97d6bb9ad25b246_6ae56b4a0ead21136b9ba8fe_conjoncture-t3.webp) *A worker on a car assembly line. Photo: TelQuel.* Manufacturing output would have risen, pulled by automobiles, electrical equipment and chemicals, with capacity utilization at 75%. Against that, 34% of the sector’s firms report supply difficulties on raw materials, and 19% of managers judge their cash position difficult. For the third quarter, manufacturers look for higher output, carried by food and chemicals, while automobiles, clothing and paper should give ground. Extraction, whose output fell in the second quarter along with phosphates, expects to climb back thanks to them, though at the cost of fewer jobs. Construction is the sector presenting the best face: its activity would have advanced, and it anticipates a further rise with jobs created, even as 28% of its managers call their cash position difficult. *Photo: Bengt Nyman, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan — note “Résultats des enquêtes trimestrielles de conjoncture auprès des entreprises, 3ème trimestre 2026”, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Nador West Med: The Public Inquiry Closes on a 357-Hectare Planning Scheme" description: "The public inquiry into the sectoral development plan for Nador West Med’s hinterland closed on 3 September, Le Desk reports. The document covers 357 hectares in the commune of Iaazzanene and prepares neighborhoods, a logistics zone and land reserves before the port opens commercially." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/nador-arriere-pays language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/nador-arriere-pays type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.750Z tags: ["Logistics", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ab412e46b747e4ec64f53_6a9ab40b04f54eccfc652659_nador-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Nador West Med: The Public Inquiry Closes on a 357-Hectare Planning Scheme *The public inquiry into the sectoral development plan for Nador West Med’s hinterland closed on 3 September, Le Desk reports. The document covers 357 hectares in the commune of Iaazzanene and prepares neighborhoods, a logistics zone and land reserves before the port opens commercially.* ![The coast of Cap des Trois Fourches, in Nador province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9ab412e46b747e4ec64f53_6a9ab40b04f54eccfc652659_nador-main.webp) The public inquiry opened on August 3 into the plan meant to organize the urbanization of Nador West Med’s hinterland closed on September 3, Le Desk reports, having consulted the file submitted by the Agence urbaine de Nador-Driouch-Guercif. ![An aerial view of a long curved breakwater and reclaimed platforms, with hills behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c3d5efef00a23ca642e_6ae56b2bcf18edc9b4426f4e_nador-arriere-pays.webp) *Aerial view of the Nador West Med port and its hinterland. Photo: La Vie eco.* The draft sectoral development plan covers 357 hectares in the commune of Iaazzanene, west of Nador. The paper describes new neighborhoods, a logistics zone, public facilities and land reserves. The stake is one of timing as much as zoning: the port is due to enter commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2026, and it is that deadline which governs the preparation of the land behind it. What remains is municipal deliberation and approval, whose length will decide whether the neighborhoods arrive before the ships or long after. *Photo: Houssain tork, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Le Desk — « L’arrière-pays de Nador West Med ouvert à l’urbanisation sur 357 hectares », 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Solar: Belgium’s EnergyVision Watches Its Moroccan Business Shrink Again" description: "EnergyVision’s Moroccan revenue fell to 2 million euros in the first half of 2026, against 2.5 million a year earlier and 6.3 million in 2024. The Belgian group, growing 57% elsewhere, says it is prioritizing its home market." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/energyvision-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/energyvision-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T10:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.667Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f34b3d544094038bdb3_6a9a9f258a8de10457de59ae_solar-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Solar: Belgium’s EnergyVision Watches Its Moroccan Business Shrink Again *EnergyVision’s Moroccan revenue fell to 2 million euros in the first half of 2026, against 2.5 million a year earlier and 6.3 million in 2024. The Belgian group, growing 57% elsewhere, says it is prioritizing its home market.* ![A small ground-mounted photovoltaic array near Tinghir.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f34b3d544094038bdb3_6a9a9f258a8de10457de59ae_solar-main.webp) Morocco was worth 2 million euros in EnergyVision’s half-year accounts published on September 3, against 2.5 million a year earlier and 6.3 million in the first half of 2024. ![Aerial view of a paved street lined with brick houses whose roofs carry solar panels.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c2e064237583a8438f1_6ae6064f42f73d1f683058d4_energyvision-maroc-inline.webp) *Rooftops on a residential street covered with solar panels, seen from above. Photo: EnergyVision.* The Ghent group, listed in Brussels, is nonetheless posting vigorous growth, with 98.1 million euros of revenue, up 57%. Only its engineering and construction division is falling, by 12.3% to 20 million, and the kingdom now makes up a tenth of it. The release speaks neither of withdrawal nor of closure. It places the trend within a strategy of prioritizing the Belgian home market, where the solar portfolio reached 154.9 MWp at June 30. Management raised its 2026 growth target the same day and promises at least 40% more in 2027. None of that will be played out in Morocco. *Photo: Badr Tinghr, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - EnergyVision NV — press release “EnergyVision H1 2026 results”, 3 September 2026. - EnergyVision NV — half-year 2026 results presentation, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Trade: American Sales to Morocco Jump 25.2% Over Seven Months" description: "The United States sold Morocco 4,069 million dollars of goods from January to July 2026, up 25.2% year on year, against 1,235.6 million bought from the kingdom. The American surplus reached 2,833.4 million over seven months, a rise of 30.7%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/commerce-us language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/commerce-us type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T10:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:51:01.875Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f2f7d59ae6369c7f3de_6a9a9f205c70ea2e6e9f9535_port-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Trade: American Sales to Morocco Jump 25.2% Over Seven Months *The United States sold Morocco 4,069 million dollars of goods from January to July 2026, up 25.2% year on year, against 1,235.6 million bought from the kingdom. The American surplus reached 2,833.4 million over seven months, a rise of 30.7%.* ![The container terminal at the port of Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f2f7d59ae6369c7f3de_6a9a9f205c70ea2e6e9f9535_port-main.webp) The United States Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis released July’s foreign trade figures on September 3: 4,069 million dollars of American goods were sold to the kingdom from January to July, 25.2% more than over the same seven months of 2025. July alone accounts for 686.3 million, more than any single month of the previous year. In the other direction, Moroccan goods bought by the United States reached 1,235.6 million over the period, up 14.2%. The result is an American surplus of 2,833.4 million dollars in seven months, up 30.7% year on year. These monthly series say nothing of the products or the contracts behind them. The customs-chapter detail, published later, will show which Moroccan industries the balance favors. *Photo: Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis — joint release “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, July 2026”, CB 26-142 / BEA 26-40, 3 September 2026. - U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — series “Trade in Goods with Morocco”, country code 7140, monthly records 2024 to 2026. --- --- title: "Copper: Morocco Strategic Minerals Sells Its Quebec Asset to Focus on the High Atlas" description: "Morocco Strategic Minerals sold 51% of its Sakami property in Quebec to Visible Gold Mines on 2 September for one million shares, with the remaining 49% to follow. The company says it wants to concentrate its capital on its copper licences in the Western High Atlas." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/msm-haut-atlas language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/msm-haut-atlas type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-04T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:23.989Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f2a646f6aeb3c594848_6a9a9f18f98d9ea82b0be363_atlas-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Copper: Morocco Strategic Minerals Sells Its Quebec Asset to Focus on the High Atlas *Morocco Strategic Minerals sold 51% of its Sakami property in Quebec to Visible Gold Mines on 2 September for one million shares, with the remaining 49% to follow. The company says it wants to concentrate its capital on its copper licences in the Western High Atlas.* ![The Tizi n’Test road in the Western High Atlas, the region of the Ouneine and Ijoukak copper licences.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a9a9f2a646f6aeb3c594848_6a9a9f18f98d9ea82b0be363_atlas-main.webp) From Montreal, on September 3, Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation announced the first closing of a revised agreement with Visible Gold Mines: the company sold 51% of its Sakami property in Quebec’s James Bay region for one million common shares of the buyer. ![A mineral specimen covered in dark green balls of malachite and bright blue azurite crystals, against a black background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c8f0f8b73a04961b66c_6ae606671b7ba233b796d097_msm-haut-atlas-inline.webp) *Malachite and azurite, two copper minerals, on a specimen from Morocco. Photo: Parent Gery, public domain.* The remaining 49% will follow at a second closing, conditional on shareholder approval expected in December, for three million further shares and a 1% net smelter return royalty. The reason takes one line of the release: streamline the portfolio and concentrate capital and management on the Moroccan assets. Those form the Western High Atlas district, with Ouneine, Tanfit and Ijoukak. The sampling published on August 20 returns 5.74% copper and 39 grams of silver per tonne over 2.1 meters in Ouneine’s Gallery A and, at Ijoukak, eleven samples all above 1% copper. Management says it wants to start drilling as soon as technical validation, permitting and access allow. That is what will say what these old mountain workings are really worth. *Photo: Alexander Leisser, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation — press release “Morocco Strategic Minerals Corp. Completes Sale of Initial 51% Interest in Sakami Property in Québec”, 3 September 2026. - Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation — press release “Morocco Strategic Minerals Advances Multiple High-Grade Copper Targets Across its Western High Atlas District”, 20 August 2026. - Visible Gold Mines Inc. — press release “Visible Gold Announces Amended Agreement and Closing of First Tranche to Acquire up to 100% Interest in the Sakami Gold Project”, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Air Traffic: Morocco’s Airports Post Their Best Summer Season" description: "Airports of Morocco reports record attendance for the summer season: forty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-nine passengers in twenty-four hours at Casablanca, more than thirty thousand at Marrakech, and records at Tangier, Agadir and Rabat. The network crossed thirty-six million three hundred thousand travelers in 2025." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aeroports-ete-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aeroports-ete-2026 type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T22:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.663Z tags: ["Tourism", "Casablanca", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92f6003270b8ff7439b_6a99f92335d062f11e756125_cmn-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Air Traffic: Morocco’s Airports Post Their Best Summer Season *Airports of Morocco reports record attendance for the summer season: forty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-nine passengers in twenty-four hours at Casablanca, more than thirty thousand at Marrakech, and records at Tangier, Agadir and Rabat. The network crossed thirty-six million three hundred thousand travelers in 2025.* ![The departures hall of Terminal 1 at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92f6003270b8ff7439b_6a99f92335d062f11e756125_cmn-main.webp) Forty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-nine passengers in twenty-four hours: that is the peak reached by Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport over the first weekend of August, and the centerpiece of the summer report published by Airports of Morocco, the former National Airports Office. ![The white front of the Tetouan terminal with its sign and palm trees, under a cloudy sky after rain.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c63c6fddd5f557e6bc4_6ae56b3bf747c698de9ee32a_aeroports-ete-2026.webp) *The terminal of Tetouan Saniat R’mel airport in 2022. Photo: 伊藤流碁, CC0.* The operator announces record attendance across the whole network: Marrakech Menara passed thirty thousand passengers in a single day, and Tangier Ibn Battouta counted thirteen thousand three hundred and nine. The release gives no national total for the season: it reports single-day peaks, never a cumulative figure. What it does establish is that the surge no longer comes from the historic gateways alone, since Tetouan posted a 36.14% rise on its busiest day. The kingdom had already crossed thirty-six million three hundred thousand travelers in 2025. *Photo: Hamza Izourane, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Airports of Morocco — press release « Saison estivale 2026: les aéroports du Royaume enregistrent des niveaux de fréquentation historiques », 2 September 2026. --- --- title: "Mediterranean Games: Morocco Leaves Taranto with Forty-Four Medals, a Record" description: "The Moroccan National Olympic Committee closed the books on the Taranto Mediterranean Games on 3 September: forty-four medals, sixteen of them titles, and seventh place in the overall standings. It is the best Moroccan showing in the history of the Games, ahead of the thirty-three won at Oran in 2022." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/taranto-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/taranto-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-09-03T22:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.730Z tags: ["Sport", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92bacc9c896f1399d14_6a99f91fc83e1293aea1197e_taranto-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mediterranean Games: Morocco Leaves Taranto with Forty-Four Medals, a Record *The Moroccan National Olympic Committee closed the books on the Taranto Mediterranean Games on 3 September: forty-four medals, sixteen of them titles, and seventh place in the overall standings. It is the best Moroccan showing in the history of the Games, ahead of the thirty-three won at Oran in 2022.* ![The Erasmo Iacovone stadium in Taranto, where the closing ceremony was held.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92bacc9c896f1399d14_6a99f91fc83e1293aea1197e_taranto-main.webp) Forty-four medals, sixteen of them gold: the Moroccan National Olympic Committee closed the books on the twentieth Mediterranean Games on Thursday, September 3, on the evening of the closing ceremony in Taranto. ![A sprinter in a white kit and black headband runs on an athletics track, followed by a rival in a yellow and green vest.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c8e3f4e8767d62352b7_6ae56b4b066db160bd5b9a16_taranto-2026.webp) *Sprinter Yassine Hssine racing. Photo: Le360.* One hundred and eighteen athletes entered across eighteen sports earned Morocco seventh place in the overall standings. The flag was carried at the closing ceremony by Yassine Hssine, crowned over 100 and 200 meters, and Fatima Ezzahra Birdaha, champion over 5,000 meters and in the half marathon. The previous record went back to Oran in 2022 and stopped at thirty-three medals; the record for titles, ten, had stood since Tarragona in 2018. Both fell in the same week. It is the breadth of the table rather than its summit that stands out: the haul came from ten disciplines, where Morocco’s great Mediterranean harvests used to rest on middle-distance running. The kingdom has contested these Games since Beirut in 1959, and its count now stands at three hundred and twenty-two medals. *Photo: New2021, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Comité national olympique marocain — communiqué “Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games: Morocco Concludes a Historic Edition”, 3 September 2026. - International Committee of Mediterranean Games — “Souad Elhaddad secures Morocco’s 300th medal at the Mediterranean Games”, 1 September 2026. --- --- title: "Automotive Cables: Xin Hongye and Acome Set Up a Joint Venture in the Tangier Region" description: "Xin Hongye’s board approved on 3 September the creation, in the Tangier region, of an automotive cable joint venture with France’s Acome: 80% for the Chinese group through Hong Kong, 20% for Acome, capital of ten million euros and a production base budgeted at 228.86 million yuan." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/xin-hongye-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/xin-hongye-tanger type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T22:10:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.499Z tags: ["Automotive", "Industry", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92847cd595ad12950fa_6a99f91a748f591ba48ca3d9_tanger-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Automotive Cables: Xin Hongye and Acome Set Up a Joint Venture in the Tangier Region *Xin Hongye’s board approved on 3 September the creation, in the Tangier region, of an automotive cable joint venture with France’s Acome: 80% for the Chinese group through Hong Kong, 20% for Acome, capital of ten million euros and a production base budgeted at 228.86 million yuan.* ![The port of Tanger Med, the export platform of the Tangier region.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99f92847cd595ad12950fa_6a99f91a748f591ba48ca3d9_tanger-main.webp) The board of Wuxi Xin Hongye Wire & Cable Technology approved on September 3 the creation, in the Tangier region, of an automotive cable joint venture with France’s Acome Automotive. ![Officials and executives in suits cut a ribbon in Morocco’s colors in a factory hall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b80f60da0929315247a_6ae60626ba58831462d1173c_xin-hongye-tanger-inline.webp) *The opening of Acome’s automotive cable plant in Tangier on January 24, 2018. Photo: Acome.* According to the announcement filed the same day with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, where the Chinese cable maker has been listed since 2023, a subsidiary registered in Hong Kong will hold 80% of the Moroccan company, Acome keeping the remaining 20%. The entity will be born with capital of 10 million euros. The feasibility report attached to a convertible bond issue budgets the Moroccan base at 228.86 million yuan, of which 162.29 million would be drawn from the bond, for a 24-month build. Every plant the group owns today stands in China, and the kingdom, carried by its free trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, is described there as the gateway to the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Acome has been making automotive cables in Tangier since 2018. It is the Chinese and Moroccan approvals that will decide the date of the first reel off the line. *Photo: NAC, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Wuxi Xin Hongye Wire & Cable Technology — announcement no. 2026-049, “关于拟对外投资设立全资子公司及合资公司的公告”, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, 3 September 2026. - Wuxi Xin Hongye Wire & Cable Technology — “向不特定对象发行可转换公司债券募集资金使用可行性分析报告”, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, 3 September 2026. - Barlamane — « Le câblier automobile chinois Xin Hongye prépare avec le français Acome une coentreprise au Maroc valorisée à 319,2 millions de dirhams », 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Fertilizer: Bangladesh Approves the Purchase of 70,000 Tonnes of Moroccan Phosphates" description: "Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved on 2 September the import of 70,000 tonnes of phosphate fertilizer from OCP Nutricrops: 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate at $894 a tonne and 30,000 of triple superphosphate at $669.33, close to $55.8 million in all." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bangladesh-engrais-ocp language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bangladesh-engrais-ocp type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T18:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.410Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy", "Logistics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be22199a1455fac99113_6a99be12df14febb8a989a1c_dap-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fertilizer: Bangladesh Approves the Purchase of 70,000 Tonnes of Moroccan Phosphates *Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved on 2 September the import of 70,000 tonnes of phosphate fertilizer from OCP Nutricrops: 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate at $894 a tonne and 30,000 of triple superphosphate at $669.33, close to $55.8 million in all.* ![Diammonium phosphate granules.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be22199a1455fac99113_6a99be12df14febb8a989a1c_dap-main.webp) Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved on September 2 the import of 70,000 tonnes of Moroccan phosphate fertilizer from OCP Nutricrops under the government-to-government arrangement binding the two states. ![Two farmers plant bundles of rice seedlings in a flooded field under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c658cb83748648fb9f1_6ae56b3b9e36ad55f83f6f43_bangladesh-engrais-ocp.webp) *Farmers transplanting rice seedlings in a flooded paddy in Bangladesh. Photo: Balaram Mahalder, CC BY-SA 3.0.* The lot splits into 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate at $894 a tonne and 30,000 tonnes of triple superphosphate at $669.33, close to $55.8 million in all. The price says more about the market than the tonnage does. Diammonium phosphate is being paid above the $891 the same committee approved on August 24, and well above the $781 average the World Bank recorded in July, and Dhaka is buying all the same, weeks away from the Aman season. Bangladesh imports more than 85% of its fertilizer needs, which leaves it exposed to the smallest break in supply. *Photo: Suyash Dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha — “CCGP approves 70,000MT of fertilizer, 4 LNG cargoes to meet domestic demand”, 2 September 2026. - The Daily Star — “Govt to buy 70,000 tonnes of fertiliser for Aman season”, 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Offshore Wind: An OWC-Led Consortium Will Study Morocco’s First Sea Farm" description: "OWC leads the consortium appointed by the European Investment Bank for the feasibility study of Morocco’s first offshore wind farm, off Essaouira. The European notice sets the value of the contract at 1,990,158 euros and dates its conclusion to 14 October 2025." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/eolien-mer-essaouira language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/eolien-mer-essaouira type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T18:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.683Z tags: ["Energy", "Essaouira", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be1cd8c1f9500b6dabe7_6a99be0e492bb2497dd70dc2_essaouira-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Offshore Wind: An OWC-Led Consortium Will Study Morocco’s First Sea Farm *OWC leads the consortium appointed by the European Investment Bank for the feasibility study of Morocco’s first offshore wind farm, off Essaouira. The European notice sets the value of the contract at 1,990,158 euros and dates its conclusion to 14 October 2025.* ![The beach and the Atlantic Ocean at Essaouira.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be1cd8c1f9500b6dabe7_6a99be0e492bb2497dd70dc2_essaouira-main.webp) The Atlantic blows hard off Essaouira, and the kingdom is at last going to measure what that wind is worth. OWC, of the Norwegian ABL Group, announced on September 3 that it leads the consortium appointed by the European Investment Bank for the feasibility study of Morocco’s first offshore wind farm, a project endorsed by Masen. ![About twenty people pose in a lobby under Masen’s illuminated sign.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c94e24dde00764e8790_6ae56b4b572cf8e4c995a550_eolien-mer-essaouira.webp) *The OWC-led consortium at Masen’s offices for the kickoff of the feasibility study. Photo: OWC.* The study runs over two years, from site selection and a wind measurement campaign to grid connection. The calendar says something the announcement does not. The notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union dates the conclusion of the contract to October 14, 2025, for 1,990,158 euros: the decision is nearly a year old, and what has just been announced is the start of the work itself. Morocco has no legal framework of its own for offshore wind yet, and it will fall to the consultants to draw one up. The Union for the Mediterranean places construction around 2029 and sizes the farm at 1,000 megawatts. The study is to say whether a wind everyone calls exceptional can carry a farm, and at what price. *Photo: Goldfinchshuffle, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Official Journal of the European Union — contract award notice 601466-2026, OJ S 168/2026, 1 September 2026. - OWC (ABL Group) — press release “OWC is leading a consortium advising Morocco’s first offshore wind development”, 3 September 2026. - Barlamane — « La BEI attribue à OWC l’étude de faisabilité du premier parc éolien maritime marocain de 1 000 MW au large d’Essaouira », 3 September 2026. --- --- title: "Switches and Crossings: ONCF Awards Three Rail Projects to a Chinese Consortium" description: "ONCF has awarded a consortium led by China Railway Material Group the switches and crossings for three projects: the rail link to Nador West Med, the spur to Tangier airport and the second phase of Ain Dalia station. The contract is set at 19.08 million euros." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/oncf-appareils-voie-chine language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/oncf-appareils-voie-chine type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T18:20:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.812Z tags: ["Logistics", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be17b03b975c9191a6e4_6a99be089c7aff5e074d4c58_oncf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Switches and Crossings: ONCF Awards Three Rail Projects to a Chinese Consortium *ONCF has awarded a consortium led by China Railway Material Group the switches and crossings for three projects: the rail link to Nador West Med, the spur to Tangier airport and the second phase of Ain Dalia station. The contract is set at 19.08 million euros.* ![An ONCF train on the Oriental line, near Taourirt.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a99be17b03b975c9191a6e4_6a99be089c7aff5e074d4c58_oncf-main.webp) Three projects, one contract. The Office National des Chemins de Fer has selected the consortium formed by China Railway Material Group Hong Kong & Macau and China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation to supply the switches and crossings for three operations. ![An aerial view of a large port construction site, with buildings going up, cranes and breakwaters on the sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c3fcaebd3bb80596c97_6ae56b2b5bf4bd85982c311f_oncf-appareils-voie-chine.webp) *The Nador West Med port under construction on the Mediterranean coast. Photo: Morocco World News.* They will serve the rail link to the new port of Nador West Med, the connection between Tangier and Ibn Batouta airport, and the second phase of Ain Dalia station. Estimated at 200 million dirhams, the tender drew three bidders. The Office justifies its choice by the “lowest compliant bid” character of the winning proposal, set at 19.08 million euros before tax. A switch is no accessory: it is the moving part that decides where a train goes, and its lead time often governs the schedule of an entire site. None of the three operations is a new line, all are grafts onto what exists. Two of the three bids came from Chinese rail manufacturers, and it is from China that the switches for the trains of Nador and Tangier will come. *Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - La Vie Éco — « ONCF : China Railway remporte un marché de 19 millions d’euros », 2 September 2026. - Telegraphe.ma — « L’ONCF confie aux Chinois l’équipement de trois grands chantiers ferroviaires », 2 September 2026. --- --- title: "Jorf Lasfar: ACC’s First Chief Executive Joins Falcon’s Board for the Anode Plant" description: "Falcon Energy Materials appointed Yann Vincent, the former head of Automotive Cells Company, to its board on 1 September. The company is developing a battery-anode graphite operation at Jorf Lasfar alongside Fluoralpha, sized for 25,000 tonnes a year." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/falcon-jorf language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/falcon-jorf type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T15:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.228Z tags: ["Industry", "Energy", "El Jadida"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98f9563b58b57f1f4462f0_6a98f94edeb7b3a209e3d604_jorf-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jorf Lasfar: ACC’s First Chief Executive Joins Falcon’s Board for the Anode Plant *Falcon Energy Materials appointed Yann Vincent, the former head of Automotive Cells Company, to its board on 1 September. The company is developing a battery-anode graphite operation at Jorf Lasfar alongside Fluoralpha, sized for 25,000 tonnes a year.* ![The industrial and port complex at Jorf Lasfar.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98f9563b58b57f1f4462f0_6a98f94edeb7b3a209e3d604_jorf-main.webp) It is not a battery plant, it is what feeds one. Falcon Energy Materials, which is developing in Morocco a coated spheronized purified graphite operation sized for 25,000 tonnes a year, announced on September 1 the appointment of Yann Vincent as a non-executive director. ![Two men pose on either side of a battery module displayed on a white stand marked ACC.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60ba9da84eca692291885_6ae6062fa15abb334ec3e39b_falcon-jorf-inline.webp) *Yann Vincent (right), ACC’s first chief executive, with his successor, Allan Swan. Photo: ACC.* From 2020 to 2026 the French executive ran Automotive Cells Company, the battery joint venture backed by Stellantis, TotalEnergies-Saft and Mercedes-Benz. The site was not chosen for the graphite, which will come from Guinea, but for the acid. Purification requires anhydrous hydrofluoric acid, which Fluoralpha, a Moroccan company developed by INNOVX, draws from the fluorine held in phosphate rock. Fluoralpha granted Falcon a site at Jorf Lasfar for the pilot plant, and the commercial plant is planned on Park X, an INNOVX holding adjoining the complex. The kingdom that already assembles cars will supply the carbon in their batteries, and it is its own phosphate that will have supplied the acid to purify it. *Photo: Josiane P., CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Falcon Energy Materials plc — press release “Falcon Energy Materials PLC Appoints Yann Vincent as a Non-Executive Director”, 1 September 2026. - Falcon Energy Materials plc — press release “Falcon Announces Strategic Partnership with Fluoralpha to Advance Anode Plant Development in Morocco”, 20 May 2025. - Le Desk — « Falcon confie à l’ancien patron d’ACC l’accélération de son usine de matériaux d’anode à Jorf Lasfar », 2 September 2026. --- --- title: "Automotive Cables: Suprajit Concentrates Stahlschmidt’s European Output in Tangier" description: "Suprajit’s 2025-2026 annual report sets out the reorganization of Stahlschmidt Cable Systems: the Polish plant closed, production moved to Tangier, the German toolroom relocated to Morocco. The Moroccan subsidiary reported 2,314.87 million rupees in turnover and halved its loss." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/suprajit-tanger language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/suprajit-tanger type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T15:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.639Z tags: ["Automotive", "Industry", "Tangier"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98f9520b71a4365a341f1c_6a98f94a738f1dd6480c3282_scs-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Automotive Cables: Suprajit Concentrates Stahlschmidt’s European Output in Tangier *Suprajit’s 2025-2026 annual report sets out the reorganization of Stahlschmidt Cable Systems: the Polish plant closed, production moved to Tangier, the German toolroom relocated to Morocco. The Moroccan subsidiary reported 2,314.87 million rupees in turnover and halved its loss.* ![The Stahlschmidt Cable Systems plant at Tatabanya, Hungary.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98f9520b71a4365a341f1c_6a98f94a738f1dd6480c3282_scs-main.webp) The Polish plant has closed, the German toolroom has moved, and Tangier has absorbed it all. In its 2025-2026 annual report, the Indian components maker Suprajit Engineering sets out the reorganization of Stahlschmidt Cable Systems, the German cable maker it bought out of insolvency proceedings in 2024. ![Officials in suits watch a worker in a white coat operate a machine on a factory floor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c9792f2c05909d6a42e_6ae56b4c63db6215f813753c_suprajit-tanger.webp) *Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour at the opening of the Stahlschmidt plant in Tanger Automotive City, June 2022. Photo: MAP.* The Polish plant’s production was relocated to the Moroccan plant, the toolroom moved from Germany to Morocco, and the European warehouse was transferred to Hungary. Suprajit Morocco SARL, at Tangier, reported turnover of 2,314.87 million rupees for the year ended March 31, 2026, close to 238 million dirhams, against a pre-tax loss of 168.29 million rupees. The report notes that the EBITDA margin of the SCS entities turned positive in the fourth quarter, for the first time. Suprajit closed its least profitable capacity rather than repair it, and Morocco inherited what was left. Tangier will no longer be one site among others in the SCS European setup, it will become its base. *Photo: Globetrotter19, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Suprajit Engineering Limited — annual report 2025-2026, year ended 31 March 2026. - Barlamane — « L’indien Suprajit fait basculer vers Tanger la production européenne de SCS après la fermeture du site polonais et le transfert de l’atelier d’outillage allemand », 2 September 2026. --- --- title: "Aya Gold & Silver Buys 139 Square Kilometers of Copper-Silver Permits Near Zgounder" description: "Aya Gold and Silver announced on 1 September the acquisition of 139 square kilometers of copper-silver exploration permits in the Tizi area, 35 kilometers from its Zgounder mine, for 4 million Canadian dollars payable in shares." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/aya-tizi language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/aya-tizi type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T14:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.895Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98edaf5ff992ee6712741c_6a98eda7fcbfaa95e0c28be9_aya-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Aya Gold & Silver Buys 139 Square Kilometers of Copper-Silver Permits Near Zgounder *Aya Gold and Silver announced on 1 September the acquisition of 139 square kilometers of copper-silver exploration permits in the Tizi area, 35 kilometers from its Zgounder mine, for 4 million Canadian dollars payable in shares.* ![The Ammeln valley in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98edaf5ff992ee6712741c_6a98eda7fcbfaa95e0c28be9_aya-main.webp) Aya’s ground is growing. The Canadian company Aya Gold & Silver announced on September 1 the acquisition of 139 square kilometers of exploration permits in the Tizi area, 35 kilometers west of its Zgounder silver mine. ![A benched mining pit cut into rock, crossed by haul roads with trucks, under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bd8d8a6147dd071154e_6ae6063cda84eca692282a70_aya-tizi-inline.webp) *The open pit of the Zgounder silver mine. Photo: Aya Gold & Silver.* The consideration is 4 million Canadian dollars, payable in Aya shares. The deal remains subject to due diligence and to Moroccan, Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange approvals. The ground is not untouched, it is poorly known. Older work left several copper and silver occurrences there, with surface samples running as high as 837 grams of silver per tonne and 4.6% copper. It is the second time in a month that the company has widened its hold around Zgounder, after a 259 square kilometer portfolio acquired on August 6. *Photo: Ayman Abdelilah, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Aya Gold & Silver — press release “Aya Gold & Silver to Acquire Copper-Silver Portfolio”, 1 September 2026. - Le Desk — « Aya Gold & Silver reprend l’ancienne mine de Tizi-n-Isdid détenue par Commodity Investment & Trading », 1 September 2026. --- --- title: "Foreign Trade: The Deficit Widens to 244.69 Billion Dirhams at the End of July" description: "At the end of July 2026 Morocco’s trade deficit reached 244.69 billion dirhams, up 26.5% year on year, according to the Office des Changes. Imports rose 15.9% and exports 8.4%, and the coverage ratio fell to 55%." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/deficit-commercial language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/deficit-commercial type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:50:46.625Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance", "Diaspora"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98edab64b8e559816f0b3c_6a98ed7e2c09cf9713cd5362_commerce-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Foreign Trade: The Deficit Widens to 244.69 Billion Dirhams at the End of July *At the end of July 2026 Morocco’s trade deficit reached 244.69 billion dirhams, up 26.5% year on year, according to the Office des Changes. Imports rose 15.9% and exports 8.4%, and the coverage ratio fell to 55%.* ![A container ship alongside at Tanger Med port.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98edab64b8e559816f0b3c_6a98ed7e2c09cf9713cd5362_commerce-main.webp) The deficit is widening faster than exports are growing. At the end of July 2026, Morocco’s trade balance showed a deficit of 244.69 billion dirhams, up 26.5% year on year, according to the Office des Changes. Goods imports accelerated by 15.9%, to 544.045 billion dirhams, while exports rose only 8.4%, to 299.34 billion. The coverage ratio lost 3.8 points and fell to 55%. The receipts that usually cushion this imbalance are holding, but they are not moving at the same rate. Transfers from Moroccans living abroad reached 74.78 billion dirhams, up 8.1%, and travel receipts 79 billion. The kingdom imports faster than it exports, and the gap is closed by what its emigrants and its visitors send home. *Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Office des Changes — monthly foreign-trade indicators, position at the end of July 2026. --- --- title: "OCP: 48.4 Billion Dirhams in the First Half, Down 7%" description: "OCP published its second-quarter indicators on 31 August: 48,372 million dirhams of revenue in the first half, against 52,166 million a year earlier, a fall of 7%. Detailed financial statements are expected during September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ocp-semestre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ocp-semestre type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.655Z tags: ["Finance", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbea79ee0d906418ef16_6a98cbceec3db12f881b0edb_ocp-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # OCP: 48.4 Billion Dirhams in the First Half, Down 7% *OCP published its second-quarter indicators on 31 August: 48,372 million dirhams of revenue in the first half, against 52,166 million a year earlier, a fall of 7%. Detailed financial statements are expected during September.* ![An OCP dragline at the Benguerir phosphate mine.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbea79ee0d906418ef16_6a98cbceec3db12f881b0edb_ocp-main.webp) Revenue is down and investment is easing. OCP published on August 31 its second-quarter 2026 indicators: 48,372 million dirhams across the first half, against 52,166 million a year earlier, a fall of 7%. ![A technician in a hard hat turns a valve on a bank of white cylinders lined up along a pipe.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c9a074eaebb0e067c1f_6ae56b4d6c615251973de371_ocp-semestre.webp) *A technician at work in the Jorf Lasfar seawater desalination plant. Photo: Le360.* The group attributes the change to “a particularly strained market environment, marked by strong geopolitical tensions and by the logistical disruptions affecting global raw-material flows.” Capital expenditure for the quarter fell to 5,924 million dirhams, down 36% year on year, while the half year remains up 6%: the outlays had been concentrated in the first quarter. The group announces a moderation of investment across the rest of the year. Detailed financial statements to the end of June are expected during September, and it is there that the margin will give its own account. *Photo: Solox44, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - OCP S.A. — press release on the publication of second-quarter 2026 results, Casablanca, 31 August 2026, filed with the Moroccan Capital Market Authority. --- --- title: "Thailand Drops Morocco From Its Visa Exemption List" description: "Thailand’s Royal Gazette published on 31 August the announcement that narrows visa exemption to sixty countries for thirty days. Morocco, admitted until now for sixty days, no longer appears. The text takes effect on 15 September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/thailande-visa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/thailande-visa type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-03T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.762Z tags: ["Tourism", "Diplomacy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbe40b155a0dac2458d7_6a98cbc80b155a0dac244482_thai-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Thailand Drops Morocco From Its Visa Exemption List *Thailand’s Royal Gazette published on 31 August the announcement that narrows visa exemption to sixty countries for thirty days. Morocco, admitted until now for sixty days, no longer appears. The text takes effect on 15 September.* ![The arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbe40b155a0dac2458d7_6a98cbc80b155a0dac244482_thai-main.webp) The Moroccan traveler landing in Bangkok after September 15 will need a visa. Thailand’s Royal Gazette published on August 31 the Interior Ministry announcement that recasts the list of nationalities admitted without a visa, and Morocco is not on it. ![Portrait of Anutin Charnvirakul, smiling, in a dark suit and black tie.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c3544d07ced1139d4e4_6ae60650bbbd9f296de1cc2a_thailande-visa-inline.webp) *Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s prime minister and interior minister. Photo: Jonathan Mazin, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Sixty countries and territories now appear on it, for a stay of thirty days. The text, signed on August 26 by Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, takes effect fifteen days after publication. The scheme it replaces was broader and longer: ninety-three countries and territories, Morocco among them, for stays of up to sixty days. Nothing suggests a quarrel between Rabat and Bangkok. The announcement tightens a door the Southeast Asian kingdom had thrown open in 2024, when it was chasing tourist arrivals, and Moroccan agencies that sold Thailand without formalities will rewrite their brochures. *Photo: Exec8, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Royal Gazette of the Kingdom of Thailand — Ministry of Interior announcement, volume 143, special issue 207 Ngor, 31 August 2026. --- --- title: "F-16 Block 72: $42.1 Million for Two Simulators at Sidi Slimane" description: "The US Department of War awarded CAE Inc. a contract capped at $42,103,873 on 31 August for two F-16 Block 72 full mission trainer systems for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Work is split between Texas and Sidi Slimane Air Base." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/simulateurs-f16 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/simulateurs-f16 type: news category: actu published: 2026-09-03T09:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.918Z tags: ["Security", "Diplomacy", "Geopolitics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbdad97935115c3a0efb_6a98cbc31f7b315e6131665a_f16-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # F-16 Block 72: $42.1 Million for Two Simulators at Sidi Slimane *The US Department of War awarded CAE Inc. a contract capped at $42,103,873 on 31 August for two F-16 Block 72 full mission trainer systems for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Work is split between Texas and Sidi Slimane Air Base.* ![Three Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s in flight beside a US tanker.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a98cbdad97935115c3a0efb_6a98cbc31f7b315e6131665a_f16-main.webp) Two simulators, and a base waiting for them. The US Department of War published on August 31 the award to CAE Inc. of a contract capped at $42,103,873 covering the Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Block 72 training system and its contractor logistics support. ![A helmeted pilot in a simulator cockpit facing a dome display showing two F-16s over a landscape.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c67b00d2d865f87181c_6ae56b3ca5b28e7a3c9083b1_simulateurs-f16.webp) *A pilot training in a CAE flight simulator, with F-16s on the display. Photo: CAE.* The deal covers two full mission trainer systems. Work is split between Arlington, Texas, and Sidi Slimane Air Base, with completion expected by April 30, 2029. The contract falls under Foreign Military Sales, and $37,975,064 in FMS funds were obligated at the time of award. Sidi Slimane is not a neutral site. It is the fifth air base, the one the kingdom has been refitting for years to receive the Block 72. What is missing is the aircraft. Morocco signed in March 2019 for twenty-five F-16 Block 72s and for bringing twenty-three airframes up to the F-16V standard, and none have yet been delivered. The simulators will therefore have been ordered before the jets land. *Photo: U.S. Air Force, Tech. Sgt. Alexandra Longfellow, public domain.* ## References - United States Department of War — contract announcements of 31 August 2026, contract FA862126CB003. - Defense Security Cooperation Agency — notifications on the sale of twenty-five F-16 Block 72 aircraft to Morocco and the upgrade of the Moroccan fleet to the F-16V standard. --- --- title: "Noor Midelt: China Energy Signs the EPC, Seven Years After the Award" description: "China Energy Engineering Corporation announced on 2 September that a grouping of three of its entities had signed the EPC contract for Noor Midelt I: 632.85 megawatts-peak of photovoltaics and 1,323.96 megawatt-hours of storage. The project was awarded in 2019 to an EDF-led consortium." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/noor-midelt language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/noor-midelt type: news category: eco published: 2026-09-03T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:59.407Z tags: ["Energy", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae613ffce715aed27771a5a_6ae606118f7591899402ab47_noor-midelt-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Noor Midelt: China Energy Signs the EPC, Seven Years After the Award *China Energy Engineering Corporation announced on 2 September that a grouping of three of its entities had signed the EPC contract for Noor Midelt I: 632.85 megawatts-peak of photovoltaics and 1,323.96 megawatt-hours of storage. The project was awarded in 2019 to an EDF-led consortium.* ![Jbel Ayachi rises above the town of Midelt and its trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae613ffce715aed27771a5a_6ae606118f7591899402ab47_noor-midelt-main.webp) Seven years after it was awarded, the first plant of the Midelt solar complex has yet to see a single piece of construction equipment. China Energy Engineering Corporation announced on Wednesday, September 2, that a grouping of three of its entities had signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the plant. ![AI-generated concept image: long rows of solar panels beside white battery containers on a stony plateau.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61400ce715aed27771a5e_6ae609fcbc0ed2f9666bb913_noor-midelt-inline.webp) *Rows of photovoltaic panels and battery storage containers. AI-generated concept image.* The group describes roughly 630 megawatts-peak of photovoltaics paired with 1,300 megawatt-hours of electrochemical storage. It declines to date its own signature, placing it with the single word “recently.” The project awarded on May 21, 2019 was not this one. Masen had selected a consortium led by EDF Renouvelables for 800 megawatts of a hybrid between concentrated solar power and photovoltaics, and construction was to open within the year. The Energy Ministry and ONEE objected, citing cost and the limits of thermal storage. The technology changed, and so did the builder. China Energy says the plant will become, once completed, the largest single-site solar-plus-storage project in Africa. *Photo: InnocentsAbroad, public domain.* ## References - China Energy Engineering Corporation — statement on the signature of the EPC contract for the first plant of the Midelt solar complex, 2 September 2026. - Masen — Noor Midelt I, project sheet. - EDF — press release “Consortium of EDF, Masdar and Green of Africa named as successful bidder for Morocco’s landmark Noor Midelt I solar project with an installed capacity of 800 MW”, 22 May 2019. - Reuters — on the technology dispute that delayed the plant. - Le Desk — « Noor Midelt I: China Energy signe l’EPC et embarque LONGi et Sungrow », 2 septembre 2026. --- --- title: "Sebta: A Misread Spanish Ruling Sends Thousands Into the Water" description: "Thousands of young Moroccans swam to Sebta, then tens of thousands within twenty-four hours. Madrid returned forty-eight thousand in a day and is installing buoys at sea. Behind it, a Spanish ruling carried through the North in a false form." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sebta-ruee language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sebta-ruee type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-28T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:30:56.296Z tags: ["Migration", "Spain", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6563f4bd8065d132a6ca_6a6c638df73988567919c62d_fnideq-depuis-ceuta-1600.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sebta: A Misread Spanish Ruling Sends Thousands Into the Water *Thousands of young Moroccans swam to Sebta, then tens of thousands within twenty-four hours. Madrid returned forty-eight thousand in a day and is installing buoys at sea. Behind it, a Spanish ruling carried through the North in a false form.* ![Fnideq seen from Sebta across the strait](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6563f4bd8065d132a6ca_6a6c638df73988567919c62d_fnideq-depuis-ceuta-1600.webp) On the morning of 30 July, the coast running from Fnideq to Belyounech emptied itself into the sea. Thousands of young Moroccans waded in to swim around the Tarajal jetty, that finger of concrete which closes the border of the occupied presidio of Sebta and which only the waves know how to cross. Others followed the rocky spur that Spanish forces could no longer hold. All day, the Guardia Civil and Spanish maritime rescue pulled bodies from the water. There were fifteen by nightfall, a sixteenth during the night. In ten days, between one thousand five hundred and two thousand people had entered the city, the equivalent of 2% of its population according to its president Juan Jesus Vivas, whose center for minors had already passed 2,400% of capacity. Vivas called for a national state of emergency. Madrid refused him, on the grounds that Spanish civil protection law recognizes only floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, fires and nuclear risk: a migratory flow appears nowhere in it. This rush was born neither of a political signal nor of a calculated loosening of Moroccan controls, as in May 2021. It was born of a Spanish court ruling, and above all of what rumor made of it. Let us trace it back. ![The coastline between Sebta and Fnideq](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7fa_6a6c638eae4fdec9519bf408_frontiere-espagne-maroc-1600.webp) *The border coastline, from Sebta towards Fnideq. Photo: Jose Saez, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## The night the coast emptied On 8 July, the fifth section of the administrative chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court made public a ruling that the General Council of the Judiciary circulated widely on the 10th. It would take a little under three weeks for the news, distorted, to reach the beaches of the North. On the night of 27 July, the Tetouan section of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights reported a collective crossing it would call a “great escape”. On the morning of the 28th, the Royal Gendarmerie swept the shoreline at Fnideq and Belyounech and made, according to security services, some one thousand five hundred arrests; the Royal Navy intercepted several hundred people at sea and recovered a mother and her three children. None of it would hold. By the morning of the 30th, the crowd was larger than the line could contain. At Beni Ansar, facing Melilla, the scene played twice in one day: a first collective attempt dispersed before the border post, a second shortly after ten at night, when hundreds of young people pressed on the crossing and on the disused breaches of Barrio Chino and Farhana, closed since March 2020. Around four hundred people would get through, according to the president of the autonomous city Juan Jose Imbroda, who speaks of a contagion effect coming from Sebta. The blockage turned ugly on the Moroccan side: cars set alight, windows smashed, public property wrecked near the post. No official Moroccan tally has been published. ![The border relief above Sebta](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7e8_6a6c63928bc1cb01bf7d43c3_valla-ceuta-1600.webp) *The border relief above the presidio. Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0.* That same Thursday afternoon, a few kilometers away, King Mohammed VI presided at M’diq, in the prefecture of M’diq-Fnideq, over the reception marking the twenty-seventh anniversary of his accession to the Throne. ## What the Supreme Court actually said The case began with an Algerian national intercepted at sea while swimming towards Sebta, then handed back to Moroccan authorities with no procedure at all. The lower courts had already found in his favor; the Supreme Court confirms them and unifies Spanish jurisprudence. ![The double fence closing the presidio of Sebta](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6565fcb5213346edd7e0_6a6c63e26d8f50645f9486e8_cloture-ceuta-1600.webp) *The double fence of Sebta: the only “physical element of containment” Spanish law recognizes. Photo: Youtryandyoutry, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ### The sea is not a fence The tenth additional provision of the Spanish immigration law, which authorizes the “rechazo en frontera”, applies only where a migrant attempts to cross physical elements of border containment. Plainly: the fences of Sebta and Melilla, the barriers. The sea is not one of them, and the Court takes care to specify that neither drones, nor cameras, nor radar, nor sensors replace a physical barrier. It is worth knowing that the ruling nevertheless leaves a door open: nothing would prevent immediate pushbacks, the judges write, were containment elements installed at sea to materialize the border line. The consequence is procedural, and it is narrow. Anyone arriving by sea must now be identified and given an individual administrative procedure, with a lawyer, an interpreter, the right to make submissions and the right to seek international protection. No one may any longer be walked back across the line minutes after touching the sand. ![The Tarajal border post](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7f2_6a6c638926a07d130adb7298_douane-ceuta-1600.webp) *The Tarajal border post, which the rush bypassed by sea. Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ### The rumor that did the rest Between that ruling and the coast, something was lost. The version that traveled through the North, passed from screen to screen, did not say that a procedure would be owed: it said that reaching the shore guaranteed staying. That is false, and the agreement struck on 30 July between Rabat and Madrid proves it cruelly. An individual procedure is not a residence permit; it is a formality that precedes, more often than not, removal. On the ground, the city overflowed. With reception centers saturated, hundreds slept in parks and on pavements, and the Feria of Sebta was canceled. > Refuerzo de la Guardia Civil en el mar para intensificar el control y la vigilancia en la frontera de Ceuta.— El Faro de Ceuta (@ElFarodeCeuta) [31 de julio de 2026](https://twitter.com/ElFarodeCeuta/status/2083089429254537692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Madrid gives thanks, Rabat denies On 30 July the Spanish Interior Ministry issued a communique which, rather than blaming its neighbor, thanks it: > “El Ministerio del Interior destaca la ejemplar colaboracion de Espana con Marruecos en todos los ambitos, incluido en materia migratoria. El departamento dirigido por Fernando Grande-Marlaska considera que las redes de trafico de personas estan instrumentalizando una sentencia judicial para fomentar el flujo de migrantes indocumentados, mayoritariamente jovenes.”— Ministerio del Interior, communique of 30 July 2026 The text thanks Moroccan security forces by name for thwarting thousands of attempts, and notes that the minister remained in permanent contact with his counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit. Both countries undertake to review and implement the procedures allowing the return, as soon as possible, of everyone who entered illegally. None will be regularized. > El Gobierno de Espana esta volcado en dar una respuesta inmediata a la situacion en Ceuta. Estamos movilizando todos los recursos necesarios, trabajando con las autoridades marroquies e internacionales, y preparando las medidas necesarias para recuperar la normalidad lo antes posible.— Pedro Sanchez (@sanchezcastejon) [30 de julio de 2026](https://twitter.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2082820481720156659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) On the Moroccan side, the answer did not take the form of an official communique. It was diplomatic sources at Morocco’s embassy in Madrid, quoted by the Europa Press agency, who let it be known that these entries “in no way correspond to any desire on the part of the Moroccan authorities to favour irregular immigration”, and that cooperation with Spain remains “exemplary”. The same sources attribute the departures to criminal organizations which “exploit the vulnerability of these people, feeding them false hopes”. As for the human toll, no official count of the missing has been published, in Rabat or in Madrid; it is the families of Fnideq and M’diq who circulate the photographs of their sons. ![A Spanish border police vehicle](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7ef_6a6c63903ea70a15b332dda7_police-frontiere-1600.webp) *A Spanish border police vehicle. Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ### The war of numbers A word is owed about what was read elsewhere. While verifiable sources converged on one thousand five hundred to two thousand entries over ten days, a Spanish account followed by hundreds of thousands claimed the Guardia Civil put the total at forty thousand for 30 July alone. The figure was seen more than a million and a half times. It rests on nothing. Another credited a Guardia Civil patrol with obligingly ferrying migrants to the Spanish shore. A surge may be entirely real without needing to be multiplied by twenty. What the viral footage did not show, a local daily filmed: as exhaustion and uncertainty set in, requests for voluntary return to Morocco multiplied among the very people who had crossed the day before. > La otra cara de la crisis migratoria: crecen las peticiones para regresar a Marruecos. El cansancio, la incertidumbre y la separacion de sus familias llevan a numerosos inmigrantes a solicitar su regreso de manera voluntaria.— El Faro de Ceuta (@ElFarodeCeuta) [31 de julio de 2026](https://twitter.com/ElFarodeCeuta/status/2083088589676527681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ![Belyounech at the foot of Jbel Moussa](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7ec_6a6c6385bab3dda2af15a704_belyounech-plage-1600.webp) *Belyounech, at the foot of Jbel Moussa. Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0.* What remains are the figures nobody disputes. Forty-five bodies have been recovered from Sebta’s waters since January, twenty-six of them in July alone. The year 2025 closed on forty-six. Seven months were enough, and one badly copied sentence, to match the count of a whole year. ### Update of 28 August: Madrid rules Morocco out Twenty-eight days after the surge, the Spanish government settled the question before the Cortes. Heard on 27 August by the joint Congress-Senate committee on national security, at his own request, the minister of the Presidency Felix Bolanos declared that “there is no evidence whatsoever that Morocco led or drove the mass entry of people at the Sebta border on 30 and 31 July”. He reproached the Partido Popular and Vox for disrespecting Rabat without a shred of proof, and attributed the trigger to two rumors born of a distorted reading of the Supreme Court ruling and spread over social media. He used the figure of seventy thousand entries, while conceding that the government had “neither prior nor precise information” about the scale of what was coming. The next day, before the foreign affairs committee, minister Jose Manuel Albares went further: he spoke of “cognitive warfare” and named, not the neighbor, but Russian disinformation networks, ultraconservative influencers and Elon Musk, whose posts are said to have passed seven hundred million views. The foreign-interference thesis had nonetheless circulated on the morning of the 27th in the Madrid press, attributed to government sources and to confidential reports, never to a signed communique. As for the figure, it was never a count: the Spanish government has successively advanced forty-nine thousand, fifty thousand, seventy-two thousand and almost eighty thousand. The royal decree of 25 August placing Sebta in a situation of national security interest until the end of the year is careful to advance no number at all. ## Update, 31 July The next day, the rush changed scale. The president of Sebta, Juan Jesus Vivas, put the number who entered in twenty-four hours at close to sixty thousand; the Spanish government brought the count down to fifty thousand. Set against the presidio’s roughly eighty thousand inhabitants, those orders of magnitude have no equivalent in the history of this border. The ebb was as fast as the wave. By one in the afternoon the Interior Ministry was announcing twenty-five thousand returns to Morocco; by twenty past six, forty-eight thousand three hundred. The ministry described a rate of “150 personas por minuto”. Rabat took back everyone who had entered, under the agreement struck the day before, and no one was regularised. Pedro Sanchez travelled to Sebta with Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who will remain there several days. The Spanish prime minister used a vocabulary he had until then avoided, denouncing “la violacion y el ataque a la integridad territorial de una ciudad espanola como es Ceuta”, while attributing the rush to smuggling networks and thanking Morocco for its cooperation. He announced a reinforcement of roughly 10% of police and Civil Guard numbers, a military deployment, an emergency asylum commission to speed up expulsions, and support measures for the city’s businesses. ### Buoys, and the circle closes One measure deserves reading in the light of the ruling that started all this. Madrid will install buoys along the Tarajal jetty. The Supreme Court had taken care to specify that nothing would prevent immediate pushbacks were containment elements installed at sea to materialise the border line: that is precisely what the government is putting in place. The door the judges left ajar will be walked through before the summer is out. The human toll remains provisional and grows by the hour. Spanish police sources reported at the end of the day forty-one bodies recovered along the coast of Sebta, bringing to seventy-one the number of people who have died this year attempting the crossing by swimming, fifty-two of them in July alone. The whole of 2025 had counted forty-six. ### 1 August: the barrier laid, the toll at sixty-seven On the morning of 1 August the Civil Guard began laying in the water off Tarajal what the Supreme Court had called containment elements: buoys and a net five hundred metres long. The ruling of 8 July had said immediate pushbacks would become lawful again the day the border line was materialised at sea. It took forty-eight hours. The toll, meanwhile, has more than doubled. Ten further bodies were taken from the water between Friday evening and Saturday morning, bringing to sixty-seven the dead of this episode and to ninety-seven the number of people found lifeless on the coasts of Sebta since January. The whole of 2025 had counted forty-six. The search continues and the Spanish authorities do not rule out the count rising further. The returns are substantially complete. On Saturday the Spanish government put them at close to sixty-nine thousand five hundred, a figure that exceeds its own count of entries and that nothing reconciles. In the city, the Civil Guard now escorts goods lorries to restore supply. And politics has resumed its rights: arriving on the ground, opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo declared that “el Gobierno no puede decir que no sabia lo que iba a ocurrir en Ceuta”. ### 2 August: the children who stay Fifty thousand people left in a day. More than a thousand will not: they are unaccompanied minors, and Spanish law and international conventions alike forbid returning them against their will. Each one opens an individual protection procedure; those who do not go back of their own accord remain under the guardianship of the administration. Sebta’s centre for minors was already past 2,400% of capacity before the rush. The asymmetry holds in a single image, reported by the local press: a minor, turned back on the Moroccan side, returned to Sebta by swimming. The rhetoric, meanwhile, is hardening. The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, called the crisis an “invasion” and “acto de guerra promovido por Marruecos y tolerada por Pedro Sanchez”. The city is looking for its measure: the Feria is cancelled and the port crossing postponed on security grounds, but the procession of the Virgen de Africa will go out, and hundreds of Ceutis gathered in the Plaza de los Reyes for the unity of their city. ## References - Congreso de los Diputados — appearance of Felix Bolanos, minister of the Presidency, before the joint committee on national security, 27 August 2026. - Congreso de los Diputados — appearance of Jose Manuel Albares before the foreign affairs committee, 28 August 2026. - Boletín Oficial del Estado — royal decree 705/2026 of 26 August 2026, following royal decree 681/2026 of 25 August 2026. - El Faro de Ceuta and Ceuta Actualidad — field coverage in Sebta, 1 and 2 August 2026. - El Faro de Ceuta — field coverage and statements gathered in Sebta, 1 August 2026. - La Moncloa — [statement by the Spanish prime minister in Sebta](https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/presidente/actividades/Paginas/2026/310726-sanchez-reunion-coordinacion-ceuta.aspx), 31 July 2026. - Ministerio del Interior (Spain) — hourly tallies of returns to Morocco, 31 July 2026. - Tribunal Supremo, Sala de lo Contencioso-Administrativo, sección V — ruling on the inapplicability of the “rechazo en frontera” to people intercepted at sea, made public on 8 July 2026 and circulated on 10 July by the Consejo General del Poder Judicial. - Ministerio del Interior (Spain) — [Comunicado sobre la situación en la ciudad autónoma de Ceuta](https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/detalle/articulo/Comunicado-sobre-la-situacion-en-la-ciudad-autonoma-de-Ceuta), 30 July 2026. - Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain — [statement published on 30 July 2026](https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2082820481720156659). - Europa Press — statements by diplomatic sources at Morocco's embassy in Spain, 30 July 2026. - Le Desk — [Ceuta et Melilla : au moins quinze morts, heurts a Beni Ansar, accord de retour avec Madrid](https://ledesk.ma/2026/07/31/ceuta-et-melilla-au-moins-quinze-morts-heurts-a-beni-ansar-accord-de-retour-avec-madrid/), 31 July 2026 (own reporting). - Médias24 — [Sebta : tous les migrants seront rapatries au Maroc, aucune regularisation](https://medias24.com/2026/07/30/sebta-tous-les-migrants-seront-rapatries-au-maroc-aucune-regularisation-1733675/), 30 July 2026 (own sourcing). - Maldita.es — [fact-check of the figures and viral claims](https://maldita.es/desinfo/20260730/entrada-masiva-de-inmigrantes-logran-acceder-a-ceuta-a-traves-del-espigon-del-tarajal/), 30 July 2026. - Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Tetouan section — alert of 29 July 2026. - El Faro de Ceuta — field reporting and images, 30 and 31 July 2026. --- --- title: "Apple Applies a 20% VAT in Morocco and Will Raise Its Prices on 14 September" description: "Apple informed its developers on 27 August that its proceeds in Morocco now carry a 20% VAT, which it collects and remits. Listed prices will be adjusted on 14 September. The tax has existed since 2024, but the collection portal opened only in June 2026." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/apple-tva-app-store-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/apple-tva-app-store-maroc type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-28T09:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.774Z tags: ["Technology", "Finance", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5efd5e23d293d27dd4_6ae60a10d10e1b06c9ba4fd9_apple-tva-app-store-maroc-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Apple Applies a 20% VAT in Morocco and Will Raise Its Prices on 14 September *Apple informed its developers on 27 August that its proceeds in Morocco now carry a 20% VAT, which it collects and remits. Listed prices will be adjusted on 14 September. The tax has existed since 2024, but the collection portal opened only in June 2026.* ![A close-up of the blue App Store icon on an iPhone home screen.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b5efd5e23d293d27dd4_6ae60a10d10e1b06c9ba4fd9_apple-tva-app-store-maroc-hero-main.webp) Apple told its developers on August 27 that proceeds from apps and in-app purchases in Morocco are now reduced by a value-added tax of 20%, which the company itself collects and remits. ![The name of the General Tax Directorate in Arabic, Amazigh and French metal letters above the glass entrance of its headquarters.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b60fd5e23d293d27e28_6ae6061cba58831462d1146e_apple-tva-app-store-maroc-inline.webp) *The headquarters of the General Tax Directorate in Rabat. Photo: Le360.* Listed prices, for their part, move only on September 14, and not for auto-renewable subscriptions. The novelty is not the tax but its collection. Finance law 55-23 had already made services supplied remotely by a non-resident with no establishment in Morocco subject to VAT, from January 1, 2024. What was missing was the pipe: the implementing decree appeared only in December 2025, and the tax administration’s portal has been open to foreign suppliers only since June 11, 2026. Two and a half years therefore separate the rule from its collection, and it is that gap, rather than any decision taken in Cupertino, that Moroccan developers will read on their statements. *AI-generated concept image.* *Photo: Consonews.* ## References - Apple — Developer News, “Tax and price updates for apps, In-App Purchases, and subscriptions”, 27 August 2026. - Finance law no. 55-23 for the 2024 budget year, article 6 — General Tax Code, articles 88 and 115 bis. --- --- title: "Morocco’s Lawyers Keep the Strike On After the Profession Law Takes Effect" description: "Meeting in extraordinary council on 27 August, the bureau of the Association of Moroccan Bars decided to maintain the total halt on professional services, although law 66.23 has been in force since 20 August. The strike has run since 15 June." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/avocats-greve-loi-66-23 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/avocats-greve-loi-66-23 type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-28T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:10:08.961Z tags: ["Justice", "Politics", "Casablanca"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e711596dcfd31d6a4cc_6ae53c743b9a03db7f24a56b_avocats-greve-loi-66-23-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco’s Lawyers Keep the Strike On After the Profession Law Takes Effect *Meeting in extraordinary council on 27 August, the bureau of the Association of Moroccan Bars decided to maintain the total halt on professional services, although law 66.23 has been in force since 20 August. The strike has run since 15 June.* ![Lawyers in black robes demonstrate in front of Parliament in Rabat, one of them holding up an Arabic placard reading “For a legal profession for the nation and the citizen.”](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e711596dcfd31d6a4cc_6ae53c743b9a03db7f24a56b_avocats-greve-loi-66-23-main.webp) The bars are not going back. Meeting in extraordinary council in Rabat on August 27, the bureau of the Association of Moroccan Bars decided to maintain the halt on professional services and the boycott of judicial duties, even though law 66.23 organizing the profession has been in force since August 20. The strike has run without a break since June 15, 74 days, and covers every service, legal aid included. Yet the contested text is now the law. The Constitutional Court declared itself unable to rule on August 10, as the referral did not include the version adopted at second reading by the House of Councillors. The minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi judged the day after publication that the strike would not continue, calling it a “revocable” divorce with the profession. The bars are now demanding the reopening of a promulgated law, on the independence of the profession, the immunity of the defense and the discipline of the bar councils. Seventeen thousand lawyers are waiting to learn which of the two readings prevails. *Photo: Y. Mannan/Le360.* ## References - Association of Moroccan Bars — decisions of the extraordinary council and the bureau, 27 and 28 August 2026. - Official Bulletin no. 7536 of 20 August 2026 — law no. 66.23 organizing the legal profession, dahir no. 1.26.75 of 18 August 2026. - Constitutional Court — decision no. 26/277 M.D. of 10 August 2026. --- --- title: "The RNI Accuses the PAM of Poaching Its Elected Officials Four Weeks Before the Vote" description: "Meeting in Rabat on 25 August under the chairmanship of Mohamed Chaouki, the RNI political bureau denounces solicitation and pressure aimed at its elected officials, points at the PAM, its partner in government, and names eight people whose candidacies it contests, four weeks before the legislative elections." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rni-pam-debauchage-elus language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rni-pam-debauchage-elus type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-26T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:23.980Z tags: ["Politics", "Elections", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea35e3930a0155c6941_6ae53c8df4328ec8a0e7db6f_rni-pam-debauchage-elus-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The RNI Accuses the PAM of Poaching Its Elected Officials Four Weeks Before the Vote *Meeting in Rabat on 25 August under the chairmanship of Mohamed Chaouki, the RNI political bureau denounces solicitation and pressure aimed at its elected officials, points at the PAM, its partner in government, and names eight people whose candidacies it contests, four weeks before the legislative elections.* ![Members of the RNI political bureau meet around a curved table in a room bearing the party’s logo in Rabat.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea35e3930a0155c6941_6ae53c8df4328ec8a0e7db6f_rni-pam-debauchage-elus-main.webp) The political bureau of the Rassemblement national des independants, meeting in Rabat on August 25 under the chairmanship of Mohamed Chaouki, put out that same evening a statement attributing to the Parti authenticite et modernite the solicitation and the pressure its members of parliament, its elected officials and its territorial officers have met. ![Mohamed Chaouki, in a white shirt, speaks at a blue RNI lectern marked in Arabic “Ribat El Kheir, August 7, 2026.”](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c91d10e1b06c9bb2ea1_6ae60668975a08ca9618fe91_rni-pam-debauchage-elus-inline.webp) *Mohamed Chaouki, the RNI’s president, at a party meeting in Ribat El Kheir, Sefrou province, on August 7, 2026. Photo: Hespress.* The bureau expresses astonishment at the candidacies of eight people it names, some of them already announced as the party’s own candidates, others still exercising a mandate in its name. The attempts are said to have reached a member of the political bureau itself. The date is not incidental. The legislative vote is set for September 23, candidacy filing opens on August 31, and the two parties have governed together since 2021 alongside the Istiqlal. The RNI came out of 2021 with one hundred and two seats, the PAM with eighty-seven. No party, the bureau writes, may grant itself an exceptional position outside the principle of equality between parties, nor manufacture for itself an anticipated image of results on which the ballot boxes have not yet said their word. The PAM, for its part, did not reply. A deputy left the RNI to join it that same evening, insisting he went without animosity. *Photo: Le360.* ## References - Rassemblement national des independants — [statement of the political bureau](https://rni.ma/%d8%a8%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ba-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%83%d8%aa%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b3%d9%8a-%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b2%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%b9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%88%d8%b7%d9%86-13/), 25 August 2026. - Decree no. 2.26.190 of 12 March 2026 fixing the date of election of the members of the House of Representatives, Official Bulletin no. 7491 of 16 March 2026. --- --- title: "Flanders Refused an 81 Million Euro U.S. Arms Transit to Morocco, Then Changed Its Law" description: "The monthly report of the Flemish strategic goods control service records for April 2026 a definitive refusal of transit to Morocco of American military vehicles, for 81,618,114.33 euros. The new Flemish decree, adopted on 15 July, does not enter into force until December 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/flandre-transit-armes-maroc-refus language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/flandre-transit-armes-maroc-refus type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-26T09:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.337Z tags: ["Security", "Diplomacy", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8eda25e8ee8d0f9d8f4a48_6a8eda0cc0cc0452a6cc5a42_anvers-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Flanders Refused an 81 Million Euro U.S. Arms Transit to Morocco, Then Changed Its Law *The monthly report of the Flemish strategic goods control service records for April 2026 a definitive refusal of transit to Morocco of American military vehicles, for 81,618,114.33 euros. The new Flemish decree, adopted on 15 July, does not enter into force until December 2027.* ![Container cranes at the MPET terminal in the port of Antwerp, at twilight.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8eda25e8ee8d0f9d8f4a48_6a8eda0cc0cc0452a6cc5a42_anvers-main.webp) One refusal, a single one, appears in the monthly report of the Flemish strategic goods control service for April 2026: the transit, from the United States, of military vehicles and parts intended for the Royal Armed Forces, for 81,618,114.33 euros. ![The empty chamber of the Flemish Parliament, its seats curved around the rostrum beneath a glass roof.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b82da84eca6922912be_6ae606268f7591899402b4e5_flandre-transit-armes-maroc-refus-inline.webp) *The Flemish Parliament’s chamber in Brussels. Photo: ArneVcrs-FnP, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The explanatory note of May 13 cites article 26 of the Flemish arms trade decree, which requires refusal where the goods can be used in an armed conflict and the end user is a party to a regional armed conflict. The text does not name the theater. On July 15, 2026, the Flemish Parliament adopted a new text which aligns Flanders with the European common position of 2008 and drops that near-automatic ban. It will not enter into force until December 31, 2027, unless the Flemish government brings that date forward. When it does, it will not free Morocco. The easing in the new article 17 applies to transits bound for NATO and Wassenaar Arrangement countries, not to those originating in them, and the Kingdom belongs to neither. A license will still be required, and article 18 will still allow it to be refused. The press headlined that Flanders would no longer block these transits, a forecast that rests on an inaccurate reading of the text. *Photo: Trougnouf, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Flemish Parliament — draft decree 846 (2025-2026), articles 17, 18 and 66, adopted at second reading on 15 July 2026. - Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, article 2, fourth criterion, consolidated version of 15 April 2025. - Vlaamse overheid, dienst Controle Strategische Goederen — monthly licence report, April 2026, and explanatory note of 13 May 2026. - Flemish Parliament — decree regulating the import, export, transit and transfer of military goods, adopted at second reading on 15 July 2026. --- --- title: "Khemisset Potash: Emmerson Claims 1.215 Billion Dollars, Will Wait Until July 2028" description: "The ICSID tribunal has set 17 July 2028 for the opening of the hearing between Emmerson plc and Morocco over the Khemisset potash project. The British company is claiming 1.215 billion dollars. Morocco’s counter-memorial is due in January 2027." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/emmerson-potasse-khemisset-arbitrage language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/emmerson-potasse-khemisset-arbitrage type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-26T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.790Z tags: ["Justice", "Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8eda1fb088d160c157e7a0_6a8eda06c0cc0452a6cc5568_potasse-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Khemisset Potash: Emmerson Claims 1.215 Billion Dollars, Will Wait Until July 2028 *The ICSID tribunal has set 17 July 2028 for the opening of the hearing between Emmerson plc and Morocco over the Khemisset potash project. The British company is claiming 1.215 billion dollars. Morocco’s counter-memorial is due in January 2027.* ![The twin lakes of Aguelmane Tiknwin, rural commune of Ait Ikkou, Khemisset province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a8eda1fb088d160c157e7a0_6a8eda06c0cc0452a6cc5568_potasse-main.webp) The ICSID tribunal has settled its calendar: the hearing between Emmerson plc and the Kingdom of Morocco will run from July 17 to 26, 2028. The British company, which invokes the bilateral investment treaty concluded with the United Kingdom, puts its claim at 1.215 billion dollars. ![A drilling mast, trucks and tarpaulins in a field of yellow flowers below low hills.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c6a069f5a547c2b52e6_6ae56b3dc2e010f82ae300fa_emmerson-potasse-khemisset-arbitrage.webp) *A drilling rig at the Khemisset potash project site. Photo: Le360.* The dispute concerns the Khemisset potash project, whose environmental impact assessment ran in October 2024 into an unfavorable opinion from the regional investment commission. That opinion rested on the project’s water consumption. Morocco had asked the tribunal to rule first on its jurisdiction; it refused on July 17, 2026 and joined the objections to the merits. The Moroccan counter-memorial is due in January 2027, so the Kingdom has not yet written its defense on the merits. The file raises a question the country will meet more and more often: how far can a state refuse an environmental permit before that refusal becomes, in the eyes of an arbitral tribunal, an indirect expropriation? It is in July 2028 that the border between regulatory sovereignty and investor protection will be judged, over Khemisset. *Photo: Delpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Emmerson plc — regulatory announcement on the arbitration calendar, 25 August 2026. - ICSID — case no. ARB/25/22, public register of proceedings. --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib Strikes a 250-Dirham Silver Coin for the King’s Sixty-Third Birthday" description: "Bank Al-Maghrib has issued a commemorative silver coin of 250 dirhams for the sixty-third birthday of King Mohammed VI. The obverse carries the sovereign’s effigy in Arabic and Tifinagh, the reverse the arms of the Kingdom and the number 63." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/piece-commemorative-250-dirhams-63e-anniversaire language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/piece-commemorative-250-dirhams-63e-anniversaire type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-21T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:49.448Z tags: ["Finance", "Society", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3e8d222c080e6130bb_6ae609fc42f73d1f6830fa1f_piece-commemorative-250-dirhams-63e-anniversaire-hero-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib Strikes a 250-Dirham Silver Coin for the King’s Sixty-Third Birthday *Bank Al-Maghrib has issued a commemorative silver coin of 250 dirhams for the sixty-third birthday of King Mohammed VI. The obverse carries the sovereign’s effigy in Arabic and Tifinagh, the reverse the arms of the Kingdom and the number 63.* ![The reverse and obverse of the 250-dirham coin for King Mohammed VI’s sixty-third birthday, above the Bank Al-Maghrib logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3e8d222c080e6130bb_6ae609fc42f73d1f6830fa1f_piece-commemorative-250-dirhams-63e-anniversaire-hero-main.webp) The coin is silver and its face value is 250 dirhams. Bank Al-Maghrib issued it for the sixty-third birthday of King Mohammed VI, marked on August 21 alongside Youth Day. ![Both faces of the coin for the 27th anniversary of the accession, bearing the number 27 and the King’s effigy, above the Bank Al-Maghrib logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b3f8d222c080e6130bf_6ae606134dec2ab8f2acedd2_piece-commemorative-250-dirhams-63e-anniversaire-inline.webp) *The 250-dirham coin issued for the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne. Photo: Bank Al-Maghrib, via Hespress.* The obverse carries the sovereign’s effigy, with the year 2026-1448. The reverse gathers a ribbon set with a five-pointed star, the arms of the Kingdom and the number 63, against a ground of arabesques. The central bank had already struck one of the same face value for the twenty-seventh Throne Day. Each coin fixes a date the state means to see remembered. This one will not circulate: a 250-dirham silver piece is made for collections, and its face amount is a convention rather than a price. *Photo: Bank Al-Maghrib, via Hespress.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib — statement on the issue of a 250-dirham commemorative coin, August 2026. --- --- title: "The Constitutional Court Bars the Government From Appointing Judicial Council Officials" description: "By decision no. 278.26 of 10 August, published in the Official Bulletin on the 13th, the Constitutional Court held unconstitutional the provision handing the council of government the appointment of the judicial conservators-general of the Higher Council of the Judiciary." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/cour-constitutionnelle-cspj-nominations language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/cour-constitutionnelle-cspj-nominations type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-21T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.276Z tags: ["Politics", "Justice", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eddb78e77363939265d_6ae53d4cee5fe82e96019986_cour-constitutionnelle-cspj-nominations-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Constitutional Court Bars the Government From Appointing Judicial Council Officials *By decision no. 278.26 of 10 August, published in the Official Bulletin on the 13th, the Constitutional Court held unconstitutional the provision handing the council of government the appointment of the judicial conservators-general of the Higher Council of the Judiciary.* ![The entrance of the Constitutional Court in Rabat, its name in gold Arabic letters above the portico.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53eddb78e77363939265d_6ae53d4cee5fe82e96019986_cour-constitutionnelle-cspj-nominations-main.webp) Unanimity in both chambers is not the same thing as conformity with the Constitution. By its decision no. 278.26, handed down on August 10, the Constitutional Court struck down the provision of organic law no. 026.26 that placed the judicial conservators-general among the senior posts filled by decree in the council of government. ![The ochre and red facade of Morocco’s Parliament, hung with flags, behind a green fence under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bab5d230cc1aeece14b_6ae60630a5d3f837ad784513_cour-constitutionnelle-cspj-nominations-inline.webp) *Morocco’s Parliament building in Rabat. Photo: Fernando Pascullo, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The text amended organic law no. 02.12, which since 2012 has divided the state’s most sensitive appointments between the council of ministers, chaired by the King, and the council of government. The referral was in no way optional: article 132 requires every organic law to be sent to the Court before promulgation. The judges read the provision as an encroachment on the institutional independence of the judiciary, and the rule they set reaches beyond the single post at issue. The administration of the Higher Council of the Judiciary will therefore not be appointed from the government’s table. *Photo: Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco — Constitutional Court decision no. 278.26, 10 August 2026, published 13 August 2026. - Le Desk — analysis of the decision and the referral procedure, 21 August 2026. --- --- title: "Morocco Opens Its Bar to Foreign Law Firms, on an Investment Condition" description: "Promulgated by dahir on 18 August and in force since the 20th, law 66.23 replaces the 2008 text. Its article 35 lets the minister of Justice exceptionally authorise a foreign law firm, tied to an investment project or a public contract." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/loi-66-23-cabinets-avocats-etrangers language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/loi-66-23-cabinets-avocats-etrangers type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-21T09:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.799Z tags: ["Economy", "Justice", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a888156ca5d762849c4ff0d_6a88813e3cafe6c70e318511_avocats-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco Opens Its Bar to Foreign Law Firms, on an Investment Condition *Promulgated by dahir on 18 August and in force since the 20th, law 66.23 replaces the 2008 text. Its article 35 lets the minister of Justice exceptionally authorise a foreign law firm, tied to an investment project or a public contract.* ![The Casablanca Finance City business district.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a888156ca5d762849c4ff0d_6a88813e3cafe6c70e318511_avocats-main.webp) Law 66.23 organizing the legal profession came into force on August 20, the day it was published in the Official Bulletin. It replaces the 2008 law 28.08. ![Dozens of lawyers in black robes chant behind a banner on the steps of a courthouse.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c9cfc26763079d04a8e_6ae56b4f066db160bd5b9bbf_loi-66-23-cabinets-avocats-etrangers.webp) *Lawyers in robes outside the Casablanca Court of Appeal protesting draft law 66.23, July 15, 2026. Photo: Hespress.* Its article 35 now allows the minister of Justice to authorize, exceptionally, a foreign law firm whose country is bound to the Kingdom by no convention to practice in Morocco. The authorization rests on an investment project or a public contract, and expires with it. The earlier regime opened the door to lawyers only, never to firms, and only to those whose home state had signed a reciprocity convention with the Kingdom. What commands the opening is therefore no longer a treaty but a worksite: a firm enters Morocco because capital enters with it, and it leaves when the operation closes. The bars, which fought all summer over the profession’s perimeter, inherit a boundary they will have to hold file by file. *Photo: Turdyfirst, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco — law 66.23 organising the legal profession, dahir of 18 August 2026, published 20 August 2026. - Le Desk — analysis of article 35 and the earlier regime under law 28.08, 21 August 2026. --- --- title: "The King Pardons 935 People, Then 667 the Next Day" description: "The Ministry of Justice announced two royal pardons in two days: nine hundred and thirty-five people on 19 August, on the eve of the Revolution of the King and the People, then six hundred and sixty-seven the next day for Youth Day." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/graces-royales-935-667 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/graces-royales-935-667 type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-21T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.744Z tags: ["Justice", "Politics", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a88815283df0d952caa4d6d_6a88813788c9e361245bc2cd_grace-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The King Pardons 935 People, Then 667 the Next Day *The Ministry of Justice announced two royal pardons in two days: nine hundred and thirty-five people on 19 August, on the eve of the Revolution of the King and the People, then six hundred and sixty-seven the next day for Youth Day.* ![The Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, the Mohammed VI Tower behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a88815283df0d952caa4d6d_6a88813788c9e361245bc2cd_grace-main.webp) Nine hundred and thirty-five people were pardoned on August 19, on the eve of the seventy-third anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, eight hundred and seven of them in detention, according to the Ministry of Justice. ![A man in a dark suit and glasses sits at a desk in a room with decorated walls.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c41caebd3bb80596d88_6ae56b2d5bf4bd85982c31a2_graces-royales-935-667.webp) *King Mohammed VI. Photo: Le360.* The breakdown counts seven hundred and ninety-six remissions of sentence and three life sentences commuted to fixed terms. The following day, for Youth Day, a second pardon reached six hundred and sixty-seven people, five hundred and twenty-six of them in detention. August 20 recalls the deposition and exile of Mohammed V in 1953, the 21st celebrates youth and the sovereign’s birthday. Clemency here is a ritual gesture as much as a legal act. One thousand six hundred and two people in forty-eight hours is more than the routine of commemoration. Remissions of sentence nonetheless make up the bulk of it, and the doors that genuinely open are fewer than the total would suggest. *Photo: Petar Milosevic, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministry of Justice — statements of 19 and 20 August 2026. --- --- title: "WAFCON: Morocco Falls on Penalties and Leaves the Bronze to Algeria" description: "At the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on 15 August, Morocco and Algeria finished level at one apiece in the WAFCON third-place match. Algeria won three to two on penalties and took their first continental podium." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/wafcon-2026-maroc-algerie-bronze language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/wafcon-2026-maroc-algerie-bronze type: news category: sport published: 2026-08-16T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.921Z tags: ["Sport", "Women of Morocco", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b70c8814c3d2843f07fe_6a81b63d54c471bdf7a16f1d_wafcon-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # WAFCON: Morocco Falls on Penalties and Leaves the Bronze to Algeria *At the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on 15 August, Morocco and Algeria finished level at one apiece in the WAFCON third-place match. Algeria won three to two on penalties and took their first continental podium.* ![Ibtissam Jraidi in Morocco colours, in October 2023 at the Grand Stade of Marrakech.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b70c8814c3d2843f07fe_6a81b63d54c471bdf7a16f1d_wafcon-main.webp) Nouhaila Benzina had the win at her feet. In the ninety-fifth minute of the third-place match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, on Saturday, August 15, in Rabat, her penalty struck the post. ![Players in white and green run to celebrate with their goalkeeper in yellow.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c6ca5b28e7a3c90dfcc_6ae56b3ea5b28e7a3c908429_wafcon-2026-maroc-algerie-bronze.webp) *Algeria’s players celebrate their win over Morocco at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Photo: CAF.* Morocco and Algeria parted at one apiece: Kautar Azraf had opened the scoring in the thirty-seventh minute, Lina Boussaha equalized in the eighty-third. From the spot, Algeria won three to two. The podium therefore escapes the host nation, fourth in its own tournament after losing its semi-final to Cameroon. Algeria climbs onto the continental podium for the first time in its history. Two shootouts were enough to deny the host country a final and then a podium. The rest, this team had already won. *Photo: Marouane Hamousse, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Confédération africaine de football (CAF) — match report, Morocco-Algeria third-place play-off, 15 August 2026. --- --- title: "Four Jazari Institutes Gain Legal Existence in the Official Bulletin" description: "The joint decisions approving their constitutive agreements have been published in the Official Bulletin. Four Jazari institutes, devoted to artificial intelligence, education, industry and the smart city, now exist in law as public interest groups." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/instituts-jazari-bulletin-officiel language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/instituts-jazari-bulletin-officiel type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-16T10:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.715Z tags: ["Technology", "Science", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b7088814c3d2843f06ec_6a81b637c492027687f28e3c_jazari-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Four Jazari Institutes Gain Legal Existence in the Official Bulletin *The joint decisions approving their constitutive agreements have been published in the Official Bulletin. Four Jazari institutes, devoted to artificial intelligence, education, industry and the smart city, now exist in law as public interest groups.* ![The elephant clock, a folio from al-Jazari's treatise on ingenious mechanical devices.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b7088814c3d2843f06ec_6a81b637c492027687f28e3c_jazari-main.webp) It took the Official Bulletin for the Jazari network to stop being an announcement. The publication of the joint decisions approving their constitutive agreements gives four institutes a legal existence. ![Six signatories pose behind a table holding folders, in front of a screen announcing the signing of the Jazari agreement.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c9fa97d6bb9ad25bf75_6ae56b506d7bcf6ab1b4abca_instituts-jazari-bulletin-officiel.webp) *The signing of the Jazari Industry X.0 institute agreement at the Euromed University of Fes, March 10, 2026. Photo: Morocco World News.* Jazari Root, the nucleus of the network, Jazari Education and Technological Innovation, Jazari Industry X.0 and Jazari Smart City take the form of public interest groups, a structure that binds the state, the universities and private companies without creating a new administration. Each carries its own field: artificial intelligence, digital tools for schools and universities, automation, online public services and urban planning. The name comes from al-Jazari, the engineer who died in 1206 and whose *Livre de la connaissance des procédés mécaniques ingénieux* fixed the art of automata for centuries. The whole sits inside the Digital Morocco 2030 and Morocco AI 2030 strategies. *Image: al-Jazari, Livre de la connaissance des procédés mécaniques ingénieux, Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0.* ## References - Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco — joint decisions approving the constitutive agreements of the Jazari public interest groups, August 2026. - Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform — Digital Morocco 2030 and Morocco AI 2030 strategies. --- --- title: "Morocco Waives Short-Stay Visas for Albanian Citizens" description: "Since 15 August, Albanian nationals can enter Morocco for short stays without a visa. The Kingdom’s embassy in Tirana notified the decision to the Albanian foreign ministry the day before. It makes good a commitment given in March 2025." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-albanie-exemption-visa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-albanie-exemption-visa type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-16T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.825Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Tourism", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b704c9662abc0600ef6d_6a81b63365f5747c9c64a26d_albanie-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco Waives Short-Stay Visas for Albanian Citizens *Since 15 August, Albanian nationals can enter Morocco for short stays without a visa. The Kingdom’s embassy in Tirana notified the decision to the Albanian foreign ministry the day before. It makes good a commitment given in March 2025.* ![Central Tirana, the capital of Albania.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b704c9662abc0600ef6d_6a81b63365f5747c9c64a26d_albanie-main.webp) Since Saturday, August 15, Albanian nationals have entered Morocco for short stays without having to apply for a visa. The Kingdom’s embassy in Tirana notified the decision to the Albanian ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs the day before. ![Two men in suits shake hands holding signing folders, behind the Albanian and Moroccan flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c43074eaebb0e0653a1_6ae56b2e5efef00a23ca41f0_maroc-albanie-exemption-visa.webp) *Nasser Bourita and Igli Hasani in Rabat on March 1, 2025. Photo: Yassine Mannan / Le360.* The measure makes good a commitment given in Rabat on March 1, 2025, at the meeting between Nasser Bourita and his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani, which had waited nearly a year and a half for practical form. The gesture is modest in volume and clear in intent: what Rabat gains here is not a tourist flow but a relationship, in a region where Moroccan diplomacy has so far barely deployed. The waiver extends a policy the Kingdom widens country by country. At this stage it covers only the entry of Albanians into Morocco. *Photo: Justin W. Flory, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Ministria për Evropën dhe Punët e Jashtme — statement of 14 August 2026. - Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Tirana — notification of 14 August 2026. --- --- title: "Morocco Orders EFE and TVE Journalists to Leave Fnideq" description: "On 15 August Moroccan authorities ordered journalists from the EFE agency and Spanish public broadcaster TVE to leave Fnideq, where they were covering the Ceuta border. Rabat gave no reason; the Moroccan press reads the move as reciprocity." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/journalistes-espagnols-fnideq language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/journalistes-espagnols-fnideq type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-16T09:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.788Z tags: ["Media", "Spain", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b6464d3d42f7ffac91d2_6a81b62d4d3d42f7ffac8b87_efe-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco Orders EFE and TVE Journalists to Leave Fnideq *On 15 August Moroccan authorities ordered journalists from the EFE agency and Spanish public broadcaster TVE to leave Fnideq, where they were covering the Ceuta border. Rabat gave no reason; the Moroccan press reads the move as reciprocity.* ![The Ceuta customs post, on the border with Morocco.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b6464d3d42f7ffac91d2_6a81b62d4d3d42f7ffac8b87_efe-main.webp) The journalists of the EFE news agency and the Spanish public broadcaster TVE, who had been covering the approaches to the border for several days, were told to leave Fnideq on Saturday, August 15. ![Riot police and police vans lined up along a road below a wooded hillside.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c6d0ead21136b9bf51c_6ae56b3f9c94771ca73095f9_journalistes-espagnols-fnideq.webp) *Moroccan security forces deployed to prevent a mass crossing into Ceuta. Photo: EFE.* It was their hotel front desks that informed them. An official, saying he was following instructions, warned them that their press credentials and their equipment could be seized if they did not comply. Rabat gave no reason for its decision, but the calendar comments on it. Earlier in the month a 2M crew was refused entry to Ceuta as it came to cover the aftermath of the late-July rush, and the Moroccan press has since spoken of reciprocity. Madrid answered that it defends press freedom at all times and in all places, and Spanish professional associations demanded that the right to information be respected. *Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Agencia EFE — dispatch of 15 August 2026. - Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) — 15 August 2026. - 2M — report of its crew being refused access to Ceuta, August 2026. --- --- title: "Fnideq: The Mass Crossing Announced for 15 August Did Not Happen" description: "Calls for a mass crossing of the Ceuta border on 15 August produced no wave. Around three hundred people converged on the hills above Fnideq; two hundred and ninety-four were intercepted and sixty-one arrested for incitement." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fnideq-15-aout language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fnideq-15-aout type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-16T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.720Z tags: ["Migration", "Security", "Spain"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b642aa113639400849bd_6a81b624c492027687f2874f_sebta-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fnideq: The Mass Crossing Announced for 15 August Did Not Happen *Calls for a mass crossing of the Ceuta border on 15 August produced no wave. Around three hundred people converged on the hills above Fnideq; two hundred and ninety-four were intercepted and sixty-one arrested for incitement.* ![The Ceuta border fence, where it runs down to the sea.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a81b642aa113639400849bd_6a81b624c492027687f2874f_sebta-main.webp) The first groups were spotted before daybreak, in the hills above Fnideq. There were some three hundred of them, most from sub-Saharan countries, converging on the Ceuta border on the morning of Saturday, August 15, after weeks of calls relayed on social media. None reached the El Tarajal crossing. ![Uniformed officers in yellow Auxiliary Forces vests walk in file, helmets in hand, under eucalyptus trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56ca2a97d6bb9ad25c10f_6ae56b501eb83b1e1698dce0_fnideq-15-aout.webp) *Auxiliary Forces officers deployed in Fnideq on August 15, 2026. Photo: Le360.* By a quarter to three the provisional count given by a security source stood at two hundred and ninety-four interceptions, forty-six of them Moroccan. A further sixty-one people were arrested for inciting irregular migration. The operation, which the Spanish press christened *Operación Jaula*, had sealed the town several days in advance, from road checks to drones over the mountain ground. On July 30 and 31, tens of thousands of people had entered Ceuta. This time, the call did produce a crowd, it did not produce a crossing. What remains in the enclave are the seven to nine thousand people the Spanish government still counts there. *Photo: Mario Sanchez Bueno, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ## References - Agencia EFE — dispatches of 15 August 2026 from Fnideq and Ceuta. - Delegación del Gobierno en Ceuta — security deployment of 15 August 2026. --- --- title: "Spain: Moroccans Are the Largest Foreign Nationality Paying Into Social Security" description: "Spain passed three and a half million foreign contributors to Social Security in July, a first. Moroccans form the largest nationality among them, with 415,310 affiliates, ahead of Colombians and Romanians." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/maroc-premiere-nationalite-etrangere-securite-sociale-espagne language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/maroc-premiere-nationalite-etrangere-securite-sociale-espagne type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-14T20:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.771Z tags: ["Diaspora", "Spain", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f6c3a3d68cad31e792e0f_6a7f6c280318190b4cb30de8_espagne-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Spain: Moroccans Are the Largest Foreign Nationality Paying Into Social Security *Spain passed three and a half million foreign contributors to Social Security in July, a first. Moroccans form the largest nationality among them, with 415,310 affiliates, ahead of Colombians and Romanians.* ![The greenhouses of El Ejido, in the province of Almeria.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f6c3a3d68cad31e792e0f_6a7f6c280318190b4cb30de8_espagne-main.webp) Spain’s ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration published the July affiliation figures on August 14. For the first time the country counts more than three and a half million foreign contributors, precisely 3,512,223 on a monthly average. ![Elma Saiz, in a red sweater, holds a black briefcase marked with her ministerial title in front of a glass door.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c37bc0ed2f9666c7009_6ae606518f7591899402caf2_maroc-premiere-nationalite-etrangere-securite-sociale-espagne-inline.webp) *Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister of inclusion, social security and migration. Photo: Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo.* Moroccans head the ranking by nationality, 415,310 of them, ahead of Colombians (347,467). The figure states a mutual dependence: these affiliates pay in, accrue rights and weigh on the balance of a scheme that Spanish aging is straining. That the largest foreign community in the Spanish labor market should be Moroccan, at the very moment Madrid and Rabat are negotiating their migration files inch by inch, will give these statistics a reach well beyond social accounting. *Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones — [La Seguridad Social supera por primera vez los 3,5 millones de afiliados extranjeros en julio](https://www.inclusion.gob.es/w/la-seguridad-social-supera-por-primera-vez-los-3-5-millones-de-afiliados-extranjeros-en-julio-y-suma-mas-de-420.000-en-un-ano-1), 14 August 2026. --- --- title: "The Poet Mohamed Serghini, a Founding Voice of Moroccan Modernity, Has Died" description: "The poet, novelist and critic Mohamed Serghini died on 14 August at the age of ninety-six. Born in Fes in 1930 and a professor at Dhar El Mehraz, he leaves a bilingual body of work joining Sufi heritage to formal modernity." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mort-mohamed-serghini-poete language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mort-mohamed-serghini-poete type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-14T20:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:09.136Z tags: ["Literature", "Fes", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f6c3e6c87334148178d67_6a7f6c30fa87c1a5b21e3647_serghini-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Poet Mohamed Serghini, a Founding Voice of Moroccan Modernity, Has Died *The poet, novelist and critic Mohamed Serghini died on 14 August at the age of ninety-six. Born in Fes in 1930 and a professor at Dhar El Mehraz, he leaves a bilingual body of work joining Sufi heritage to formal modernity.* ![The entrance to the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences of Dhar El Mehraz, in Fes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f6c3e6c87334148178d67_6a7f6c30fa87c1a5b21e3647_serghini-main.webp) He was ninety-six, and his work is shared between two languages. The poet, novelist and critic Mohamed Serghini died on Friday, August 14, after a long illness, the MAP news agency reports. ![Portrait of Mohamed Serghini, with white hair, a white mustache and tinted glasses, in a street.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c088f75918994046c1d_6ae60a1cb410fb1323e67e70_mort-mohamed-serghini-poete-inline.webp) *The poet Mohamed Serghini. Photo: Le360.* Born in Fes in 1930, educated at the Qarawiyyin and then at the Sorbonne, he taught for three decades at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences of Dhar El Mehraz. The House of Poetry in Morocco saluted him as one of the fathers of Moroccan poetic modernity. His work held together Sufi memory and the most demanding formal experiment, from *Wa yakun ihraq asmaihi al-atiya* (1987) to *Tahta al-anqad fawqa al-anqad*, crowned in 2013 with the Prix du Maroc du Livre. He also wrote Fes in French, in *Fès de la plus haute cime des ruses* (2003), as though his native city could not be said entirely in a single tongue. *Photo: Adil Elouarti, CC0.* ![The medina of Fes, the poet’s native city and the subject of his French collection.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f6c3e6c87334148178d6c_6a7f6c365e8f83f8da075d16_fes-body.webp) ## References - Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) — dispatch of 14 August 2026. - House of Poetry in Morocco — statement of mourning, 14 August 2026. --- --- title: "Titanium: Steadright Announces a Tan-Tan Permit on the Day of Its Default Report" description: "Canadian junior Steadright announced a titanium exploitation licence at Tan-Tan on 13 August, the same day it confirmed that its officers remain barred from trading its shares for want of audited accounts." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/steadright-titane-tan-tan-permis language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/steadright-titane-tan-tan-permis type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-14T19:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.248Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f693e8f62b9d67682169a_6a7f69320f8f5a419577ed93_steadright-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Titanium: Steadright Announces a Tan-Tan Permit on the Day of Its Default Report *Canadian junior Steadright announced a titanium exploitation licence at Tan-Tan on 13 August, the same day it confirmed that its officers remain barred from trading its shares for want of audited accounts.* ![The Atlantic beach at El Ouatia, in the province of Tan-Tan.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f693e8f62b9d67682169a_6a7f69320f8f5a419577ed93_steadright-main.webp) On August 13 the Canadian company Steadright Critical Minerals issued two press releases. The first announces that “the competent authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco” have granted its subsidiary NSM Capital an exploitation license for the TitanBeach project, north of Chbika, in the province of Tan-Tan. ![A bilingual “Pont sur Oued Chbika” sign stands at the edge of a lagoon, facing a beach and a dune.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c61a754fc2eba286a60_6ae60a23bbbd9f296de2d28b_steadright-titane-tan-tan-permis-inline.webp) *The sign for the bridge over the Chbika river in Tan-Tan province, where the TitanBeach project lies. Photo: Morocco World News.* The second confirms that its officers remain subject to a management cease-trade order issued on July 30 by the Ontario Securities Commission, for failing to file on time the audited financial statements for the year. Read together, the two texts invite caution. No Moroccan public communication has confirmed the grant, which the issuer attributes to authorities it does not name. The head of NSM Capital presents the authorization as a national first by area. Yet 16 square kilometers is exactly the ceiling of a single title converted in full, as set by law 33-13 of 2015. As for the grades put forward, up to 14.9% titanium dioxide, they come from surface samples and do not constitute a validated mineral resource. *Photo: Erwan de Kerhister, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ![Ilmenite sand, the titanium-bearing mineral, on an ocean beach.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f693e8f62b9d6768216a0_6a7f693ac3c147f071224db4_ilmenite-body.webp) ## References - Steadright Critical Minerals — press releases of 13 August 2026, distributed by TheNewswire. - Ontario Securities Commission — management cease-trade order of 30 July 2026 (instrument 12-203). - Le Desk — [Steadright annonce un permis d’exploitation de titane à Tan-Tan le jour de son rapport de défaut](https://ledesk.ma/2026/08/14/steadright-annonce-un-permis-dexploitation-de-titane-a-tan-tan-le-jour-de-son-rapport-de-defaut/), 14 August 2026. --- --- title: "Sahara: Colombia Freezes Its Relations With the SADR" description: "Colombia’s foreign ministry announced on 10 August that it was freezing its relations with the SADR, an entity Bogota had recognised since February 1985, and restated its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the whole of the Kingdom’s territory, Western Sahara included." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/colombie-gel-relations-rasd language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/colombie-gel-relations-rasd type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-14T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T01:10:08.893Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Sahara", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7529f46b9e4e57ff37_6ae53c76b174645b2a17d95c_colombie-gel-relations-rasd-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sahara: Colombia Freezes Its Relations With the SADR *Colombia’s foreign ministry announced on 10 August that it was freezing its relations with the SADR, an entity Bogota had recognised since February 1985, and restated its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the whole of the Kingdom’s territory, Western Sahara included.* ![Abelardo de la Espriella, the presidential sash across his chest, salutes as he takes office as president of Colombia in Cali, beneath the 2026-2030 inauguration banner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e7529f46b9e4e57ff37_6ae53c76b174645b2a17d95c_colombie-gel-relations-rasd-main.webp) Three days after the inauguration of Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombia’s foreign ministry announced, on August 10, the freezing of Bogota’s relations with “the entity known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic”. The text speaks of a “sovereign review” of the recognition granted by the previous government. There will be “no political or diplomatic contacts, no exchange of missions, no support for the SADR in multilateral fora”, the United Nations included. Colombia had recognized the SADR on February 27, 1985. The same communique restates that Colombia “recognises the sovereignty of Morocco over its entire territory, including Western Sahara”. Bogota is freezing relations, not formally withdrawing a recognition. For Rabat, that distinction will matter less than the trajectory of a Latin American continent which was long the diplomatic bedrock of the Polisario. *Photo: EFE.* ## References - Cancilleria de Colombia — [Colombia congela relaciones diplomáticas con la entidad denominada como “República Árabe Saharaui Democrática”](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/sala-de-prensa/noticias/colombia-congela-relaciones-diplomaticas-con-la-entidad-denominada-como-republica-arabe-saharaui-democratica-rasd), 10 August 2026. - EFE — [El nuevo gobierno de Colombia reconoce soberania de Marruecos sobre el Sahara Occidental](https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/el-nuevo-gobierno-de-colombia-reconoce-soberan%C3%ADa-de-marruecos-sobre-el-s%C3%A1hara-occidental/91865158), 7 August 2026. --- --- title: "Transshipment: the White House Lists Morocco Among the Relays of Chinese Trade" description: "The White House trade office, headed by Peter Navarro, published a report on 13 August on the transshipment of Chinese goods. Morocco is listed among the “African peripheral hubs”, alongside Kenya." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/transbordement-maroc-navarro language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/transbordement-maroc-navarro type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-14T18:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:09.134Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy", "Geopolitics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f612b36bfdee247445fa1_6a7f6098e2ab14b936ffd9fe_transbordement-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Transshipment: the White House Lists Morocco Among the Relays of Chinese Trade *The White House trade office, headed by Peter Navarro, published a report on 13 August on the transshipment of Chinese goods. Morocco is listed among the “African peripheral hubs”, alongside Kenya.* ![Container ship berthed at the port of Tanger Med.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f612b36bfdee247445fa1_6a7f6098e2ab14b936ffd9fe_transbordement-main.webp) The report that the White House trade and manufacturing office released on August 13, *The Great Transshipment Scam*, places Morocco among more than forty countries it presents as the links of a “shadow network” of transshipment. ![Portrait of Peter Navarro, white-haired, in a pinstriped suit and blue tie, in front of a US flag.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bdd42f73d1f6831d83a_6ae6063d064237583a8224a4_transbordement-maroc-navarro-inline.webp) *Official portrait of Peter Navarro, Donald Trump’s adviser on trade and manufacturing. Photo: White House, public domain.* According to the document, signed by Peter Navarro, adviser to Donald Trump, Chinese goods would take on a local origin there to escape American customs duties. Morocco appears in the third tier of the hierarchy, that of the “small, opportunistic targets,” placed alongside Kenya among the “African peripheral hubs”: port and free-zone way stations for selected China-linked flows. The ranking carries no sanction, and the report itself concedes that these countries “do not move the largest dollar volumes.” Yet Morocco has been bound to the United States by a free-trade agreement since 2006, the only one Washington holds on the African continent. It is that agreement, more than the volumes, that will set the price of the mention. *Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ![Peter Navarro, adviser to Donald Trump for trade and manufacturing.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7f612b36bfdee247445fa5_6a7f60a387f2457e3554cecc_navarro-body.webp) ## References - White House, Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy — “The Great Transshipment Scam: Rise, Scope, and Costs”, 13 August 2026. --- --- title: "Sebta: Morocco Commits to Identifying Unaccompanied Minors for Return" description: "In Sebta, 862 unaccompanied minors remain without stable care, in facilities running at 2,872 percent of capacity. Morocco says it has been instructed to identify these children for return, while pointing to administrative and judicial obstacles on the Spanish side." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sebta-aftermath language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sebta-apres-les-faits type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-08T16:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:50:24.912Z tags: ["Migration", "Spain", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766db185ddba92a4b510f8_6a766da97152b05dc25fda06_news-ceuta-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sebta: Morocco Commits to Identifying Unaccompanied Minors for Return *In Sebta, 862 unaccompanied minors remain without stable care, in facilities running at 2,872 percent of capacity. Morocco says it has been instructed to identify these children for return, while pointing to administrative and judicial obstacles on the Spanish side.* ![The border between Sebta and Morocco.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766db185ddba92a4b510f8_6a766da97152b05dc25fda06_news-ceuta-main.webp) Eight hundred and sixty-two: that is the number of unaccompanied foreign minors still in Sebta, nearly three weeks after some 70,000 people entered the Spanish enclave in early August. The city, according to Euronews, is running its reception facilities for isolated minors at 2,872% of capacity, and many of the children are sleeping outdoors. Rabat says it has received Royal Instructions to work toward identifying these children with a view to their return home. A Moroccan diplomatic source, cited by Le360, dismisses as “fallacious and unfounded” any accusation that Morocco refuses to cooperate, and points to administrative and judicial obstacles on the Spanish side. Madrid has released 25 million euros for the children’s care and is preparing to disperse them across seventeen autonomous communities, a plan several Vox and Popular Party-led regions say they will contest. *Photo: Mario Sanchez Bueno, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ![Fnideq, seen from Sebta.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7672d432162cf2b91af80a_6a767280b39680a2eb450a0f_gal-aftermath-1.webp) ## References - Le360 - [Migration cooperation: the return of unaccompanied minors is a matter of principle rooted in the Royal Instructions](https://fr.le360.ma/societe/cooperation-migratoire-le-retour-des-mineurs-non-accompagnes-est-une-question-de-principe-basee-sur_KYOAJ5SVMJDZBNKNUGTHM6ZSTA/) - Euronews - [Sebta calls for an urgent response to the overcrowding of isolated migrant minors](https://fr.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/05/ceuta-reclame-une-reponse-urgente-face-a-la-saturation-de-migrants-mineurs-isoles) --- --- title: "Casablanca: The City Signs a $1.5 Billion Waste-to-Energy Plant" description: "A consortium led by Switzerland’s Kanadevia Inova, with Morocco’s Nareva and Japan’s Itochu, signed the concession agreement for a waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca on Monday, worth 1.5 billion dollars. The facility, built beside the Mediouna landfill, opens in mid-2030." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/casablanca-usine-valorisation-energetique-dechets language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/casablanca-usine-valorisation-energetique-dechets type: news category: eco published: 2026-08-08T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.838Z tags: ["Energy", "Casablanca", "Climate"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a76688f331b686b7a5e9dc7_6a766879432073cf10a2c8d3_news-wte-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Casablanca: The City Signs a $1.5 Billion Waste-to-Energy Plant *A consortium led by Switzerland’s Kanadevia Inova, with Morocco’s Nareva and Japan’s Itochu, signed the concession agreement for a waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca on Monday, worth 1.5 billion dollars. The facility, built beside the Mediouna landfill, opens in mid-2030.* ![The Port of Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a76688f331b686b7a5e9dc7_6a766879432073cf10a2c8d3_news-wte-main.webp) Thirty-one and a half years: that is the length of the concession Casablanca has just handed to a consortium led by Switzerland’s Kanadevia Inova, paired with Morocco’s Nareva and Japan’s Itochu, to build, finance and run its future waste-to-energy plant. ![Smoking heaps of waste line a pool of dark water under a hazy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4699dfb755d67a6e9f_6ae56b2fa4bf35eb516cf0a9_casablanca-usine-valorisation-energetique-dechets.webp) *The Mediouna landfill near Casablanca in 2018. Photo: TelQuel.* The agreement, signed Monday, August 3, covers a 1.5 billion dollar investment for a facility built beside the Mediouna landfill, the kingdom’s largest. Once complete, it will process about 1.5 million tonnes of waste a year and generate up to 126 megawatts, drawn from household refuse, landfill gas and a solar top-up. The Mediouna landfill has swallowed most of the economic capital’s waste for decades, at the cost of methane the city never captured. Entrusted to the Moroccan firm Somagec, construction is due to begin by the end of the year, financing permitting, and commercial operations will open in mid-2030. For Kanadevia Inova, it is an African first. *Photo: Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Kanadevia Inova - [Concession signing announcement, 4 August 2026](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260804844543/en/Kanadevia-Inova-Signs-Concession-Agreement-for-Its-First-Waste-to-Energy-Plant-in-Africa) --- --- title: "Cali: Bourita Represents the King at Colombia’s Inauguration Amid the UN Sahara Battle" description: "Nasser Bourita represented King Mohammed VI on Thursday in Cali, at the inauguration of Colombian president Abelardo De la Espriella. His presence comes as the Polisario Front presses Colombia, a UN Security Council member through 2027, to bring the Western Sahara question before the Council." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bourita-cali-investiture-colombie-sahara language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bourita-cali-investiture-colombie-sahara type: news category: pol published: 2026-08-08T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:09.142Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Sahara", "Geopolitics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766892a73cd37e20faa95e_6a76687ef6521626a0e7a30e_news-cali-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Cali: Bourita Represents the King at Colombia’s Inauguration Amid the UN Sahara Battle *Nasser Bourita represented King Mohammed VI on Thursday in Cali, at the inauguration of Colombian president Abelardo De la Espriella. His presence comes as the Polisario Front presses Colombia, a UN Security Council member through 2027, to bring the Western Sahara question before the Council.* ![Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s foreign minister.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766892a73cd37e20faa95e_6a76687ef6521626a0e7a30e_news-cali-main.webp) For the first time since independence, a Colombian presidential inauguration is being held outside Bogota: in Cali, where Abelardo De la Espriella took the oath Thursday. Nasser Bourita represented King Mohammed VI there, according to MAP. ![Nasser Bourita walks along a red carpet on the tarmac with two women and a man, mountains behind.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c0d42f73d1f6831f193_6ae6064932b76b5356bd7547_bourita-cali-investiture-colombie-sahara-inline.webp) *Nasser Bourita on his arrival in Cali. Photo: Le360.* A protocol appearance, on the surface, but one whose timing escapes no one: Bogota holds a seat on the UN Security Council through 2027, and the Western Sahara file remains open there. The Polisario Front has spent weeks pressing Colombian diplomacy to bring the Western Sahara question before the Council, hoping to find a Latin American relay the file struggles to hold elsewhere on the continent. Rabat, according to Le Desk, means to consolidate ties with Bogota before the new Colombian presidency settles its own line on the Sahara. The Cali ceremony lasted a day; its consequences will play out at the United Nations for months. *Photo: Mohamed Abbassi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ![Downtown Cali, Colombia.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7672bc21777e1628f9fc54_6a7672779afbc620a0239af5_gal-cali-1.webp) ## References - MAP - [Arrival of Mr. Bourita in Cali to represent His Majesty the King at the inauguration ceremony of the new Colombian president](https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/202608070214.html) - Yabiladi - [Western Sahara: Polisario asks Colombia to bring the issue before the UN Security Council](https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/196632/sahara-polisario-sollicite-colombie-pour.html) --- --- title: "Weather: DGM Forecasts a 47°C Peak This Weekend in the South and Southeast" description: "Morocco’s meteorological service forecasts temperatures reaching 47°C this weekend in several southern and southeastern provinces, under orange alert. Thunderstorms, hail and gusting wind are also expected, continuing a summer already marked by repeated heat alerts." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/vague-chaleur-47c-sud-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/vague-chaleur-47c-sud-maroc type: news category: actu published: 2026-08-08T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:09.147Z tags: ["Climate", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766895f7e21b11f8eb2765_6a766883221fe7643da71900_news-chaleur-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Weather: DGM Forecasts a 47°C Peak This Weekend in the South and Southeast *Morocco’s meteorological service forecasts temperatures reaching 47°C this weekend in several southern and southeastern provinces, under orange alert. Thunderstorms, hail and gusting wind are also expected, continuing a summer already marked by repeated heat alerts.* ![Presaharan terrain near Zagora.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a766895f7e21b11f8eb2765_6a766883221fe7643da71900_news-chaleur-main.webp) Forty-seven degrees Celsius: that is the threshold Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology has forecast for this weekend in several provinces of the south and southeast. ![A vast, almost empty paved square under a blue sky, lined with ochre arcades and palm trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60be005e834b547fc9bdf_6ae6063ece715aed277574ed_vague-chaleur-47c-sud-maroc-inline.webp) *The main square of Tata, in southern Morocco. Photo: Peripatesy, CC BY-SA 4.0.* The alert bulletin, at orange vigilance level, covers Taroudant, Zagora, Tata, Assa-Zag, Es-Semara, Boujdour, Oued Eddahab and Aousserd, where the mercury should range between 44 and 47°C from Friday to Sunday. Temperatures of 42 to 44°C are also expected Friday in Beni Mellal, Fquih Ben Salah and Kelaat Sraghna, with possible thunderstorms, hail and gusting wind. The wave fits a summer already marked by repeated alerts since late July. Authorities are urging residents to limit physical effort during the hottest hours, stay hydrated, and watch over the elderly and children. The storms forecast toward the end of the period could bring as much hail as relief. The south will wait for rain the way one waits for a truce. *Photo: Figuo82, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ![Camels in the Chegaga dunes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7672c3cbe6a70bfcdcf1f7_6a76727a0955b2e9f136a914_gal-chaleur-1.webp) ## References - General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) - [Weather alert bulletin, 7 August 2026](https://www.marocmeteo.ma/fr/bulletin-d%E2%80%99alerte-m%C3%A9t%C3%A9orologique-bam) --- --- title: "Spain: Right and Left Want Morocco Out of the 2030 World Cup After the Ceuta Crisis" description: "Spain’s Vox party demanded Wednesday, before Congress, that Morocco be excluded from organizing the 2030 World Cup, after the Ceuta migration crisis. Unusually, Sumar, Izquierda Unida and Podemos are demanding the same exclusion, though the decision rests with FIFA alone." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/espagne-exclusion-maroc-mondial-2030-ceuta language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/espagne-exclusion-maroc-mondial-2030-ceuta type: news category: sport published: 2026-08-08T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.338Z tags: ["Sport", "Spain", "Controversy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a76689805c280d38b0262bf_6a76688887f9451e9ab628d1_news-mondial-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Spain: Right and Left Want Morocco Out of the 2030 World Cup After the Ceuta Crisis *Spain’s Vox party demanded Wednesday, before Congress, that Morocco be excluded from organizing the 2030 World Cup, after the Ceuta migration crisis. Unusually, Sumar, Izquierda Unida and Podemos are demanding the same exclusion, though the decision rests with FIFA alone.* ![The Congress of Deputies, in Madrid.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a76689805c280d38b0262bf_6a76688887f9451e9ab628d1_news-mondial-main.webp) One more humiliation, they say. Vox filed a non-binding motion in Spain’s Congress on Wednesday calling on Pedro Sanchez’s government to pressure FIFA into excluding Morocco from organizing the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted with Spain and Portugal. ![Santiago Abascal, bearded, in a light blue shirt and dark jacket, speaks into microphones against a green backdrop.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60bad05e834b547fc8ab7_6ae606315d4ac37746b9d782_espagne-exclusion-maroc-mondial-2030-ceuta-inline.webp) *Vox leader Santiago Abascal on an election night in February 2021. Photo: Vox, public domain.* The motion accuses Rabat of using immigration as leverage after the surge of migrants into Ceuta in early August, and asks that the final be played on Spanish soil. Sumar, Izquierda Unida and Podemos, at odds with Vox on nearly everything, are demanding the same exclusion, this time invoking the Kingdom’s human rights record. The motion has no chance of succeeding: FIFA alone decides where its finals are played. The convergence, however, says plenty about Morocco’s standing in Madrid. Casablanca, the presumed host for the final according to several Spanish sports outlets, will have to defend its case on ground that has turned political again. *Photo: Javier Perez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ![Stade Mohammed V, in Casablanca.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a7672909afbc620a023a745_6a76727d3a753f31868d2adc_gal-mondial-1.webp) ## References - Libertad Digital - [Vox, Izquierda Unida and Podemos join the call to exclude Morocco from the World Cup](https://www.libertaddigital.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-06/vox-izquierda-unida-y-podemos-se-unen-a-la-peticion-de-excluir-a-marruecos-del-mundial-7446139/) - Vozpopuli - [The World Cup unites left and right on the need to expel Morocco from the organization](https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/politica/vox-pedira-en-el-congreso-la-exclusion-de-marruecos-en-la-organizacion-del-mundial-2030.html) --- --- title: "Spain in Morocco: From Tetouan to the Green March" description: "Secret partition, Republic of the Rif, forbidden gases: from Tetouan in 1860 to El Aaiun in 1976, the Spanish side of Morocco’s colonization, documents in hand." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/spanish-colonization language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/colonisation-espagnole type: article category: hist published: 2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:49:56.217Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Modern History", "Rif", "Sahara", "Colonisation", "Conflicts", "Diplomacy", "Spain", "Geopolitics", "Protectorate", "Resistance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446453_6a6face825063c459d0909cf_colonisation-espagnole-hero-rifains-ajdir-1925.jpeg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Spain in Morocco: From Tetouan to the Green March By Amerruki *Secret partition, Republic of the Rif, forbidden gases: from Tetouan in 1860 to El Aaiun in 1976, the Spanish side of Morocco’s colonization, documents in hand.* ![Rifian fighters and notables on the Ajdir coast in 1925, during the Rif war.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446453_6a6face825063c459d0909cf_colonisation-espagnole-hero-rifains-ajdir-1925.jpeg) On 6 February 1860, General O’Donnell’s army enters Tetouan. Madrid is jubilant: the affair is christened the “guerra de Africa,” the press narrates it as a crusade regained, and Barcelona’s provincial council dispatches a young painter, Maria Fortuny, to immortalize the victory on a monumental canvas. A detail history will retain: Fortuny will never finish his painting. Behind the romantic scenery, the figures tell another war. Of Spain’s roughly four thousand dead in the campaign, nearly three thousand were carried off by cholera, not by combat. And the peace, signed at Wad-Ras on 26 April 1860, will cost Morocco far more than an occupied city: an indemnity of four hundred million reales, that is, twenty million duros (one hundred million pesetas in the currency yet to come). The Cherifian treasury cannot pay. So it borrows in London in 1861, and pledges the most precious thing it has: its customs. European agents install themselves in Moroccan ports to count the receipts, half of which go to repay Spain. It is through this door, opened at Tetouan, that everything else will enter. It should be said that Spain was not arriving in unknown territory. Melilla had been occupied since 1497, Ceuta (a Portuguese conquest turned Spanish by the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668) for two centuries, and the islets ran along the coast like promissory notes: the Penon de Velez, Alhucemas, then the Chafarinas, seized in January 1848 a few days ahead of a French column out of Oran. The Moroccan coast was already, let us note, a Franco-Spanish competition in which the Makhzen was the stake rather than the referee. This article sets course for the least-known face of Morocco’s colonization: the Spanish one. One hundred sixteen years separate the fall of Tetouan from the departure of the last Spanish soldier from El Aaiun, in February 1976. In between: a partition negotiated in secret, a protectorate held in sublease, a republic in the mountains that will humble a kingdom, weapons the conventions already forbade, a decolonization in four unequal acts (1956, 1958, 1969, 1975), and a memory that, a century on, has still not been settled. We will also see what this adventure did to Spain herself: for the army that forged itself in the Rif is the very one that will devour the Spanish Republic in 1936. ![Maria Fortuny’s monumental and unfinished “The Battle of Tetouan” (1862-1866, MNAC, Barcelona).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb446408_6a6facf0c4df8435ad235941_colonisation-espagnole-g1-fortuny-batalla-tetuan.webp) ![“La paz de Wad-Ras”: negotiating the peace of Wad-Ras in April 1860, period painting.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad51b609227acb446400_6a6facf391ffd7d0db99e8f5_colonisation-espagnole-g1-paz-de-wad-ras-1860.webp) ![General Prim at the battle of Tetouan (1860), painting by Francisco Sans Cabot.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446431_6a6facf5f2b9668ca33438b3_colonisation-espagnole-g1-prim-tetuan-1860.webp) ![Spanish troops entering Tetouan in February 1860, period illustration.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446450_6a6facf825063c459d090b59_colonisation-espagnole-g1-entrada-tetuan-1860.webp) ## The partition ### Two documents, one same day On 3 October 1904, France and Spain sign a solemn declaration in Paris: the two powers declare themselves “firmly attached to the integrity of the Moroccan Empire under the sovereignty of the Sultan.” The same day, in the same office, the same signatories initial a secret convention of sixteen articles that carves this empire into spheres of influence, from the mouth of the Moulouya to the Atlantic. Article III even scripts the scenario of the kill: should “the political condition of Morocco and the Cherifian government no longer be able to subsist,” Spain would be free to “exercise its action” in its sphere. Two texts, one same day, two contrary truths. One article of that secret convention deserves a pause, for it carries the seed of a dispute that will not erupt until seventy-one years later: > “The Government of the French Republic recognizes henceforth to the Spanish Government full liberty of action over the region lying between degrees 26° and 27°40’ of north latitude and the meridian 11° west of Paris, which are outside the territory of Morocco.”— Secret Franco-Spanish convention, article VI, 3 October 1904 (translated from the French) “Outside the territory of Morocco”: the phrase, slipped into a text nobody was meant to read, founds the legal distinction between the protectorate (which Spain will have to return) and the Sahara “colony” (which she will claim to keep). The Moroccan Sahara file of 1975 was drafted there, in the secrecy of a Paris office, in 1904. ![A printed two-page spread in French setting out the numbered articles of a treaty.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c155d230cc1aef0895d_6ae52885652c1dd4b15dee6c_colonisation-espagnole-1.webp) *The secret Franco-Spanish treaty of October 3, 1904 concerning Morocco, as printed in the Archives diplomatiques in 1911. Document: Archives diplomatiques, via Internet Archive.* ### Algeciras, where the fiction becomes machinery The affair still had to be dressed. That will be the work of the Algeciras conference, convened in January 1906 after the theatrics of Tangier (Wilhelm II had landed there in March 1905 to pose as protector of Moroccan independence, to the fury of Paris). The General Act, signed on 7 April 1906, proclaims in its preamble “the sovereignty and independence of His Majesty the Sultan” and “the integrity of his States.” Then the articles unroll the machinery: the police of the eight ports open to commerce is entrusted to French and Spanish instructors (Spanish at Tetouan and Larache, French at Rabat, mixed at Tangier and Casablanca: the map of the 1912 zones is already there, rehearsed six years in advance), and the State Bank of Morocco, granted the currency monopoly for forty years, is placed under the tutelage of Europe’s central banks. Twelve powers guaranteeing an independence they are already administering. Add to this the regime of consular proteges, locked in by the Madrid convention of 1880, which withdrew a growing clientele of Moroccans from the Sultan’s taxes and courts: a sovereignty that can no longer tax nor borrow is already no more than a word. ### A protectorate in sublease On 30 March 1912, in Fes, Sultan Moulay Abdelhafid signs the protectorate treaty with France. The text is brutally clear: a Resident-General, “depositary of all the powers of the Republic in Morocco,” will approve and promulgate every dahir; and His Cherifian Majesty “forbids himself to contract in the future, directly or indirectly, any public or private loan” without French authorization. A few months later, the Fes riots will drown the signature in blood ([we have told those days elsewhere](/en/articles/fez-treaty)), and Abdelhafid will abdicate before summer’s end. ![A bearded man in a white burnous with its hood over his head, seated and looking at the camera.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c155d230cc1aef0895a_6ae52886d4481bc6deaffbe5_colonisation-espagnole-2.webp) *Moulay Abdelhafid in Marseille, August 15, 1912. Photo: Agence Rol, Bibliotheque nationale de France.* As for Spain, she does not even treat with the Sultan. Her zone is conceded to her by France, in the Franco-Spanish convention of 27 November 1912: a protectorate in sublease. The legal architecture is worth the detour. The northern regions remain in theory “under the civil and religious authority of the Sultan,” but they will be administered by a khalifa residing in Tetouan, chosen by the Sultan… from a list of two names presented by Spain, removable only with Madrid’s consent, and flanked by a Spanish High Commissioner who governs in earnest. The final paragraph of article one confesses the fiction: no responsibility may be imputed to the Cherifian government for what happens in the Spanish zone. And the dowry matches. Articles 10 and 11 oblige the Spanish zone to finance itself from its own resources and forbid the Makhzen to contribute; article 12 fixes its share of Morocco’s loan charges at 7.95% of customs. Spain thus receives the Rif and the Jbala: 21,000 square kilometers of mountains, one-seventh arable, less than 8% of the country’s customs base. France has Casablanca, the plains, Fes, the ports and soon the phosphates; Spain has a vertical country, a legal fiction and an army. If the history of the Spanish zone will be written in military campaigns rather than in land registries, it is not a matter of national temperament: it is an article of treaty. Tangier, finally, is reserved: the city will receive its international statute in 1923. ![Map: the 1912 partition — Spanish and French zones, international Tangier, Ifni and the Sahara under colonial title, on an undivided Morocco (The Moorish Times).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad7925063c459d092b3e_6a6facdb6d3b487bc9811b8d_spanish-colonization-map-partition-1912.webp) *The 1912 partition (map: The Moorish Times).* ![The Moroccan ambassadors arriving at the Algeciras conference, 1906 (period illustrated press).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44646e_6a6facfb400fc8e6611d95b0_colonisation-espagnole-g2-algesiras-ambassadeurs-1906.webp) ![A session of the Algeciras conference in 1906, with the Moroccan delegates (period illustrated press).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446462_6a6facffe209f3b2a90cbe72_colonisation-espagnole-g2-algesiras-seance-1906.webp) ![“Despues de la Conferencia de Algeciras”: Spanish caricature from the satirical paper Gedeon, January 1907.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446459_6a6fad026dbeec8fe51fe99d_colonisation-espagnole-g2-gedeon-caricature-1907.webp) ![The khalifa in Tetouan, Spanish-protectorate postcard.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb44640e_6a6fad0525063c459d090ed6_colonisation-espagnole-g2-khalifa-mehdi-tetouan.webp) ![“Marruecos, Protectorado espanol”: poster by the official Tourism Committee of Tetouan for Chefchaouen, by Mariano Bertuchi, circa 1930 — the protectorate as pictured by its own official painter.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71d000ecb926a408085d65_6a71cffcfcc11d17f898108e_colonisation-espagnole-g2-bertuchi-xauen-affiche.webp) ## The Republic of the Rif ### Iron before blood The Rif War has a prologue, and the prologue is made of iron. At the turn of the century, the pretender Bou Hmara, who held the tribes around Melilla, ceded to Spanish interests the working of the iron deposits of the Beni Bou Ifrour: thus will be born, in July 1908, the Compania Espanola de Minas del Rif, with its railway pushing into the hills. It is that intrusion (physical, surveyable) that turns distrust into war. On 9 July 1909, railway workers are killed; Madrid mobilizes its reservists; and on 27 July, at the Wolf Ravine (the Barranco del Lobo), a Spanish column is cut to pieces, its general, Guillermo Pintos, among the dead. The official toll (about one hundred fifty killed, six hundred wounded) is modest beside the one Spanish popular memory will keep: the ballads will sing of thousands of dead, and the gap between the official figure and the felt figure is already the whole story. An anonymous copla of 1909 will fix that gap forever: > “Melilla ya no es Melilla, / Melilla es un matadero / donde van los espanoles / a morir como corderos.”— anonymous Spanish copla, 1909 (“Melilla is no longer Melilla, Melilla is a slaughterhouse where the Spaniards go to die like lambs”) The reservist call-up, for its part, will set Barcelona ablaze a week after the summons: the Tragic Week. The soul of that first resistance is Mohamed Ameziane, chief of the Beni Bou Ifrour, who will wage five years of war on the mining positions and proclaim jihad in 1911. We have devoted [an entire portrait](/en/articles/ameziane) to him, so decisive was his precursor’s role. He falls on 15 May 1912 near Kaddur, and his body is carried into Melilla for identification. If the Spanish account is true, among those who bent over the remains was a young clerk of the Bureau of Native Affairs: a certain Abdelkrim. ![A bearer share of the Compania Espanola de Minas del Rif, the mining company at the origin of the war.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad6391ffd7d0db9a01fb_6a6face36dbeec8fe51fe1a5_colonisation-espagnole-contrat-mines-rif.webp) *A bearer share of the Compania Espanola de Minas del Rif.* ### The insider What makes Mohamed ben Abdelkrim El Khattabi singular among the leaders of Moroccan resistance is that Spain trained him. Born in 1882 at Ajdir, in the Ait Ouriaghel tribe, a qadi’s son, he studies some years in Fes (including the Qaraouiyine), then makes his whole career in colonial Melilla: a writer at the Telegrama del Rif, where for nearly a decade he argues that Muslims should master European technique, secretary-interpreter of the Bureau of Native Affairs from 1910, chief qadi of Melilla around 1914. His younger brother M’hamed, the first Rifian enrolled in a European university, studies mining in Malaga and then Madrid. The rupture comes with the Great War: suspected of German sympathies (the suspicion first aimed at his father), Abdelkrim is imprisoned at Chefchaouen from 1916 to 1918. Released, he takes back his post, then, in December 1918, leaves it for good. In 1920, the two brothers begin binding the tribes together. The colonial state had produced its own most competent enemy. ![A group of men seated around a table in a room, several in military uniform and one in a white djellaba at left.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c165d230cc1aef08965_6ae528872f548e8e901d1ee7_colonisation-espagnole-3.webp) *The Arabic language academy in Melilla in 1918, with Abdelkrim El Khattabi seated at left in a white djellaba. Photo: unknown author, Wikimedia Commons.* ### Annual Opposite him, General Manuel Fernandez Silvestre, commanding general of Melilla, advances fast, too fast: in one year his line stretches toward Alhucemas Bay in a string of more than a hundred small positions, many without water. On 1 June 1921, the post of Abarran falls. In mid-July, Igueriben dies of thirst: of three hundred men, some twenty-five survivors. On 22 July, the line breaks at Annual, and the retreat becomes a rout, all the way to the gates of Melilla. Silvestre vanishes in the debacle; his body will never be found, and Spain will long dispute his three possible deaths. General Navarro’s survivors hold out twelve days at Monte Arruit, surrender on 9 August against a promise of safe conduct, and are massacred. Depending on the source, the catastrophe will have cost Spain between eight and thirteen thousand dead (including more than two thousand Moroccan auxiliaries): the high figure is that of Spain’s own official inquiry, the Expediente Picasso. ![A mustached officer in a high-collared uniform standing with a saber at his side and a cap in his hand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c165d230cc1aef08969_6ae52887bc1535138bdacb71_colonisation-espagnole-4.webp) *General Manuel Fernandez Silvestre. Photo: Agence Rol, Bibliotheque nationale de France.* In those days, the Madrid press produces a document for the anthologies. On 24 July, two days after Annual, ABC’s front page shows… German divers in Berlin. On the 26th, it becomes a wall of portraits of fallen officers, and the War Minister explains that very day that Silvestre acted “without communicating his plans either to General Berenguer or to the government”: the dead man is guilty, the case is closed. It will not stay closed. General Picasso’s inquiry, opened on 4 August 1921, will pile up nearly two thousand four hundred folios on the “recklessness” and “temerity” of the command; the parliamentary responsibilities commission will climb from the generals to the ministers, and from the ministers to King Alfonso XIII, whose telegram of encouragement to Silvestre has remained proverbial. The vote in the Cortes was set for 2 October 1923. On 13 September, General Primo de Rivera suspends the Constitution. The coup did not merely bury a regime: it buried a file. An epilogue says better than anything where Spanish priorities lay. In January 1923, the Basque shipowner Horacio Echevarrieta buys back the last three hundred fifty-seven prisoners of Annual for four million pesetas (plus the supplements he will advance from his own pocket). ABC’s special correspondent describes the scene at Melilla: > “The reception was grave and sad, as befitted the occasion and the moment. On the quay waited eight cars to carry the sick, and a hearse for the body of the soldier who died during the crossing.”— ABC, 30 January 1923 (translated from the Spanish) The same dispatch specifies that the Medal of Sufferings for the Fatherland would not be awarded “en bloc” to the survivors: individual files would first have to be opened to establish the causes of each man’s captivity. The state suspected even its own victims. ### A state in the mountains Two months after Annual, on 18 September 1921, the tribes gathered around Abdelkrim proclaim a state at Ajdir: the Republic of the Rif. It will not be a mere flag planted on a victory. In 1922 and 1923, the Rifian state gives itself institutions: an assembly of tribal representatives, a government (foreign affairs to Mohammed Azerkane, the army to M’hamed, the president’s brother), courts that substitute sharia for customary law, a tax system, and even a currency, the riffan, which will circulate little. In June 1922, a Rifian delegation presents itself in London to petition the League of Nations. The British historian C.R. Pennell will sum up the affair in the very title of his book: a country with a government and a flag. That is precisely what alarmed Paris and Madrid: not one more tribal revolt, but the appearance, on the map of North Africa, of a state that owed nothing to the protectorate, and nothing to the dynasty. A generation later, however, the two causes will become one: it is the northern zone that will refuse, in 1953, the replacement sultan imposed by France. The man himself will always refuse to be locked into his adversaries’ categories: asked one day about his people’s identity, he will answer, in substance, that the Rifians speak Arabic, the language of the Quran, and understand one another in Berber, the language of their ancestors. ![Abdelkrim El Khattabi on the cover of TIME, 17 August 1925.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad6391ffd7d0db9a01fe_6a6face5ed88563d2a570b76_colonisation-espagnole-abdelkrim-time-1925.webp) *Abdelkrim on the cover of TIME, 17 August 1925.* ### The fall For three years, the Rifian army holds Spain at bay: Tizzi Azza in November 1922 and again in June 1923 (where the Legion’s commander Valenzuela dies, replaced at short notice by a certain Francisco Franco), the humiliating retreat from Chefchaouen at the end of 1924. Then, in the spring of 1925, Abdelkrim commits the error military history will long debate: he attacks the French zone along the Ouergha line. In ten weeks, forty-eight French posts out of sixty-six fall, and Fes prepares to evacuate. But France is not Spain. The Madrid conference (June-July 1925) seals the coordination of the two empires; Marshal Petain takes command in Morocco in September; and on 8 September 1925, thirteen thousand men land in Alhucemas Bay, backed by a Franco-Spanish fleet and one hundred forty-four aircraft. The operation is considered the first modern amphibious assault (tanks, aviation and navy in a single plan), and the Spanish version holds that Colonel Franco landed in the first wave; the day’s press, more prosaic, cites General Saro first. In the spring of 1926, one hundred twenty-three thousand men converge on Targuist. On 26-27 May, Abdelkrim surrenders: to the French, and not to the Spanish, who wanted a trial and a firing squad. France offered exile; he negotiates his surrender and leaves for twenty-one years on Reunion Island. ![A grainy aerial photograph showing a row of long landing barges close to a shoreline.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c165d230cc1aef08962_6ae52888937937f06a3c8248_colonisation-espagnole-6.webp) *Aerial view of the Alhucemas landing, September 1925, with K-type barges near the beach. Photo: Biblioteca Virtual de Defensa.* His return to history will be worthy of a novel. In 1947, the liner transferring him to the French Riviera calls at Port Said: Abdelkrim walks ashore and places himself under the protection of King Farouk. “I am a tired, sick man,” he will tell the press; the Quai d’Orsay, for its part, will denounce a proceeding “contrary to the traditions of honor.” From Cairo, he will preside over the Committee for the Liberation of the Arab Maghreb and refuse to return home while a single foreign soldier stood on North African soil (he will decline the invitation of Mohammed V himself). He dies on 6 February 1963. His correspondence with Ho Chi Minh during the Indochina War is documented, and his appeals to the Maghrebi soldiers of the French army made general staffs tremble; the rest (Mao, Che, the legend of the “father of modern guerrilla warfare”) belongs to myth, and myth has no need of us: the reality suffices. For the Rif War left a darker legacy still, on the Spanish side. The officers who made themselves there (Franco, Sanjurjo, Millan-Astray, Munoz Grandes, Varela: the “africanista” generation) learned there a war without rules and a politics without civilians. As the historian Sebastian Balfour has demonstrated, the army that will rise in July 1936 against the Spanish Republic manufactured itself in the Rif. Spain colonized Morocco, and that colonization devoured her in turn. ![Mohamed Ameziane in the Spanish press of 1912, announcing his death in battle.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb446414_6a6fad07981578ead5fc5ab1_colonisation-espagnole-g3-ameziane-presse-1912.webp) ![Spanish prisoners of Annual, 1921.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446426_6a6fad0a0d948de2d6d57ab0_colonisation-espagnole-g3-prisonniers-anoual-1921.webp) ![The bodies of Spanish soldiers before Monte Arruit, August 1921.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71dda85cfbcfb6dc7afc7b_6a71dda25cfbcfb6dc7afad9_colonisation-espagnole-g3-monte-arrouit-massacre-1921.webp) ![The landing barges at Alhucemas, Cebadilla beach, 8 September 1925.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44645c_6a6fad0fc4df8435ad236830_colonisation-espagnole-g3-debarquement-alhucemas-1925.webp) ![Rifian fighters drilling during the Rif war (Agence Rol photograph).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446434_6a6fad13f2b9668ca33440d6_colonisation-espagnole-g3-combattants-rifains.webp) ![Portrait of Mohamed ben Abdelkrim El Khattabi, president of the Republic of the Rif.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446468_6a6fad15fff25f1356036320_colonisation-espagnole-g3-abdelkrim-portrait.webp) ![Abdelkrim in Fes at the moment of his departure into exile, 1926 (period postcard).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb44641d_6a6fad18e209f3b2a90cc44a_colonisation-espagnole-g3-abdelkrim-exil-1926.webp) ## The forbidden weapons ### A procurement schedule Annual falls on 22 July 1921. On 12 August, three weeks later, High Commissioner Damaso Berenguer telegraphs Madrid: he had always refused, he writes, to use asphyxiating gases against these populations, but after what has just happened, he will use them “with true relish.” On 20 August, Spain approaches Germany. In December, she buys 50,000 liters of chloropicrin. By the spring of 1922, a shell-filling workshop is running in Melilla. In October 1922, a commission under the King’s patronage proposes mounting the gases on aircraft. At the end of 1923, the contract for the great factory is signed. Read that chronology again: this is not a slide into atrocity, it is a procurement schedule. ![An oval portrait of a mustached officer in full dress uniform covered with decorations.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c165d230cc1aef08971_6ae5288917757537b57d384a_colonisation-espagnole-7.webp) *General Damaso Berenguer in 1923. Photo: Agence Rol, Bibliotheque nationale de France.* ### The German connection A supplier still had to be found, and its name was Weimar. Forbidden chemical weapons by the Treaty of Versailles, Germany sold Spain its surplus, its patents and its men, through the Stoltzenberg firm, the private facade of a state accord: Hugo Stoltzenberg, a gas chemist of the Great War, will even take Spanish nationality to run the factory he was building near Madrid. That factory bears a name that must be written out in full: Fabrica Nacional de Productos Quimicos Alfonso XIII. The mustard-gas works carried the King’s name, and the site, renamed La Maranosa, houses today a research institute of the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The name is the whole argument by itself. ### Raining on the souks The gases arrive by artillery from the autumn of 1921; mustard arrives by air in the summer of 1924. In between, Spain perfects her chemical war: shells refilled at Melilla, night bombardments (the day’s heat dispersed the clouds), and a targeting the German advisers recommended precisely because mustard gas contaminates whatever it touches: the fields, the springs, the souks at market hours. The mechanism is not tactical but agrarian: poison the harvest and the well, and the tribe surrenders because it starves. The German historians Rudibert Kunz and Rolf-Dieter Muller, the first to document the affair in the archives, count more than ten thousand chemical containers (shells and bombs) and more than 500 metric tons of agents dropped. France herself, in the war’s final months, will supply chemical munitions to her own front (their battlefield use is less documented; the supply is beyond doubt); the Spanish use, for its part, was systematic, aerial, and aimed at civilian habitat. No document ever put in the airman’s mouth what the airman wrote himself. Ignacio Hidalgo de Cisneros, future chief of the Spanish Republican air force, will recount the summer of 1924 in his memoirs; his words were read into the record of the Spanish Congress of Deputies in 2007: > “In those days it fell to me to carry out a truly vile piece of work, which earned me the shameful and sad privilege of being the first aviator to drop mustard gas from an airplane. It is curious how many years had to pass before I became aware of the monstrosity I was committing in gassing the Moorish villages.”— Ignacio Hidalgo de Cisneros, Cambio de rumbo; read into the record of the Congress of Deputies, 14 February 2007 (translated from the Spanish) ![An aviator in a flight suit standing in front of a biplane, with a handwritten inscription across the sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c165d230cc1aef0896d_6ae5288a2914eae088b59234_colonisation-espagnole-8.webp) *Ignacio Hidalgo de Cisneros beside a fighter plane in Melilla in 1922. Photo: Archivo Municipal de Vitoria-Gasteiz.* As for King Alfonso XIII, Spanish literature attributes to him words of extermination; those quotations circulate without an archival reference, and a book published in 2026 disputes their authenticity. We will not print them: Berenguer’s telegram, the royal commission of 1922 and the factory’s name are amply sufficient to establish where responsibility lay. ### Counting what was never counted There remains the question that haunts the Rif today: cancer. Let us first set down what is established. That Spain gassed civilians: proven, archives in hand, in four languages. That mustard gas causes cancer in humans: established (it sits in Group 1 of the IARC, and the Iranian veterans exposed in the 1980s develop nearly twice as many cancers as their peers). But between those two certainties and the common assertion (“the gas of 1925 causes the cancers of 2026”) stretches a void that no one has filled. There exists, to this day, no cancer registry covering the provinces of the Rif, no case-control study, no survey of soils and waters. The figures in circulation do not even share the same status: “half of Morocco’s cancers” traces back, when one follows it, to a hospital-corridor impression delivered at a colloquium in 2008, never to a study, and the “80% of Rabat’s patients” carries no attribution at all; the historian Maria Rosa de Madariaga, who documented the chemical war better than anyone, judges it rash to attribute today’s cancers to it. And the only regional dataset available places the province of Nador among the least affected of the Oriental: not because the Rif is well, but because the Rif is not counted. That is perhaps the most durable scandal of all: a people that believes itself poisoned and is refused even the measurement. In 2019, the Rif Memory Association carried the file to The Hague, before the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons: > “We presented last year a petition to the Secretary General to send OPCW inspectors to the Rif… unfortunately we have received no response.”— Abdelmajid Azzouzi, Rif Memory Association, 24th OPCW Conference of the States Parties, The Hague, November 2019 Recognition, the opening of the military archives, freedom of investigation, reparation, and a fifth demand that says everything (detecting the contaminated zones and at last studying the long-term effects): the association’s five demands fit in one sentence, and not one has received the beginning of an answer. Nobody wrote back. The silence, here, is a policy. ![A phosgene tank car at the Stoltzenberg works in Hamburg, 1928 (Bundesarchiv).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb44640b_6a6fad1ab1391e54e85ce1ae_colonisation-espagnole-g4-stoltzenberg-hambourg-1928.webp) ![A Farman F.60 Goliath bomber, the aircraft of the chemical bombardments on the Rif.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44644d_6a6fad1c47d60bd3f63687fe_colonisation-espagnole-g4-farman-f60-goliath.webp) ![“Fraternisation”: French tract against the Moroccan war, 1925.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446465_6a6fad1fed88563d2a57183e_colonisation-espagnole-g4-tract-antiguerre-1925.webp) ## The long twilight ### The Regulares and the confiscated letters Irony willed that Spain’s next war should begin in Morocco. On 17 July 1936, it is in Melilla and Tetouan that the uprising against the Spanish Republic rises, and it is with tens of thousands of Moroccan soldiers (serious estimates run from seventy-five thousand to more than one hundred thousand men, including thousands of minors) that Franco will win his war. Many were recruited in a Rif that the famine of 1934-35 was finishing off, ten years after the gas. The regime would know, moreover, how to play its zone: from December 1936, Franco legalizes Abdelkhalek Torres’s nationalist party in Tetouan, not out of generosity, but because a tolerated Moroccan nationalism in the north was a needle planted in the flank of the French zone. One fact will remain of it: the north had legal parties and a press when the south had none. ![A white-bearded general with a cane walks past a line of soldiers in white turbans presenting arms.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c175d230cc1aef0897b_6ae5288b1cb024924242a63c_colonisation-espagnole-10.webp) *General Miguel Cabanellas reviewing a unit of Regulares during the Civil War, between 1936 and 1938. Photo: Biblioteca Virtual de Defensa, CC0 1.0.* Of this forced encounter between the Rif and Spain, the archives have kept a heartbreaking trace, unearthed recently by two researchers in the holdings at Alcala de Henares: hundreds of love letters between Moroccan soldiers and Spanish women, confiscated by the Francoist censorship, which saw in these unions a threat to the “prestige of the race.” “When will you come back to Spain?” writes Carmela, of Granada, in 1944; her letter will never be delivered. A 1937 directive ordered these marriages prevented “without openly banning them.” Spain was willing for Moroccans to die for her; she was not willing for them to be loved. ### The zone that did not follow On 20 August 1953, France deposes Mohammed V and exiles him (to Corsica, then Madagascar). That day, the legal fiction of 1912 turns against its authors: the Spanish zone refuses to follow. The khalifa Moulay El Hassan ben El Mehdi does not recognize Ben Arafa, the replacement sultan installed by Paris, and Tetouan becomes one of the lungs of Moroccan nationalism. In the mosques of the zone, the Friday prayer will continue to be said in the name of Mohammed V: the detail is recorded by Spanish historiography itself. Francoist Spain, only too happy to embarrass France, lets it happen, without obtaining from the khalifa the open dissidence she hoped for. The kingdom was cut into two zones; in those years it had only one legitimate king, and the north knew it. ![A portrait of a young man wrapped in a white burnous whose hood frames his face.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c175d230cc1aef0897e_6ae5288bbc1535138bdaccf6_colonisation-espagnole-11.webp) *The young khalifa Moulay El Hassan ben El Mehdi in 1925. Photo: Agence Rol, Bibliotheque nationale de France.* ### Two independences and a remainder France yields first: the declaration of 2 March 1956 ends the French protectorate. Spain follows on 7 April, in Madrid, recognizing Morocco’s independence and territorial unity (a phrase Rabat will quote back to her for seventy years), not without congratulating herself, in her press, for having driven from the text the word “interdependence” that France had imposed on hers. On 29 October, the Fedala conference returns Tangier to Morocco. But Spain does not return everything, and it is here that the legal geometry drawn in 1904 unfolds its effects. Madrid keeps four things, in the name of four different theories: the southern zone of the protectorate (Tarfaya), which she will logically have to restore; Ifni, which she holds from a cession in the 1860 treaty; the Sahara, which she holds as a colony (“outside the territory of Morocco,” said the secret article of 1904); and the presidios of Ceuta and Melilla, which she proclaims Spanish cities. Four statuses, four calendars: the decolonization of the north will not be an act, but a countdown in four movements. ### The war nobody tells For the Moroccan Army of Liberation was not waiting on the jurists. In the autumn of 1957, its southern branch attacks the Spanish positions in the Sahara and lays siege to Sidi Ifni; in January 1958, at Edchera, the Spanish Legion counts eighty-seven men out of action in a single day. The reply comes in February, and it comes as a pair: nine thousand Spanish soldiers and five thousand French, under one hundred fifty aircraft, jointly conduct Operation Ecouvillon-Teide against the Moroccan fighters of the Sahara. Two years after recognizing Morocco’s independence, the two former protecting powers campaign together against Moroccans: the fact is stubborn, and we report it as it stands. Diplomacy closes the parenthesis in April: by the accords known as Angra de Cintra (1 April 1958), Spain restores the Tarfaya zone, handed to Morocco at Villa Bens on 10 April, in the presence of Crown Prince Moulay Hassan. First movement of the countdown. ![A column of young men in civilian clothes and uniforms walks up a sandy slope from the shore.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c175d230cc1aef08978_6ae5288c937937f06a3c84f0_colonisation-espagnole-12.webp) *Spanish recruits just landed at Sidi Ifni in 1957. Photo: Pepe Guerra Lopez collection, FEDAC.* ### The United Nations clock The second movement plays out in New York. On 16 December 1965, the General Assembly “urgently requests” Spain to take immediately all necessary measures “for the liberation of the Territories of Ifni and Spanish Sahara from colonial domination.” Spain complies on one file and digs in on the other: Ifni is retroceded by the Treaty of Fez of 4 January 1969 (the Spanish flag comes down there on 30 June), but the Sahara, made a “province” in 1958, industrializes instead: the Bou Craa phosphates enter production in 1973. In August 1974, Madrid at last announces a self-determination referendum; Morocco answers by taking the question to the International Court of Justice. ### 16 October 1975 The Court’s opinion falls on 16 October 1975, and each side will forever quote only the half that suits it. The text deserves better: > “The materials and information presented to the Court show the existence, at the time of Spanish colonization, of legal ties of allegiance between the Sultan of Morocco and some of the tribes living in the territory of Western Sahara. […] On the other hand, the Court’s conclusion is that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco or the Mauritanian entity.”— International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion of 16 October 1975 ![A large red-brick building with a clock tower behind a wide lawn.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c175d230cc1aef08981_6ae5288eaed53ea8babbff8c_colonisation-espagnole-13.webp) *The Peace Palace in The Hague, seat of the International Court of Justice. Photo: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0.* Ties of allegiance recognized (by fourteen votes to two), no terra nullius (unanimously), no territorial sovereignty established, and a referral to self-determination: the opinion handed each side its half-sentence. Hassan II, for his part, had prepared his own. That very evening, he announces to the Moroccan people a peaceful march toward the Sahara. Three weeks later, on 6 November 1975, three hundred fifty thousand volunteers (the official figure, selected by provincial quota from more than half a million registrations) cross the border at Tah, Quran and flag in hand, without a single weapon. We have told [this Green March](/en/articles/green-march) elsewhere; let us keep here to its diplomatic mechanics, which were of a watchmaker’s precision. On 9 November, the King recalls the marchers. On the 14th, in Madrid, the Spain of a dying Franco signs with Morocco and Mauritania a declaration of principles transferring the responsibilities and powers Spain possesses over the territory “as administering Power”: administration, not sovereignty, and the text registered with the United Nations says not one word more. Franco dies six days later. On 26 February 1976, Ambassador Jaime de Pinies writes to the Secretary-General that Spain “as of today, definitively terminates its presence in the Territory.” One hundred sixteen years after Tetouan, the last Spanish soldier leaves Saharan soil; Morocco reintegrates its southern provinces, and another history begins (that of the conflict sustained from Algiers), which is not the subject of this dossier. ![Map: the Spanish retrocessions from 1956 to 1976 — northern zone, Tarfaya, Ifni, Sahara (The Moorish Times).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad817506eb0df910f4db_6a6face1c4df8435ad23527e_spanish-colonization-map-retrocessions.webp) *The four retrocessions, 1956-1976 (map: The Moorish Times).* ![The flags of the Green March, November 1975.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446456_6a6fad22841575cf1713e9e7_colonisation-espagnole-g5-marche-verte-drapeaux.webp) ![Green March volunteers holding up the Quran, November 1975.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446440_6a6fad250d948de2d6d5893e_colonisation-espagnole-g5-marche-verte-corans.webp) ![Hassan II announces the Green March to the Moroccan people, October 1975.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad52b609227acb446417_6a6fad28c4df8435ad237500_colonisation-espagnole-g5-hassan-ii-annonce-1975.webp) ![“Entrevista Franco-Hassan”: ABC’s front page on the 1969 meeting, the year of Ifni’s retrocession (facsimile, watermark removed; © Diario ABC).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71dda85cfbcfb6dc7afc84_6a71dd9eca1f91ffab40c859_colonisation-espagnole-g5-franco-hassan-abc-1969-v2.webp) ![The International Court of Justice during the Western Sahara proceedings, 1975 (UN Photo).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44643d_6a6fad2c6d3b487bc9813c04_colonisation-espagnole-g5-cij-la-haye-1975.webp) ![“Calle del General Mola”: Spanish traces on the walls of Sidi Ifni.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44643a_6a6fad2fb488a89f1245087a_colonisation-espagnole-g5-sidi-ifni-traces.webp) ## What remains ### A memory in three voices What does Spain do with this past? The answer fits in one committee session. On 14 February 2007, the Congress of Deputies examines a motion asking for recognition of the chemical war on the Rif and a gesture of reparation. The deputy defending it recalls that “for the Rif, this was its Guernica”; a member of the Partido Popular jokes about the possible confusion between “the Rif and the Ritz”; and the motion is rejected by thirty-three votes to three, government and opposition combined. The session will even have its ritual counter-argument: the reminder of the bombardments of the Rif by independent Morocco itself in 1958-1959, brandished as in every Spanish debate, and as every time without a primary source. Nothing has moved since: not in 2018, not in 2022. It would nonetheless be unjust to reduce Spain to that refusal. The Spanish conscript of Annual, that peasant from Extremadura sent to die because he did not have the two thousand pesetas that bought exemption from Africa, was himself a victim of the system (the Spanish left says so willingly; it is on the rest that it falls silent). And civil society sometimes moves faster than the state: in the spring of 2026, one hundred years almost to the day after the surrender at Targuist, an Andalusian human-rights association launched a campaign for recognition, the opening of the archives and a solemn apology. The same week, the Congress hosted the screening of a documentary celebrating the centenary of the Alhucemas landing. Spain commemorates the operation it refuses to examine. ![A printed two-column page in Spanish with vote results in bold.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae61c185d230cc1aef08985_6ae5288f01ef55cabb06e4e4_colonisation-espagnole-14.webp) *The Diario de Sesiones of February 14, 2007: the Constitutional Committee rejects the Rif chemical weapons motion by 33 votes to 3. Document: Congreso de los Diputados.* ### The archives ajar Two clocks were nonetheless ticking in memory’s favor. The first was legislative: in July 2025 the Spanish government approved a bill on classified information that would replace the Francoist official-secrets law of 1968 and automatically declassify documents older than forty-five years; the Madrid press immediately listed what those boxes contain, beginning with the file on the precipitous withdrawal from the Sahara in 1975. The text would never reach a vote: bogged down for more than a year in committee, it lapsed on 6 October 2026, the day the dissolution of the Cortes sent Spaniards back to the polls for 29 November. The archives had come ajar; they have closed again, and the next Parliament will have to start over. The second clock is diplomatic, and it has already struck: on 14 March 2022, the head of the Spanish government wrote to Mohammed VI that the Moroccan autonomy plan constituted “the most serious, realistic and credible basis” for the territory Spain had left in 1976. The loop opened by the secret article of 1904 closed with a letter. There remain Ceuta, Melilla and the islets, last legacy of five centuries of presidios; we have devoted [an entire article](/en/articles/bab-sebta) to Sebta, and that file has not finished living. We must finally come back to the Rif, for it is there that this past best refuses to pass. A century after the bombardments, the region still awaits its cancer registry, its soil surveys, its epidemiological study: it awaits being counted. Fortuny never finished the Battle of Tetouan; Spain never finished the inventory of what she did to Morocco. Between the unfinished canvas of the 1860s and the sealed archives of 1975, it is the same suspended gesture. Morocco, for its part, stitched its territory back together piece by piece, from Tetouan to Tarfaya, from Ifni to El Aaiun. It can wait for the rest: it has already proven, four times over, that patience too is a policy. ![ABC’s front page of 24 July 1921, two days after Annual: German divers in Berlin (facsimile, watermark removed; © Diario ABC).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71dda85cfbcfb6dc7afc7e_6a71dd99fadfc4d3b8b4494d_colonisation-espagnole-g6-abc-24-juillet-1921-v2.webp) ![ABC’s front page of 26 July 1921: the wall of portraits of officers fallen at Annual (facsimile, watermark removed; © Diario ABC).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71dda85cfbcfb6dc7afc8f_6a71dd9b4deb5f99328200f4_colonisation-espagnole-g6-abc-26-juillet-1921-v2.webp) ![The Expediente Picasso: a page of the documents printed by the Cortes, 1931.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44645f_6a6fad37b609227acb4456f7_colonisation-espagnole-g6-expediente-picasso.webp) ![The ERC motion on chemical weapons in the Rif, Boletin Oficial de las Cortes, 2005.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446471_6a6fad3a981578ead5fc66ae_colonisation-espagnole-g6-bocg-motion-2005.webp) ![The Madrid Declaration of Principles of 14 November 1975, as registered in the United Nations Treaty Series.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb446443_6a6fad3db609227acb445a78_colonisation-espagnole-g6-declaration-madrid-unts.webp) ![The Ifni retrocession treaty in the Boletin Oficial del Estado, 1969.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6fad53b609227acb44646b_6a6fad3f6d3b487bc981442c_colonisation-espagnole-g6-boe-ifni-1969.webp) ![ABC’s front page of 7 November 1975: “La Marcha Verde ante los campos de minas” (facsimile, watermark removed; © Diario ABC).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a71dda85cfbcfb6dc7afc81_6a71dda08eb42295da351b2c_colonisation-espagnole-g6-abc-7-novembre-1975-v2.webp) --- --- title: "Bab Sebta: The Gate Closed, the Sea Opened" description: "Twelve years separate the fifteen drowned at Tarajal from the sixty-seven of July 2026. In between, a town lost the gate it lived on. The story of a border that moves crossings without ever treating what causes them." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/bab-sebta language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/bab-sebta type: article category: pol published: 2026-08-02T20:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:23.488Z tags: ["Migration", "Spain", "Economy", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6563f4bd8065d132a6ce_6a6c638df73988567919c62d_fnideq-depuis-ceuta-1600.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bab Sebta: The Gate Closed, the Sea Opened *Twelve years separate the fifteen drowned at Tarajal from the sixty-seven of July 2026. In between, a town lost the gate it lived on. The story of a border that moves crossings without ever treating what causes them.* ![Fnideq seen from the Sebta shore](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6c6563f4bd8065d132a6ce_6a6c638df73988567919c62d_fnideq-depuis-ceuta-1600.webp) On 6 February 2014, shortly before dawn, close to two hundred men entered the water from the beach at Fnideq and swam towards the Tarajal jetty. They were a few dozen meters from Spanish sand when the Civil Guard deployed riot equipment: smoke grenades and rubber bullets, fired towards the sea. Neither the Spanish guards nor the Moroccan soldiers posted on the other shore went to the aid of those going under. Fifteen bodies would be recovered on the Spanish side. Others were never found. The investigation would be opened, closed, reopened, closed again in January 2018; the Spanish Supreme Court would reject the final appeals and shelve the case for good in 2022. No one was ever tried. On 30 July 2026, on the same water, between the same beach and the same jetty, sixty-seven bodies would be recovered. ![Red candles bearing names are set in the sand before a banner reading “Migrar es un derecho” and a placard of first names.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd3dff088ebf0544a95_6ae52880652c1dd4b15dec9f_bab-sebta-1.webp) *Candles for the dead of February 6, 2014 on Tarajal beach, during the 2022 March for Dignity. Photo: Alfonso Torres, El Salto.* Twelve years are not the only thing separating those two dates. An economic transformation took place in between, of which July’s rush is the direct consequence, and whose thread must be followed to understand why tens of thousands of young Moroccans chose the sea on a Thursday morning. For this is first of all the story of a gate: the one they call Bab Sebta. ## A border born of a treaty and a fence Sebta is Spanish by dynastic accident. Taken by the Portuguese in 1415, it remained tied to the Spanish Crown when Portugal recovered its independence in 1640, and the Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 confirmed the arrangement. For three centuries the border would be no more than an administrative line, crossed on foot. ### What the fence produced The fence itself is recent. The first one went up in 1993, two and a half meters high. Wire was added in 1995; in 1996 the men of the Tercio de la Legion and the Regulares carried the work on. It would have to be raised to six meters, ten along the most contested stretches. It is worth knowing that the European Union financed three quarters of it: the Sebta fence is not a Spanish decision, it is European policy turned into matter. Yet a barrier does not abolish a crossing, it displaces it. As the fence rose, the land route closed and the sea route opened: people stopped climbing and started swimming. Tarajal did not become the theater of drownings because the sea there is peculiarly treacherous — it is, the currents are violent — but because it is the one place where the fence stops. In 2020 the razor wire would be replaced by inverted combs: a gesture of humanity upon an object whose function remains unchanged. ![The border coastline between Sebta and Fnideq](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f923e821c4f237b8ed2b5_6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7fa_6a6c638eae4fdec9519bf408_frontiere-espagne-maroc-1600.webp) ![The double fence closing the presidio of Sebta](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f929d065b160cafb41f01_6a6c6565fcb5213346edd7e0_6a6c63e26d8f50645f9486e8_cloture-ceuta-1600.webp) ![The border relief above Sebta](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f923f821c4f237b8ed2bd_6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7e8_6a6c63928bc1cb01bf7d43c3_valla-ceuta-1600.webp) ## Bab Sebta, or the economy of a gate A few hundred meters from that fence there existed another border: commercial, tolerated, immense. Every day thousands of people crossed Bab Sebta loaded with goods bought in the presidio and resold in Morocco. The system had its unwritten rules and its figures: the porteadoras, the women they called mule-women, bent under bundles that sometimes weighed more than they did. ![Women in headscarves pressed against a metal gate, surrounded by large bundles wrapped in plastic and string.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd4dff088ebf0544ab5_6ae52881c1d34ee7ac24abcf_bab-sebta-2.webp) *Porteadoras and their bundles behind a border gate. Photo: Reuters.* Morocco’s customs administration valued that trade at between six and eight billion dirhams a year, which is to say between five hundred and fifty and seven hundred and fifty million euros. This was not marginal trafficking: it was the economy of Fnideq, of M’diq and of part of the western Rif. A whole town lived off the gate. In 2019 Rabat closed Bab Sebta and Bab Melilia to that flow. The decision was defensible, and it was welcomed as such: the images of the mule-women were an open wound. Then, in March 2020, the pandemic closed the Tarajal post altogether. Already in 2019, urban unemployment in the prefecture of M’diq-Fnideq stood at 18%, double the national average. The gate closed on a population that had nothing else. ### The zone that was to replace the gate Rabat did not leave the void unanswered. In April 2022 the Fnideq Economic Activity Zone opened: ten hectares, seventy-six warehouses, an import and distribution platform carrying customs advantages, designed to tip traders into the formal economy. The instrument works. Between April 2022 and July 2023, nine hundred and one import operations for six hundred and eighty-six million dirhams, two hundred and twelve million in duties and taxes recovered — above target — and an occupancy rate of 83%. What remains is the order of magnitude. The zone was aiming at a thousand stable jobs. It was replacing an economy valued at six to eight billion dirhams. A successful customs policy does not amount to an employment policy: between what the gate kept alive and what the zone can feed, a factor remains that no plan has closed. It is in that gap that the young of Fnideq have been standing for six years. ![The Tarajal border post](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f923f821c4f237b8ed2ba_6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7f2_6a6c638926a07d130adb7298_douane-ceuta-1600.webp) ![Belyounech, at the foot of Jbel Moussa](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f923e821c4f237b8ed2b1_6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7ec_6a6c6385bab3dda2af15a704_belyounech-plage-1600.webp) ![A Spanish border police vehicle](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6f923e821c4f237b8ed2ac_6a6c6566fcb5213346edd7ef_6a6c63903ea70a15b332dda7_police-frontiere-1600.webp) ## May 2021: the border as a message On the night of 17 May 2021, Moroccan controls slackened around Sebta. Close to nine thousand people entered the presidio within hours. The context was diplomatic: Madrid had just admitted Brahim Ghali, head of the Polisario Front, to a Spanish hospital, and Rabat made its view known by means other than a diplomatic note. More than a thousand of the arrivals were minors, among them children of seven to fourteen swept along by the movement of the crowd. Spain learned that day that a border can become an instrument, and that the instrument is paid for first by those it displaces. ![A bearded diver in a wetsuit holds an infant, its face blurred, above the water beside an orange life ring.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd4dff088ebf0544ab9_6ae528826093234c0d7f1f00_bab-sebta-3.webp) *A Civil Guard diver carries an infant out of the water off Sebta in May 2021. Photo: Guardia Civil.* It is worth noting what 2021 does not explain. Five years later Madrid would publicly thank Moroccan security forces for thwarting thousands of attempts, and Rabat would attribute the departures to criminal networks. Whatever one makes of those statements, the mechanics of July 2026 are not those of May 2021: no concerted slackening has been demonstrated. What changed, this time, was contained in a court ruling. ## July 2026: a ruling, a rumor, a rush On 8 July 2026 the fifth section of the administrative chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court made public a ruling intended to unify jurisprudence. Hearing the case of an Algerian national intercepted at sea while swimming towards Sebta, then handed to Moroccan authorities without any procedure whatever, the court held: the provision authorizing immediate pushbacks applies only against physical elements of border containment. Fences are such elements. The sea is not. Neither drones, nor cameras, nor radar replace a barrier. The consequence is narrow and purely procedural: anyone arriving by sea must be identified and given an individual examination, with a lawyer and an interpreter. It confers no right of residence. But between the courtroom in Madrid and the beaches of Fnideq the news was distorted, and the version that traveled said something else entirely: that touching the shore was enough to stay. On the night of 27 July, the Tetouan section of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights reported a collective crossing it called a “great escape”. On the morning of the 28th the Royal Gendarmerie detained some fifteen hundred people along the shoreline at Fnideq and Belyounech. By the 30th the crowd was larger than the containment line. Within twenty-four hours fifty thousand people according to Madrid, sixty thousand according to the president of Sebta, crossed the water. The city has eighty thousand inhabitants. ![Hundreds of young people on a beach and a hillside below a coastal wall, with an officer in a yellow vest in the foreground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd4dff088ebf0544abd_6ae528835bf5da2db5a59546_bab-sebta-4.webp) *The crowd on the Fnideq shore facing the Sebta border, late July 2026. Photo: Abdelmajid Bziouat, AFP.* Madrid would send almost all of them back within forty-eight hours, at a rate the Interior Ministry described as “150 personas por minuto”. Then, on 1 August, the Civil Guard laid buoys and a five-hundred-meter net in the water off Tarajal. The ruling of 8 July had specified that immediate pushbacks would become lawful again the day the border line was materialized at sea: the door the judges left ajar was walked through in forty-eight hours. ### The children who stay Sixty-seven bodies were recovered. Ninety-seven people have died on the coasts of Sebta since January, against forty-six for the whole of 2025. And more than a thousand unaccompanied minors will not be leaving. Spanish law and international conventions alike forbid returning a child against their will: each one opens an individual protection procedure, and those who do not go back of their own accord remain under the guardianship of the administration. Sebta’s center for minors was already past 2,400% of capacity before the rush. One minor, turned back on the Moroccan side, returned to Sebta by swimming. ![A night view from a rooftop of a lit warehouse yard where dozens of young people sit or lie on the ground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd5dff088ebf0544ac1_6ae528849e2d31455c48ff8f_bab-sebta-5.webp) *New arrivals spend the night between warehouses in Sebta after the July 2026 rush. Photo: Antonio Sempere, AP.* ## What the sea gives back Twelve years separate the fifteen drowned of 2014 from the sixty-seven of 2026, and the answer given was the same each time: one more obstacle. A fence in 1993, a raising in 1996, the closure of a commercial gate in 2019, a five-hundred-meter net in 2026. Every barrier kept its promise and moved the crossing one notch, from land to water, then from water to further out in the water. What has never been treated is the reason people enter the sea at all. A town lived off a gate for decades; the gate closed for good reasons; and nothing that replaced it is on the scale of what it kept alive. As long as that gap remains, the border will go on producing what it has produced for thirty years. The beach remains. It carries the name of a shrub, the tarajal, the tamarisk that grows in salt and holds the sand. There will be more counting there. ## References - Tribunal Supremo, Sala de lo Contencioso-Administrativo, sección V — ruling on the inapplicability of the “rechazo en frontera” to people intercepted at sea, made public 8 July 2026. - Ministerio del Interior (Spain) — communique on the situation in Sebta, 30 July 2026, and hourly tallies of returns, 31 July 2026. - La Moncloa — statement by the Spanish prime minister in Sebta, 31 July 2026. - Moroccan Customs Administration (Morocco) — valuation of the Bab Sebta smuggling trade and results of the Fnideq Economic Activity Zone. - Le Desk — reporting on the 30 July rush, the Beni Ansar clashes and the return agreement, 31 July 2026. - Médias24 — chronology of the Spanish ruling and the repatriations, 30 July 2026. - Maldita.es — fact-check of the figures and viral claims, 30 July 2026. - Association marocaine des droits humains, Tetouan section — alerts of 27 and 29 July 2026. - El Faro de Ceuta et Ceuta Actualidad — field coverage in Sebta, 30 July to 2 August 2026. - Migreurop et Caminando Fronteras — documentation of the Tarajal tragedy of 6 February 2014 and its judicial process. --- --- title: "Morocco for Africa: six decades of engagement" description: "From the Casablanca Conference of 1961 to the Atlantic pipeline agreement of 2026, from the Oujda camps where Mandela trained to the return to the African Union, this dossier documents, sources in hand, six decades of Moroccan engagement for Africa." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/morocco-africa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/maroc-afrique type: article category: pol published: 2026-08-01T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:26.694Z tags: ["Politics", "Geopolitics", "North Africa", "Modern History"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e11d96d7424a208986e4b_6a6e1174f94fbd17fed7b8de_maroc-afrique-hero-mandela-oujda-1962.jpeg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco for Africa: six decades of engagement *From the Casablanca Conference of 1961 to the Atlantic pipeline agreement of 2026, from the Oujda camps where Mandela trained to the return to the African Union, this dossier documents, sources in hand, six decades of Moroccan engagement for Africa.* ![Nelson Mandela among Algerian ALN instructors at Oujda, Morocco, in March 1962.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e11d96d7424a208986e4b_6a6e1174f94fbd17fed7b8de_maroc-afrique-hero-mandela-oujda-1962.jpeg) January 1961. In the midst of the Algerian war, Casablanca receives the most determined heads of state the continent can muster: Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Sekou Toure of Guinea, Modibo Keita of Mali, Gamal Abdel Nasser, who came from Egypt in person, and Ferhat Abbas, president of a provisional Algerian government that does not yet govern any territory. In the corridors, a delegation from Ruanda-Urundi and an envoy of Lumumba’s Stanleyville government. At the rostrum of the inaugural session, a single speech: that of Mohammed V, who proposes to the assembled leaders the ten points that will become the Casablanca Charter, and even an African Consultative Assembly. The charter sketches four permanent organs, among them a joint African high command: the skeleton of what will become, twenty-eight months later in Addis Ababa, the Organisation of African Unity. Seven weeks after closing the conference he had built, the sovereign will be dead, leaving the continent this text by way of testament. This dossier follows the thread that runs from that room of January 1961 to the signing ceremony of Freetown in July 2026: six decades of Moroccan engagement for Africa. We will see the sanctuary offered to the Algerian revolution and to the liberation movements, the three weeks of March 1962 during which Nelson Mandela trained on Moroccan soil, the chair left empty at the African Union and the return of 2017, the imprint of the banks, the ports and the pipeline, and that deeper bond (spiritual, scholarly, human) which precedes and outlasts geopolitics. History is no quiet river, and we will pass over neither the contradictions nor the setbacks: it is precisely because they are documented that these engagements carry weight. ![The Casablanca Conference, January 1961: Ferhat Abbas, Kwame Nkrumah, Mohammed V, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Modibo Keita and Sekou Toure (colorized period photograph).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2077d0446bf2096fc52b_6a6e206d291ad17ff6f13dd4_maroc-afrique-g1-conference-casablanca-1961.webp) ![Mohammed V and Gamal Abdel Nasser in Casablanca, on the sidelines of the January 1961 conference; behind them, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2077d0446bf2096fc531_6a6e206f93bf55bda97d12f5_maroc-afrique-g1-mohammed-v-nasser-1961.webp) ![Ahmed Sekou Toure, president of Guinea, in 1958.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e11d96d7424a208986e3c_6a6e117b4286560977c0d70c_maroc-afrique-g1-sekou-toure-1958.webp) ![Ferhat Abbas, president of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (photo Anefo, Nationaal Archief).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2b4e03751affa38cdba9_6a6e2b464f430ec437b66133_maroc-afrique-g1-ferhat-abbas-v2.webp) ## The arsenal of decolonization ### The Algerian sanctuary It should be remembered that Moroccan independence in 1956 preceded Algeria’s by six years, and that the young kingdom placed that head start at its neighbor’s service. The historian Benjamin Badier, biographer of Mohammed V, has established the scale of the arrangement: the command of Wilaya V installed near Oujda, camps at Nador, Khemisset, Larache and Tetouan, and a line of frontier bases running from Oujda to Figuig through Boubker, Berguent, Tendrara and Bou Arfa. By late 1960, close to five thousand Algerian fighters were organizing, arming and healing on Moroccan soil. On October 22, 1956, French aviation intercepted a Moroccan airliner carrying from Rabat to Tunis five leaders of the FLN (Ahmed Ben Bella among them), who had just been received by Mohammed V. The first hijacking of a civilian aircraft in history, the affair was felt in Rabat as an affront to the kingdom’s sovereignty as much as a blow against the Algerian revolution. Far from intimidating the sultan become king, it will seal his commitment: Badier writes that Mohammed V “was never more committed to the Algerian cause than in the final weeks of his reign.” In April 1958, it was moreover at Tangier that the Istiqlal, the Tunisian Neo-Destour and the FLN had convened the conference that dreamed of a Maghreb of peoples, united in the anticolonial struggle. Honesty requires giving the limits of the picture as well: the French services, who watched everything, never detected direct governmental funding of the FLN by Rabat, and the kingdom, careful to spare Paris, apologized in advance before recognizing the provisional Algerian government in September 1958. Moroccan support was first of all territorial and political: a sanctuary, strategic depth, a voice at the United Nations. ### Rabat, crossroads of liberations ![Patrice Lumumba, prime minister of the Congo, in 1960.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e11d96d7424a208986e48_6a6e117dd2843e1233752293_maroc-afrique-g2-lumumba-1960.webp) *Patrice Lumumba in 1960. Received in Rabat in August of that year, he was decorated by Mohammed V.* As for the rest of the continent, Rabat became within a few years what Mandela will call “the crossroads of virtually every liberation movement” in Africa. In August 1960, Mohammed V received Patrice Lumumba, prime minister of a Congo independent for barely a few weeks, and decorated him with the grand cordon of the Order of the Throne. The historian Maati Monjib records the public promise the sovereign then made to his guest: > “Morocco stands at your side and places at your disposal the lessons of its experience, as well as its diplomatic, military and technical means of action, to help you overcome your present difficulties. You are on the side of right and of justice, which always triumph in the end.”— Mohammed V to Patrice Lumumba, Rabat, August 1960 (as recorded by Maati Monjib, Zamane; our translation) Morocco was among the very first to answer the United Nations' call for the Congo, and its blue helmets were among the first deployed in the ONUC operation. History spares no one here: General Ben Hammou Kettani, the highest-ranking Moroccan of the former French army, asked by Lumumba himself to reorganize the Congolese army, became the mentor and protector of a young colonel named Joseph Mobutu. The American diplomatic archives preserve the trace of his influence, and the historian Fatima Boussaid concludes that Morocco was, through its general, “the inspiration, if not the architect” of Mobutu’s first coup in September 1960. Four months later Lumumba was dead, and Morocco was withdrawing its troops from the Congo pursuant to a resolution voted in Casablanca itself. The kingdom will thus have served the birth of the independent Congo and, much against its king’s designs, the trajectory of the man who would confiscate it. There was, on the other hand, a work without shadow: in April 1961, a few weeks after the conference, Amilcar Cabral, Mario Pinto de Andrade and Marcelino dos Santos founded in Casablanca the CONCP, the conference federating the liberation movements of the Portuguese colonies (the PAIGC of Guinea-Bissau, the MPLA of Angola, the future FRELIMO of Mozambique). Its general secretariat sat in Rabat. The guerrillas that would bring down Europe’s oldest colonial empire thus had, for years, their continental address in Morocco. ### The price of Casablanca Should the legend be gilded for all that? The conference of January 1961 had its price, and saying so strengthens the rest. The same session that promised unconditional support to fighting Algeria voted a resolution declaring Mauritania a “fictitious state” and approving “any action taken by Morocco in Mauritania to recover its legitimate rights”; the journalist Margaret Roberts, covering the conference, noted that outside the Moroccan delegation enthusiasm for this cause was thin. Likewise, Morocco and Libya, which then hosted Western bases, had the charter’s clause on foreign military bases softened, against the harder line of Guinea, Mali and Egypt. The pan-Africanism of Casablanca was also an instrument of Moroccan interests of the moment: such is the real texture of the era, and the kingdom was neither more nor less calculating in it than its peers. What remains is the balance sheet: a founding charter, a joint command sketched out, a capital offered to the liberators. Few African capitals could say as much. ![Ahmed Ben Bella in 1961, one of the five FLN leaders aboard the hijacked Moroccan airliner of 1956 (photo Anefo, Nationaal Archief).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2b4e03751affa38cdbac_6a6e2b484f430ec437b6620e_maroc-afrique-g2-ben-bella-1961-v2.webp) ## Mandela in Oujda ### Three weeks in March On March 6, 1962, an Ethiopian named David Motsamayi landed in Casablanca from Tunis. The passport was one of convenience: the man was Nelson Mandela, commander in chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC’s nascent armed wing, on a clandestine African tour in search of money, weapons and training. His travel diary (later seized by the South African police and entered in evidence at Rivonia) allows his Moroccan stay to be reconstructed day by day. In Rabat he met Dr Abdelkrim Khatib, surgeon, former head of the Moroccan Army of Liberation become minister of African Affairs (the first holder of such a portfolio in Morocco), assisted by the lawyer Jacques Verges. He crossed paths there with fighters from Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde. In his memoirs, he will remember it: > “Rabat in Morocco, our next stop, with its ancient and mysterious walls, its fashionable shops, and its medieval mosques, seemed a charming mixture of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Apparently freedom fighters thought so as well, for Rabat was the crossroads of virtually every liberation movement on the continent.”— Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 ![Two pages of an Empire of Ethiopia passport filled in by hand in the name of David Motsamayi.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cde0491de360125e563_6ae528935223b9148eda3402_maroc-afrique-2.webp) *Nelson Mandela’s Ethiopian passport in the name of David Motsamayi. Document: National Archives of South Africa, Nelson Mandela Foundation.* Pretoria’s services, for that matter, knew everything about these conclaves: a top-secret dispatch of March 13, 1962, kept in the South African archives, shows that a former SS officer sheltered in Spain was running an agent in Morocco on behalf of the South African police. Which says how much importance the adversary himself attached to what was brewing in Rabat. Years later, Jacques Verges will remember the journey east: > “I remember, for instance, accompanying Nelson Mandela from Rabat to Oujda. On the other side of the border, my contact was called Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who used a pseudonym for obvious security reasons.”— Jacques Verges, adviser to Dr Khatib (as told to TelQuel, 2017; our translation) On March 18, the head of the Algerian mission in Morocco, Dr Mustafa (the same man who taught Mandela that international public opinion “is sometimes worth more than a fleet of jet fighters”), sent him to Oujda, headquarters of the Algerian National Liberation Army on Moroccan soil. There follow ten days that constitute the only military training Mandela will ever receive: the base at Zegangan in the former Spanish Morocco, where he fires the first shots of his life (with a Mauser rifle, then a machine gun, his diary noting that he was “warmly complimented on accuracy”), the ALN’s printing works and signals headquarters, a forward post on the frontier from which he watches French troops through field glasses, imagining, he will write, that he was looking at the uniforms of the South African army. On March 24, a banquet brought him together with Ahmed Ben Bella. On the 28th, he flew to Bamako, mission accomplished. ![A handwritten page in ink stamped Exhibit No. R.16, with entries for 18/3 and 19/3.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cde0491de360125e560_6ae52894d4481bc6deb000f9_maroc-afrique-3.webp) *A page of Nelson Mandela’s 1962 diary, Rivonia trial exhibit R.16, recording his journey from Rabat to Oujda. Document: Nelson Mandela Foundation.* ### Who trained Mandela? The question inflames the nationalisms on both sides, so it must be settled by the sources. In November 2012 the Nelson Mandela Foundation published a correction that reads: “In March of 1962 Mr Mandela received training from the Algerian National Liberation Front at bases of the latter across the border in Morocco.” The exact formulation, and the only defensible one, holds in a phrase: Algerian instructors, Moroccan soil and sanctuary. The books that place this training “in Algeria” mistake the country; those that credit Moroccan instructors mistake the army. The kingdom’s contribution was of another nature, and no lesser for it: the hospitality of a territory, access to the Algerians, money and the promise of weapons. The primary record registers three thousand pounds sterling paid to the ANC during the Moroccan stay (the donor is not named in it), and this exchange, reported by the biographer David James Smith: a Moroccan official asking “where do you want us to send the weapons?”, and Mandela answering “Dar es Salaam.” Add to this a fact too little known, distinct from Mandela’s own training: Morocco pledged to train cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, and the historian Garth Benneyworth establishes that between 1962 and 1963 Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia together trained one hundred and thirty-five MK fighters. ### The recognition ![Nelson Mandela received by Hassan II at the royal palace in Rabat, November 1994.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2077d0446bf2096fc528_6a6e20714f430ec437b4e52f_maroc-afrique-g3-mandela-hassan2-1994.webp) *Rabat, November 1994: six months after his inauguration, Mandela is received by Hassan II.* Thirty-three years later, in 1995, receiving Dr Khatib in Pretoria for the first anniversary of his presidency, Mandela will honor him publicly as “one of the architects of our armed struggle,” himself recounting, before the audience, the Rabat office where he came asking for trained soldiers, money and weapons. In November 1994, six months after his inauguration, he had reserved for Morocco one of his first state visits, received in Rabat by Hassan II; he will return on a presidential visit in October 1997, then one last time, privately, in 2005. And the echo still carries: in July 2025, in Rabat, the South African MK party of Jacob Zuma recalled in an official statement that “our great leader, Nelson Mandela, was trained in Morocco, at Oujda.” One will note, in honesty, that Long Walk to Freedom mentions neither Khatib nor Moroccan material aid: the 1994 memoir is a public and selective narrative, whereas the 1962 diary, written for no reader and seized by the police, documents the Moroccan side precisely. Such is the paradox of archives: the exhibit that nearly cost Mandela his freedom is today the best proof of what Morocco did for him. ![Nelson Mandela and Algerian ALN cadres at Oujda, March 1962.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2b4e03751affa38cdbb0_6a6e2b44173c62c655ea6d51_maroc-afrique-g3-mandela-oujda-1962b-v2.webp) ## The empty chair and the return ### Addis Ababa, 1963 The Casablanca group and the rival Monrovia group converged in the end: in May 1963, in Addis Ababa, the independent states of Africa founded the Organisation of African Unity, whose charter owed much, in architecture as in spirit, to the Casablanca text. A stubborn legend holds that Morocco sulked at this birth; the archives say better. The United Nations Treaty Series shows that the kingdom, which took part in all the work of the founding conference, signed the charter on September 19, 1963, its delegation having had “no power to sign the Charter there and then,” and that it did so, in the very words of its annexed declaration, “as a founding member.” Morocco did not join the OAU: it co-founded it. ### 1984, the empty chair The break came in three stages. In February 1982, OAU secretary-general Edem Kodjo seated the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” on the backing of twenty-six members out of fifty: the decision fractured the organization to the point that two summits convened in Tripoli collapsed for want of a quorum, and the June 1983 summit could only be held because the Sahrawi leaders agreed to withdraw from it “voluntarily” (the summit’s resolution thanks them for it in black and white). The reprieve lasted seventeen months. On November 6, 1984, in Fes, Hassan II announced the exit six days in advance, in his Green March address: were Morocco to be asked for more than it had conceded, “it will yield its place to whoever succeeds it, wishing the OAU long life and success.” On November 12, at the 20th Addis Ababa summit, the Sahrawi delegation took its seat, and royal counsellor Ahmed Reda Guedira read out the King’s message (a text of fidelity more than rupture), of which Morocco would retain these words: “African is Morocco, and African it shall remain,” and “as a founding member of African unity, Morocco cannot be its gravedigger.” One year later to the day, Hassan II will state his conviction: > “The OAU has repudiated not its charter but, far more, the fundamental law it has violated.”— Hassan II, address of November 6, 1985 (our translation) For thirty-two years, the kingdom’s African policy will be made without the summits, and therein lies perhaps the most fruitful paradox of this history: deprived of the chamber, Morocco invested the ground. The royal tours, the bilateral agreements, the banks and the airline routes will weave, during the absence, the web that multilateral diplomacy could no longer weave. ### The road home The return was prepared in the open, step by step, and it began with a quotation. On July 17, 2016, in a message addressed to the Kigali summit, Mohammed VI took up word for word the phrase with which his father had accompanied the departure, and turned its meaning around: > “Our friends have long been asking us to come back, so that Morocco may resume its natural place within its institutional family. That moment has now come. On reflection, it became clear to us that when a body is sick, it is better treated from the inside than from the outside. The age of ideologies is over. Our peoples need concrete results and tangible action.”— Mohammed VI, message to the 27th African Union summit, Kigali, July 17, 2016 (our translation) “Morocco, which left the OAU, never left Africa,” the sovereign added: “it only left an institution.” A few months later, on November 6, 2016, the Green March address was delivered, for the first time in history, outside the kingdom, from Dakar, as if to match the gesture to the word. ### “It is beautiful, the day one returns home” ![Mohammed VI at the rostrum of the 28th African Union summit, Addis Ababa, January 31, 2017.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2077d0446bf2096fc52e_6a6e20738f9587090fa1f69e_maroc-afrique-g4-m6-tribune-ua-2017.webp) *Addis Ababa, January 31, 2017: the speech of the return.* The denouement played out in Addis Ababa, at the 28th summit of the African Union: on January 30, 2017, the Assembly admitted the kingdom “in conformity” with the Constitutive Act, thirty-nine states out of fifty-four having signified their support in writing according to the Union’s communique, in a decision that invokes the “pan-African values of the Founders.” The next day, Mohammed VI mounted the rostrum, and the first words of his speech traveled the continent: > “It is beautiful, the day when one returns home, after too long an absence! It is beautiful, the day when one carries one’s heart toward the beloved home! Africa is My Continent, and My home.”— Mohammed VI, address to the 28th African Union summit, Addis Ababa, January 31, 2017 (MAP transcript; our translation) The speech was not merely a moment of emotion: the sovereign gave his figures in it (forty-six royal visits to twenty-five African countries; nine hundred and forty-nine agreements concluded with African countries since 2000, against five hundred and fifteen between 1956 and 1999, “nearly double”) and drew up a severe assessment of the Maghreb, whose “UMA flame has gone out” while intra-Maghreb trade stagnates below 3% where ECOWAS reaches 10%. The message was unmistakable: since Maghreb integration is dying, Morocco’s future is written with West Africa and with the whole continent. In 2026, foreign minister Nasser Bourita will update the count: fifty-three royal visits to more than thirty countries, close to one thousand eight hundred bilateral agreements, of which one thousand four hundred concluded under the reign of Mohammed VI. ![A man in a suit cuts a red ribbon under an African Union plaque, surrounded by cameras.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cde0491de360125e567_6ae52894864098fb50028ede_maroc-afrique-6.webp) *Nasser Bourita inaugurates the African Migration Observatory in Rabat, December 18, 2020. Photo: The North Africa Post.* ### In the organs of the Union Since 2017, the kingdom has methodically reinvested the Union’s organs. Elected to the Peace and Security Council as early as 2018, re-elected for 2022-2025 and again for 2026-2028, it was designated, in the person of the King, the African Union’s leader on the question of migration: the African Agenda on Migration, presented at the January 2018 summit, led to the creation of the African Migration Observatory, inaugurated in Rabat on December 18, 2020 (International Migrants Day), the first and to this day only institution of the African Union hosted by Morocco. As early as July 2018, the Nouakchott summit moreover ruled that the Sahara question would henceforth be handled only at the level of heads of state and within the United Nations process. Procedural containment more than total victory (the “SADR” remains a full member of the Union), but the clause has held: the subject has since deserted the Assembly’s decisions. Not everything was victory: the same year 2025 that saw the Union formally commend Morocco’s support, “for the third time in a row,” for the training of African election observers also saw the candidacy of Latifa Akharbach for the deputy chairmanship of the Commission (the first Moroccan bid for an elective Commission post) defeated by Algeria’s Selma Malika Haddadi after six rounds of voting. The chair is no longer empty; the competition, for its part, is fiercer than ever. ![The African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e11d96d7424a208986e45_6a6e1182e156127aa61423f9_maroc-afrique-g4-union-africaine-addis.webp) ![King Mohammed VI at COP22 in Marrakesh, November 2016 (photo UNFCCC, CC BY 2.0).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e1d10af42b096addd10c5_6a6e1d05f5f1ad337d256a29_maroc-afrique-g4-mohammed-vi.webp) ## Banks, ports, pipeline: the other integration ### The stock and the flow What does economic Morocco really weigh in Africa? The standard formula (“second African investor on the continent, first in West Africa”) comes from the African Development Bank and corresponds to the data of 2021, the year in which 808 million dollars, or 43% of all Moroccan direct investment abroad, took the direction of the continent. Honesty requires dating it: recent flows have changed course, and in 2024, of 27 billion dirhams of Moroccan investment abroad (nearly four times the 2015 level), half went to France, with Mali and Ivory Coast trailing far behind. The truth holds in two words: the African stock is massive and old, the recent flow also looks to Europe. It is the stock that makes the power, and it can be read in three networks. ### The banks Bank Al-Maghrib counts Moroccan banking groups in twenty-seven African countries, through forty-five subsidiaries and four branches. Attijariwafa bank, present in fourteen countries of the continent, serves more than twelve million clients, and its international retail banking accounts for a third of its net banking income; Bank of Africa covers fifteen countries; Banque Centrale Populaire completed at the end of 2025 the acquisition of the entirety of Atlantic Business International and its West African banks. When a merchant of Dakar, Abidjan or Libreville pushes open the door of his bank, he quite often enters, without necessarily knowing it, an institution whose head office looks out on the Atlantic from Casablanca. ### The networks ![Aerial view of the port of Tanger Med.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e4a54ab735f9c93cde1c1_6a6e1184af42b096adda8753_maroc-afrique-g5-tanger-med.webp) *Tanger Med, Africa’s first container port.* Add to this telecommunications: Maroc Telecom counts close to seventy-seven million customers, of whom some fifty-four million are mobile subscribers of its Moov Africa subsidiaries in ten countries. The sky next: Royal Air Maroc serves twenty-nine African destinations from its Casablanca hub, designed to link Africa to Europe and the Americas in a single stopover, and deploys on them for the summer of 2026 more than one million eight hundred thousand seats, up by a good third. The sea finally: Tanger Med handled in 2025 more than eleven million containers and one hundred and sixty-one million tonnes of cargo, first container port of Africa and seventeenth in the world in the 2025 Lloyd’s List ranking, based on 2024 volumes (the World Bank’s performance index, more severe, ranks it fifth worldwide but second in Africa, behind Port Said: the continental race remains open). And the nourishing earth: OCP, holder of the world’s largest phosphate reserves, has made Africa a strategic priority, with sixteen countries of presence for its subsidiary OCP Africa and four million tonnes of fertilizer dedicated to the continent as early as 2023, in the service of African food sovereignty. ### The pipeline and the Atlantic ![Map of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline route, a continuous offshore line linking the ports from Nigeria to Morocco and on to Europe.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e5a7345aafa797826df19_6a6e5a6d39173f94f80b21b0_maroc-afrique-gazoduc-carte-en-v4.webp) *Six thousand eight hundred kilometers along the Atlantic: the pipeline route from Lagos to Tangier, before the European connection. (Infographic The Moorish Times)* On July 19, 2026, in Freetown, the heads of state of ECOWAS signed the intergovernmental agreement of the African Atlantic gas pipeline: some six thousand eight hundred kilometers along thirteen coastal countries, from the Niger delta to the European network via Morocco, thirty billion cubic meters a year at term, twenty-five billion dollars of investment, a project company in Casablanca and a pipeline authority in Abuja, Morocco’s ONHYM and Nigeria’s NNPC at the controls. The calendar announces first gas around 2031 through the northern segment, fed by the Senegalese-Mauritanian fields; the final investment decision, prudently, remains to be taken. This pipe belongs to a larger design: the Atlantic Initiative launched by the King on November 6, 2023, given form at the Marrakech ministerial meeting of December 23 that year, which offers the landlocked states of the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad) access to the ocean through the port of Dakhla Atlantique, whose construction passed 60% completion in 2026 for a commissioning expected around 2028-2029. Critical voices, such as the researcher Jean-Yves Moisseron, read in it also a consolidation of the Moroccan character of the Sahara through economics; that is fair game, and the kingdom hardly hides it. As for ECOWAS, it remains a threshold. Morocco’s membership application, transmitted on February 24, 2017, was “supported in principle” by the Monrovia summit in June of the same year, before the Abuja summit, six months later, observed that the organization’s texts simply did not provide for the admission of a third state. Since December 2017 the file has not appeared on the agenda again: never withdrawn, never rejected, dormant. But history has its reversals: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger left ECOWAS in January 2025 and now walk with Rabat in the Atlantic Initiative, while ECOWAS as a bloc endorsed, at Freetown, Morocco’s pipeline (which the kingdom, not being a member, will sign separately). What the treaty did not give, the pipes, the banks and the planes are building. ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 departing New York-JFK (photo AEMoreira042281, CC BY-SA 4.0).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e2b4e03751affa38cdbb3_6a6e2b4a4f430ec437b66349_maroc-afrique-g5-ram-787-v2.webp) ## The depth of the bond ### The faith ![The courtyard of the Qaraouiyine in Fes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e1d10af42b096addd10c8_6a6e1d09291ad17ff6f0a584_maroc-afrique-g6-qarawiyyin-courtyard.webp) *The Qaraouiyine of Fes, the oldest university in the world still in operation.* Long before the bankers, there were the saints. Since 1815, the zawiya of Sidi Ahmed Tijani in Fes has been, after the Holy Places, the second pilgrimage of the countless disciples of the Tijaniyya, the Sufi path born in the Algerian south and come to settle in Fes, where its founder rests, before being transmitted to West Africa by a chain of masters running from Muhammad al-Hafiz and El Hadj Omar Tall to Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, from Mauritania and Senegal to Nigeria. It is this heritage the kingdom has institutionalized: in March 2015, Mohammed VI inaugurated in Rabat the Mohammed VI Institute for the training of imams, morchidines and morchidates, which trained between 2015 and 2022, according to the minister of Habous Ahmed Toufiq, two thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight students from nine African countries; the same year saw the creation, by royal dahir, of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, seated by the Qaraouiyine of Fes, the oldest university in the world still in operation, become again what it was for centuries: an African address. Where others export doctrines, Morocco proposes an Islam of the middle way rooted in a shared heritage: a spiritual diplomacy in the proper sense. ### The knowledge The Moroccan university is the continent’s other great gateway. The Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation counted for 2019-2020 some twelve thousand five hundred African students of forty-seven nationalities in the kingdom’s public institutions, the overwhelming majority of them on Moroccan scholarships; in cumulative terms, the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies speaks of more than twenty-five thousand African students trained, and more than five thousand public-sector executives from thirty countries. Doctors, engineers, magistrates: a notable share of the continent’s francophone elites passed through Rabat, Fes or Marrakech, and keeps the attachments one may guess. Jeune Afrique goes as far as describing the kingdom as “the leading centre of excellence for the training of sub-Saharan medical and administrative elites,” its medical faculties and university hospitals receiving every year hundreds of African students and residents on AMCI scholarships. ### The hospitality ![Mohammed VI at a patient’s bedside in the Moroccan hospital of Conakry, March 2014.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e24284286560977c41737_6a6e2426291ad17ff6f1b954_maroc-afrique-g6-hopital-conakry-2014.webp) *Conakry, March 2014: the King at a patient’s bedside in the Moroccan field hospital, alongside Alpha Conde.* In 2013, the kingdom performed on migration a doctrinal reversal rare on the continent: thinking itself a land of transit, it owned up to being a land of welcome. Two exceptional regularization campaigns, in 2014 and in 2016-2017, regularized in all more than fifty thousand people, in their great majority sub-Saharan (the official tallies vary from one administration to another, a sign, as it happens, that the operation was real and massive). It was in Marrakech, moreover, that the world came in December 2018 to adopt the Global Compact for Migration, the same week the kingdom signed with the African Union the host agreement of the Rabat Observatory: for a moment, the imperial city was the migration capital of the planet. The humanitarian record completes the picture: the field hospital deployed in Conakry from February to May 2014 delivered more than twenty-three thousand medical procedures, and in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, an airlift of twenty-four Royal Air Maroc aircraft carried Moroccan medical aid to fifteen African countries. Let us guard against self-satisfaction all the same: the monthly Zamane recalled as early as 2011 that sub-Saharan students arriving in Morocco sometimes leave it disappointed. The doctrine is there; the daily reality, for its part, is still to be won. ![A panel of five people under United Nations and Global Compact logos, facing a full conference hall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cdf0491de360125e572_6ae52895f5a2fa1020fc660a_maroc-afrique-7.webp) *The intergovernmental conference to adopt the Global Compact for Migration, Marrakech, December 2018. Photo: Socialist International.* ### A doctrine What remains, at the end of this journey, of the Casablanca room of January 1961? A conviction, formulated by Mohammed VI in Abidjan in February 2014, which serves as doctrine to this entire policy: > “Africa is a great continent, in its living forces, its resources and its potentialities. It must take charge of itself; it is no longer a colonized continent. That is why Africa must trust Africa.”— Mohammed VI, address to the Moroccan-Ivorian Economic Forum, Abidjan, February 24, 2014 (our translation) From the sanctuary of Oujda to the pipeline of Freetown, from the blue helmets of the Congo to the Migration Observatory of Rabat, the thread never broke: it changed material. The weapons became agreements, the training camps campuses, the proclamations credit lines and container terminals. One may debate this choice or that calculation (history will also remember the empty chair and the defeats in committee), but not the constancy: since a dying king gathered in his home the fathers of independence, Morocco has never ceased to plead, in deeds, that its destiny is written in Africa. “Africa is My Continent, and My home”: the formula of Addis Ababa was no figure of speech. It was an entry in the register. ![The Qaraouiyine university of Fes (photo JasmineartGallery, CC BY-SA 4.0).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a6e1d10af42b096addd10cb_6a6e1d0cd2843e12337941b1_maroc-afrique-g6-qarawiyyin-fes.webp) --- --- title: "Green Ammonia: Washington Signs Its First Federal Financing in the Southern Provinces" description: "USTDA signed an agreement in Laayoune on Tuesday funding the pre-FEED study for an ammonia plant of 560,000 tonnes a year, entrusted to a US consortium led by KBR. The American ambassador called it the first US federal financing in Morocco’s Sahara." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ustda-ornx-ammoniac-vert-laayoune language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ustda-ornx-ammoniac-vert-laayoune type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.752Z tags: ["Geopolitics", "Sahara", "Energy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69e6657469fb81bbedb1bf_6a69e65bc2e851df362085ca_news-laayoune-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Green Ammonia: Washington Signs Its First Federal Financing in the Southern Provinces *USTDA signed an agreement in Laayoune on Tuesday funding the pre-FEED study for an ammonia plant of 560,000 tonnes a year, entrusted to a US consortium led by KBR. The American ambassador called it the first US federal financing in Morocco’s Sahara.* ![Aerial view of Laayoune.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69e6657469fb81bbedb1bf_6a69e65bc2e851df362085ca_news-laayoune-main.webp) The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Laayoune. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is funding a pre-front-end engineering and design study for a large-scale ammonia production plant, to the benefit of the Moroccan-registered joint venture ORNX Laayoune 1 SASU. ![Three men in suits sign documents at a red-draped table beneath a screen showing the U.S. and Moroccan flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56ca4074eaebb0e0680e5_6ae56b51dc78061d9bb1adb3_ustda-ornx-ammoniac-vert-laayoune.webp) *The signing ceremony in Laayoune, with U.S. Ambassador Duke Buchan III at the center. Photo: U.S. Embassy in Morocco.* The study will be carried out by a consortium of American companies led by Kellogg Brown & Root, with GE Vernova, Electric Hydrogen and Terabase. Once in service, the facility is expected to produce up to five hundred and sixty thousand tonnes of ammonia a year. The agency’s release puts no figure on its grant: the press sets it at 5.7 million dollars, for a complex valued at 4.5 billion. The United States ambassador Duke Buchan, who signed alongside the Wali of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Abdesalam Bekrate, called it “the first U.S. federal financing in Morocco’s Sahara”. The USTDA release also places the project in “Morocco’s southern provinces”. The agency also notes that ammonia is a key ingredient in fertilizer, the very matter over which Washington is presently weighing the countervailing duties levied on OCP. *Photo: Zakaria Taberkant / Commune of Laayoune, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - U.S. Trade and Development Agency - [USTDA Supports Major Ammonia Project in Morocco’s Southern Provinces (28 July 2026)](https://ustda.gov/ustda-supports-major-ammonia-project-in-moroccos-southern-provinces/) - Bloomberg - [US Backs Morocco Ammonia Plan With First Funds for Disputed Area](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-28/us-backs-morocco-ammonia-plan-with-first-funds-for-disputed-area) --- --- title: "Travel: Peru Waives Visas for Moroccans Holding a Schengen or US Visa" description: "Peru has waived the tourist visa for Moroccans holding a valid Schengen or US visa, by supreme decree published on Saturday. The measure takes effect on 23 September and allows stays of 183 days a year, for tourism only." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/perou-exemption-visa-marocains-schengen language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/perou-exemption-visa-marocains-schengen type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.791Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Tourism", "Society"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69eb98c1955ee02f35a0a8_6a69eb8a2aa51dcccaf7cb58_news-peru-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Travel: Peru Waives Visas for Moroccans Holding a Schengen or US Visa *Peru has waived the tourist visa for Moroccans holding a valid Schengen or US visa, by supreme decree published on Saturday. The measure takes effect on 23 September and allows stays of 183 days a year, for tourism only.* ![The Machu Picchu site in Peru.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69eb98c1955ee02f35a0a8_6a69eb8a2aa51dcccaf7cb58_news-peru-main.webp) Supreme Decree No. 033-2026-RE, published in the official gazette El Peruano, waives the tourist visa for Moroccans holding an ordinary passport, provided they carry a valid Schengen or United States visa. The measure will take effect on September 23. ![The decree’s heading under Relaciones Exteriores, with its bold title and number.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c6f92732f59544ceae8_6ae56b3f917588a2eaa55838_perou-exemption-visa-marocains-schengen.webp) *Supreme Decree No. 033-2026-RE in Peru’s official gazette, El Peruano, July 25, 2026. Image: El Peruano.* It allows tourist stays of 183 days a year and requires the visa presented to retain at least six months of validity on arrival. The exemption covers tourism alone. Lima invokes reciprocity: Morocco lifted the visa requirement for Peruvians in 2017, and the gesture had waited nine years for its answer. For the Moroccan traveler, the passport does not suffice. It is a visa already obtained elsewhere that opens the door, so that the American or European document becomes a currency of movement beyond its issuer. *Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - El Peruano - [Supreme Decree No. 033-2026-RE, official gazette of the Republic of Peru (25 July 2026)](https://busquedas.elperuano.pe/) --- --- title: "Household Debt: Moroccan Borrowing Posts Its Sharpest Rise Since 2012" description: "Moroccan household debt reached 456 billion dirhams at the end of 2025, up 6.9%, the sharpest rise since 2012. The default rate stands at 10.3% and the share of households repaying more than 40% of their income keeps growing." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/endettement-menages-credit-consommation-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/endettement-menages-credit-consommation-2025 type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.109Z tags: ["Finance", "Society", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea5873e2c1f2bbf86f0_6ae53c8edad7e607dc80f16d_endettement-menages-credit-consommation-2025-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Household Debt: Moroccan Borrowing Posts Its Sharpest Rise Since 2012 *Moroccan household debt reached 456 billion dirhams at the end of 2025, up 6.9%, the sharpest rise since 2012. The default rate stands at 10.3% and the share of households repaying more than 40% of their income keeps growing.* ![The sign of consumer lender Wafasalaf on the front of a white building on a street corner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ea5873e2c1f2bbf86f0_6ae53c8edad7e607dc80f16d_endettement-menages-credit-consommation-2025-main.webp) Four hundred and fifty-six billion dirhams: that is the outstanding debt of Moroccan households at the end of 2025, according to the annual financial stability report published by Bank Al-Maghrib and the insurance and capital markets authorities. ![Four officials seated behind laptops at a U-shaped table, before a Moroccan flag and a portrait of the King, with the three regulators’ logos on a screen.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c64a754fc2eba286bf8_6ae6065d8f7591899402cfc2_endettement-menages-credit-consommation-2025-inline.webp) *The presentation of the financial stability report by Bank Al-Maghrib, ACAPS and AMMC in Rabat, July 2026. Photo: Le Matin.* The increase reaches 6.9% over the year, against 3.9% a year earlier, the sharpest rise recorded since 2012. Housing accounts for 60% of it, consumption for 40%. Measured against the wealth produced, household debt holds steady at 27% of gross domestic product. That ratio nonetheless conceals a default rate of 10.3% and a growing share of households whose repayment burden exceeds 40% of income. In the same week the government raised its growth forecast to 5.3%, the financial system therefore records that households are borrowing faster than they are growing richer. *Photo: mustapha ennaimi, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib, ACAPS and AMMC - [Annual Financial Stability Report 2025](https://www.bkam.ma/Publications-et-recherche/Publications-institutionnelles/Rapport-sur-la-stabilite-financiere) --- --- title: "Gas: Predator Extends Its Drilling Contract to Spud the MOU-6 Well at Guercif" description: "Predator Oil & Gas has extended its drilling contract with Intrepid Drilling to 1 October in order to spud the MOU-6 well at Guercif, which aims to confirm twelve billion cubic meters of gas against 1.7 billion initially estimated." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/predator-forage-mou-6-guercif language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/predator-forage-mou-6-guercif type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.723Z tags: ["Energy", "Economy", "Industry"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69eda86936d55bab0d6e34_6a69eda15fa5876879fbe292_news-rig-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Gas: Predator Extends Its Drilling Contract to Spud the MOU-6 Well at Guercif *Predator Oil & Gas has extended its drilling contract with Intrepid Drilling to 1 October in order to spud the MOU-6 well at Guercif, which aims to confirm twelve billion cubic meters of gas against 1.7 billion initially estimated.* ![AI-generated concept image: an onshore drilling rig in an arid landscape.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a69eda86936d55bab0d6e34_6a69eda15fa5876879fbe292_news-rig-main.webp) Predator Oil & Gas announced on Wednesday an amendment to the hire contract for the Rig 101 drilling unit, agreed with Intrepid Drilling. The contract now runs to October 1 instead of August 1, allowing the MOU-6 well to be spudded in the Guercif basin. ![High view of a derrick and its blue containers on a drilling pad in an arid plain.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c3abbbd9f296de39965_6ae60a2032b76b5356bd9466_predator-forage-mou-6-guercif-inline.webp) *A Predator Oil & Gas drilling rig in the Guercif area. Photo: Predator Oil & Gas.* The rig remains at the MOU-5 site, waiting for the last consumables and equipment still in transit. What is at stake sits in a gap between figures: MOU-6 aims to confirm 12 billion cubic meters of gas, where the resources initially estimated on the structure stood at 1.7 billion. The company is seeking a production concession. Morocco, which imports the bulk of its gas, is therefore watching the Oriental closely. *AI-generated concept image.* ## References - Predator Oil & Gas Holdings - [Execution of Amendment rig contract to drill MOU-6, regulatory announcement (29 July 2026)](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/predator-oil-gas-holdings-npv--prd/execution-of-amendment-rig-contract-to-drill-mou-6/9692361) --- --- title: "Phosphates: Washington Suspends the Duties, Yet Recommends Keeping Them" description: "The US Department of Commerce recommends keeping the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers for five more years, at 20.04%, four weeks after the White House temporarily suspended those same duties." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/phosphates-washington-sunset-review-ocp language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/phosphates-washington-sunset-review-ocp type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-26T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.783Z tags: ["Geopolitics", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a65dc2da7d5d67c714273fc_6a65dc1efaf963dcae8ef143_news-ocp-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Phosphates: Washington Suspends the Duties, Yet Recommends Keeping Them *The US Department of Commerce recommends keeping the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers for five more years, at 20.04%, four weeks after the White House temporarily suspended those same duties.* ![A former phosphate spoil heap and disused industrial tanks at Khouribga.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a65dc2da7d5d67c714273fc_6a65dc1efaf963dcae8ef143_news-ocp-main.webp) The United States Department of Commerce published on July 24 the preliminary results of the first full sunset review of the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, and recommends renewing them for a further five years. ![A large bulk carrier with a red and black hull towed by a tug on calm water at sunset.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c723f4e8767d6234b45_6ae56b40a4bf35eb516cf59d_phosphates-washington-sunset-review-ocp.webp) *The Patricia Oldendorff bulk carrier, loaded with 100,000 metric tons of fertilizer at Jorf Lasfar in October 2023. Photo: EcoActu.* Its provisional finding: revoking the order, in force since April 2021, would likely lead to the continuation of countervailable subsidies, at a rate of 20.04% ad valorem for OCP as for all other exporters. The recommendation lands four weeks after a gesture pointing the other way. On June 29 the President of the United States declared an emergency and authorized the temporary duty-free importation of Moroccan phosphate fertilizers. Washington thus shows two faces on the same product, one political and provisional, the other technical and lasting. It will fall to the International Trade Commission to decide. *Photo: Bertrand SOUBEYRAND, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Federal Register (Department of Commerce) - [Phosphate Fertilizers From the Kingdom of Morocco: Preliminary Results of First Full Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order (24 July 2026)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14971/phosphate-fertilizers-from-the-kingdom-of-morocco-preliminary-results-of-first-full-sunset-review-of) - Federal Register (Department of Commerce) - [Countervailing Duty Order of Phosphate Fertilizers From the Kingdom of Morocco: Temporary Duty Free Importation (8 July 2026)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/08/2026-13796/countervailing-duty-order-of-phosphate-fertilizers-from-the-kingdom-of-morocco-temporary-duty-free) --- --- title: "Financing: SACE and Bank of Africa Join Forces to Carry Italian Firms Into Africa" description: "SACE, the Italian export credit agency, and Bank of Africa signed an agreement in Casablanca to finance African projects involving Italian suppliers, with energy, infrastructure, agrifood, water, health and education as priorities." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sace-bank-of-africa-accord-afrique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sace-bank-of-africa-accord-afrique type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-26T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.836Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a65dc3150d3c78adfdf682a_6a65dc24285b89ab60dca753_news-cfc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Financing: SACE and Bank of Africa Join Forces to Carry Italian Firms Into Africa *SACE, the Italian export credit agency, and Bank of Africa signed an agreement in Casablanca to finance African projects involving Italian suppliers, with energy, infrastructure, agrifood, water, health and education as priorities.* ![The towers of Casablanca Finance City under a clear sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a65dc3150d3c78adfdf682a_6a65dc24285b89ab60dca753_news-cfc-main.webp) SACE, the Italian export credit agency, and Bank of Africa signed a cooperation agreement in Casablanca on Friday, intended to open new financing and investment opportunities across the continent. ![Two seated men sign documents, with about fifteen people standing around them.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4748dbff1dabad7837_6ae56b2f9c94771ca7308f62_sace-bank-of-africa-accord-afrique.webp) *Mario Melillo of SACE and Khalid Nasr of Bank of Africa signing the agreement in Casablanca. Photo: Italpress.* The two institutions intend to identify operations, structure integrated financial solutions and ease access to competitive financing for projects involving Italian suppliers. Priority will go to energy, infrastructure, agrifood, water resources, health and education. The structure sets Italian risk cover and export credit insurance against the regional footprint of a Moroccan bank, making the kingdom the entry point for European capital moving south. *Photo: AyourAchtouk, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Italpress - [SACE e Bank of Africa insieme per sostenere nuovi progetti e opportunità di business nel continente africano (24 July 2026)](https://www.italpress.com/sace-e-bank-of-africa-insieme-per-sostenere-nuovi-progetti-e-opportunita-di-business-nel-continente-africano/) --- --- title: "AFCON 2025: CAS Sets 8 October for the Hearing on Morocco’s Title" description: "CAS has set 8 October 2026, in Lausanne and behind closed doors, for the hearing on Senegal’s appeal against the award of the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco. No decision will be issued that day: the title stays Moroccan until then." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/faux-verdict-tas-can-2025 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/faux-verdict-tas-can-2025 type: news category: sport published: 2026-07-24T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.934Z tags: ["Sport", "Controversy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553131ff8db7a1c6ffb00e_6a55310beae719c31755fb47_news-cas-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # AFCON 2025: CAS Sets 8 October for the Hearing on Morocco’s Title *CAS has set 8 October 2026, in Lausanne and behind closed doors, for the hearing on Senegal’s appeal against the award of the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco. No decision will be issued that day: the title stays Moroccan until then.* ![The Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, stage of the 2025 AFCON final](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553131ff8db7a1c6ffb00e_6a55310beae719c31755fb47_news-cas-main.webp) The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Friday that the hearing between the Senegalese Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation will be held on October 8, 2026 at its Lausanne headquarters. ![Players in green and in white surround the referee, who raises his arm, on the pitch in front of a packed stand.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4948dbff1dabad7880_6ae56b306a5d9b85e6b5d0b2_faux-verdict-tas-can-2025.webp) *Morocco and Senegal players around the referee during the AFCON 2025 final at Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat. Photo: Franck Fife / AFP via Le360.* It will sit behind closed doors, and no decision will be handed down on the day itself. Registered on March 25, the Senegalese appeal seeks to set aside the CAF decision that declared Senegal to have forfeited the final and recorded Morocco as the winner by 3-0. On March 17 the CAF Appeals Committee awarded that forfeit win under articles 82 and 84 of the regulations, the only enforceable ruling to date. The title therefore remains Moroccan until Lausanne says otherwise. The 2025 AFCON will have taken close to a year to reach its legal epilogue; the pitch, for its part, gave its verdict in ninety minutes. *Photo: Reda Benkhadra, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - CAS - [CAS Media Release, 24 July 2026 — hearing set for 8 October (PDF)](https://www.tas-cas.org/generated/assets/lists/dceab111-07bc-435f-b5f9-de88eff9db72/CAS%20Media%20Release_12295_hearing%20and%20procedural%20update.pdf) - CAS - [CAS Media Release, March 25, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.tas-cas.org/generated/assets/lists/dceab111-07bc-435f-b5f9-de88eff9db72/CAS%20Media%20Release_12295_appeal.pdf) - Morocco World News - [Fake CAS Verdict Goes Viral: Morocco’s AFCON 2025 Title Has Not Been Revoked](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/07/328756/fake-cas-verdict-goes-viral-moroccos-afcon-2025-title-has-not-been-revoked/) - Sky Sports - [CAS confirms Senegal appeal after controversial AFCON decision](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13961/13524339/africa-cup-of-nations-cas-confirms-senegal-appeal-after-controversial-decision-to-strip-them-of-afcon-title) --- --- title: "Batteries: The AfDB Lends 100 Million Euros for Africa’s First LFP Gigafactory" description: "The African Development Bank approved a 100 million euro loan to Gotion Power Morocco for an integrated LFP battery gigafactory in the Kenitra free zone: ten gigawatt-hours in the first phase, more than six hundred direct jobs and a 70% local integration rate." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bad-gotion-gigafactory-batteries-lfp language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bad-gotion-gigafactory-batteries-lfp type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-24T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:23.983Z tags: ["Industry", "Energy", "Automotive"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a63dceb2c8e0b87117e9e4e_6a63dce3113b639c419bb265_news-pack-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Batteries: The AfDB Lends 100 Million Euros for Africa’s First LFP Gigafactory *The African Development Bank approved a 100 million euro loan to Gotion Power Morocco for an integrated LFP battery gigafactory in the Kenitra free zone: ten gigawatt-hours in the first phase, more than six hundred direct jobs and a 70% local integration rate.* ![A lithium-ion battery pack for an electric vehicle, opened to show its cell modules.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a63dceb2c8e0b87117e9e4e_6a63dce3113b639c419bb265_news-pack-main.webp) The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a 100 million euro loan to Gotion Power Morocco to finance an integrated cathode-to-cell lithium iron phosphate battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra free trade zone. ![A large board showing an aerial view of the project, with text in Chinese and English, set in the red earth of a graded site.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c943eb74873888f9aea_6ae60a25a754fc2eba27713a_bad-gotion-gigafactory-batteries-lfp-inline.webp) *A Gotion project display board on the site of the future battery complex in Kenitra. Photo: Hespress.* The bank intends to mobilize up to a further 141 million euros from partner institutions. Led by the Chinese group Gotion High-Tech, the plant will be the first integrated battery manufacturing facility in Africa and in the Middle East and North Africa region. It will produce ten gigawatt-hours of cells and packs for electric vehicles in its first phase, with capacity set to rise towards one hundred. That phase is to create more than six hundred direct jobs and lift the local industrial integration rate to 70%. “Battery storage is the missing link in Africa’s clean energy transition,” said Kevin Kariuki, the bank’s vice-president for power, energy, climate and green growth. The kingdom had already moored its car industry at Kenitra, and it now moors what will make those cars run. The local beneficiation of critical minerals remains the true measure of the ambition. *Photo: RudolfSimon, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - African Development Bank - [African Development Bank Approves 100 Million Euros to Gotion Power Morocco (24 July 2026)](https://afdb.africa-newsroom.com/press/african-development-bank-approves-euro100-million-to-gotion-power-morocco-to-develop-africas-first-lithium-ion-phosphate-battery-gigafactory?lang=en) --- --- title: "Tourism: Morocco Targets 60,000 More Beds to Turn the 2030 World Cup Into Lasting Revenue" description: "In an interview with Reuters, Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor announced 60,000 additional hotel beds before the 2030 World Cup, lifting capacity beyond 360,000, backed by more than 190 billion dirhams of infrastructure and a target of 26 million tourists." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/mondial-2030-60000-lits-hoteliers-ammor language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/mondial-2030-60000-lits-hoteliers-ammor type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.530Z tags: ["Tourism", "Economy", "Sport"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a61e5bad7a20584fd922de5_6a61e5b2adba677d75b540f0_news-mamounia-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tourism: Morocco Targets 60,000 More Beds to Turn the 2030 World Cup Into Lasting Revenue *In an interview with Reuters, Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor announced 60,000 additional hotel beds before the 2030 World Cup, lifting capacity beyond 360,000, backed by more than 190 billion dirhams of infrastructure and a target of 26 million tourists.* ![The outdoor pool at La Mamounia in Marrakech, framed by palm trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a61e5bad7a20584fd922de5_6a61e5b2adba677d75b540f0_news-mamounia-main.webp) Sixty thousand additional hotel beds by the 2030 World Cup: that is the target set by Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor in an interview with Reuters. ![A woman in a white suit speaks at a lectern beside a portrait of King Mohammed VI.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c7471b77aacf59aabff_6ae56b418cb83748648f4309_mondial-2030-60000-lits-hoteliers-ammor.webp) *Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor at the GBB Investment Summit Morocco in Rabat, June 2026. Photo: Le360.* The addition would carry the kingdom’s capacity beyond 360,000 beds, against a little over 300,000 today. More than 190 billion dirhams are being mobilized before the deadline for rail and road, airports, stadiums and urban infrastructure. “We see the FIFA 2030 World Cup as an accelerator, and not as an end in itself,” the minister said. Tourism accounts for roughly 7% of gross domestic product. Close to twenty million travelers visited the kingdom last year, now the continent’s leading destination, and Bank Al-Maghrib expects record receipts of 161 billion dirhams in 2027. The stake is also to widen the map beyond Marrakech and Agadir and to draw Chinese, American and Middle Eastern travelers. The target is twenty-six million tourists in 2030. *Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Reuters - [Interview with Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism (21 July 2026)](https://www.reuters.com/) --- --- title: "Fettah Raises 2026 Growth to 5.3% and Holds the Deficit at 3% Through 2029" description: "Before parliament’s finance committees, Nadia Fettah raised the 2026 growth forecast to 5.3%, carried by a 15.1% agricultural rebound, and announced a deficit held at 3% of GDP through 2029 — above the forecasts of both the planning commission and the central bank." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/lf-2026-fettah-croissance-53-deficit-3 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/lf-2026-fettah-croissance-53-deficit-3 type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.377Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec3a74339c3dca83077_6ae53ca2b174645b2a17e4ae_lf-2026-fettah-croissance-53-deficit-3-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fettah Raises 2026 Growth to 5.3% and Holds the Deficit at 3% Through 2029 *Before parliament’s finance committees, Nadia Fettah raised the 2026 growth forecast to 5.3%, carried by a 15.1% agricultural rebound, and announced a deficit held at 3% of GDP through 2029 — above the forecasts of both the planning commission and the central bank.* ![Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah speaks into a microphone in front of the Kingdom’s coat of arms.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53ec3a74339c3dca83077_6ae53ca2b174645b2a17e4ae_lf-2026-fettah-croissance-53-deficit-3-main.webp) Presenting to the finance committees of both chambers, Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah lifted the 2026 growth forecast to 5.3%, seven tenths of a point above the assumption written into the finance law. ![Three officials seated at a table behind name cards, beneath the King’s portrait, the woman in the center speaking into the microphone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b8542f73d1f6831b0aa_6ae60627d099feb8b5bc75ab_lf-2026-fettah-croissance-53-deficit-3-inline.webp) *Nadia Fettah, center, before a parliamentary committee. Photo: Le Matin.* The revision rests first on the land: agricultural value added would rise 15.1% after several years of drought, while non-agricultural activity would hold at 4.2%. Inflation stayed at 0.5% over the first five months, and the government expects 1.5% across the year. Ordinary receipts jumped 15.4%, and the executive announced a deficit held at 3% of GDP through 2029. The figure exceeds those of the two institutions whose business it is to temper government optimism: the High Commission for Planning had forecast 4.8% two days earlier, Bank Al-Maghrib 5.2%. The fact remains that the growth rests on a harvest, variable by nature, and that a deficit frozen at 3% assumes four successive budgets held to the same line. *Photo: TelQuel.* ## References - Chambre des Représentants - [2026 Finance Law execution and 2027-2029 budget programming, presented to the finance committees (22 July 2026)](https://www.chambredesrepresentants.ma/fr) --- --- title: "The Art of Moroccan Zellige: An Ancestral and Prized Tradition" description: "Born in Morocco around the 10th century, zellige has crossed dynasties and borders to become one of the world’s most prized decorative arts. The story of an ancestral savoir-faire, from Fes to the Grand Mosque of Paris." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/zellige language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/zellige type: article category: cult published: 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:38.786Z tags: ["Craftsmanship", "Architecture", "Marinids", "Saadians", "Almohads", "Almoravids", "Alaouites", "Fes", "Tetouan", "Traditions"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4712_6a2aa84cd02d127fcc255819_Zellige%2520-%2520Hero.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Art of Moroccan Zellige: An Ancestral and Prized Tradition *Born in Morocco around the 10th century, zellige has crossed dynasties and borders to become one of the world’s most prized decorative arts. The story of an ancestral savoir-faire, from Fes to the Grand Mosque of Paris.* ![Fontaine et table en zellige marocain](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4712_6a2aa84cd02d127fcc255819_Zellige%2520-%2520Hero.webp) Zellige, born in Morocco around the 10th century of the common era, originally stood out for its white and brown tones, reminiscent of the elegant Roman mosaics. This magnificent ceramic art has crossed the centuries, constantly enriched by the contributions of the successive dynasties of Morocco and Andalusia, under the Moorish influence of the Almoravids, the Almohads, the Marinids, the Saadians, and finally throughout the Sharifian era. Each period brought its own unique touch, incorporating new colors and new patterns, transforming Zellige into a true mosaic of history, rich and varied, which continues to amaze through its complexity and its timeless beauty. ### The origins of the word The term “zellige” draws its roots from Arabic, meaning “small polished stone”. The word has traveled across cultures and languages, influencing several terms in the Latin languages. In Spanish, for instance, it became “azulejo”, designating decorative ceramic tiles, while in Ligurian (a region of Italy), it survives under the form “laggione”. These linguistic variations bear witness to the spread and the historical importance of zellige in the art and architecture of different regions. Sumptuous buildings, palaces adorned with exquisite details, and richly decorated mosques testify not only to material wealth, but also to the sophistication and the cultural and spiritual depth of a society. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae14bcf94a8da49a4785_6a2aa9d776298643c9260db1_Zellige%2520-%25203.webp) *Attarine Madrassa, Fes, 1323-1325, Morocco* ### An ancestral craft Zellige is a traditional Moroccan art in which tiles are crafted by hand from unrefined natural clay, extracted mainly from the region of Fes. This ancestral process begins with the meticulous preparation of a clay renowned for its unique technical quality. After being crushed and moistened in the workshop, the clay blocks are kneaded with water, then spread out in the sun to dry. Once calibrated and cut into geometric shapes, the clay is ready for high-temperature kiln firing. Zellige tiles are made from natural materials such as clay, but also lime and mineral pigments. The making of Moroccan zellige is ecological, as it uses neither harmful chemicals nor energy-hungry machines. The artisans rely on traditional methods of clay modeling and wood-fired kilns, creating a final product that is respectful of the environment. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae14bcf94a8da49a4782_6a2aa9d7cdf3c6ee7e1ba816_Zellige%2520-%25204.webp) *Dar al-Makhzen, Fes, 13th century* Each zellige tile is a unique piece, holding its own designation, underlining the irregularity of its surface appearance, its hue, its luster and its depth. After firing, vitreous compounds and mineral pigments are applied and fused, creating a range of semi-transparent, metallic, pearlescent or opaque shades. There are several different laying techniques, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. The most common one is known as dry laying, which consists of setting the tiles directly onto the wall or the floor. This technique, among many others, is quick and easy, but it is not the most durable. Traditional laying, in which the tiles are set on a lime mortar, is another technique, distinguished by markedly better durability and resistance, though more costly and more time-consuming. Other, more modern laying techniques, such as adhesive laying, carry their own advantages and inconveniences, being faster and easier, but far less durable. This craft, far more than a cultural identity, is a true savoir-faire anchored in the city of Fes and recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization. ![Traditional Moroccan zellige fountain](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4718_6a2aa9d78b253becc5250778_Zellige%2520-%25201.webp) ![Copper lanterns on a zellige table](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a472a_6a2aa9d7cdf3c6ee7e1ba7e7_Zellige%2520-%25202.webp) ![Zellige exhibition, 2023, Marrakech](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a4704_6a2aa9d78b253becc52507ea_Zellige%2520-%25205.webp) ![Zellige exhibition, 2023, Marrakech](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a470c_6a2aa9d78b253becc52507ff_Zellige%2520-%25206.webp) ### The “Zellige de Fes” label Morocco’s Ministry of Handicrafts created the “Zellige de Fes” label to guarantee the quality of this ancestral art and of its derived products. Registered in 2015 in WIPO’s Vienna Classification of Figurative Elements, this intangible heritage has thus strengthened its international recognition while protecting its unique character. In Fes, this craft constitutes a major economic pillar, engaging nearly four heads of family out of ten in the production of zelliges. This centuries-old savoir-faire preserves traditions while enriching and spreading Moroccan culture throughout the world. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9e9d5ff6cd8d4d75fa_6a2aa9d7f9a5812d3019700e_Zellige%2520-%25207.webp) *Zellige artisan* A square meter of zellige tiles can cost around 530 Moroccan dirhams (5,300 MAD for 10 m²), compared with ceramic subway tiles, whose price can drop to around 16 Moroccan dirhams per square meter. Today, zellige production is mainly concentrated in the cities of Fes, Casablanca, Tangier, Tetouan and Marrakech. These tiles are relatively expensive compared to other types of tiles owing to the artisanal nature of their making. Their cost also varies according to their size, the complexity of the patterns and the quality of the finished product. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9e9d5ff6cd8d4d75f4_6a2aa9d78b253becc5250826_Zellige%2520-%25208.webp) *Moroccan artisans in Marrakech* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9e9d5ff6cd8d4d75f1_6a2aa9d774c73f935a294ef4_Zellige%2520-%25209.webp) ### Art, a symbol of the prestige of civilizations Throughout the ages, art and architecture have served as powerful symbols of prestige and respect. The Byzantine Empire, with its churches adorned with brilliant mosaics and its imposing buildings, perfectly illustrates this importance of architecture and decoration. Likewise, the Roman Empire distinguished itself through monumental infrastructure such as aqueducts, amphitheaters and forums, reflecting its power and its grandeur. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9f9d5ff6cd8d4d75fd_6a2aa9d774c73f935a294f16_Zellige%2520-%252010.webp) Mesopotamia, cradle of civilization, left us majestic ziggurats and palaces decorated with detailed bas-reliefs, while the Sasanian Empire is recognized for its sumptuous palaces and its refined arts, where decoration played a central role. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9e9d5ff6cd8d4d75ee_6a2aa9d88b253becc52508ac_Zellige%2520-%252011.webp) *Riad zellige, Marrakech* In Islamic culture, owing to the prohibition of human and animal representations, the art of decoration took on a particularly important place. Artists developed complex geometric patterns, arabesques and sublime calligraphy to adorn mosques, madrassas and palaces. This decorative art not only embellished the structures, but also served to express the spirituality and the intellectual depth of Islamic culture. Thus, across the various eras and civilizations, architecture and the art of decoration have always been essential means of marking a unique cultural identity and leaving an indelible imprint. ![Fes, 1930](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4730_6a2aa9d8115093c0a3b0fc29_Zellige%2520-%252012.webp) ![Tetouan, 1941](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46f4_6a2aa9d88b253becc52508f7_Zellige%2520-%252013.webp) ![Tetouan, 1915](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a471e_6a2aa9d876298643c9260ece_Zellige%2520-%252014.webp) ![Meknes, 1917](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4727_6a2aa9d89d5ff6cd8d4a2ee6_Zellige%2520-%252015.webp) ### Zellige among the world’s ceramics Ceramic tiles play a fundamental role in traditional architecture throughout the world, bringing both aesthetic value and practical functionality. Among the emblematic styles, we find the Italian faience of the Renaissance, Spanish majolica, the Iznik tiles of Turkey, Portuguese Azulejos, the Delftware of the Netherlands, the Kashi Kari of Central Asia, as well as Persian mosaics and the ceramics of Qom. To these are added the faience of Rouen, the creations of Deruta and Faenza, the works of Nevers, and the cuerda seca tiles of Andalusia. Among these various ceramic traditions, the zellige native to Morocco stands out in particular. Characterized by its precise geometric shapes and its vibrant colors, zellige is an essential and emblematic element of Moroccan architecture. More than a mere ornament, it plays a practical role, cooling spaces and withstanding the overwhelming heat of Moroccan cities. Raymond Koechlin, explorer and researcher, will praise this art, saying: > *“When one considers the monotony of the decoration of these Asia Minor faiences, the infinite variety of those of Fes seems marvelous.”* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae9f9d5ff6cd8d4d766e_6a2aa9d8d02d127fcc260235_Zellige%2520-%252016.webp) *Zellige fountain, Riad Dar Fes, Medina of Fes* ### Remnants across the Kingdom Numerous ruins hold fragments of zellige, among which we find the Chellah in Rabat, built in the 12th century by the Almohads then transformed into a necropolis by the Marinids. It will end in total abandonment from the 15th century onward. The research institute of the Museum of Paris has also dated the use of zellige back to the beginning of the 12th century. Throughout Morocco, one can find fragments of zelliges dating back several centuries, particularly in the old imperial cities such as Marrakech, Meknes and Fes. These remnants, beyond their historical value, are remarkable examples of architectural ornamentation. Recovered zelliges are frequently reused in the construction of other buildings or simply displayed in museums. As an example, in 1707, the Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail, wishing to make a clean sweep of the symbolic monuments of the Saadian dynasty, demolished the El Badi Palace. He’ll go as far as stripping it of its materials (zellige, marble, etc.) to adorn the constructions of the new capital, Meknes. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea19d5ff6cd8d4d7690_6a2aaacabcf94a8da4987406_Zellige%2520-%252022.webp) *Ruins of the El Badi Palace* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea09d5ff6cd8d4d7677_6a2aaacaa5376978b67bb821_Zellige%2520-%252023.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea19d5ff6cd8d4d7687_6a2aaaca74c73f935a29b3c3_Zellige%2520-%252024.webp) Bab Mansour is the most imposing and the most beautiful of the fortified gates built by Moulay Ismail for the defense of Meknes. Decorated with zellige panels, it was completed in 1732 under the reign of his son Moulay Abdallah. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea09d5ff6cd8d4d767a_6a2aaacaa10e81e34a6b4ccc_Zellige%2520-%252025.webp) *Photos of zellige ruins found by Mohammed Al Jattari, covering various periods* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea19d5ff6cd8d4d768a_6a2aaaca17b55269b7ccff74_Zellige%2520-%252026.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea19d5ff6cd8d4d7693_6a2aaaca26767c002907b38d_Zellige%2520-%252027.webp) Morocco’s ancient zellige panels, dating from the 14th and 16th centuries, are proudly displayed at the Louvre Museum in France, while many Moroccan museums house zellige fragments dating as far back as the 10th century, of a truly priceless aesthetic beauty. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2abae7bbec15bd970c73d8_6a2ab8d3314ef56c992710da_Zellige%2520-%252028-29.webp) *Ancient zellige fragments from Morocco, 14th–16th centuries, displayed at the Louvre Museum in France* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea19d5ff6cd8d4d7684_6a2aaacba10e81e34a6b4d25_Zellige%2520-%252030.webp) *Zellige panel from the Saadian era, El Badi Palace, Marrakech* ![Ruins of the Chellah, Rabat](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46fa_6a2aa9d8d02d127fcc26024a_Zellige%2520-%252017.webp) ![Ruins of the Chellah, Rabat](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4736_6a2aa9d8115093c0a3b0fcbe_Zellige%2520-%252018.webp) ![Ruins of the Chellah, Rabat](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46f7_6a2aa9d8a49185456061f57c_Zellige%2520-%252019.webp) ![Zellige from the Chellah necropolis](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4733_6a2aa9d8a49185456061f591_Zellige%2520-%252020.webp) ![Ruins of the Chellah, Rabat](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46e1_6a2aaacabcf94a8da49873f1_Zellige%2520-%252021.webp) ### A technique born in Morocco While, at the beginning of the medieval era in North Africa, the tendency was to import ceramics from the neighboring Mediterranean countries or from the East, it is worth noting that the Moroccan dynasties always favored the development of a local technique, resting on a style of mosaic made from tile pieces individually chiseled by hand. The book Kitab al-Zalidj fi al-Imara al-Islamiya bi al-Djazair mentions significant trade between Algeria and Tunisia for the importation of ceramics from the Italian city of Naples, destined to decorate the monuments and palaces of the cities. It is important to distinguish zellige from the other forms of ceramic tiles. Zellige should not be confused with Mediterranean ceramics, which generally feature drawings, or with Oriental ceramics, often imported from Iran, found for instance in Algeria at Qalaa Banu Hamma, often erroneously attributed to zellige even though the aesthetics and the technique are different. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76da_6a2aaacb26767c002907b3fc_Zellige%2520-%252034.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76de_6a2aaacc17b55269b7cd0036_Zellige%2520-%252035.webp) In the book *De l’Empire romain aux villes impériales : 6000 ans d’art au Maroc*, compiling archaeological analyses, it is indicated that the use of ceramic marquetry in Morocco, attested as early as the Almohad era, decorated minarets such as those of the Koutoubia and the Kasbah with complex geometric patterns. > *“The use of ceramic marquetry is attested in Morocco, in the Almohad era, in the exterior decoration of the minarets of the Koutoubia Mosque and the Kasbah Mosque, second half of the 12th century. The faience friezes adorning the upper facade of the minaret or the top of the lantern tower compose a rectilinear decor of juxtaposed white and turquoise-blue geometric elements.”* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76f4_6a2aaacc26767c002907b41b_Zellige%2520-%252036.webp) *Minbar of the Koutoubia Mosque, commissioned by the Almoravid sultan Ali Ibn Yusuf (1106-1143), preserved at the El Badi Palace, Marrakech* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76ee_6a2aaacc57e90f67b9be9db4_Zellige%2520-%252037.webp) Others, whose movement recalls the swastikas, proceed from the eight-pointed star and the three-tenon rectangle. Against the ochre renders and the warm-toned paintings, the enamels of these large-scale faience marquetries took on their full value. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76e4_6a2aaacca491854560625f00_Zellige%2520-%252038.webp) The preservation of these minarets is owed to the careful technique of their cladding: large faience slabs were pierced, before firing, with several holes. Should we see in this the herald of the zelliges that would enjoy great vogue under the Marinids? More than half a century later, indeed, we witness the development of polychrome faience marquetry, designated by the term zelliges, involving small elements cut, after firing, from the tile glazed in a single tone. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76e7_6a2aaacca491854560625f15_Zellige%2520-%252039.webp) *Marinid-era zelliges in the Chellah necropolis, Rabat, by Michael Whalen* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76f1_6a2aaacc87f28e4061e457ba_Zellige%2520-%252040.webp) The presence of faience used as cladding at the Seffarine madrassa of Fes (1321-1323) seems to support the hypothesis of the Moroccan origin of this technique. Other religious buildings do not appear to have ignored it: the great mosque of Taza (enlarged in 1294), and that of Fes Jdid (founded in 1276 and restored, it seems, in 1395). ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaea29d5ff6cd8d4d76d7_6a2aabac8820fe8c423f9fda_Zellige%2520-%252041.webp) ![Moroccan zellige, detail](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a471b_6a2aaacb57e90f67b9be9d36_Zellige%2520-%252031.webp) ![Moroccan zellige, detail](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46fd_6a2aaacb9d5ff6cd8d4b0ab7_Zellige%2520-%252032.webp) ![Moroccan zellige, detail](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a472d_6a2aaacb26767c002907b3e7_Zellige%2520-%252033.webp) ### The Marinid expansion In the 14th century, during the reign of the Marinids in Morocco, the art of zellige experienced a notable expansion. Artisans improved their technique, broadening their color palette and creating increasingly complex patterns such as hexagons, stars and lozenges. In this era, the discovery of the double-firing method for clay tiles, along with the introduction of polychrome enamels, represented significant advances. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf31593fc3edf46765d2_6a2aabacd02d127fcc268521_Zellige%2520-%252042.webp) *Bou Inania Madrassa, built in Fes, Morocco, between 1350 and 1355 for the sultan Abou Inan Faris, under the Marinid dynasty* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf31593fc3edf46765e8_6a2aabac115093c0a3b1e333_Zellige%2520-%252043.webp) The Marinid madrassa of Sale, also known as the madrassa of Abu al-Hassan or the madrassa of Attalaa, is an ancient school built in the city of Sale, in the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer region of Morocco. It was erected between 1333 and 1341 by the sultan Abu al-Hasan ben Uthman. Zellige became highly prized as a decorative element for palaces, mosques and mausoleums, granting it a central position in Moroccan architecture. Under the Marinids, zellige was elevated to the rank of art, considered an essential expression of their cultural identity. Several texts from the Marinid era associate zellige with Morocco. Among them, the accounts of the Muslim travelers Ibn Battuta and al-Omari, who roamed the whole of North Africa, describe zellige as specifically tied to the city of Fes. The presence of this technique across North Africa would certainly have been reported had it been known at the time. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765bc_6a2aabac387fe17aa6e06981_Zellige%2520-%252044.webp) *Built between 1323 and 1325 under the orders of the sultan Abu Said, the Attarine Madrassa is one of the most beautiful in Fes.* In this period, the predominant motifs included stars, flowers and complex geometric designs. A varied color palette, ranging from white, black and green to yellow, red and blue, lent a rich and diversified aesthetic. Zelliges elegantly adorn walls, floors, fountains and basins, revealing the wealth and the beauty of Moroccan craftsmanship in the era of the Marinids. Researchers such as Alfred Bel and the brothers William and Georges Marcais, distinguished for their work on Islamic civilization, archaeology and arts in Algeria, brought to light the link between the presence of zellige in Algeria and the Moroccan architectural influence through their archaeological research. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765b9_6a2aabad81a1f9f20c1301b9_Zellige%2520-%252047.webp) > *“The powerful Marinids, kings of Fes, in Morocco, also contributed to endowing Tlemcen with important constructions. […] They built several religious monuments of which vestiges remain, minarets decorated with bricks and other tombs with delicate arcatures.”* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765a6_6a2aabadd02d127fcc268559_Zellige%2520-%252048.webp) *Mansourah, a mosque located in Mansourah, in the wilaya of Tlemcen in Algeria, built in the 14th century during the reign of the Marinid sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr* Dr Fares Masdour, professor at the University of Blida, underlines: > *Moroccans have left a very special imprint in the field of Islamic architecture, such that no Algerian mosque is devoid of their mark and decoration.* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf31593fc3edf46765d8_6a2aabbec2a2d41d01062eda_Zellige%2520-%252049.webp) *The Khaldounia madrassa, located in the El Eubbad district of Tlemcen, built in 1347 by order of the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan ben Uthman* ### The Saadian apogee In the 16th century, zellige reached its apogee under Morocco’s Saadian dynasty, renowned for its passion for art and architecture. Their use of zellige to decorate the tombs of sovereigns and religious buildings was particularly remarkable. The Saadian tombs were adorned with intricate, colorful zelliges, creating impressive geometric patterns. The tomb of the Saadian dynasty in Marrakech, for instance, which houses several members of the royal family, perfectly illustrates this artistic use of zellige. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf31593fc3edf46765d5_6a2aabbe8db78eadcd3a5fbd_Zellige%2520-%252050.webp) *The Saadian Tombs are a historic royal necropolis in Marrakech, Morocco. They date from the era of the Saadian dynasty, and in particular from the reign of Ahmad al-Mansour (1578-1603).* In religious buildings, zellige embellished walls and floors, offering patterns that evoked divine perfection. Mosques, madrassas and zawiyas were arrayed in intricate, colorful zelliges, creating an atmosphere of calm conducive to reflection. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765ae_6a2aabbedeb246e27f45e5b2_Zellige%2520-%252051.webp) *The Ben Youssef madrassa, a Quranic school and treasure of Saadian architecture, located in Marrakech. Enlarged and redecorated by Abdallah el-Ghalib, Saadian sultan, in 1564-65. The name Ben Youssef comes from that of the Almoravid sultan Ali Ben Youssef.* The Saadians also innovated in the making of zelliges, introducing techniques such as the use of wooden molds to produce patterns in series. This allowed for a faster and more efficient production of zelliges, widely employed in the construction of palaces and fortifications. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765b3_6a2aabbfa7de90a6a6787a8d_Zellige%2520-%252052.webp) *A piece of Moroccan zellige from Morocco’s Saadian period, 1554-1659, J. Willard Marriott Library Collection, University of Utah, United States* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf31593fc3edf46765cc_6a2aabbfdeb246e27f45e5c7_Zellige%2520-%252053.webp) *Ancient zellige panels from Morocco, 16th and 19th centuries, Saadian era, Meknes, Batha Museum* In the 16th century, zelliges displayed a more varied color palette than ever, with warm tones such as red, yellow and orange, as well as cool shades such as blue, green and white. Geometric patterns remained popular, but floral motifs and calligraphic inscriptions also embellished the zelliges. This period was marked by great creativity and a remarkable refinement for zellige. Under the Saadians, this art was widely used to decorate the tombs of sovereigns and religious buildings, underlining the importance of religion and culture in the Moroccan society of the time. Manufacturing techniques were perfected to produce more complex patterns, while the diversity of the colors employed enriched this key element of Moroccan art and architecture, whose influence endures in Morocco’s urban landscape today. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765bf_6a2aabbf9028c7b9bffe5bac_Zellige%2520-%252054.webp) *Zellige fragments dating from the Saadian era (16th century), from the Badie Palace in Marrakech, displayed at the Museum of History and Civilizations in Rabat* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf30593fc3edf46765b6_6a2aabbfd02d127fcc268d53_Zellige%2520-%252055.webp) ![Zellige from Fes, Marinid era, 14th century — Musee du Quai Branly, Paris](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae11bcf94a8da49a46d7_6a2aabad115093c0a3b1e350_Zellige%2520-%252045.webp) ![Zellige from the Moulay Idriss Mosque, Marinid period — Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a470f_6a2aabad115093c0a3b1e365_Zellige%2520-%252046.webp) ## Zellige in the contemporary world Morocco stands out as the only country where the art of zellige is passed down from generation to generation, with entire families of artisans devoted to this craft, such as the Fakhari family of Fes. Handmade zellige tiles from Morocco are renowned as the most precious in the world. A captivating documentary explores not only the reasons behind this high value, but also the intensity and the complexity of the manufacturing process. Moroccan craftsmanship has been highly prized internationally since ancient times. It is little known that Moroccan artisans are behind the embellishment of the Grand Mosque of Paris. These Moroccan artisans put their expertise to work, installing Moorish decorations in the mosque to make it resemble al-Qarawiyyin. Around 450 Moroccan artisans contributed to the construction of the building, notably to its decoration. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf46766ab_6a2aacdd81a1f9f20c13da54_Zellige%2520-%252061.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf46766a6_6a2aacdd7892dac7ea460d81_Zellige%2520-%252062.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf467667d_6a2aacdd9d5ff6cd8d4c8be1_Zellige%2520-%252063.webp) In Algeria, calling upon Moroccan artisans for the renovation and decoration of their precious heritage, including mosques, is a well-established practice. A remarkable example is the Mechouar Palace in Tlemcen, rebuilt under the supervision of Moroccan artisans. At the inauguration of the reconstruction works, Bouteflika underlined: “We must restore it with the help of the Moroccans (…) you do research in Morocco and you find solutions.” This collaboration transcends the centuries, underscoring the expertise and the savoir-faire of Moroccan artisans, still in high demand in Algeria. A recent case illustrates this continuity: Nhari Abdel Ghani and his team were specifically chosen by Algeria to create the magnificent Moorish decorations of the Great Mosque of Algiers, perpetuating a rich and precious artisanal tradition. In the book “La protection de la vie locale en Algerie”, published in 1931, it is attested: > *In Tlemcen, the Muslims who wanted a decoration inspired by the Hispano-Moorish traditions had to call upon Moroccan artisans for the plaster carving and the faience claddings.* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf4676693_6a2aacdd2c421fd1839f2a21_Zellige%2520-%252064.webp) Even before the Protectorate period, many chroniclers reported an aesthetic distinction. The explorer and anthropologist Budgett Meakin (1866-1906) particularly underlined this singularity, testifying to Morocco’s renown as a land where the art of zellige stands clearly apart from the rest of North Africa. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676677_6a2aacdd2c421fd1839f2a38_Zellige%2520-%252065.webp) The constant demand for Moroccan craftsmanship around the world is partly explained by the existence of old schools in Morocco, specialized for centuries in the art of zellige. A remarkable example is the Dar Sanaa school in Tetouan, immortalized in the 1940s by Nicolas Muller. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676680_6a2aacdd6429b985153e9175_Zellige%2520-%252066.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676683_6a2aacde17b55269b7ce76ac_Zellige%2520-%252067.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676668_6a2aacdea7de90a6a679a08a_Zellige%2520-%252068.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf467667a_6a2aacde6429b985153e922e_Zellige%2520-%252069.webp) ### Fes and Tetouan, two schools of zellige Tetouan, a historic city renowned for zellige production, stands out for its unique techniques and materials. Tetouan zellige, influenced by Andalusi art, uses a clay rich in iron oxide, making the tiles less solid and difficult to cut. Fes zellige, by contrast, made from a clay with less iron, allows for more precise cuts. Tetouan tiles are small, fired twice and not homogeneous in color, while those of Fes are carved after firing, with a smoother surface. Tetouan zellige is in decline, unlike that of Fes, which is still preserved. The decline of Tetouan zellige can be explained by several factors. On the one hand, the number of specialized artisans is shrinking, notably for lack of a new generation to take over. On the other, the production conditions, such as the use of a clay rich in iron oxide, make the process more complex and the tiles less resistant, reducing their competitiveness compared with the tiles of Fes. As a result, this ancestral technique risks gradually disappearing. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf4676699_6a2aacde387fe17aa6e11b1f_Zellige%2520-%252070.webp) *Zellige panel, Medina of Tetouan, Dar Benjelloun, 17th-19th century* The renown of Tetouan’s artisans has likewise been recognized across North Africa for centuries, as underlined by the book Monuments Arabes de Tlemcen by the Marcais brothers, which inventories the city’s buildings and architectural elements. In its lexicon and its introduction, this book mentions zellige, native to Morocco and executed by the Moroccan mosaicists of Tetouan to renovate the city’s historic buildings. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2abaeabbec15bd970c7413_6a2ab8d3314ef56c992710a8_Zellige%2520-%252071-72.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676671_6a2aacdf74c73f935a2a3868_Zellige%2520-%252073.webp) ### An international influence The international spread of zellige has been greatly facilitated by specialized companies, such as Ait Manos, founded by Ghalia Sebti and Tawfik Bennani. This Casablanca-based company, renowned for its creativity, has for nearly 40 years been adorning sumptuous interiors from Jeddah to New York with its zellige works. There are also, notably, the companies Tiles of Ezra, Zellige Gallery, Moresque, Catrau, Maison Zellige and Atelier Maloukti among others, all specialized in the production of zellige in Morocco for years now. Morocco remains, moreover, the only country where this savoir-faire is passed down from generation to generation within entire families of artisans — like the Fakhari family, mentioned above. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf4676696_6a2aacdf2c421fd1839f2bba_Zellige%2520-%252074.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf467665c_6a2aacdf1baad05d8b3103ce_Zellige%2520-%252075.webp) Moroccan craftsmanship is indeed sought after internationally: it can be found in Malaysia as well as in Oman, or even in Spain. In Spain in particular, Moroccans are often chosen to maintain and renovate the palaces of Andalusia, a choice that resonates with a rich history of cultural exchanges and influences. Moroccans perpetuate and build upon the direct legacy of the Andalusi heritage. One of the most recent examples of this influence is the Moroccan Pavilion in Seville, realized under the direction of King Hassan II. It is therefore crucial to protect this art against any form of inadequate appropriation, and to fully appreciate the devotion of the Moroccan artisans who have been embellishing these places for centuries. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf35593fc3edf4676690_6a2aacdf2c421fd1839f2be3_Zellige%2520-%252076.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf4676659_6a2aacdf6429b985153e93f7_Zellige%2520-%252077.webp) ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aaf34593fc3edf467666b_6a2aace06429b985153e9425_Zellige%2520-%252078.webp) ![Grand Mosque of Paris, zellige by Moroccan artisans](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46eb_6a2aabbfd02d127fcc268d68_Zellige%2520-%252056.webp) ![Grand Mosque of Paris, zellige by Moroccan artisans](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae13bcf94a8da49a4721_6a2aabbf32b70b9b64fb6c54_Zellige%2520-%252057.webp) ![Grand Mosque of Paris, zellige by Moroccan artisans](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46ee_6a2aabbfbcf94a8da498d025_Zellige%2520-%252058.webp) ![Grand Mosque of Paris, zellige by Moroccan artisans](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a4700_6a2aabbf6429b985153db8b8_Zellige%2520-%252059.webp) ![Grand Mosque of Paris, zellige by Moroccan artisans](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2aae12bcf94a8da49a46f1_6a2aabbf6429b985153db8e4_Zellige%2520-%252060.webp) ## References - “De l’empire romain aux villes impériales : 6000 ans d’art au Maroc”, Paris, 1990 - “Monuments Arabes de Tlemcen”, Marçais brothers - “Life in Morocco and Glimpses Beyond”, Budgett Meakin - “Travail marocain en Algérie : Une présence remarquable malgré les difficultés”, DW Journal - Senhadji, Les Mosquées en Algérie ou l’espace reconquis : l’exemple d’Oran, Dalila Senhadji - مسالك الأبصار في ممالك الأمصار, Al ’Umari - كتاب الزليج في العمارة الإسلامية بالجزائر في العصر التركي --- --- title: "Tamdoult: A Study Reveals the City That Produced the Silver and Brass of the Caravans" description: "Published in Historical Metallurgy, a study by the Cyprus Institute, the British Museum and INSAP casts Tamdoult, near Akka, as the most complete metallurgical assemblage known in northwestern Africa: silver won by cupellation, brass cast into ingots for the trans-Saharan trade." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/tamdoult-etude-argent-laiton-caravanes language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/tamdoult-etude-argent-laiton-caravanes type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.774Z tags: ["Archaeology", "Ancient History", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5f69c2b8611135cb2b40bd_6a5f69b338289725f168384b_news-silver-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tamdoult: A Study Reveals the City That Produced the Silver and Brass of the Caravans *Published in Historical Metallurgy, a study by the Cyprus Institute, the British Museum and INSAP casts Tamdoult, near Akka, as the most complete metallurgical assemblage known in northwestern Africa: silver won by cupellation, brass cast into ingots for the trans-Saharan trade.* ![Native silver in its matrix, from the Imiter mine in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5f69c2b8611135cb2b40bd_6a5f69b338289725f168384b_news-silver-main.webp) Published in the journal Historical Metallurgy, a study by researchers from the Cyprus Institute, the British Museum and the Institut National des Sciences de l’Archeologie et du Patrimoine casts Tamdoult, in Tata province, as a metallurgical center of the first order. ![Archaeologists dig a trench in sandy ground below arid mountains.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56ca6c12918e6d4f35c98_6ae56b526f67776be2f2fc04_tamdoult-etude-argent-laiton-caravanes.webp) *Excavation of the metalworking quarter in the northernmost fortified area of Tamdoult. Photo: Rehren et al., Historical Metallurgy, CC BY 4.0.* Four excavation campaigns, between 2018 and 2023, mapped slag heaps, furnaces, crucibles and molds. The analyses attest to regular silver production by cupellation and to mastery of brass, cast into long ingots. Tamdoult thus appears as a place of production, not merely a stage where metals from the South passed through. Mentioned as early as the late 9th century by the geographer Al-Yaqubi, the city held the road from Sijilmassa towards West Africa. Radiocarbon dates between 1233 and 1430 place it in occupation until the 14th century at least. Primary smelting was done on the outskirts while silver and brass were worked within the fortified enclosure, a division that betrays the value attached to the metal. Further campaigns will say where those ingots went. *Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0.* ## References - Historical Metallurgy - [Multiple metallurgies in Medieval Tamdult, a mining, smelting and caravan town in southern Morocco](https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/686) --- --- title: "Bank Al-Maghrib: Jouahri Hands the King a 2025 Report Showing 4.9% Growth" description: "The Wali of Bank Al-Maghrib presented the central bank’s 2025 annual report to the King on Monday in Tetouan: growth of 4.9%, inflation held to 0.8%, the policy rate cut to 2.25% and reserve assets raised to 443 billion dirhams." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/bank-al-maghrib-rapport-2025-croissance language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/bank-al-maghrib-rapport-2025-croissance type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:01.294Z tags: ["Finance", "Economy", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e789716384d93daad7c_6ae53c77329e91fab1711fc3_bank-al-maghrib-rapport-2025-croissance-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Bank Al-Maghrib: Jouahri Hands the King a 2025 Report Showing 4.9% Growth *The Wali of Bank Al-Maghrib presented the central bank’s 2025 annual report to the King on Monday in Tetouan: growth of 4.9%, inflation held to 0.8%, the policy rate cut to 2.25% and reserve assets raised to 443 billion dirhams.* ![At the royal palace in Tetouan, Abdellatif Jouahri shows King Mohammed VI, with Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan beside him, the gold commemorative coin taken from its case.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae53e789716384d93daad7c_6ae53c77329e91fab1711fc3_bank-al-maghrib-rapport-2025-croissance-main.webp) Received on Monday at the royal palace in Tetouan by King Mohammed VI, the Wali of Bank Al-Maghrib Abdellatif Jouahri presented the central bank’s annual report on the economic, monetary and financial situation for 2025. ![The white crenellated facade of the royal palace in Tetouan and its monumental gate, across a wide paved square under a gray sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60baf3615be706beb0f87_6ae60631eca048be13fa5063_bank-al-maghrib-rapport-2025-croissance-inline.webp) *The royal palace in Tetouan. Photo: Hiroki Ogawa, CC BY 3.0.* The year closes with growth of 4.9%, carried in particular by a sustained investment effort, while inflation did not exceed 0.8% on average. The central bank held to an accommodative stance, bringing its policy rate down to 2.25% while fully meeting the liquidity demands expressed by the banks. Official reserve assets strengthened to 443 billion dirhams, close to five and a half months of imports. The report sets the common measure against which the next finance bill and the coming monetary cycle will be argued. The kingdom, for its part, will have learned to grow without waking its prices. *Photo: Driss Benmalek.* ## References - Bank Al-Maghrib - [Bank Al-Maghrib annual report for the year 2025](https://www.bkam.ma/Communiques/Communique/2026/Rapport-annuel-de-bank-al-maghrib-au-titre-de-l-annee-2025) --- --- title: "Fouzi Lekjaa: PAM Membership Settled Saturday, FRMF Presidency Waits for September" description: "The PAM National Council meets on Saturday 25 July in Sale, where Fouzi Lekjaa’s membership is expected to be made official ahead of the legislative elections of 23 September. No communique, however, has announced his departure from the FRMF, whose presidential election was deferred to September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/lekjaa-adhesion-pam-frmf-septembre language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/lekjaa-adhesion-pam-frmf-septembre type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:31:31.710Z tags: ["Sport", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b635d4ac37746bb4e34_6ae6061dc8210b6b1fc3342a_lekjaa-adhesion-pam-frmf-septembre-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fouzi Lekjaa: PAM Membership Settled Saturday, FRMF Presidency Waits for September *The PAM National Council meets on Saturday 25 July in Sale, where Fouzi Lekjaa’s membership is expected to be made official ahead of the legislative elections of 23 September. No communique, however, has announced his departure from the FRMF, whose presidential election was deferred to September.* ![Fouzi Lekjaa, in a pinstripe suit, speaks at a wooden lectern in a parliamentary chamber.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b635d4ac37746bb4e34_6ae6061dc8210b6b1fc3342a_lekjaa-adhesion-pam-frmf-septembre-main.webp) Sale will host the National Council of the Authenticity and Modernity Party on Saturday, July 25, where the political serial of the Moroccan summer should be resolved. ![Fouzi Lekjaa speaks at a lectern into a microphone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae617c6d193a0ee0e5f895c_6ae617bb9c46b66e120eadd3_lekjaa-adhesion-pam-frmf-septembre-inline.webp) *Fouzi Lekjaa at a Morocco 2026 bid committee press conference in January 2018. Photo: Morocco 2026.* ### Saturday in Sale Le360 treats Fouzi Lekjaa’s entry into the party’s governing bodies as settled. His standing as Minister Delegate for the Budget opens the Political Bureau to him automatically, two months before the legislative elections of September 23. ### The caution of Medias24 The business outlet recalls that no official announcement has confirmed the membership, quoting the statement he made to it in June: “If tomorrow I decide to exercise my constitutional right to join this or that party, to stand in the legislative elections, to join a party, I will announce it myself.” ### The seat nobody has vacated President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation since April 2014, Lekjaa saw his third term expire without a successor: the general assembly of June 5 referred the presidential election to September, leaving him in office until then. Law 30.09 leaves him a path to a fourth term, since it permits a federation president who sits on continental or international bodies to remain in place. He sits on the FIFA Council as well as in the CAF vice-presidency. ### What social media has already written Social media, for its part, did not wait: it crowns the former international Houssine Kharja and buries a presidency nobody has declared vacant. September will settle both questions, since Morocco votes on the 23rd and the federation elects its president. *Photo: Hespress.* ## References - Le360 - [L’entrée de Fouzi Lekjaa au sein du PAM se confirme](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/lentree-de-fouzi-lekjaa-au-sein-du-pam-se-confirme_2BU2MHPVZZDFHCX53ETAACOR5M/) - Médias24 - [Le PAM réunit son Conseil national sur fond de rumeurs sur l’adhésion de Lekjaa](https://medias24.com/2026/07/21/le-pam-reunit-son-conseil-national-sur-fond-de-rumeurs-sur-ladhesion-de-lekjaa-1727109/) - Le360 Sport - [FRMF: Fouzi Lekjaa poursuit sa mission, l’élection du président renvoyée à septembre](https://sport.le360.ma/football/frmf-fouzi-lekjaa-devra-attendre-septembre-pour-briguer-un-quatrieme-mandat_JSTFEPQBKRCJLMBC54IOBSNL5M/) --- --- title: "Maritime Freight: Morocco Enters the EU Top 10 With the Sharpest Rise" description: "Eurostat’s quarterly statistics rank Morocco tenth among extra-EU maritime freight partners. With a 14.4% year-on-year rise, the kingdom posts the strongest growth of the top ten, six times the pace of the Union’s ports as a whole." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/fret-maritime-maroc-top-10-europeen language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/fret-maritime-maroc-top-10-europeen type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.707Z tags: ["Logistics", "Economy", "European Union"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d57445efa54165f8fc6_6a5e0d45054610c3264059ca_news-maritime-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Maritime Freight: Morocco Enters the EU Top 10 With the Sharpest Rise *Eurostat’s quarterly statistics rank Morocco tenth among extra-EU maritime freight partners. With a 14.4% year-on-year rise, the kingdom posts the strongest growth of the top ten, six times the pace of the Union’s ports as a whole.* ![A Maersk container ship berthed under the gantry cranes of Tanger Med port.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d57445efa54165f8fc6_6a5e0d45054610c3264059ca_news-maritime-main.webp) Published on July 16, Eurostat’s quarterly statistics place Morocco tenth among the extra-EU partners of maritime goods transport, in a ranking led by the United States. ![Rows of stacked containers and gantry cranes on the quays of the port of Casablanca, seen from a ship’s deck.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c0f05e834b547fcab50_6ae6064a064237583a82284b_fret-maritime-maroc-top-10-europeen-inline.webp) *The container yard at the port of Casablanca. Photo: Industrial Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0.* What sets Morocco apart is the slope: traffic exchanged with the Union’s ports rose 14.4% between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025, the steepest increase of the ten. The Union’s main ports handled 846 million tonnes over the quarter, for annual growth of just 2.4%. Morocco is therefore growing six times faster than the flow that carries it, while China falls 5% and Egypt 6.8%. Two decades of investment along the Atlantic seaboard and the strait will have found their statistical expression here, that of a country become, for Europe, a partner of tonnage as much as of proximity. *Photo: Bertrand Soubeyrand, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Eurostat - [Maritime transport of goods - quarterly data](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Maritime_transport_of_goods_-_quarterly_data) --- --- title: "Forecasts: Morocco’s Planning Commission Sees 4.8% Growth in 2026, Then 3% in 2027" description: "The High Commission for Planning’s exploratory economic budget expects 4.8% growth in 2026, carried by a 19.1% agricultural rebound, before a fall back to 3% in 2027. The budget deficit would ease to 3.2% of GDP." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/hcp-budget-exploratoire-2027-croissance language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/hcp-budget-exploratoire-2027-croissance type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.985Z tags: ["Economy", "Finance"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d5ab362e714b49b46a4_6a5e0d4afe867e12d4e1f5c7_news-cereales-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Forecasts: Morocco’s Planning Commission Sees 4.8% Growth in 2026, Then 3% in 2027 *The High Commission for Planning’s exploratory economic budget expects 4.8% growth in 2026, carried by a 19.1% agricultural rebound, before a fall back to 3% in 2027. The budget deficit would ease to 3.2% of GDP.* ![A truck loaded with straw bales after the harvest in a Moroccan cereal field.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d5ab362e714b49b46a4_6a5e0d4afe867e12d4e1f5c7_news-cereales-main.webp) Made public in mid-July, the exploratory economic budget of the High Commission for Planning sets expected national growth at 4.8% in 2026, before a slowdown to 3% in 2027. ![Chakib Benmoussa, in a suit and striped tie, speaking into a microphone with a water bottle in front of him.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60be3483664b0eb71f304_6ae60a18f105094f5b33545d_hcp-budget-exploratoire-2027-croissance-inline.webp) *Chakib Benmoussa, Morocco’s High Commissioner for Planning. Photo: H24info.* The gap owes almost everything to the land: agricultural value added would leap 19.1% this year, then shed 6.8% next year through base effect alone, the institution assuming an average cereal harvest. Outside agriculture the movement runs the other way: 3% in 2026 after 3.9% in 2025, then a recovery to 4% in 2027, pulled by industry and services. The budget deficit would ease from 3.5% of GDP in 2025 to 3.4% in 2026, then 3.2% in 2027. The document underpins the trade-offs of the 2027 Finance Law, which the government would prepare in the autumn. *Photo: Raoul Rives, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Haut-Commissariat au Plan - [Budget économique exploratoire 2027](https://www.hcp.ma/Budget-economique_r25.html) --- --- title: "Khemisset Potash: ICSID Tribunal Refuses Morocco’s Bid to Split the Arbitration" description: "The ICSID arbitral tribunal rejected Morocco’s request on 17 July to split the proceedings brought by the British company Emmerson, which claims 1.215 billion dollars in damages after the 2023 refusal of the environmental permit for its Khemisset potash mine." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/khemisset-cirdi-refuse-bifurcation-arbitrage language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/khemisset-cirdi-refuse-bifurcation-arbitrage type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.779Z tags: ["Justice", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d5d294263e0587efaa4_6a5e0d50bf736cb467095871_news-khemisset-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Khemisset Potash: ICSID Tribunal Refuses Morocco’s Bid to Split the Arbitration *The ICSID arbitral tribunal rejected Morocco’s request on 17 July to split the proceedings brought by the British company Emmerson, which claims 1.215 billion dollars in damages after the 2023 refusal of the environmental permit for its Khemisset potash mine.* ![The rolling landscape of the rural commune of Ait Ikkou in Khemisset Province.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5e0d5d294263e0587efaa4_6a5e0d50bf736cb467095871_news-khemisset-main.webp) By a decision of July 17, made public on the 20th by the British company Emmerson, the arbitral tribunal of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes rejected Morocco’s request for bifurcation. ![Drillers in high-visibility vests show a cylindrical rock core.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4bc553788b2bed3eb3_6ae56b31a73a75be2b54d516_khemisset-cirdi-refuse-bifurcation-arbitrage.webp) *A drill core from the Khemisset potash project. Photo: Emmerson PLC.* Rabat wanted its jurisdictional objections settled as a preliminary matter; the arbitrators chose to examine them together with the dispute itself. The objections to jurisdiction remain wholly intact. The case dates to 2023, when the regional unified investment commission set aside the environmental impact study for the mining project, judged too thirsty in a kingdom worn by drought. Emmerson, which had made Khemisset its sole asset, now claims 1.215 billion dollars under the bilateral investment treaty binding London to Rabat since 2002. The proceedings will settle what a state’s right to refuse a mine in the name of its scarcest resource is worth before an international tribunal. *Photo: Delpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - ICSID - [Khemisset UK Limited and Potasse de Khemisset S.A. v. Kingdom of Morocco, Case No. ARB/25/22](https://icsid.worldbank.org/cases/case-database/case-detail?CaseNo=ARB/25/22) - Emmerson Plc - [Regulatory announcement, 20 July 2026](https://www.emmersonplc.com/investors/regulatory-news/) --- --- title: "France-Morocco: 15th High-Level Meeting in Rabat Sets Course for a Friendship Treaty" description: "On 15 and 16 July, twelve French ministers led by Sebastien Lecornu held the fifteenth Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting in Rabat, co-chaired with Aziz Akhannouch. On the agenda: an exceptional friendship treaty, on the eve of a state visit by King Mohammed VI to France." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/france-maroc-15e-reunion-haut-niveau language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/france-maroc-15e-reunion-haut-niveau type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.832Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Politics", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66e817a48efaa90acca8_6a5b66c6e37bd4d19194490e_news-rhn-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # France-Morocco: 15th High-Level Meeting in Rabat Sets Course for a Friendship Treaty *On 15 and 16 July, twelve French ministers led by Sebastien Lecornu held the fifteenth Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting in Rabat, co-chaired with Aziz Akhannouch. On the agenda: an exceptional friendship treaty, on the eve of a state visit by King Mohammed VI to France.* ![The Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, a jewel of white marble crowned by its pyramid of green tiles.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66e817a48efaa90acca8_6a5b66c6e37bd4d19194490e_news-rhn-main.webp) Twelve French ministers, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, were received in Rabat on July 15 and 16 for the fifteenth Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting, co-chaired with head of government Aziz Akhannouch. ![Officials in suits walk through a glass gallery lined with Moroccan flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56ca848dbff1dabad9b99_6ae56b535efef00a23ca4de5_france-maroc-15e-reunion-haut-niveau.webp) *Aziz Akhannouch and Sebastien Lecornu in Rabat during the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting. Photo: Mounir Mehimdate, Hespress.* The delegation was handed a twofold mandate by the two heads of state: to carry out without fail the commitments made in 2024 and to open new projects, on the eve of a state visit by King Mohammed VI to France. At the heart of these two days lay the promise of a friendship treaty “of exceptional scope,” meant to surpass the partnership of exception sealed during Emmanuel Macron’s state visit. Ever since Paris recognized, in October 2024, Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, this rapprochement has kept “changing scale,” and now intends to serve the two countries’ shared ambitions toward the European Union and Africa. The meeting unfolded even as a media campaign revived old allegations tied to the Pegasus spyware, which Rabat has always denied and which no public evidence links to this calendar. *Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - French Government - [Sébastien Lecornu au Maroc pour la 15e Réunion de haut niveau franco-marocaine](https://www.info.gouv.fr/actualite/sebastien-lecornu-au-maroc-pour-la-15e-reunion-de-haut-niveau-franco-marocaine) --- --- title: "World Cup 2030: TGCC Wins Marrakech Grand Stade Upgrade for Nearly 903 Million Dirhams" description: "The National Agency for Public Facilities has awarded Morocco’s TGCC group the first lot of the Grand Stade de Marrakech upgrade, worth nearly 903 million dirhams. The aim: to bring the venue up to FIFA standards before the 2030 World Cup." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/grand-stade-marrakech-mise-a-niveau-tgcc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/grand-stade-marrakech-mise-a-niveau-tgcc type: news category: sport published: 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T14:18:47.749Z tags: ["Sport", "Architecture"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66eca5c3f8b92f62d4dc_6a5b66ce40abd67d4daf46d1_news-stade-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # World Cup 2030: TGCC Wins Marrakech Grand Stade Upgrade for Nearly 903 Million Dirhams *The National Agency for Public Facilities has awarded Morocco’s TGCC group the first lot of the Grand Stade de Marrakech upgrade, worth nearly 903 million dirhams. The aim: to bring the venue up to FIFA standards before the 2030 World Cup.* ![The Grand Stade de Marrakech, lit up on a match night, before its transformation for the 2030 World Cup.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66eca5c3f8b92f62d4dc_6a5b66ce40abd67d4daf46d1_news-stade-main.webp) The Grand Stade de Marrakech is bound for a metamorphosis. The National Agency for Public Facilities has awarded the Moroccan group TGCC the first lot of its upgrade for the 2030 World Cup, a contract worth nearly 903 million dirhams. ![Aerial view of a covered ocher stadium framed by four towers, with training pitches and tents around it.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c765292f2b26a728151_6ae56b42c13859d3e9dd93e0_grand-stade-marrakech-mise-a-niveau-tgcc.webp) *An architect’s view of the Grand Stade de Marrakech remodeled for the 2030 World Cup. Image: Sad Benkirane.* The works, from structural work to painting, are to last fifteen months. The works call for removing the athletics track, which will bring the stands closer to the pitch, and raising the venue’s capacity from around 41,000 to 46,000 seats. After a first wave of works carried out in 2024 and 2025 to bring it up to Confederation of African Football standards before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the arena now turns to the heavier demands of FIFA. *Photo: Nilgro, CC BY 3.0.* ## References - Médias24 - [Mondial 2030: TGCC remporte un lot du marché de mise à niveau du stade de Marrakech pour près de 903 MDH](https://medias24.com/2026/06/25/mondial-2030-tgcc-remporte-un-lot-du-marche-de-mise-a-niveau-du-stade-de-marrakech-pour-pres-de-903-mdh-1708203/) --- --- title: "Automotive: Stellantis Launches Fiat Fastback and Grizzly Production in Kenitra" description: "Stellantis launched production of the Fiat Fastback and Grizzly at Kenitra on 15 July, with Minister Ryad Mezzour on hand. Built on the Smart Car platform and offered in combustion, hybrid and electric versions, the two SUVs reach the market in late 2026, confirming Morocco as a major automotive base." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/stellantis-kenitra-fiat-fastback-grizzly language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/stellantis-kenitra-fiat-fastback-grizzly type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.880Z tags: ["Automotive", "Industry", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66f1b465cca1970d582c_6a5b66d7beb7b2b9860f8901_news-stellantis-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Automotive: Stellantis Launches Fiat Fastback and Grizzly Production in Kenitra *Stellantis launched production of the Fiat Fastback and Grizzly at Kenitra on 15 July, with Minister Ryad Mezzour on hand. Built on the Smart Car platform and offered in combustion, hybrid and electric versions, the two SUVs reach the market in late 2026, confirming Morocco as a major automotive base.* ![A Fiat Fastback, the SUV coupe now built at the Stellantis plant in Kenitra.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66f1b465cca1970d582c_6a5b66d7beb7b2b9860f8901_news-stellantis-main.webp) On July 15, at its Kenitra site, the Stellantis group started production of two new Fiat SUVs, the Fastback and the Grizzly. ![A group of officials poses on a blue-lit stage in front of several Fiat cars and a Stellantis logo.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4dcbfa332c693b9f93_6ae56b315bf4bd85982c327a_stellantis-kenitra-fiat-fastback-grizzly.webp) *The production launch of the Fiat Fastback and Grizzly at the Stellantis plant in Kenitra. Photo: Morocco World News.* Built on the new Smart Car platform and offered in combustion, hybrid and electric versions, the two models will target the African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean markets, with a commercial launch set for the last quarter of 2026. With this new phase, the plant will raise its annual capacity to 400,000 passenger vehicles, 135,000 micromobility vehicles and 350,000 engines, and will take on the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. Its workforce, up from 1,700 in 2019 to more than 7,200, is aiming for 9,300 by year’s end, while the local integration rate is set to climb toward 75% by 2030. *Photo: Just a Man, CC BY 4.0.* ## References - Stellantis - [FIAT Reveals the First Official Image of Its New Global Players Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback](https://www.media.stellantis.com/em-en/fiat/press/fiat-reveals-the-first-official-image-of-its-new-global-players-grizzly-and-grizzly-fastback) --- --- title: "Fertilizers: Washington Lifts Countervailing Duties on OCP’s Moroccan Phosphates" description: "On 29 June, the White House lifted, for eight months, the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, citing a food emergency. The OCP Group, the world’s leading exporter, is preparing to resume deliveries to an American market increasingly dependent on Moroccan phosphate." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/etats-unis-engrais-phosphates-ocp language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/etats-unis-engrais-phosphates-ocp type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.709Z tags: ["Industry", "Economy", "Geopolitics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66f4b2b2c32379e77cb7_6a5b66ddb2b2c32379e7741f_news-phosphate-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Fertilizers: Washington Lifts Countervailing Duties on OCP’s Moroccan Phosphates *On 29 June, the White House lifted, for eight months, the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, citing a food emergency. The OCP Group, the world’s leading exporter, is preparing to resume deliveries to an American market increasingly dependent on Moroccan phosphate.* ![An OCP dragline at work in a Moroccan phosphate mine.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5b66f4b2b2c32379e77cb7_6a5b66ddb2b2c32379e7741f_news-phosphate-main.webp) On June 29, the White House proclaimed, for a maximum of eight months, the lifting of the countervailing duties that struck Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, in the name of a food emergency. ![Portrait of Donald Trump in a blue suit, white shirt and red tie, an American flag pin on his lapel, against a dark background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c3c05e834b547fcb7bd_6ae606525207f4b3f42716ca_etats-unis-engrais-phosphates-ocp-inline.webp) *Donald Trump in his official presidential portrait. Photo: Daniel Torok, White House.* Signed by President Donald Trump, the text explicitly names Morocco as a reliable supplier, in a market where domestic phosphate output has shrunk by more than half since 1995. The measure should cut the price of phosphate fertilizers across the Atlantic by about 22%. The OCP Group welcomed an important step toward resuming its deliveries to the American market, closing a long stretch of tension born of a complaint by its rival Mosaic. The world’s leading exporter of phosphate fertilizers, the Cherifian champion thus sees Washington confirm what the figures already said, from Khouribga to the grain plains of the Midwest. *Photo: Solox44, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - The White House - [Declaration of Emergency and Authorization for Temporary Duty-Free Importation of Phosphate Fertilizer (Morocco)](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/declaration-of-emergency-and-authorization-for-temporary-duty-free-importation-of-phosphate-fertilizer-morocco/) --- --- title: "Open Skies: the European Parliament Brings Croatia Into the Morocco-EU Aviation Pact" description: "Sitting in plenary at Strasbourg, the European Parliament brought Croatia into the open-skies accord that has joined Morocco and the European Union since 2006. A technical step, carried by 625 votes, that completes the map of European destinations open without discrimination to carriers from both shores." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ciel-ouvert-maroc-ue-croatie language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ciel-ouvert-maroc-ue-croatie type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:11.542Z tags: ["European Union", "Logistics", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a496b9eb8b78c741981a8_6a5a4957011267bbc3575537_news-openskies-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Open Skies: the European Parliament Brings Croatia Into the Morocco-EU Aviation Pact *Sitting in plenary at Strasbourg, the European Parliament brought Croatia into the open-skies accord that has joined Morocco and the European Union since 2006. A technical step, carried by 625 votes, that completes the map of European destinations open without discrimination to carriers from both shores.* ![A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a496b9eb8b78c741981a8_6a5a4957011267bbc3575537_news-openskies-main.webp) Meeting in plenary at Strasbourg on July 8, the European Parliament passed, by 625 votes to 16 with 20 abstentions, the protocol folding Croatia into the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement that binds Morocco to the European Union. ![The Strasbourg chamber filled with members, below the voting screens and European flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c793f4e8767d6234bd6_6ae56b439c94771ca7309884_ciel-ouvert-maroc-ue-croatie.webp) *A voting session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, October 2024. Photo: European Parliament, CC BY 4.0.* The adjustment is purely technical: it extends to Zagreb the open skies that Rabat and Brussels sealed in 2006, the single air market in which carriers from both shores serve each other’s airports without discrimination. The text now awaits the Council’s final assent. For twenty years that open sky has multiplied direct routes, fed tourism and drawn the diaspora closer to home. By 2030, when the Kingdom co-hosts the World Cup and the travelers pour in, every link added to this network will count. *Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - European Parliament - [Legislative resolution of 8 July 2026 on the EU-Morocco aviation protocol (accession of Croatia)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0257_EN.html) --- --- title: "Artificial Intelligence: Rabat Seals a Capgemini Pact for Its Jazari Institutes" description: "In Rabat, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Capgemini Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on artificial intelligence: talent training, support for the Jazari institutes’ start-ups, use cases for the administration. Another stone laid for “AI Made in Morocco” and the digital sovereignty the Kingdom targets for 2030." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ia-maroc-capgemini-jazari language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ia-maroc-capgemini-jazari type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:05.931Z tags: ["Technology", "Economy", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4970e980337e73c111a5_6a5a495ee980337e73c1079e_news-jazari-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Artificial Intelligence: Rabat Seals a Capgemini Pact for Its Jazari Institutes *In Rabat, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Capgemini Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on artificial intelligence: talent training, support for the Jazari institutes’ start-ups, use cases for the administration. Another stone laid for “AI Made in Morocco” and the digital sovereignty the Kingdom targets for 2030.* ![Miniature of the elephant clock from al-Jazari’s treatise on ingenious mechanical devices (1315 copy).](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4970e980337e73c111a5_6a5a495ee980337e73c1079e_news-jazari-main.webp) Eight centuries after an engineer of Upper Mesopotamia set down his automata and his water clocks, Morocco files its artificial intelligence under the name of al-Jazari. In Rabat, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Capgemini Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding devoted to AI. ![Three women pose before a panel marked MoU, two of them holding red signing folders.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56c4fc553788b2bed4082_6ae56b326a5d9b85e6b5d129_ia-maroc-capgemini-jazari.webp) *Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Karine Brunet present the signed memorandum in Rabat. Photo: Ministry of Digital Transition, via Le360.* Inked by delegate minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Karine Brunet of Capgemini, the accord sets out to strengthen AI skills across public institutions and academia, and to back the start-ups tied to the Jazari institutes. The partnership falls under the Morocco Digital 2030 roadmap. From this alliance would come concrete use cases meant to hasten AI’s adoption across the administration. The Kingdom is betting on sovereign artificial intelligence as a lever of its economy by 2030. *Illustration: ‘The Elephant Clock,’ from al-Jazari’s Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices (1315 copy), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain.* ## References - Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform - [Memorandum of understanding signed with Capgemini Morocco for AI development](https://www.mmsp.gov.ma/fr/actualites) --- --- title: "Morocco on Orange Alert, Its Weather Service in Mid-Reform" description: "The DGM extends the orange heat alert to Saturday, with peaks of 43-45°C in the southern provinces. The same week, the government adopted the bill creating the Moroccan Agency for Meteorology and Climate." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/vague-chaleur-agence-meteo language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/vague-chaleur-agence-meteo type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:58:54.497Z tags: ["Climate", "Society", "Science"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a55313cddc947a57252229a_6a5531206e224e5479a2d338_news-meteo-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco on Orange Alert, Its Weather Service in Mid-Reform *The DGM extends the orange heat alert to Saturday, with peaks of 43-45°C in the southern provinces. The same week, the government adopted the bill creating the Moroccan Agency for Meteorology and Climate.* ![The Ouarzazate region seen from space](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a55313cddc947a57252229a_6a5531206e224e5479a2d338_news-meteo-main.webp) The orange alert now stretches to Saturday: in its Wednesday bulletin, the national weather directorate extended the heat episode. ![White buildings with rounded corners behind an anemometer mast and a wind vane, under a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60b88d2740562ba4bd688_6ae60a15d8a6147dd07075a8_vague-chaleur-agence-meteo-inline.webp) *The headquarters of the General Directorate of Meteorology, set to become an agency. Photo: EcoActu.* It still forecasts 43 to 45°C in the Saharan and southeastern provinces (Zagora, Tata, Es-Semara, Assa-Zag, Boujdour, Oued Ed-Dahab, Aousserd), and 40 to 43°C across some twenty inland provinces, from Marrakech to the Oriental by way of Beni Mellal and Errachidia. The chergui is not letting up. Days earlier, the government council adopted bill 05.26, presented by minister Nizar Baraka, which will turn that same directorate into the Moroccan Agency for Meteorology and Climate, a public body meant to centralize official warnings and climate data. The text still has to clear Parliament. The thermometer will not wait. *Photo: European Space Agency (ESA).* ## References - Médias24 - [Vague de chaleur jusqu’au 18 juillet dans plusieurs provinces, avec des pointes à 45°C](https://medias24.com/2026/07/15/vague-de-chaleur-jusquau-18-juillet-dans-plusieurs-provinces-avec-des-pointes-a-45-c-1722789/) - Le Matin - [Météo: la vague de chaleur se prolonge dans plusieurs régions du Maroc](https://lematin.ma/regions/meteo-la-vague-de-chaleur-se-prolonge-dans-plusieurs-regions-du-maroc/356195) - TelQuel (MAP) - [Vague de chaleur de mardi à vendredi dans plusieurs provinces](https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2026/07/13/vague-de-chaleur-de-mardi-a-vendredi-dans-plusieurs-provinces-2_1998713/) - TelQuel (MAP) - [Le conseil de gouvernement adopte un projet de loi relatif au système de la météorologie et du climat](https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2026/07/10/le-conseil-de-gouvernement-adopte-un-projet-de-loi-relatif-au-systeme-de-la-meteorologie-et-du-climat_1998370/) - Hespress EN - [Morocco moves to centralize official weather warnings and climate data under new agency](https://en.hespress.com/141732-morocco-moves-to-centralize-official-weather-warnings-and-climate-data-under-new-agency.html) --- --- title: "Morocco-France: In Rabat, Lecornu Pledges an Extraordinary Friendship Treaty" description: "Sebastien Lecornu co-chaired the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting in Rabat on Thursday with Aziz Akhannouch, the first since 2019: some fifteen agreements expected, including a commuter rail line for Rabat, and the promise of an “extraordinary friendship treaty.”" url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rhn-maroc-france-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rhn-maroc-france-2026 type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:23.986Z tags: ["Diplomacy", "Politics", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a58dba89cd7093849ebcf46_6a58db9a3eb138e91b6cb147_news-rhn-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Morocco-France: In Rabat, Lecornu Pledges an Extraordinary Friendship Treaty *Sebastien Lecornu co-chaired the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting in Rabat on Thursday with Aziz Akhannouch, the first since 2019: some fifteen agreements expected, including a commuter rail line for Rabat, and the promise of an “extraordinary friendship treaty.”* ![The Mohammed V mausoleum in Rabat](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a58dba89cd7093849ebcf46_6a58db9a3eb138e91b6cb147_news-rhn-main.webp) Military honors at Rabat-Sale airport on Wednesday evening, a wreath laid Thursday morning at the Mohammed V mausoleum: France came with full ceremony. Sebastien Lecornu co-chaired with Aziz Akhannouch the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, the first since 2019. ![Sebastien Lecornu and Aziz Akhannouch, seated side by side in armchairs, talk and smile behind small French and Moroccan flags.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c960f8b73a04961b8ff_6ae60668a5d3f837ad785a88_rhn-maroc-france-2026-inline.webp) *Aziz Akhannouch and Sebastien Lecornu during their talks in Rabat on July 16, 2026. Photo: Hespress.* The French prime minister hailed a “pivotal moment” and said he wanted a “change of scale,” notably on security and counterterrorism. Some fifteen agreements are set to seal the meeting, including a commuter rail project for the capital. In the wake of the “reinforced exceptional partnership” signed in October 2024, Paris now speaks of an “extraordinary friendship treaty,” and a visit by King Mohammed VI to France is under study. *Photo: IssamBarhoumi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - AFP (via Boursorama) - [Au Maroc, Paris et Rabat consacrent leur nouvelle entente](https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/au-maroc-paris-et-rabat-consacrent-leur-nouvelle-entente-22d24718297e2f728e22137585cd3764) - Médias24 - [Maroc-France: Sébastien Lecornu à Rabat pour la 15e Réunion de haut niveau](https://medias24.com/2026/07/16/maroc-france-sebastien-lecornu-a-rabat-pour-la-15e-reunion-de-haut-niveau-1723627/) - France 24 - [France-Maroc: en visite officielle, Lecornu évoque un futur «traité d’amitié hors normes»](https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20260716-france-maroc-visite-officielle-lecornu-%C3%A9voque-futur-trait%C3%A9-amiti%C3%A9-hors-normes) --- --- title: "Jorf Lasfar: Marsa Maroc Wins the 8 Bis Oil Berth for Thirty Years" description: "Following a National Ports Agency tender, Marsa Maroc wins the 30-year concession of oil berth 8 Bis at Jorf Lasfar: 4.6 million tons of added annual capacity, with service planned for early 2029." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/marsa-maroc-jorf-lasfar-8-bis language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/marsa-maroc-jorf-lasfar-8-bis type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:21.190Z tags: ["Logistics", "Energy", "Economy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a58dbab9cd7093849ebd110_6a58dba0a94c00d2d8987603_news-marsa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Jorf Lasfar: Marsa Maroc Wins the 8 Bis Oil Berth for Thirty Years *Following a National Ports Agency tender, Marsa Maroc wins the 30-year concession of oil berth 8 Bis at Jorf Lasfar: 4.6 million tons of added annual capacity, with service planned for early 2029.* ![The port of Jorf Lasfar seen from the International Space Station](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a58dbab9cd7093849ebd110_6a58dba0a94c00d2d8987603_news-marsa-main.webp) Thirty years of concession for 71 meters of quay: following a tender launched by the National Ports Agency, Marsa Maroc has been named concessionaire of oil berth 8 Bis at the port of Jorf Lasfar. ![Aerial view of a red tanker moored at an oil berth built on a breakwater of concrete blocks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c6abbbd9f296de3a872_6ae6065f5d4ac37746b9e916_marsa-maroc-jorf-lasfar-8-bis-inline.webp) *A tanker moored at an oil berth’s loading arms. Photo: Le360.* The national operator will handle its design, financing, construction and equipment, then its commercial operation and maintenance. With a 16.5-meter draft, the facility will add 4.6 million tons per year to the port’s liquid-bulk handling capacity, with service planned for the first quarter of 2029. Enough to keep pace with national demand for petroleum products that will not stop growing, and to cement the historic operator’s place in the segment. *Photo: NASA (ISS).* ## References - Médias24 - [Marsa Maroc décroche la concession du poste pétrolier 8 bis à Jorf Lasfar](https://medias24.com/2026/07/16/marsa-maroc-decroche-la-concession-du-poste-petrolier-8-bis-a-jorf-lasfar-1723649/) - L’Economiste - [Port de Jorf Lasfar: Marsa Maroc décroche la concession du poste pétrolier 8 Bis](https://www.leconomiste.com/flash-infos/port-de-jorf-lasfar-marsa-maroc-decroche-la-concession-du-poste-petrolier-8-bis/) - Le Matin - [Marsa Maroc décroche la concession d’un nouveau terminal pétrolier à Jorf Lasfar](https://lematin.ma/economie/marsa-maroc-decroche-la-concession-dun-terminal-petrolier-a-jorf-lasfar/356194) --- --- title: "World Cup 2026: Ouahbi’s Proud Review, With One Regret" description: "Facing the press Tuesday at the Mohammed VI complex, Mohamed Ouahbi defended the Atlas Lions' World Cup, owned the quarter-final loss to France and asked for a prestige friendly in September." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/ouahbi-bilan-mondial-2026 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/ouahbi-bilan-mondial-2026 type: news category: sport published: 2026-07-15T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:08.856Z tags: ["Sport", "Politics"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a55313fa00611f158e14eac_6a5531291d3da92bf97fa406_news-ouahbi-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # World Cup 2026: Ouahbi’s Proud Review, With One Regret *Facing the press Tuesday at the Mohammed VI complex, Mohamed Ouahbi defended the Atlas Lions' World Cup, owned the quarter-final loss to France and asked for a prestige friendly in September.* ![Mohamed Ouahbi on Morocco’s bench against Brazil, June 2026](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a55313fa00611f158e14eac_6a5531291d3da92bf97fa406_news-ouahbi-main.webp) Facing the press gathered Tuesday at the Mohammed VI complex, Mohamed Ouahbi delivered a proud review of the Atlas Lions’ World Cup: a team “proactive and dominant with a Moroccan identity,” younger from the round of 16 onward, and five matches that “thrilled” the public. The substance, the coach insists, validates the project. ![The Royal Moroccan Football Federation press room, Mohamed Ouahbi at the table beneath a screen announcing the national coach’s press conference of Tuesday, July 14, 2026.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60be505e834b547fc9ddc_6ae60a19483664b0eb7178f4_ouahbi-bilan-mondial-2026-inline.webp) *Mohamed Ouahbi’s press conference at the Mohammed VI football complex, July 14, 2026. Photo: Hespress.* The quarter-final remains. Against France, he regrets the manner more than the loss: “it is true we perhaps lacked personality. That is the only regret.” A regret he says he “takes responsibility” for. He also put out the rumors around assistant Joao Sacramento (“he will be back after his holiday”) and asked the federation for a prestige friendly as early as September. The Lions, for their part, have already turned the page. *Photo: Bryan Berlin (WikiPortraits), CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## References - Médias24 - [Coupe du monde 2026: les éclairages de Mohamed Ouahbi](https://medias24.com/2026/07/14/coupe-du-monde-2026-les-eclairages-de-mohamed-ouahbi-1722653/) - Le Matin - [Ouahbi fait le bilan des Lions de l’Atlas au Mondial 2026](https://lematin.ma/sports/ouahbi-fait-le-bilan-des-lions-de-latlas-au-mondial-2026/355931) - Afrik-Foot - [Maroc: Ouahbi pousse pour un match amical de prestige dès septembre](https://www.afrik-foot.com/maroc-ouahbi-pousse-pour-un-match-amical-de-prestige-des-septembre) - Le Desk - [Mondial 2026: Ouahbi dresse le bilan des Lions de l’Atlas et se projette vers l’avenir](https://ledesk.ma/2026/07/15/mondial-2026-ouahbi-dresse-le-bilan-des-lions-de-latlas-et-se-projette-vers-lavenir/) --- --- title: "Rabat Plugs Its 2.0 Command Center Into 1,400 Cameras" description: "Rabat’s police prefecture on Monday brought its renovated command and coordination center into service, linked to more than 1,400 urban cameras in partnership with the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/rabat-centre-commandement-2-0 language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/rabat-centre-commandement-2-0 type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-15T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T16:31:31.715Z tags: ["Security", "Technology", "Rabat"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a57980ea5f95251986a15ac_6a57980751dce76064f2a954_news-rabat-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Rabat Plugs Its 2.0 Command Center Into 1,400 Cameras *Rabat’s police prefecture on Monday brought its renovated command and coordination center into service, linked to more than 1,400 urban cameras in partnership with the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region.* ![Rabat, the Hassan Tower and the modern capital](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a57980ea5f95251986a15ac_6a57980751dce76064f2a954_news-rabat-main.webp) The capital has new eyes. Rabat’s police prefecture on Monday brought its renovated “2.0” command and coordination center into service, a full rebuild of a room first opened in 2016. ![A uniformed police officer holding a radio stands before a wall of surveillance screens, facing operators at their desks.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae617cbf60da0929318e725_6ae617bc2a6a86680d8d8c2e_rabat-centre-commandement-2-0-inline.webp) *The command and coordination room of the Rabat police prefecture. Photo: Le360.* The system now links more than 1,400 high-definition urban cameras, deployed in partnership with the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region. Field operations, traffic, emergency 19 dispatch, a crisis unit: the DGSN now centralizes it all in one data-driven room. A modernization that says much about the capital’s security preparations, four years out from a home World Cup. *Photo: Veronique Dauge, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.* ## References - TelQuel (MAP) - [Rabat connecté à 1 400 caméras de surveillance: inauguration du centre de commandement et de coordination 2.0](https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2026/07/13/rabat-connecte-a-1400-cameras-de-surveillance-inauguration-du-centre-de-commandement-et-de-coordination-2-0_1998754/) - Barlaman Today - [Rabat Police Launch Upgraded Command Center Connected to 1,400 Surveillance Cameras](https://barlamantoday.com/2026/07/13/rabat-police-launch-upgraded-command-center-connected-to-1400-surveillance-cameras/) - Bladi - [Rabat: a 2.0 command center connected to 1,400 cameras](https://en.bladi.net/rabat-police-command-center-1400-cameras-real-time-surveillance.html) --- --- title: "Renault Now Builds More Cars in Morocco Than in Spain" description: "With 394,465 vehicles assembled in 2025 across Tangier and Casablanca, Morocco has become Renault’s second-largest production base worldwide, behind France and ahead of Spain." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/renault-maroc-production-espagne language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/renault-maroc-production-espagne type: news category: eco published: 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.809Z tags: ["Automotive", "Industry", "Spain"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553135ff8db7a1c6ffb1ab_6a5531132eebda1e217f8acc_news-renault-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Renault Now Builds More Cars in Morocco Than in Spain *With 394,465 vehicles assembled in 2025 across Tangier and Casablanca, Morocco has become Renault’s second-largest production base worldwide, behind France and ahead of Spain.* ![Tanger Med port, the export gateway of Moroccan carmaking](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553135ff8db7a1c6ffb1ab_6a5531132eebda1e217f8acc_news-renault-main.webp) The milestone passed almost quietly. With 394,465 vehicles assembled in 2025, Renault’s Moroccan plants outproduced the group’s Spanish factories in Palencia and Valladolid, at around 350,000 units. ![The plant’s halls and thousands of cars parked in rows below a hillside sign reading Renault Group, Usine de Tanger.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae55e9fe37fa824d36ebef3_6ae55dba4288ab0a4db73ac1_ipi-t2-2026.webp) *The Renault Group plant in Tangier and its vehicle lots, seen from the hills. Photo: Renault Group.* Tangier leads with nearly 300,000 units, backed by the Somaca plant in Casablanca. The kingdom thus becomes the carmaker’s second-largest industrial base worldwide, behind France. The Spanish trade press (Motor16, echoed by Expansion) points to the steady rise of the Moroccan operation: expanded capacity, the port logistics of Tanger Med, a lineup largely built for export. A reversal that says much about how far Moroccan carmaking has come in fifteen years. *Photo: HrAd, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Motor16 - [La producción de coches en Marruecos supera a España](https://www.motor16.com/las-ultimas-noticias/produccion-coches-marruecos-supera-espana/) - Expansión - [Marruecos, segunda base mundial de Renault (June 29, 2026)](https://www.expansion.com/empresas/motor/2026/06/29/6a416b15468aeb72448b459a.html) - Atalayar - [Marruecos se consolida como segunda base mundial de Renault](https://www.atalayar.com/articulo/economia-y-empresas/marruecos-consolida-como-segunda-base-mundial-renault/20260702145126227372.html) --- --- title: "Silver for Morocco at the 2026 International Physics Olympiad" description: "In only its second appearance at the International Physics Olympiad, Morocco takes home a silver medal (Said Telhmerit) and an honorable mention (Hafsa Boukhajjou) from Bucaramanga, Colombia." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/olympiades-physique-2026-argent language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/olympiades-physique-2026-argent type: news category: actu published: 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T15:59:15.827Z tags: ["Science", "Technology"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553139257f32656f65b911_6a55311ad2dea9892ca57156_news-ipho-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Silver for Morocco at the 2026 International Physics Olympiad *In only its second appearance at the International Physics Olympiad, Morocco takes home a silver medal (Said Telhmerit) and an honorable mention (Hafsa Boukhajjou) from Bucaramanga, Colombia.* ![Bucaramanga, host city of the 2026 International Physics Olympiad](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a553139257f32656f65b911_6a55311ad2dea9892ca57156_news-ipho-main.webp) Five high-schoolers carried the kingdom’s colors at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held July 4-12 in Bucaramanga, Colombia: Ikram Amazzal, Hafsa Boukhajjou, Jad El Mouden, Adam Mirhiss and Said Telhmerit. ![Medal-winning students hold their countries’ flags, Morocco’s among them, on a lit stage beneath the 2026 International Physics Olympiad banner.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae60c15d2740562ba4c0ede_6ae60a1c3eb74873888eb1c5_olympiades-physique-2026-argent-inline.webp) *Medalists and their flags, Morocco’s among them, on stage at the International Physics Olympiad in Bucaramanga. Photo: Le Matin.* The latter returns with a silver medal, Hafsa Boukhajjou with an honorable mention. For a country in only its second appearance, the result reads like a promise. The team, prepared by the Ministry of National Education, confirms the rise of Morocco’s scientific olympiad program. *Photo: EEIM, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## References - Le Matin - [Le Maroc médaillé aux Olympiades internationales de physique 2026](https://lematin.ma/societe/le-maroc-medaille-aux-olympiades-internationales-de-physique-2026/355584) - Kech24 - [Le Maroc brille aux Olympiades internationales de physique](https://fr.kech24.com/le-maroc-brille-aux-olympiades-internationales-de-physique/) - IPhO 2026 - [Official site of the 56th edition, Bucaramanga](https://ipho2026.com/) --- --- title: "Defense: Washington Signed $9.49 Million in SitaWare Licenses for Morocco" description: "On May 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Air Force awarded Systematic Inc. a $9.49 million contract to equip Morocco with perpetual licenses for the SitaWare command software, with training and embedded experts through 2029." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/news/sitaware-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/news/sitaware-maroc type: news category: actu published: 2026-05-04T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T04:23:24.625Z tags: ["Security", "Technology", "Diplomacy"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac2d2ae4a7d04762611fc45_6ac2d2add84adafc54f497ee_sitaware-maroc-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Defense: Washington Signed $9.49 Million in SitaWare Licenses for Morocco *On May 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Air Force awarded Systematic Inc. a $9.49 million contract to equip Morocco with perpetual licenses for the SitaWare command software, with training and embedded experts through 2029.* ![Military staff working on the SitaWare suite in a command post, in front of screens showing maps and data.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ac2d2ae4a7d04762611fc45_6ac2d2add84adafc54f497ee_sitaware-maroc-main.webp) On May 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Air Force signed a $9.49 million contract with Systematic Inc., the American subsidiary of the Danish software house Systematic, on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco. ![Officers in fatigues lean over a laptop screen together.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae56caa6d7bcf6ab1b51698_6ae56b548bd83614ade2d094_sitaware-maroc.webp) *Senegalese and Moroccan officers during the African Lion 2024 command post exercise in Agadir. Photo: Edward McBride, U.S. Army, public domain.* The federal spending register, USAspending, lists perpetual licenses for several suites of the SitaWare command and control software, training for collective exercises and embedded expert assistance. Performance runs until April 30, 2029. The money is foreign, under Foreign Military Sales. The contract was not competed: it invokes the international agreement exception, the one that applies notably when the paying state names its own supplier. SitaWare is not a weapon but a shared map: a family of programs that carries the same picture of the tactical situation between headquarters and units in the field. The federal record does not say which modules were chosen, nor which units of the Royal Armed Forces will receive them. Three years of embedded experts will tell whether the tool has found its place in the Moroccan chain of command. *Photo: Systematic, the SitaWare suite in a headquarters (publisher’s image, not Morocco).* ## References - USAspending.gov, U.S. Department of the Air Force - [Definitive Contract FA714626C0016, Systematic Inc.: SitaWare requirement for the Kingdom of Morocco](https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_FA714626C0016_9700_-NONE-_-NONE-) - Barlamane - [Le Maroc se dote pour 9,5 millions de dollars de logiciels SitaWare destinés au commandement et au contrôle militaires](https://barlamane.com/fr/le-maroc-se-dote-pour-95-millions-de-dollars-de-logiciels-sitaware-destines-au-commandement-et-au-controle-militaires/) - Systematic - [Defence (photographie)](https://systematic.com/int/industries/defence/) --- --- title: "The Madrasa, an Ancestral Architectural Jewel of Marinid Morocco" description: "The Madrasa, more than just a place of study, has held a privileged place in the history and culture of Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/madrasa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/madrassa type: article category: cult published: 2024-01-09T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:30.948Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Architecture", "Idrisids", "Almohads", "Ancient History", "Craftsmanship", "Islam", "Identity", "Religion", "Marinids"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/659d799212b88de59079a1e6_attarine%20banner.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Madrasa, an Ancestral Architectural Jewel of Marinid Morocco By Wealth of Morocco *The Madrasa, more than just a place of study, has held a privileged place in the history and culture of Morocco.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/659d799212b88de59079a1e6_attarine%20banner.webp) In Arabic, the term “madrasa” refers to a place of study, while the words “Dirasa” and “Mudarris” mean study and teacher respectively. Madrasas hold a privileged place in the history and culture of Morocco, playing a key role in the education and training of young students, while being an important symbol of the country’s historical, spiritual and architectural wealth. Being major educational institutions throughout the kingdom, they offer students training in learning the Quran, theology, Maliki jurisprudence and the Arabic language. The specificity of madrasas was such that they welcomed students from various backgrounds, although often modest, offering education, housing and food to those who could not afford to pay the tuition fees of a private school. Today, most madrasas are popular tourist sites in Morocco due to their charming and highly detailed structures. Madrasas are characterized by traditional Moroccan architecture that results in intricate patterns and designs, elegant archways, peaceful interior gardens, and sumptuous fountains. The madrasas are decorated with mosaics, stuccos, and hand-carved wood, making them true masterpieces. In short, madrasas are an essential ingredient in the fleshing out of Moroccan heritage. They have contributed to the preservation of Islam and to the training of numerous students over the centuries. Madrasas are therefore an enduring testament to Morocco’s cultural wealth, and are a must-see attraction for those seeking to understand the depth of Moroccan culture. ## The Madrasas, imperial jewels The birth of madrasas in North Africa has sparked debate among researchers due to the lack of accurate information and reliable historical sources: Some believe that the Almoravids and Almohads introduced this institution, while others argue it’s rather an adaptation of the already existing Levantine model where it proved its effectiveness in the service of science, religion, and power. It’s archaeologically attested to however that the oldest of such establishments in North Africa is the Madrasa Shammiya located in Tunis, built by the Hafsid ruler Abu Zakariyya in 1249. It’ill be followed by the Saffarin Madrasa in Fez, which was in turn erected by Abu Yusuf Yaqub in 1271. Leo Africanus, also known as Hassan al-Wazzan, devoted part of his work “Description of Africa” to an eloquent description of Moroccan madrasas. On his arrival to Fez, he was amazed by the scale and splendor of the schools, which vastly surpassed those he had previously seen in Africa. The classrooms, crafted with fine marble, blew his mind and the attention to detail, including the doors and windows carved from cedar wood, impressed him. These details were beautifully enhanced by ornaments of fine mosaics and skilfully worked plaster, amplifying his fascination with these places of learning. ![A printed title page in Italian with an ornate printer’s mark in the center.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd8dff088ebf0544bbd_6ae52890ef974dec01b5d4d1_madrassa-2.webp) *Title page of the first volume of Ramusio’s Navigationi et viaggi, which opens with Leo Africanus’s Descrittione dell’Africa, Venice, Giunti, 1588. Document: Duke University Libraries, via Internet Archive.* The illustrious writer Tahar Ben Jelloun will pay particular attention to the importance of madrasas in Morocco in his work. He tells us that throughout the kingdom and from each imperial city, these Quranic schools, madrasas, sprang up, becoming incandescent homes of thought and intelligence. These institutions have worked patiently to shape generations of scholars, poets, lawyers, artists, and men of culture and faith. Ben Jelloun describes how they ensured the transmission of knowledge, the values of Islamic tradition and Moroccan heritage. For him, madrasas have established themselves as the true guardians of the soul and spiritual identity of Morocco. ![A black-and-white close-up portrait of an older man with a gray beard looking at the camera.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd8dff088ebf0544bb7_6ae528915223b9148eda3313_madrassa-3.webp) *Tahar Ben Jelloun in 2013. Photo: Claude Truong-Ngoc, CC BY-SA 3.0.* Historian and anthropologist Alain Roussillon contributes to the conversation by affirming madrasas represent more than just educational spaces. For him, they are real architectural treasures bearing the imprint of Moroccan Islamic art and culture. Their splendor not only dazzles the eyes, it is also a mirror of the devotion and the quest for artistic excellence of those who built them. Morocco’s full of architectural treasures, but among the most emblematic of them are undoubtedly the madrasas, these magnificent historic buildings that’ve survived throughout the centuries all while maintaining their beauty and emblematic character. Now that we’ve seen the history and importance of madrasas in the country, let’s discover the most beautiful of these architectural gems which fascinate visitors from around the world. ## The al-Attarine Madrasa (1325), Fez The al-Attarine Madrasa is located in Fez, Morocco, near the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, and was erected by the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris in the 14th century. It takes its name from Souk al-Attarine, a spice and perfume market located nearby. It’s recognized as one of the greatest achievements of Marinid architecture because of its sumptuous and harmonious decoration, as well as its clever use of limited space. According to the book Rawd el-Qirtas, the supervision of the construction of the madrasa was entrusted to Sheikh Beni Abu Muhammad Abdallah ibn Qasim al-Mizwar. The Sultan himself attended the laying of the foundations of the madrasa in the company of local ulemas (religious savants). As with all religious and charitable institutions of the time, the creation of the madrasa required the endowment of a habous, a charitable trust generally made up of dead property. The Sultan had ordered the establishment of this habous to provide income supporting the operation of and maintenance of the madrasa. According to the Sultan’s instructions, the madrasa was to accommodate an imam, muezzins, teachers, and housing for 50 to 60 students. Most of the students in this madrasa came from cities in northwestern Morocco, such as Tangier, Larache, and Ksar el-Kebir. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfebc9df081f250c331c54_Madrassa%20Attarine.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfec2c711788b317e0644f_Madrassa%20Attarine%202.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeb950178b148d9969e88_Madrassa%20Attarine%203.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfebfbdf081f250c3344a7_Madrassa%20Attarine%204.webp) ## The Saffarin Madrasa (1280), Fez ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfe9b6dbef6f6dd8d465ea_Dar%20Essafarine.webp) The historic Saffarin Madrasa is located in the city of Fez in Morocco. It was built in 1271 by the Marinid sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf, making it the first madrasa built by his dynasty. The Saffarin Madrasa is located in the historic district of Fez el-Bali, just south of the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, which is considered to be the oldest working university in the world. The madrasa is also located on Saffarin Square, which was once the workplace of boilermakers, hence its name. The foreigners who resided at the Saffarin Madrasa came mainly from the Zerhoun region, from the north of Beni Zeroual and from the south of the Souss region. Due to its growing popularity, the Mohammadia Madrasa was built in the 18th century next to the Saffarin Madrasa, thus serving as an annex to accommodate a larger number of students. It extends over an area of 752m2 and also includes two levels of rooms revolving around a long central courtyard. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfe95fdbef6f6dd8d3fc82_Madrassa%20Seffarine%20Modern.webp) ## Madrasa Bou Inania (1351), Fez ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2eee32da9cc8d202715_Madrassa%20Bouanania%201.webp) The Madrasa Bou Inania was built for and named after the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris in Fez between 1350 and 1355. It’s the only madrasa in the city along with the Saffarin one to have a minaret. It was adjacent to shops allowing its financing, as well as having vast latrines, bearing witness to its public nature. Indeed, the madrasa functioned as both a school as well as a congregational Friday mosque. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2fed32264087036c799_Madrassa%20Bouanania%206.webp) Most madrasas have a small prayer hall, but Bou Inania has a full-fledged mosque with a minaret. Normally, madrasas were built near an already established mosque and the two institutions cooperated closely with each other for religious and educational activities. But as there were none in the vicinity, the Bou Inania has the rare particularity of housing a sumptuous mosque within its boundaries. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2d2dbef6f6dd8dc9720_Madrassa%20Bouanania%205.webp) Because of its unique history, the Bou Inania madrasa has the status of a congregational mosque, the only one of its kind in all of Morocco housed in a madrasa. Congregational mosques or Friday mosques are where the most important prayer session of the week takes place on Friday and brings together all the worshipers from the many other mosques in the region. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff33b384f5b8ad92f863a_Madrassa%20Bouanania%202.webp) There is another madrasa with the same name in the city of Meknes but although the origin of theit names are similar, they’re not entirely identical. The one in Fez was built by Sultan Abu Inan Faris as we’ve established. That of Meknes on the other hand was built by his father 15 years prior, then restored by the son, and from that moment on, it bore the same name of Madrasa Bou Inania. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff349e32da9cc8d204ab1_Madrassa%20Bouanania%204.webp) Like most iconic landmarks in Fez, the Madrasa Bou Inania has its legends. One of them says that Abu Inan, feeling guilty for the overthrow of his father, sought advice from scholars on how he could ask God for forgiveness. They advised him to build a madrasa in a part of the city that had hitherto been a dump. By improving and purifying a part of the city, he would do the same with his soul. Another legend says that the Sultan’s desire to build a majestic and beautiful madrasa was such that the budget got out of control. When the builders showed him the accounting book, he threw it into the river, saying “beauty is never expensive, no matter the price.” ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff374b920a7fafefd5cbf_Madrassa%20Bouanania%203.webp) ## The Mesbahiyya Madrasa (1347), Fez ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff47c85852e6cc89ce9ab_Madrassa%20Mesbahia%20Vintage.webp) The Mesbahiyya Madrasa, also called Madrasa Rokham (School of Marble), or Madrasa El Khossa (School of the Fountain), is a madrasa built in 1347 in Fez by the Merinid Sultan Abu al-Hasan. It contains 35 rooms and two classrooms. Partially in ruins, the madrasa was still being restored in 2016 until a year later when the king of Morocco inaugurated it and 26 other historical monuments in the Medina of Fez, the latter announced for this purpose that in addition to this Madrasa, the others (Saffarin, Mohammedia and Sba’iyyin) would open for the relocation of some students of the al-Qarawiyyin who were in their senior year. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c224f5777516858059af26_Madrassa%20Mesbahia%20Combined%201.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c2250d777516858059c7b3_Madrassa%20Mesbahia%20Combined%202.webp) ## The Cherratin Madrasa (1670), Fes ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff55c1a666162a8dd2572_Madrassa%20Cherratine%20Vintage.webp) Located in the heart of the Medina, the Madrasa was named after the space where “Cherrite” rope manufacturers operated. The first cultural and scientific achievement under the Alawite dynasty, this madrasa was once a housing center for students from distant lands in search of science and knowledge. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff5ad92b0c15867a4cd3d_Madrassa%20Cherratine.webp) With its 125 cells spread over three levels along galleries protected from view by “moucharabieh”, the architectural arrangements of the Madrasa, in particular the layout of the rooms around courtyards in the four corners of the building, recall some ancient schools in Cairo. ‍ ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff58c92b0c15867a4b2be_Madrassa%20Cherratine%202.webp) ‍ Its double portal covered in chiseled bronze gives access, through a corridor covered with a carved and painted wooden ceiling, to the central courtyard, surrounded by galleries on all floors. “The style of this national heritage is distinguished by its simplicity. Heritage specialists emphasize this temperance in decoration and the style of ornamentations. It is different from other madrasas, especially those of the Marinid dynasty in the 14th century,” explained Ms. Tajmouati. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff9d59da59bdb66960237_Madrassa%20Cherratine%203.webp) ## The Sahrij Madrasa (1323), Fes ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffaaea9ed2842be34d730_Madrassa%20Sahrij%205.webp) The Sahrij Madrasa owes its name to the large pool located in its courtyard. It’s composed of three buildings: the main madrasa with the basin, the Madrasa of the Sba’iyyin (the seven readers of the Koran), and a guest house called “Dar Chiakh”. The Madrasa contains two classrooms and twenty-six rooms for students coming from far away, reserved for students in the Moroccan calligraphy course at the al-Qarawiyyin University. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffa31f2e07ff990665ac1_Madrassa%20Sahrij%20Vintage.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac7370cbb83d931b287_Madrassa%20Sahrij.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac76b2e67051c27f1dd_Madrassa%20Sahrij%202.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac69da59bdb66978394_Madrassa%20Sahrij%201920%206.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac6c126526191f009f1_Madrassa%20Sahrij%203.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac57c1ace7405bb861e_Madrassa%20Sahrij%20Modern.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bffac7b925d87adf5ad47d_Madrassa%20Sahrij%204.webp) ## The Madrassa of Oujda (1323), Oujda (not sure) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0d840e0c40c92ef4f56c8_Oujda%203.webp) Built in 1935, the Marinid Madrasa of Oujda precedes the famous Madrasa Bou Inania in the city of Fez by five years. Despite its modest dimensions, it manages to be a masterpiece of Marinid art and is now one of the jewels of its city. This school has the prestige of having welcomed famous ulemas who marked their times and who remain references in their fields to this day. And to this day, the madrasa remains in activity, receiving annually, in summer, young people seeking to learn the Quran, making religious chants echo in the corridors of this learning center. ## The Madrasa Loukach (1758), Tetouan ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0d8725e40cda5d659b9fb_Madrassa%20Loukache%202.webp) Built in 1758 by Caid Omar Loukach on the orders of the Alawite Sultan Mohammed bin Abdallah, it was meant to serve as a boarding house for students hailing from the surrounding regions to study theology in the medina of Tetouan. Closed in the 1980s, the madrasa will be rehabilitated by the architect Aamiar Mohammed Anass and will thus be transformed into a museum retracing the religious heritage of the Medina of Tetouan and exhibiting various historical objects and articles relating to religious life and traditional education. The museum was inaugurated by King Mohamed VI in 2011. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0da59c662f8621ce35a26_Loukache%20Combined.webp) ## Madrasa of Sale (1340) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db203303610151347be5_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%207.webp) Built in the first half of the 14th century under the reign of the Marinid Sultan Abu al-Hasan ben Uthman, in the Talaa district near the Great Mosque of Sale, which was the same time other madrasas were erected in various cities of Morocco. It was completed on Friday November 30th, 1341. When Ibn al-Khatib, the Andalusian Arab writer, visited the madrasa shortly after its inauguration, he found at least a hundred poets there. He also indicates in his book "The Exemplary Way" that in his time, the people of Sale “made a great contribution to all sciences, by having the exclusive prerogative of certain fields of knowledge”, since several dignitaries from Fez and other cities went to Sale to learn medicine, Sufism, etc... ![A printed page in Arabic with a paragraph followed by lines of verse set in two columns.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cd8dff088ebf0544bd3_6ae528920491de360124fa2a_madrassa-4.webp) *A page of Ibn al-Khatib’s al-Lamha al-badriyya in the Cairo edition of 1928-1929. Document: al-Matba’a al-Salafiyya, via Wikimedia Commons.* The first dean of the madrasa was Ahmed ibn al-Hafid, while Ali bin Brahim al-Malqi was the first teacher of the Arabic language. The latter also taught fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) in the morning and tafsir (explanation of the Quran) between the two evening prayers. Then, the teaching was provided by several ulemas from Morocco, Tlemcen and Andalusia. The last teacher was Ahmed ibn Mohamed ibn Moussa al-Hamssassi, who taught grammar, rhetoric, logic and religious sciences there (fiqh, Hadith and Sufism) from 1884 to 1892. The madrasa would then become a school focused solely on teaching the Quran, with Mohamed bin Salem al-Hanawi being the last to have taught there. Restored at the end of the 18th century by the Cadi of Sale Mohamed Ben Hajji Zniber, then in 1864 by Mohamed Ben Abd el-Hadi Zniber and finally by the French Fine Arts Department, the madrasa was classified as national heritage by the dahir of September 9, 1922. It is described by the historian Mohamed ibn Ali Doukkali as one of the smallest and most beautiful madrasas because of its layout, decor and architecture that reached a high level of perfection. After the establishment of the French protectorate in Morocco, the madrasa no longer functioned as before. Unlike the other madrasas, the Sale madrasa was completely redesigned between 1921 and 1924; underpinning and consolidation work continued between 1922 and 1924. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2e4721d32f99e76268_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%201.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2d8822eb07cea570a5_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%202.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2ecbed575deca55653_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%206.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2e5e40cda5d65e06b1_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%205.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2e303e28f762db95fe_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%204.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64c0db2dcd245a8690a6bc40_Madrassa%20Sale%CC%81%203.webp) ## The Madrasa Bou Inania (1351), Meknes ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2eee32da9cc8d202715_Madrassa%20Bouanania%201.webp) In the city of Meknes, there is the Bou Inania madrasa — one of the more distinctly beautiful of such establishments in Morocco. Built from 1331 to 1351 (under the reign of Abu al-Hasan and then under that of Abu Inan Faris), this madrasa is a historic and traditional palace and a core part of the protected heritage of Meknes. Until the 1960s, the Bou Inania madrasa in Meknes was a mosque and a Quranic school where religion and law were taught. Visitors of the madrasa are able to discover architecture typical of the time of the Marinid dynasty: cedar wood ceilings, a central courtyard in marble and onyx, glazed earthenware mosaics... Even the small rooms the students occupied can be visited, along with a passage on the terraces allowing an exquisite view of the Medina. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff349e32da9cc8d204ab1_Madrassa%20Bouanania%204.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2d2dbef6f6dd8dc9720_Madrassa%20Bouanania%205.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff2fed32264087036c799_Madrassa%20Bouanania%206.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff374b920a7fafefd5cbf_Madrassa%20Bouanania%203.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff33b384f5b8ad92f863a_Madrassa%20Bouanania%202.webp) ## The Ben Youssef Madrasa (1565), Marrakech ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff1531ddc1bb18f356015_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef%203.webp) The Ben Youssef Madrasa is not only the most important of such architectural jewels but also the largest in Morocco. Commissioned by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib, its construction was completed in 1565CE. It has 130 rooms, making it able to accommodate up to 900 students. A madrasa would have existed in the Almohad Kasbah in Marrakech, which could have served as a model for the Ben Youssef Madrasa. It was described at the beginning of the 16th century by Leo Africanus. A new madrasa was founded by Abu al-Hasan ben Uthman, a Marinid sultan, around 1350CE near the old Ben Youssef mosque (of which only the Almoravid Qoubba remains) which will give it its name. It was rebuilt and inaugurated in the year 1564-65CE by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah el-Ghalib Billah. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17b1ddc1bb18f3596d8_Ben%20Youssef.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17a1ddc1bb18f35965d_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef%206.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17a777e4c918a21c070_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef%205.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17b1ddc1bb18f35973d_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef%204.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17b1ddc1bb18f35976a_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef%202.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bff17abd73db350d3369a3_Madrassa%20Ben%20Youssef.webp) ## The Khaldounia Madrasa (1337), Tlemcen ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeeaf19b964f19c94b326_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%203.webp) Nestled in the heart of the village of El Eubad, on the heights of the city, it was initially a mausoleum built by the Almohad caliph Muhammad an-Nasir, honoring the memory of the Arab-Andalusian saint Sidi Boumediene at the beginning of the 13th century. It was restored, embellished and expanded upon by the Merinid Sultan Abu al-Hasan Ali in 1337CE who integrated a mosque as an annex to the mausoleum. In addition to the mosque, the El Eubad religious complex includes a small palace and a madrasa where Ibn Khaldoun taught fiqh as well as a traditional hammam of which only remains persist. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec31b9d8d96ae1d0d8e_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%207.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec353421ffed0f19775_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%206.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec2d5e3c3583d528fc1_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%205.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec2c218adff28527904_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%204.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec4b0fe15460895ce31_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%202.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64bfeec3927dd01c46361237_Madrassa%20Khaldounia%201.webp) ## References - Rawd Al-Qirtas, Ibn Abi Zar - Origin and role of the medersa in Islamic Morocco, BAM 22, 2012 - Description of Africa, Leon the African --- --- title: "The Berber People, Their Conquests and Invasions: Between Myths and Reality" description: "The Berbers or Imazighen are often depicted as a group people who have always been subject to conquests and defeat, especially among certain Afrocentrist or pan-Arabist groups. This revisionism of the history of the indigenous people of the Maghreb region ignores millennias of history." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/tamazgha-history language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/histoire-berberie type: article category: hist published: 2023-06-30T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:47.464Z tags: ["Ancient History", "Modern History", "Identity", "Maghreb"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4ea2b2c947ab4e75de77_6a5a4e5b456089410255249e_fix-histoire-berberie-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Berber People, Their Conquests and Invasions: Between Myths and Reality *The Berbers or Imazighen are often depicted as a group people who have always been subject to conquests and defeat, especially among certain Afrocentrist or pan-Arabist groups. This revisionism of the history of the indigenous people of the Maghreb region ignores millennias of history.* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4ea2b2c947ab4e75de77_6a5a4e5b456089410255249e_fix-histoire-berberie-main.webp) It’s not uncommon to come across individuals who, through ignorance or malice, portray Berbers *(also known as the Amazigh people or Imazighen in plural)* as a group of people whose entire history consists of being conquered and defeated, this discourse being particularly prevalent among certain Afrocentrist or pan-Arabist groups. It’s an image that has been shaped and strengthened by various forces over time and one that sadly continues to be perpetuated today. In this article, we’ll most often refer to Berberia, the Maghreb or Northwestern Africa as Tamazgha for simplification purposes. ### Colonial Propaganda ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d636a87995a3ac6a826ca_Colonialist%20education.webp) It’s essential to understand that these propaganda schemes were used to legitimize the colonization of North African countries in the last century. Colonialists, wanting to pass off North Africans as a constantly dominated people in order to justify their colonization, used this image to strengthen their grip and to marginalize and oppress indigenous people. The various foreign invasions on North African soil and their contexts will be discussed here. These invasions are often subject to myths and are used for nefarious purposes by various groups even today, making it crucial to debunk them and to re-establish the truths about them. Only by doing so can we understand the true nature of these invasions and their impact on the region both demographically and in terms of identity. ## Antiquity We will start by addressing Antiquity by listing the foreigners or invaders who settled in the Maghreb over time, their influence and the context. It was a period rich in events and changes that greatly contributed to shaping the Maghreb as we know it today. ### Some basic concepts Before diving deeper into the subject, it’s important to understand a few basics. First of all, the term “Libyans” refers to the Berbers of Antiquity, as the historian Samir Aounallah recalls. Likewise, the term “Tamazgha” is often used academically to refer to the region where the Berbers settled, a territory of approximately 7 million km². ![A tiered stone funerary tower topped by a small pyramid stands among green fields and olive trees under a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb821591d436be5021a_6ae5286c937937f06a3c739b_histoire-berberie-1.webp) *The Libyco-Punic mausoleum at Dougga. Photo: Noomen9, CC BY-SA 4.0.* > **Basic term: Libyan** > Libyan: Language of the Libyans, also called Berbers or Amazighs, Libyan, still imperfectly known to specializts despite the progress made since the discovery, especially in Dougga, of the famous bilingual Libyco-Punic inscriptions, is an exclusively consonantal language and, as a result, is an exclusively consonantal language and, therefore, does not lend itself to integral reconstruction and is unpronounceable by foreigners. > > **Basic term: Tamazgha** > Maghreb, North Africa, Berberia or even Tamazgha are modern appellations whose ancient equivalents were Libue, country of the Libou, Libya of the Greeks (not to be confused with current Libya), and Africa, country of Afri, Africa of the Latins, the Africa of the Latins, a word that seems to derive directly from Africus, a word that seems to derive directly from Africus, a word that seems to derive directly from Africus, a wind “that vomits flames (Corripe, Joh. 7.322)” and in what way You have to see our Sirocco/Chehili. > ‍ > *Tunisian Antiquity: Samir Aounallah, p.28, p.43* It is also important to note that, although the majority of Berbers/North Africans now live near the Maghreb coast, the further we go back in time, the more the population was distributed in a slightly more balanced way. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d68f0f696e2bc0ec0d4f1_Berberie%20Superficie%20et%20Population.webp) Due to the size of their vast region and to various ethnic factors, the Berbers were a group of people almost impossible to federate as a whole. The Berbers lived in scattered tribes when they were not federated by a state or chiefdom. ### The Phoenicians ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d69820fa60016f0eb4a66_Carte%20Pheniciens%20Berberie.webp) *Map of the Phoenician influence on Tamazgha in blue).* Let’s start with the Phoenicians, who founded various trading posts on the Berber coast around 800 BCE. But what did they come to do in Maghreb? To martyrize and dominate the population? Taking their land from the Berbers? The reality is that they simply came to establish trading posts among the Berbers as in the rest of the Mediterranean. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d69f0876b36ab06a9249c_Phenicians.webp) Justin, an ancient historian, states in his book XVIII that the Phoenicians came to trade with the Berbers. According to him, when they arrived on the shores of Africa, the Phoenicians sought the friendship of local inhabitants who welcomed these foreigners. They saw it as an opportunity to develop a mutual and lucrative business. Justin describes how Berbers, attracted by the prospect of earnings, flocked in droves from surrounding areas to sell their products to newcomers. They settled among the Phoenicians, and their growing number quickly transformed the colony into a real city. Justin also reports that the representatives of Utica, considering the Phoenicians to be brothers, offered them gifts and encouraged them to found a city in the territory that had been allocated to them as a refuge. African inhabitants also wanted to keep these foreigners among them. Thus, with the consent of all, Carthage was founded, and an annual tribute was paid for the territory it occupied. The fame of Carthage soon attracted many inhabitants who came to populate and expand it. ![Low ancient wall foundations and a paved street stretch across sandy ground lined with cypress trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb921591d436be5025e_6ae5286c937937f06a3c73d0_histoire-berberie-2.webp) *The ruins of Utica, Tunisia. Photo: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0.* This is confirmed by almost all modern historians, including Samir Aounallah in his book “L’Antiquite Tunisienne” (p.64). Aounallah claims that the Phoenicians traded with the Berbers and mixed with them. According to him, when the Phoenicians began to settle along the Tunisian coast, probably beginning with Utica, the country was occupied exclusively by Libyans. As expected, the two populations mixed very quickly and this mixture was at the origin of what the ancients called Libyphoenicians, a mixture of Libyans and Phoenicians resulting from mixed marriages between members of the two populations and from marital alliances between Libyan leaders and members of the Carthaginian aristocracy; the most symbolic of these alliances is undoubtedly the couple formed by the Numidian king Syphax and Sophonisbius the Carthaginian whose tragic end is well known. The rest of Tunisia, which we’ll talk about later, was occupied by the Numidians, a faction of the Libyan people. To speak in figures, the Phoenicians represented about 3% of the population of the Maghreb, as mentioned in the Atlas of World Population History (p.219-220). At the time of the fall of Carthage, it was estimated that there were perhaps 100,000 Phoenicians and 500,000 Berbers in Tunisia, as well as 2,500,000 Berbers in the rest of North Africa. Various Phoenician trading posts were in fact set up in Berber oppidums as shown on the map below: ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d6b8a0b6466c44a61fd7a_Comptoir%20Phenicien.webp) ### The Punics ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d6bd2a1fab92e6d78f181_Carte%20Puniques.webp) *Map of the Carthaginian domain in Tamazgha, on the eve of the Punic Wars (in blue).* In order to know a little more about the Phoenicians and the destiny they will have in the Maghreb, let’s discuss the case of the Punics (or Carthaginians). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d6c2842349e05c28002f6_Puniques%20-%20Cartaginois.webp) During the Carthage period, various Berber kingdoms emerged from the shadows. Like Mauretania or Numidia. These indigenous kingdoms will be independent and will sometimes be inspired by various Punic elements. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d6c9ff0eb67ccca8b6a5a_Royaumes%20Berberes%20Antiquite%CC%81.webp) According to Strabo in his book XVII, we can say that the Maurusii, the Masaesylii, their closest neighbors, and all the peoples included under the common name of Libyans, had the same weapons, the same equipment, and in general all the same habits. The Phoenicians therefore mixed with the Berbers by settling in the Maghreb, thus giving birth to Carthage. And as seen above, Carthage was subordinate to the Berber kingdoms. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d7227811753d96d6acd3b_Carthage.webp) Justin reports that Carthage remained subordinate to the Libyan kings for a long time. According to him, beyond the limits of the city proper, the territory belonged to the Libyans, and since its foundation, Carthage paid an annual tribute for the rent of the land it occupied. This information is also confirmed by modern historians, such as Samir Aounallah in his work “Tunisian Antiquity” (p.66). It is true that the Phoenicians, in particular the Carthaginians or Punics, did not act in a relationship of tyrannical dominants over the Berbers, contrary to certain mythical ideas. As Titus Livius states, Carthage did not have a national army, but relied mainly on African and Numidian mercenaries. In his book XXVIII, he points out that the fickle character of these African and Numidian mercenaries was always ready to betray, which demonstrates the absence of absolute dominance of the Carthaginians over the Berbers. Livius also mentions that the Carthaginians often had more deaths in Berber raids than in a regular war. The Berbers, especially the Massyls, were conducting open incursions and devastating the surrounding lands, mainly targeting the richer lands of the Carthaginians. They then sold their loot to merchants who went to the coast. Livius relates how these surprise attacks caused numerous losses of human lives and prisoners for the Carthaginians, who complained about these incidents to the Berber kings, especially to Syphax. Syphax was himself irritated by these robbery acts, but he considered it unworthy of a king to pursue bandits roaming in the mountains, as Livius mentions in his book XXIX. These quotations from Titus Livius illustrate the complex context of relationships between the Carthaginians and the Berbers, thus refuting the idea of absolute dominance of the Carthaginians over the Berbers. Various alliances and marriages took place between Berbers and Carthaginians, for example, the marriage between Syphax, a Berber king, and Sophonisbe, a Carthaginian woman, who was often considered very symbolic. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d743a6f91c3cb4214650b_Syphax%20Sophonisbe.webp) With regard to genetic evidence, various studies point in the direction of historians, something obvious. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d755e58c68877815f6058_Carte%20Genetique%20Pheniciens.webp) *Map showing the populations of Central Mediterranean Iron Age individuals in different QPWave clusters, organized by site. Regional labels and arrows indicate likely sources of ancestry (arrows are not meant to indicate specific routes). The colors indicate the ancestry clusters identified by QPwave.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d75f38673fcb544e6fe2d_Autosomal%20Cartaghinois.webp) *The genetic formation of the Carthaginians. Illustration by Mohamed Abdulhady for Moots et al. 2022, A Genetic History of Continuity and Mobility in the Iron Age Mediterranean Center.* The Punics were a mixture between Berbers and Phoenicians, and sometimes a mixture between Berbers and Sicilians/Greeks. Although the Phoenician population was small, its influence on the other hand will be very great. Carthage was the work of the Phoenicians and the Berbers. ## The Greeks ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d83f6a8ca0fab631c9015_Influence%20Grecque%20Berberie.webp) *Map of the Greek domain in Tamazgha (in blue).* The Greeks in Tamazgha occupied a small part of Cyrenaica, so their influence will be quite limited. The Greeks seem to have settled in Cyrenaica around 630 BCE. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d849c3894fc212490111a_Greeks.webp) The founding of Cyrene, in Cyrenaica, is attributed to a colony that originated in Thera, a Greek island that considered Lacedaemon to be its metropolis and was originally known as Callistus. According to Strabo in his book XVII, Cyrene owes its origin to this colony. The motivation behind this establishment in Cyrenaica was a period of drought, probably in the region of origin, which prompted the inhabitants of Thera to look for new territories in which to settle. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d850ba3b2bbf60798e0ad_Thera%20Location.webp) *Location of Thera.* In other words, the demographic impact of the Greeks was quite low, the Greeks of Cyrenaica will become independent and will go so far as to form their own “state”. This time, no evidence seems to show a common agreement between Greeks and Berbers. That said, the Berbers were neither driven off their coastline nor suffocated in the hinterland, both with the arrival of the Greeks and that of the Romans or the Phoenicians. It is important to remember, as Diodore of Sicily points out in book III, that Cyrenaica was also populated by Berbers. Diodore mentions that in addition to the previous stories, it is appropriate to mention the Libyans who live near Egypt and to explore the surrounding areas. Cyrenaica, the Syrtes, and the adjacent interior regions are inhabited by four races of Libyans. To the south are the Nasamons, to the west the Auchises, the Marmarids occupy the strip of land between Egypt and Cyrenaica that borders the sea, and finally the Macians, who are the most numerous, live near the Syrtes. In reality, as Herodotus states in book IV, the Cyrene coastline was the only area not occupied by the Berbers. The sea coasts were occupied by the Cyreneans, while the Berbers found their way up to the sea coasts of Barce, also located in Cyrenaica. ![High view over a field of ancient ruins with standing columns, temple foundations and scattered vegetation.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb921591d436be50261_6ae5286d9f9245e2583612de_histoire-berberie-3.webp) *The Temple of Apollo at Cyrene, Libya. Photo: Ibrahim.aljledi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Herodotus details the order in which the peoples of Libya are found. Immediately after the Giligammas, we find the Asbysts on the western side, living in the country above Cyrene, but not extending to the sea. The sea coasts are occupied by the Cyreneans. The Auschises are located to the west of the Asbysts and border with them. They live above Barce and extend to the sea, near the Evesperides. The Cabals, a small nation, are located in the middle of the Auschise territory, extending along the sea coasts to Tauchires, a city in the territory of Barce, as explained by Herodotus. In addition, Herodotus mentions that the Garamantes live above the Nasamons, while the Macians are to the west, along the sea. The Lotophages occupy the sea shore, which is located in front of the country of the Gindanes. The Lotophages border on the Machlyes along the sea, and the Machlyes extend all the way to Triton, an important river that flows into a large lake called Tritonis, where the island of Phia is visible. Thus, the nomadic peoples who inhabit the maritime coasts of Libya are described by Herodotus. Be that as it may, this Greek influence was limited to Cyrenaica before it began to disappear around the beginning of the Middle Ages. ## The Romans ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d882356e541f8726892d0_Empire%20Romain%20Apoge%CC%81e.webp) *Map of the Roman Empire at its peak in Tamazgha (in blue).* The arrival of the Romans in Tamazgha is undoubtedly one of the most controversial eras in relation to the Maghreb. Let’s start by clarifying that it is wrong to say that the Romans invaded all of Tamazgha or all of Maghreb, given that they only owned the northern parts. During Antiquity, this nuance was very important as we will see later. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d8872364eeb54ae4ab5f8_Romans.webp) Since it would be much too long and tedious to describe all the events of the Roman era in the Maghreb, we will summarize the essentials to remember. The Romans first began by annexing Carthage, helped by Massinissa. They will then annex part of Numidia, helped by Bocchus. Mauretania will initially become a client state which, in turn, will also be annexed by Rome. All these ancient states, both Berber and Punic, will end up in the web of Rome. With regard to the local population and a possible population replacement, Pliny the Elder addressed the issue in his writings. In his book V of Natural History, he insists on the indigenous character of Libya (understand Tamazgha/Maghreb). He mentions that the names of the peoples and cities of the region are often difficult for foreigners to pronounce and that the indigenous inhabitants generally only live in castles. Pliny also explains, in another paragraph, that the Roman province of Tingitane, annexed by Rome, is mainly occupied by “Getulian nations” (therefore Berbers). It indicates that the Moors, who gave their name to Mauretania, were the main Tingitan nation, but that disastrous wars reduced their numbers to a few families. Moreover, the Massasyles nation, which was also in this region, is also extinct. Thus, the territory is now occupied by the Getulian nations, in particular the Baniures, the Autololes and the Vesunians, who separated from the latter to form their own nation, alongside the Ethiopians. ![A Roman triumphal arch in stone rises over a wide street, with the basilica columns and hills in the distance.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb921591d436be50251_6ae5286e2914eae088b58538_histoire-berberie-4.webp) *The Arch of Caracalla and the basilica at Volubilis. Photo: Sammy pompon, CC BY-SA 4.0.* In another excerpt, Pliny mentions various Berber peoples living in an area extending from western Egypt to the Gulf of Sirte. These Berber settlement areas seem to have not been disturbed despite Rome’s influence in the rest of Tamazgha. In sum, according to Pliny the Elder, the Berber peoples still occupied the regions of Tamazgha, although some wars led to a decrease in the population, especially among the Moors and the Massasyles. The Maghreb coastline is still well populated by Berbers, even in Roman areas. Contemporary historians of this period do not speak at any time of an alleged population replacement by Italian Romans or others. ### The Relationship between Rome and the Berbers There will be Berber revolts against Roman influence as well as Berber participation in Roman influence. Berbers will reach high positions, some will even become emperors, like Macrin. Returning to the settlement of the Maghreb under the Empire, it is also affirmed by modern specializts and historians, such as Eugene Albertini in his book “Roman Africa”, that Italians/Europeans had a very limited demographic influence in the Maghreb, and that unions between Berbers and non-Berbers were extremely rare. According to Albertini, if we seek to determine the numerical size of the contingent of Roman or Italian immigrants in Africa, we have every reason to admit that it was small. Even including non-Italian immigrants, their demographic impact remains minimal. Immigrants included senior officials, but junior office staff were generally recruited locally. Some major landowners resided in Rome and were represented in Africa by stewards and farmers, many of whom were of local origin. A few Italian, Oriental or Spanish traders were present in coastal cities and some major inland locations, such as Cirta. However, these contributions did not significantly change the Berber character of the local population. Albertini points out that the enormous numerical preponderance of the Berber element in the region makes it necessary to give it a large place in all areas. The Berbers had been Romanized from outside, but they remained Berbers and maintained very rare unions with non-Berbers. Thus, the Berber population maintained its distinct character and dominated numerically (Albertini, L’Afrique Romaine, p.21, p.69). Genetically speaking, we can say without controversy that the Levant had more Roman influence than the Maghreb, this being perfectly understandable taking into account the fact that for example for each Roman legion in the Maghreb, there were at least 4 in the Levant. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d8cbc4986190259565abd_Roman%20Influence%20Levant.webp) ## The Vandals ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d8d38e7b21bb66412fa50_Carte%20Vandales.webp) *Map of the Vandal influence in Tamazgha (in blue).* The Vandals, a Germanic tribe often falsely associated with the origin of blond hair and blue eyes in the Maghreb, have also played a role in the region’s history. Around the year 435CE, right after invading Iberia, the Vandals headed towards the Maghreb, with a certain “complicity” of Rome, which was undergoing barbaric invasions at that time, as reported by Procopius of Caesarea in his book III. According to Procopius, following a treaty, the Vandals crossed the Strait of Cadiz and entered Africa. The Visigoths, for their part, settled in Spain. Genserie, the leader of the Vandals, then organized his troops into cohorts and created eighty chiefs called chiliarchs, in order to give the impression that he had eighty thousand fighters under the flag. Their number varied between 20,000 and 80,000 individuals, a negligible quantity compared to the Berber population of over 3 million at that time, as Walter A. Goffart points out. According to Goffart, the fact that Geiseric led 80,000 Vandals and associated peoples from Spain to Africa in 429 is considered to be the only certain information we have about the size of the barbaric groups during the invasions. This certainty is based on the fact that it is attested by apparently independent informants, one Latin and the other Greek. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d8e4c4bf2e62bb1269f98_Vandals.webp) At first, the Vandals and the Berbers concluded a kind of peace that would soon break apart. According to Procopius, the peace between the Vandals and the Berbers was broken for the first time near the end of Huneric’s reign, in 484, when the Moors of Aures rose up and no longer recognized the authority of the Vandals. It was during this period of rupture that the famous “Sack of Rome” took place, led by the Vandals and the Berbers. The revolts multiplied thereafter, but unfortunately, they did not receive much attention from our author, as Yves Moderan points out in his book “The Moors and Roman Africa”. Shortly after the end of this peace, according to Jean-Pierre Laporte in his book “The Vandals, Africa and the Moors”, the Vandals were threatened by the Berbers of the steppes, who harassed them in the hinterland. Towards the end of Huneric’s reign (477-484), the Vandals abandoned the monasteries of southern and western Byzacene to the Moors of the steppes. During the reign of Gunthamund (484-496), these Moors again threatened Vandal territory, especially southwest Byzacena, which was the most urbanized and richest province of the three. The aggressors were not nomads from Tripolitania, but semi-nomads from the steppes of southern Tunisia, owning camels, who advanced to a region where Roman cities based around the main water points were once located. The Moors of Caesarean won numerous victories over the Vandals and occupied the country called Mauretania, extending from Gadeira to the borders of Caesarea. Afterwards, the Vandals only controlled a string of coastal cities like Tipasa. The interior of Mauretania Caesarean had been abandoned after 455, both by the Vandals and by the Roman Empire. Berbero-Roman principalities then emerged in this region, staying away from written history, as Laporte points out. ![Ochre Roman ruins spread along a rocky cove, between the sea and a hill covered in pine trees.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb921591d436be5024e_6ae5286e68a33b68674b4270_histoire-berberie-5.webp) *The Roman site of Tipasa, Algeria. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0.* The Vandals controlled only a string of coastal cities and were reduced to being confined to the coastline. When they ventured too far from their possessions, they suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the Berbers, including the nomads, as reported by Procopius of Caesarea in his book III. Procopius relates an event where the Vandals were routed by the Moors. The Vandals fled, and the Moors, coming out of their entrenchment, killed a large number of them and took many prisoners. Of this numerous Vandal army, only a small number of soldiers managed to return to their country. This is how the Moors defied the Vandals under the rule of Trasamond, who died after occupying the throne for twenty-seven years. When the Romano-Berber townspeople rose up against the Vandals, the Byzantines decided to act, as reported by Jean-Pierre Laporte in his book “The Vandals, Africa and the Moors”. Shortly before the end of the Vandal kingdom, other Moors, such as Leouata and Austuriani, represented a threat to Romanized territories. These groups nomadized in the south of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. They were not exclusively nomadic camel farmers, but rather transhumant herders who sought to get closer to the well-watered plateaus near the coast, or even to control coastal cities. In Tripolitania, their leader Cabaon broke a Vandal army, and in 533, the province rose up against the Vandals under the initiative of a certain Pudentios. Faced with this situation, Belisarius, a Byzantine general, had to send reinforcements quickly to Tripolitania, because the Romans were pressed by the Moors. The Byzantines landed on 30 August 533 at Caput Vada and took Carthage on 13 September. The troops of Gelimer, the Vandal king, were finally defeated at Tricamarum on 15 December 533. Gelimer surrendered at the beginning of the year 534. The Vandals dispersed, some fleeing to Visigothic Spain, others taking refuge in Mauretania, while the last were captured and exiled to the East. ## The Byzantines ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649d93960b4109b5de1e03e8_Byzance%20Maghreb.webp) *Map of the Byzantine domain in Tamazgha (in blue).* After dealing the coup de grace to the Vandals, the Byzantines took their place again. However, this period was relatively short and the Byzantine presence in the Maghreb was limited and very fragile. The Byzantines, who came when the Vandals were collapsing against the Berbers, had limited influence and the Maghreb was left to itself at this period. > Thus, subtracted by the Vandals, in 430, from the power of Rome, North Africa remained, from that date, left to itself, and only in limited territories experienced the effective influence of the Vandals and the Byzantines. The date of 430, for Africa, therefore marks, at the same time as the end of the Roman period, the end of Romanization. > Materially, it was from this date that many Roman cities were attacked by the tribes that remained nomadic and plundered, devastated, depopulated; morally, in the same years, everything that the Romans had brought, institutions, manners, language, etc., began to disappear. > > *Roman Africa: Eugene Albertini, p.68* They first formed an alliance with the Berbers, then clashed, and various revolts took place. > The Byzantines, who had not in the least considered the Moorish risk, remained one-on-one with the Moors, with whom they had much the same concerns, but this time without a period of state of grace. > > *The Vandals, Africa and the Moors: Jean-Pierre Laporte* Following various plots and disagreements between Berbers in their fight against the Byzantines, some joined the Byzantine camp. According to Yves Moderan, the Byzantine army was undoubtedly more than 75% Berber. The author adds that various Byzantine reforms, which were initially revolting, were finally adopted in favor of the Berbers to encourage them to join the ranks of the empire. ![A massive round tower of stone blocks stands at the corner of a tall, partly ruined wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb921591d436be5025a_6ae5286f0491de360124eaa1_histoire-berberie-6.webp) *The Byzantine citadel of Haidra, rebuilt under Justinian. Photo: Youssefbensaad, CC BY-SA 4.0.* > [...] His true genius therefore lies in his ability to detach numerous tribes from the insurrection and to make them participate in the fight behind his standards. In addition to Corippe’s lyrical testimony, Jordanes' brief summary of the war of 548 is particularly revealing in this respect, since, without saying a word about the Byzantine army, he simply states that John defeated the enemy Moors by using the pacified Moors... (Romana, 385). > Without following Corippe, who attributes more than 130,000 men to all of these Allied contingents, we can safely estimate that John’s “Byzantine” army in 548 was more than 60%, or even more than 75%, a Berber army.” > > However, obtaining such rallies, which Solomon had largely failed in 534-535 and 544, was, in the context of this period, after the catastrophic defeats of 544 and 545, by no means easy, and we must therefore recognize, behind John’s diplomatic skill, a real change in the Berber policy of Byzantium, of which he was the architect. > Returning to the radical plans expressed in the military law of 534 and that Solomon had sought to implement until his death (the expulsion of the Moors from all provinces, who would be brought back to their 4th-century borders), John had to make concessions and recognize the right of the tribes of the interior of Byzacena and Numidia to occupy provincial territories, with their own leaders, under suzerainty imperial. The evolution of the status of Cusina during his long career, from 533 to 563, is the best example of this change: expelled in 535, this leader became at the time of John the faithful Cusina, magister militum and then exarch of the Moors, placed at the head of thirty tribes of Numidia. > > *Yves Moderan as Jean Troglita* For the rest, various Berber kingdoms east of Carthage were formed and remained independent, probably until the arrival of the Umayyads. ## The Middle Ages Let us now approach a significant historical era in the Maghreb: the Middle Ages. The events of that time had a lasting impact on the present and are still the subject of lively discussions today. In this context, our aim is to examine, in a concise and objective manner, the various invasions and conquests that have taken place in the Maghreb and to assess their impact on the settlement and evolution of the region. ### The Rachiduns: Islamic conquest of the Maghreb ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dc32d2037192729b8be50_Rachidounes.webp) *Map of the influence of Rashiduns in Tamazgha (in blue).* Perhaps the event that most shaped the destiny of the Maghreb was the Islamic conquest of the region. This was led by the Rashiduns, the first caliphal dynasty of Islam, and followed the Islamic conquest of Egypt. This conquest took place in the 27th year of the Hijra (647 CE) and marked a turning point for the Maghreb. Indeed, it was from this period that the Berber tribes began to convert to Islam. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dc3eaddbe499a222997aa_FwqTQB9WAAEwCA4.webp) #### The opposition and the arrangements It is interesting to note that the omnipresent Omar Ibn al-Khattab opposed this conquest for reasons that are not always clearly defined by medieval authors. However, the conquest took place because the majority of the companions were in favor of it. > Khalif Othman, having conceived the project of subjugating this country, consulted the companions of Muhammad, who were of the opinion that an army should be sent there, only one of them, Abu 'I-Aawwer Said ibn Yazid. expressed his disapproval and replied to Othman, who asked him the reason for his dissent, that he had heard the Khalif Omar ibn el-Khattab say these words: > “No Muslim will go on an expedition there as long as I live.” > And that he would never advise him to take an approach that would be in opposition to Omar’s statement. The matter remained at that for some time, but Othman then called in Zeid ibn Thabit and Mohammed bin Moslema to ask for their opinion, and as they advised him to send an army there, he called on the Muslims to wage a holy war. > > Othman provided a thousand camels at his own expense to be used as mounts for poor Muslims; he also gave horses for the same purpose, then he distributed arms to the soldiers, and he gave them a reward: this took place in the month of Moharrem in the year 27 of the Hegira (October 647 of AD). Uthman then climbed into the pulpit and urged the troops to fight for the cause of God, he then said to them: I have put El-Harith ibn el-Hakem at your head who will take you to Abd Allah ibn Saad, who will then take > the commandment, and now I commend you to the custody of God! > The army, having arrived in Egypt, was reinforced by a considerable body that Abd Allah ibn Saad had assembled, and the number of combatants was thus increased to twenty thousand. Ibn Saad then appointed Uqba ibn Nafi his lieutenant in Egypt, and set off himself with the troops. > > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* ![Three Roman temples side by side on a stepped podium face a wide paved square.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502da_6ae528707ef1074850264b3a_histoire-berberie-7.webp) *The Capitoline temples on the forum of Sufetula, Sbeitla. Photo: Josep M. Gracia, CC BY-SA 4.0.* An example of these arrangements is the appointment of Ouzemar, a Berber leader of the Maghraouas, as governor of his people by the Caliph Othman. > Among these was Ouezmar-Ibn-Saclab. the ancestor of the Khazer family, and who was then head of the Maghraoua and other Zenatian peoples. The Khalife Othman-Ibn-Affan, to whom he was sent, received his profession of Islamism and treated him with great kindness. He granted him not only freedom, but also the commander-in-chief of the Maghraoua. Other historians report that Ouezmar went to Othman as an ambassador. Muslims lavished such honors on Berber leaders that they did not accord to the Franes or to other nations. > > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dc5ff350da654c856503a_FwqUiU1XgAAKbON.webp) The story also reminds us of Ikrima al-Barbari, a Berber who is considered to be one of the main Tabi’in and jurists of Mecca. These facts illustrate the dynamic nature of relationships between Berbers and Arabs at that time. > Abu Abd Allah Ikrima Ibn Abdallah, a mawla of Abd > Allah Ibn Abas, has its origins in the Berbers of the Maghreb. He was one of the main taskmen and jurists of Mecca, (but) he constantly moved from one city to another [...] > Ikrima died in 107 (725-6 CE). > ‍ > *Ibn Khallikan (Kitab Wafavat Al’van: Volume II)* #### The geopolitical context During this period, the Maghreb was divided between Byzantine possessions and Berber kingdoms. The Rashiduns will mainly be concerned with Byzantine possessions. After a time of relative peace, the Great Fitna happened, temporarily holding back the development of the situation. ### Consequences and transition to the Umayyad era It was therefore from this period, marked by the Rashiduns, that Berbers from the Maghreb began to convert to Islam. The Umayyad period followed that of the Rashiduns, marking a new era for the Maghreb. > From there they sent to Ibn Saad to offer him three hundred kintars of gold, on condition that he would put an end to the hostilities and that he would evacuate the country; after having made some difficulties, he accepted this proposal. According to another account, he granted them peace in return for a sum of two million five hundred thousand dinars that were counted to him, and one of the conditions of the treaty was that the Muslims would keep all the loot they had made during the war, but that they would return what they had taken away since the beginning of the talks. > [...] Then came the assassination of Othman and the disputes between Ali and Moawia. When the latter’s authority was firmly established, he entrusted the government of the province of Africa to Moawia ibn Khodeidj. > > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* ## The Umayyad Era: Expansion, Conflicts, and Revolt ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dc32d2037192729b8be50_Rachidounes.webp) *Map of the influence of the Umayyads in Tamazgha (in blue).* ### Expansion to the West The Umayyad dynasty succeeded the Rashiduns in the conquest of the Maghreb. They continued their expansion to the West, taking about half a century to conquer the rest of the Maghreb. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dc822793e9e733cc48a32_FwqYxdtXwAAtp64.webp) From the beginning of their reign, the Umayyads, with Uqba Ibn Nafi as their leader, relied in part on the converted Berbers to continue the conquest of the Maghreb. This strategy testifies both to the importance of the Berbers in the conquest and to their preponderance already at the time of the Rashiduns. > In the year 50 (670 CE), Moawia ibn Abi Sofyan sent Uqba ibn Nafi from the Fihr tribe to Africa, who had remained Barka and Zewila while Amr ibn el-Aasi was governor (of Egypt). Uqba then gathered the proselytizing Berbers, and incorporated them into the army that Moavia had just sent to him, and in which there were ten thousand Muslim cavalry. He immediately marched against Africa, and, having penetrated there, he put everything at the edge of the sword and exterminated the Christians who remained there.” > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* ### Internal conflicts The first conflicts between the Umayyads and the Berbers broke out with a dispute between Uqba and the Berber Koceila. > Koceila was one of the leading men among the Berbers. Becoming a Muslim during the government of Abu’l-Mohajir, he was so sincere in his conversion that he spoke to Uqba who had just arrived, and taught him about the great influence and authority that Koceila exercised over the Berbers. Uqba paid no attention to this recommendation; on the contrary, he only testified to Koceila’s indifference and > contempt. > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* This reached a point of no return when an offense from Uqba caused Koceila to flee and finally kill Uqba. The Umayyads, on the other hand, reacted by killing Koceila. ![A long white arcaded facade, topped by a minaret and a dome, lines a sunny street.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502d1_6ae528702f548e8e901d120c_histoire-berberie-8.webp) *The Sidi Okba Mosque, Algeria. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0.* After Koceila’s death, the Umayyads faced a riddler named Dihya in Ifriqiya. The Berbers who were in Koceila’s camp passed under Dihya’s (or the Kahina’s) when the latter died. However, after a long battle, Dihya will be killed in turn. > Having joined the Kahina, Hassan fought against it, we fought hard, and the carnage was so great that everyone expected to be exterminated, but God came to the aid of the Muslims, and the Berbers. > were routed, after having experienced enormous losses. The Kahina was hit and killed while she was fleeing. The Berbers asked Hassan for mercy, and obtained their forgiveness on the condition of providing the Muslims with an auxiliary body of twelve thousand men, who were immediately put, by Hassan, under the orders of the two sons of the Kahina. From this time, Islam spread among the Berbers, and the war having thus ended, Hassan returned to Kairewan, after having happily re-established the affairs of the province. > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* ### The integration of the Berbers Following the death of Dihya, 12,000 Berbers joined the Umayyad troops led by his two sons. This figure is significant because it exceeds the number of troops sent from the East to Uqba at the beginning of the conquest. It was after this battle that the Umayyads reached Tangier and thus began the conquest of Andalusia. ![A bronze statue of a draped woman with her right arm raised stands against a blue sky.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cba21591d436be502ba_6ae528719f9245e258361596_histoire-berberie-9.webp) *The statue of Dihya in central Khenchela. Photo: Numide05, CC BY-SA 1.0.* ### The ups and downs of Umayyad rule The reign of the Umayyads was marked by periods of stability and progress, but also by tensions and conflicts. Although the situation would improve in Maghreb under the reign of Omar II, his efforts to strengthen the cohesion of the Umayyad Empire were in vain as a result of his possible assassination. > When Omar ibn Abd el-Aziz became caliph, he appointed Ismail administrator of the province of Africa. He was an excellent governor, he appealed to the Berbers who had not yet embraced Islam, and they converted, so that religion prevailed throughout the Maghreb. He still ruled Africa in the year 101 (720 CE), at which time he was deposed by Yezid ibn Abd el-Melik, the successor of Omar ibn Abd el-Aziz. He was replaced by Yezid ibn Abi Moslim. > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* It was his successor who would end up triggering the Great Berber Revolt by putting in place tyrannical and anti-Berber governors, causing the anger of the Berber subjects of the empire. Among the first tensions that will lead to the Great Berber Revolt, we can cite that between the Berbers of Ifriqiya and this new governor, Yazid, who was put in place. > Yezid arrived in Ifriqiya in the year 102 (720-721 AD). He wanted to imitate in this country the conduct that El-Haddjadj had shown towards the Muslims of Souad (Babylonia) who were descended from tributary ancestors: El-Haddjadi sent him to their villages to force them to pay the capitation as they did before their conversion to Islamism. Yezid had resolved to follow the same system in Ifrigiva, but the inhabitants, by mutual agreement, took his life and put themselves back under the orders of their former governor, Mohammed-Ibn-Yezid. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* Yazid will want to humiliate the Berbers of Ifriqiya as he had humiliated the inhabitants of Souad. But Ifriqiya is not Souad, the Berbers will end up killing him. The situation was quickly defused in Ifriqiya because the Caliph approved the death of Yazid following a letter from the Berbers sent to him. ![Both faces of a gold coin covered in Arabic inscriptions, set side by side on a grey ground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502c2_6ae528727ef1074850264c33_histoire-berberie-10.webp) *Gold dinar of the Umayyad caliph al-Walid I (705-715), Numismatic Museum of Athens. Photo: Tilemahos Efthimiadis, CC BY 2.0.* > They then wrote to the Khalife Yezid-ibn-Abd-el-Melek to declare that they had not renounced their loyalty, but that Yezid-Ibn-Abi-Moslem had treated them in an offensive manner before God and the Muslims, and that they had just returned to the authority of their former governor. The Caliph gave them an answer in which he disapproved of the conduct of Ibn-Abi-Moslem and confirmed the choice they had made of Mohammed-Ibn-Yezid. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* A few years later, in the Maghreb, the Umayyad policy will still not improve. The governors put in place continued behaving like tyrants against the Berbers, according to even fairly pro-Umayyad sources. > Obeid-Allah-ibn-el-Habhab, appointed governor of Ifrigiva by Hisham- ibn-el-Melek, left Egypt according to the order of this khalife, and having arrived at his destination in the year 114 (732-3), he gave command of Tangier and Maghreb-el-Acsa to Omar ibn-Abd-Allah-el-Moradi. He also appointed his own son, Ismail, to rule the Sub and the regions that extend beyond this province. The administration of these two officials continued and became so oppressive that the Berber populations ended up detesting it. They forced this people to provide services composed of beautiful Berber slaves, yellow fleeces and the rarest products of the Maghreb; they even pushed their demands so far that one was often forced to kill an entire herd of sheep to have one or two fetuses whose wool was from > the desired color. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* Note, for example, the fact that the inhabitants were ordered to slaughter their entire herd, especially pregnant females. Why? To recover one or two fetuses, because the wool of fetuses was very much appreciated by the Umayyad nobility of the Orient. We are sliding towards the diabolical. ![An arched gateway framed by two brick pillars opens in an old whitewashed wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502c8_6ae528732f548e8e901d130d_histoire-berberie-11.webp) *A gate of the kasbah of Tangier. Photo: Ideophagous, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Al Nowairi said of the governor of Tangier at that time: > Obeid Allah Ibn el-Habhab, a mewla from the Seloul tribe, occupied an eminent place in civil administration, spoke elegantly and knew by heart the poetry of the Arabs of the desert, the history of their days celebrated and the stories of their battles. [...] > He entrusted the command of Tangier and its dependencies to Omar Ibn Abd Allah el-Moradi; but the latter behaved unfairly and committed illegalities in collecting the cash tithe and distributing the spoils. He wanted to levy the quint on the property of the Berbers, under the pretext that the properties of this people were loot acquired from Muslims, something that no alim before him had dared to do. It was only on those of them who refused to adopt Islam that the governors imposed this tribute. > This conduct led the Berbers of Tangier to revolt, and they all went into insurrection against him, in the year 122 (739-40 CE). It was the first time that, in the province of Africa, unrest broke out within Islam. > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* Maysara, precursor of the Great Berber Revolt, sent a deputation to Hicham, the Umayyad king of that time, to complain about the situation of his people. His deputation will be ignored. This was a fatal decision. ## The Great Berber Revolt The unfair treatment of Berbers by the Umayyad governors eventually led to the Great Berber Revolt. The Berbers, tired of the humiliations and exploitation, revolted against the Umayyad governors, killing Omar, the Umayyad governor of Tangier, and Ismail, the Umayyad emir of the Souss region. The Umayyad troops in Kairouan tried to quell the revolt, but to no avail. > These acts of oppression and tyranny having finally become unbearable, the Berbers gave in to the instigations of Maysara, and, in the year 122 (740CE), they killed Omar-Ibn-Abd-Allah, governor of Tangier [...] Maysara then went to the Souss and killed Ismail-Ibn-Obeid-Allah, emir of that province. > The fire of the revolt spread immediately throughout the Maghreb and to such an extent that the Khalifs of the East could no longer enforce their authority there. Ibn-el-Habhab left Kairouan to fight the rebel, but his vanguard, commanded by Khaled-ibn-Habib-el-Fihri, was routed and this general lost his life. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* ![Printed page in French recounting Maysara’s revolt and the killing of the governor of Tangier in 740.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502cb_6ae52873652c1dd4b15de73f_histoire-berberie-12.webp) *Page 237 of volume I of Ibn Khaldun’s History of the Berbers, translated by de Slane. Document: Internet Archive.* News of this revolt spread as far as Andalusia, causing a Berber rebellion in that region as well. Caliph Hicham, in his attempt to control the Maghreb, sent an impressive force of 12,000 Syrian militia soldiers to fight Maysara, a local leader. Kolthoum, another Syrian leader, had also been mobilized with his troop to oppose the Berber insurgents. > On the news of this victory, the Berbers who were in Spain deposed their governor, Ocba-ibn-el-Haddjadj-es-Selouli, and named themselves Abd-el-Melek-ibn-Calen-el-Fihri as their leader. This upheaval saw the Caliph Hicham-ibn-Abd-el-Melek send 12,000 soldiers of the Syrian militia to Africa and to replace Ibn-el-Habhab with Kolthoum-Ibn-Eiad-el-Cocheiri, to whom he also entrusted the command of this expedition. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* However, the Umayyad troops were routed by the Berbers. It should be noted that throughout Maysara’s lifetime, no caliph had ever exercised any authority over the Maghreb. A rebound occurred shortly after with the deposition of Maysara by the Berbers themselves following an internal conflict. The leadership of the revolt was then taken over by Khalid al-Zenati. The latter found himself facing the Umayyads in what history would later remember as “The Battle of the Nobles”. Against all odds, Khalid al-Zenati emerged victorious. ### Repercussions of the Battles The historian al-Nowairi reports that following this battle, King Hisham expressed great anger. He promised to put an end to the Berbers and decided to send a massive army to the Maghreb. > Upon learning of this misfortune, Hischam ibn Abd el-Melik exclaimed: “By Allah! I will get mad at them for the anger of an Arab! I will send them an army such as they have never seen in their country, the head of the column will be at home while the queue is still at my house. I will not leave a Berber castle without establishing a camp for warriors from the tribe of Keis or that of Temim next door.” > He then sent a reminder letter to Obeid Allah Ibn el-Habhab. > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* ![Ruined stone walls and scattered blocks surround an entrance, with a carved stone rosette resting on the ground.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502dd_6ae528749f9245e2583616a6_histoire-berberie-13.webp) *The entrance to Hisham’s Palace in Jericho. Photo: Randa Fawzi, CC BY-SA 4.0.* This army of an unprecedented scale was however destroyed by the Berbers. Khalid al-Zenati, after this victory, disappeared from the chronicles and no one heard about him anymore. While his destiny is uncertain, his legacy is undeniable. Thanks to his battles, he definitively broke the hold of the Umayyads, the largest empire of its time, on the Western and Central Maghreb. Although the Umayyads took about half a century to conquer the Maghreb and reigned there for an equivalent amount of time, they were defeated in less than 10 years due to too prolonged neglect and an anti-Berber supremacist turn. ### The Situation in Ifriqiya Following the withdrawal of the Umayyads from Western and Central Maghreb, one question remains: what about Ifriqiya? This region, where the situation was initially defused, will remain under Umayyad control. The revolts in Ifriqiya were led by other leaders, this time relying largely on the Houaras. The latter were subdued and defeated by the Umayyads during the Battle of al-Qarn. Thus, Ifriqiya will remain under Umayyad, then Abbasid and finally Aghlabid control before becoming truly independent. ## The Post-Umayyad Berber Revolts ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dd4f809e7954be0e21b7e_Maghreb%20Post-Omeyyade.webp) *The situation in the Maghreb after the Great Berber Revolt.* However, the situation in Ifriqiya did not end there. Various Berber revolts still took place after the fall of the Umayyads. Like that of the Werfadjjouma, who seized Kairouan. > The Werfadjjouma, who became masters of Kairewan, delivered to the most cruel tortures and to death the members of the Koreisch tribe who had remained there. They housed their horses in the city’s great mosque itself, and (through this scandalous conduct) they made their allies feel deep regret for having cooperated in their successes. [...] > ‍ > *Al-Nowaïri (History of the province of Africa and the Maghreb)* Following this revolt, the branch of the Fihr family died out. This revolt prompted the Abbasids to send troops to Ifriqiya. However, the Werfadjjouma were themselves massacred by other Berbers led by Abu al-Khattab, and the latter then confronted the Abbasids. Abu al-Khattab and his troops defeated the Abbasids at first, but an internal conflict broke out among them. The Abbasids took advantage of this situation and defeated them in turn. This is how the Aghlabid Emirate was established in Ifriqiya. ![A wide courtyard paved in white marble leads to an arcaded facade topped by a ribbed dome.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbb21591d436be502ce_6ae52875937937f06a3c76dc_histoire-berberie-14.webp) *The courtyard and prayer hall facade of the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0.* ### Population of the Maghreb At the same time, it is important to mention the population of the Maghreb, in particular of Ifriqiya, which remained under Umayyad and then Aghlabid control. According to al-Yaqubi, a contemporary of the Aghlabids, the vast majority of Ifriqiya was composed of Berber-speaking, and sometimes even bilingual, Muslim Berbers. > The populations of Ifrigiya consist of Arabs, Persians, and aboriginal people made up of Berbers, Byzantines, and Afriq. The Berbers make up the vast majority of the population and speak their language; they are grouped into tribes that are independent of each other. The descendants of Byzantines constitute islets on the flanks of the Aures and in the plain of Ifriqiya. The Afariq, a population descended from Romanized Berbers who had not yet embraced Islam, live in ancient Byzantine strongholds, and speak a Latinized Berber language. > ‍ > *Al-Yaqubi (Kitab al-Buldan)* They were grouped into tribes that were independent of each other. This is a crucial point to remember for the future. ### The Passage of Witness The Aghlabids ruled Ifriqiya until 909. On this date, the Kutamas revolted against them and expelled the last ruler of this dynasty who fled to the East. This revolution destroyed the Arab empire in Ifriqiya forever. Thus, power in the Maghreb passed into the hands of the various Berber tribes. > This revolution destroyed forever the Arab empire in Ifriqiya and put the Ketama in possession of supreme authority. The Berbers of the Maghreb later followed the example of their neighbors, and from then on the influence exerted by the Arabs in Ifriqiya and the Maghreb disappeared forever, along with the kingdom they had founded there. Power passed into the hands of the Berbers and was maintained sometimes in one of their tribes, sometimes in the other. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* At this point in the story, we are in a Berber Maghreb, which is independent and remains essentially Islamic. After the departure of the Kutamas for the East, the Maghreb was divided between various Berber tribes. ### Major change in the history of the Maghreb ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dd7153ba33d7c88479804_FwqlGW0XgAModdR%20copy.webp) *The Maghreb after the departure of the Kutamas.* A major event then took place. The Berber emirs Zirid and Hammadides (El-Moezz) affirmed their attachment to Sunnism when initially, they were rather close to the Fatimids Ishmaelites, a branch of Shiism. This choice triggered a very important event in the history of the Maghreb. ## The Hilalian Invasion: The Arrival of the Banu Hilal The Banu Hilal, mostly from the Arabian region, were nomads known for their turbulent nature. Even the Abbasids, one of the most powerful dynasties of the time, had difficulty controlling them. It is these Banu Hilal who will be sent to the Maghreb by the Fatimids with the double objective of undermining the kingdom of El-Moezz and putting an end to the misdeeds of the Banu Hilal in their own lands. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dd7c5b6136a6624b82599_Hilaliens.webp) ### First Contacts and Confrontations The first meeting between the Banu Hilal and El-Moezz was surprisingly cordial. However, things did not go as planned. El-Moezz asked a Hilalian leader to rally his compatriots to his cause. The latter, upon their arrival, left a trail of destruction behind them, as if, despite their initial friendly contacts, they ended up following the Fatimid plan. ### The Banu Hilal' Settlement The Banu Hilal first took possession of the Berber cities of Ifriqiya. However, they were quickly expelled by the locals and had to retreat to the countryside. For nearly a century, the Banu Hilal moved into Ifriqiya, their movements being mainly motivated by the search for pastures for their herds rather than by a desire for territorial or political conquest. ### Relations with the Almohads ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649dd9c63ae6371ad77c1b53_Fwqn1_xWYAEtFVu.webp) About a century after their invasion, the Almohads, a Berber movement, entered Ifriqiya. At first, the Banu Hilal pledged allegiance to them, but they changed their minds and opposed the Almohads. This led to the Battle of Setif, during which the Almohads inflicted heavy losses on the Banu Hilal. Following this battle, the Banu Hilal backtracked and recognized the authority of the Almohads once more. Initially, the Banu Hilal had no intention of leaving Ifriqiya. However, the situation forced them to migrate to Western and Central Maghreb. Unlike their arrival in Ifriqiya, which was perceived as an invasion, their movement to Western and Central Maghreb was considered more like a deportation. Some of them were sent to moroccan regions of Tamesna and Azghar. ### The Balance of Power between Berbers and Banu Hilal Despite their turbulent nature, the Banu Hilal were not always victorious. The Riah, considered by several historians to be the most powerful and warlike Arab tribe in the Maghreb, were in particular defeated by the Banu Marin, a Zenet tribe. This defeat, coupled with other conflicts with the Hafsids in Ifriqiya and the Marinids in Western Maghreb, considerably reduced their number and influence. Nevertheless, it is important to note that some Banu Hilal groups managed to obtain some power, such as the Zoghba who succeeded in imposing taxes on all the tribes of the Central Maghreb. #### *The complexity of tax relationships in the Maghreb* It is crucial to note that, in the Maghreb, taxes were not only intended for Berbers or Arabs. The Zoghba, for example, were either devoted or friendly to the Zianids, and their territories had been granted to them by the Zianids. ![An ochre-walled palace with tiled roofs stands behind a garden planted with shrubs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbc21591d436be5032e_6ae528769f9245e25836173e_histoire-berberie-15.webp) *The Mechouar Palace in Tlemcen. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0.* ##### The influence of fiscal policy It was not uncommon for Berbers to impose taxes on Arabs, in addition to the Almohads, Merinides, etc. In particular, we can mention the Toudjin who will subject the Hoseins to taxes. Sometimes the Banu Hilal submitted each other to taxes. The Berber government in place often used Banu Hilal as “tax collectors.” However, Berbers were also used for this task and could also subjugate other Berbers. ##### Taxes as a means of control As for taxation or tribute, the Banu Hilal often imposed a tribute or a “tax” on the peoples of a locality in exchange for “illusory protection.” While some refused to pay this tax or tribute, the Hilalian chiefs launched a “ramas of vagabonds” against these localities, which was above all a form of robbery, a capacity to cause harm against the townspeople or the villagers. And this, often with the agreement, indifference or complicity of the Berber government in place. ##### The choice to pay tax Some tribes paid this famous tribute out of condescence even though they could fight (we’ll see that later). Others, because they simply had no choice. ##### The evolution of the fiscal situation in Central Maghreb As for the populations of Central Maghreb, they would not remain subject to Zoghba taxes indefinitely. A few decades after Ibn Khaldun, we learn that various regions of Central Maghreb are not subject to Kings or Zoghba. #### *The Mesrata: a Houara Berber tribe from Ifriqiya* A more striking example is that of the Mesrata, a Houara Berber tribe from Ifriqiya. According to Ibn Khaldun, this tribe paid the Banu Hilal a low, almost symbolic tax, out of pure “condescence”. > On the border of this province, on the side of Sort and Barca, there is a Houarid tribe called the Mesrata. Still numerous and very powerful, it pays only a small fee to the Arabs, a tribute it seems to be paying through condescence. Since she was mainly involved in trade, she made frequent expeditions to Egypt and Alexandria. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* ![Black-and-white postcard of a wide avenue lined with palm trees and buildings with balconies.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbc21591d436be50338_6ae528777ef1074850264de0_histoire-berberie-16.webp) *Corso Vittorio Emanuele III in Misurata, on a postcard from the Italian period. Photo: old postcard, unknown author.* Indeed, a few decades later, this tribe does not pay royalties, taxes, or tribute to anyone. Even later, Marmol reports that this tribe, rich, paid nothing to anyone and went to war with the neighboring Arabs. The fact that the Mesrata are freeing themselves from their light tribute, maintaining power and wealth, but leaving their tributary Houara compatriots to their fate, testifies to this “independence” that the Berber tribes have from each other that Al Yaqubi spoke of. ## The “big replacement” theory To close this topic, it is necessary to talk about the theory that the Berbers were replaced or supplanted by the Banu Hilal following their invasions. This argument is inadmissible because it also gives the Banu Ifran (Berber tribe) the number one million. In reality, their number is estimated today between 100,000 and 300,000 individuals. ### The consequences of the Hilalian invasions In reality, this theory of the “great replacement” of the Berbers following the Hilalian invasions is a pure recent myth. There’s no need for genetics, just read the story. ### The state of Maghreb after the invasions The Western Maghreb region, from the time of Ibn Khaldun, and therefore well after the Hilalian invasions, is still mostly populated by Masmouda Berbers. The Central Maghreb region, for its part, and always during the same period, was mostly populated by Zenet Berbers. The Ifriqiya region, again during the lifetime of Ibn Khaldun, was still mostly populated by Houara Berbers. > The majority of the inhabitants of Maghreb-el-Acsa belong to the tribe of Masmouda, the Sanhadja are only found in small numbers, but in the plains of Azghar, Tamesna, Tedla and Doukkala there are nomadic peoples, some Berber and others Arab. > > The central Maghreb, most of which is now inhabited by the Zenata, had belonged to the Maghraoua and Beni-Ifren, tribes who lived there with the Medouna, the Maghila, the Maghila, the Koumia, the Koumia, the Matghara and the Matmata. > > The countryside of Ifriqiya still serves as a home for several other nomadic populations, most of whom also belong to the Hoouara tribe. > > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)*‍ ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649ed222260e82d6a7c0cdfe_Maghreb%20Post-Hilaliens.webp) *Location of the majority groups of the Maghreb in the time of Ibn Khaldun.* Overall, the Maghreb is mostly populated by Berbers from the Sanhaja branch, who would represent a third of the “Berber race”. Therefore, just this fraction is in the majority in the Maghreb. > The Sanhadja, one of the largest Berber tribes in terms of their number, have continued, until today, to form the majority of the population of the Maghreb. Each mountain, each plain in this region contains a Sanhadjian population: it is to the point that many people regard them as forming a third of the entire Berber race. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume II)* Leon the African, in the first volume of Description de l’Afrique, also confirms that the Sanhadjas are the largest population in the Maghreb, even if he later mentions their possible Himyarite origins. Knowing that the Banu Hilal are not in the majority in Western Maghreb, Central Maghreb, or Ifriqiya, we can estimate that the population of the Maghreb, as a whole, was approximately divided as follows: the third of the population being Sanhadja, the rest being divided between the other Berber tribes and the Banu Hilal. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649ed336663f3c02a54dab9c_Population%20Maghreb%20Repartition.webp) *Population of the Maghreb in the 15th century according to the estimates of Ibn Khaldun.* These historical data correlate with genetics, a current science with which ancient sources will be gladly compared. Genetically, the majority of Tunisians have paternal ancestry of Berber origin [According to a scientific research article](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95144-x). > Considering the Tunisian populations as a whole, the majority of their paternal haplogroups are of indigenous Berber origin (71.67%), coexisting with others presumably from the Middle East (18.35%) and to a lesser extent from sub-Saharan Africa (5.2%), from Sub-Saharan Africa (5.2%), from Europe (3.45%) and from Asia (1.33%). > > *Elkamel, S., Marques, S.L., Alvarez, L. et al.* Berbers married Hilalian women, it was not forbidden. For example, among the Marinids there are women who are both Hilalian and Cherifian. Ibn Khaldun mentions that, already in his time, the Arabs mixed with Berbers because they formed the mass of the population. > As for Ifrigiya and the Maghreb, the Arabs mixed there, in fact foreign peoples, with the Berbers, because the Berbers made up the mass of the population, there was, so to speak, no city or people where there were no Berbers, so the foreign language took over the language spoken by the Arabs, and a new mixed idiom was formed, but on which foreign language has more influence, for the reason we have just said, from which it follows that this language is far removed from the primitive idiom. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (The Prolegomena: Volume III)* ### The Arabization of the Maghreb Despite the Berber-speaking majority in the Maghreb after these Hilalian invasions, one question remains: why do the majority of North Africans speak Arabic today? To address this subject, let’s take the example of the time of Ibn Khaldun, where the Maghreb was mostly Berber-speaking, except for the big cities. > On the African continent, Berbers form the bulk of the population, and their language is that of all parts of the country, except for the big cities. So the Arabic language is submerged under the waves of this barbaric idiom, of this jargon spoken by the Berbers. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (The Prolegomena: Volume III)* ![The ramparts and white houses of an old town rise above the bank of a wide river.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cbc21591d436be50374_6ae52877ee1f734bbd623dca_histoire-berberie-17.webp) *Azemmour seen from the Oum Er-Rbia. Photo: Yaroslav Blanter, CC BY-SA 3.0.* Logically, the language used in these cities was Arabic or Arabic/Berber bilingualism. But who were the inhabitants of these cities? These large cities were also populated by Berbers, as shown by the examples of Tangier, Sale, Azemmour, Anfa, Asfi, and Tlemcen. > The Surrounding Sea forms the western limit of the Maghreb, as we have just said, and bathes a > shoreline where several cities in this country rise. Such are Tangier, Sale, Azemmor, Anfa and Asfi, as well as > Mesdjid-Massa, Tagaost and Noul in Sous Province. > All these cities are inhabited by Berbers. > ‍ > *Ibn Khaldun (History of the Berbers: Volume I)* The Banu Hilal will first transmit their language to the Louatas, then to the Houaras who inhabited Ifriqiya. Subsequently, the Arabization of the Maghreb will no longer be the sole fact of the Banu Hilal. In addition to the cities that are probably already Arabized, the rest of Maghreb will in turn be Arabized by the Houaras, Louatas and Banu Hilal. It should also be added that the linguistic Arabization of the Maghreb has not been completed. Assuming that the Maghreb has around 30% Berber speakers, in reality, around 55% to 60% of Berbers have switched to the Arabic language today. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/649ed67ed26b6c6418aece35_Langues%20Maghreb.webp) ## Conclusion It is therefore clear that the concept of the “great replacement” of the Banu Hilal is a pure myth, and a recent myth at the same time. The Berbers are the majority people in Maghreb, and it is undeniable that everyone in this region has Berber blood. The Arabization of the Maghreb was mainly limited to the linguistic field, and it is therefore erroneous to say that there are no Arabs in the Maghreb. Maghreb Arabs are a historical reality, although mixed with Berbers, and there are indeed descendants of Arabs in the region. However, it should be noted that the majority of the population is of Berber origin. --- --- title: "The History of the Mountakhab, from Its Beginnings to the Historic Feat of 2022" description: "The history of football in Morocco is still being written: from the early 20th century to the Atlas Lions’ epic performance in 2022. Discover the highlights, the legends and the initiatives that shape Moroccan football and secure its bright future." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/histoire-mountakhab language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/histoire-mountakhab type: article category: cult published: 2023-03-26T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:55.532Z tags: ["Sport", "Diaspora"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b7e93614aede462c5e65_Main%20Image.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The History of the Mountakhab, from Its Beginnings to the Historic Feat of 2022 *The history of football in Morocco is still being written: from the early 20th century to the Atlas Lions’ epic performance in 2022. Discover the highlights, the legends and the initiatives that shape Moroccan football and secure its bright future.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b7e93614aede462c5e65_Main%20Image.webp) ## The beginnings of football in Morocco and the emergence onto the international stage ### Social and political conditions favoring the emergence of football Football arrived in Morocco at the end of the 19th century, mainly through the European settlers, notably the British and the French. The emergence of football in Morocco coincides with the evolution of the country’s social and political structures, notably the rise of nationalism and the struggle for independence. Football served as a catalyst to unite communities around a common goal and was used as a means of expressing the desire for independence and national sovereignty. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420aa40a7b9bfd5f0bc2941_USM.webp) *The Union Sportive Marocaine in 1949.* ### The impact of the first clubs and the affirmation of national identity The first Moroccan football clubs were created in the early 20th century, notably the Union Sportive Marocaine in 1917, once nicknamed the “Monster”, which swept up a large share of the cups and championships organized by the Protectorate authorities. Its football section has now disappeared, but the other sacred monster is none other than the Wydad Athletic Club, founded in 1937. It was a creation which, through the events that marked its path, constituted in itself an act of resistance and nationalism. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420aa364b790fa4fe7105ba_Wydad%201947.webp) *The Wydad team in 1947.* The Rajaoui monument was founded in 1949, when the resistance against the French colonizer was in full swing. It gathered the best players from the amateur teams of Derb Sultan, brought together by a group of Moroccan nationalists and trade unionists, among them Maati Bouabid, who would become prime minister 30 years later. The choice of green as the club’s main color is no accident, as it is the color of Islam. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420abc86503f433765cd0ce_RCA%201959.webp) *The Raja team in 1959.* These clubs played a crucial role in the affirmation of Moroccan national identity, bringing communities together around a shared interest in sport and creating a sense of belonging to a nation in the making. The clubs also encouraged the development of local talent, laying the foundations for a competitive national team. ### The national team’s journey through the various editions of AFCON and the World Cup Morocco’s first World Cup appearance dates back to 1970 in Mexico. Since then, the Atlas Lions have taken part in six editions of the World Cup. Their best performance came in 1986, when Zaki, Timoumi, Bouderbala and Dolmy, led by the late Mehdi Faria, qualified for the round of 16 as winners of a group featuring England, Poland and Portugal. They beat the latter hands down, 3-1, at the end of a match dominated head and shoulders by the Atlas Lions. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420ac8a7fb7bfa3429758fd_Mountakhab%20Mexique%201986.webp) *The Atlas Lions in Mexico in 1986.* Morocco was the first African nation, but also the first Arab nation, to reach the knockout stage of a football World Cup. Unfortunately, they had to bow out against the West Germany of the legendary Lothar Mathaus, who caught Zaki and the Moroccan wall off guard with a low, well-placed long-range free kick at the very end of regulation time. The dream slipped away abruptly in the round of 16. And because the heroes of yesterday inspire the heroes of today, in 2022, a new generation of champions led by the brilliant Walid Regragui took over and wrote, in letters of gold, the most beautiful chapter in the history of Moroccan, African and Arab football. The Moroccans stood out once again as pioneers and became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a football World Cup, emerging as clear winners of a group made up of two giants of European football, the Croatia of Modric and the Belgium of Kevin de Bruyne, joined by the Canada of Alphonso Davies. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420ad5a72535ac4b43c729d_Maroc%20Canada%20But%20Ziyech.webp) In the next round, Morocco knocked out Spain on penalties. We still remember the smile that never left the lips of Bounou, who conceded not a single goal, as well as Hakimi’s penguin dance after his Panenka. Come the quarter-finals, En-Nesyri took flight and met Attiyat-Allah’s high cross with a header to send Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal back home. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420addf0e495f5812429002_Air%20Nesyri.webp) Unfortunately, with the team weakened by injuries to its center-back pairing, Aguerd and Saiss, who had shone brightly throughout the competition, the French hurdle proved too high for the Atlas Lions, who bowed out 2-0, one step away from the final. The dream stopped abruptly once again. But that did not prevent the celebration, the joy and the pride that swept over the Moroccan people, proud of their champions, during a run that consecrated several values that make Tamghrabit vibrate in our hearts, Nniya and Rdat Lwalidin. On the continental stage, Morocco won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1976 and reached the semi-finals on several occasions, notably in 1980, 1986 and 1988, reaching the final in 2004 before bowing out 2-1 at the mythical Rades stadium against Tunisia, the host country of the competition. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420aeb27c659e2c359c5e2f_CAN%201976%20Maroc.webp) ## Moroccan clubs in continental competitions and iconic Moroccan players ### Moroccan clubs’ performances and rivalries with African teams Moroccan clubs have known a measure of success in continental competitions. Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca have won the CAF Champions League 3 times each, while AS FAR has won it just once. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420af8340eaa96d7db0e79e_Wydad%20CCL%202021.webp) FUS Rabat, MAS Fes and RSB Berkane have also won continental titles. Moroccan clubs have developed historic rivalries with other African teams, notably those of Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia. These rivalries have given rise to iconic, thrilling and hard-fought matches that have captivated fans across the continent. ### Iconic Moroccan players Morocco has produced many talented players who have left their mark on the history of national and international football. Among them: ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b0637fb7bfb68e99b729_Ahmed%20Faras.webp) Ahmed Faras: A prolific striker, Faras is the first Moroccan player to have won the African Ballon d’Or, in 1975, and he remains to this day the top scorer of Morocco’s national football team. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420aff37fb7bf0f8999b717_Dolmi.webp) Abdelmajid Dolmy: A legend of Raja de Casablanca and the national team, midfield maestro and absolute darling of the Moroccan public, Abdelmajid was as well known for his talent as for his spirit of fair play, recognized all the way to Unesco, which awarded him the “fair-play prize”, given to reward a “player whose exemplary morality and courtesy make him unanimously regarded by his teammates or opponents as an ambassador of football”. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b09d1ab98b80796d42db_Badou%20Zaki.webp) Badou Zaki: An iconic goalkeeper for the WAC and RC Mallorca (which erected a wax statue in his honor in a museum in the city), Badou was one of the stars of the Mexico 86 epic, but also the architect behind the run to the 2004 AFCON final, a competition for which he had unearthed several talents who brought joy to Moroccans, such as Marouane Chamakh, Jawad Zairi, Youssef Mokhtari and Youssouf Hadji, Moustapha’s little brother. One of only two goalkeepers to hold an African Ballon d’Or (1986). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b20644ba983d4598edff_Timoumi.webp) Mohamed Timoumi: The black pearl, an attacking midfielder of genius and a legend of AS FAR, Mohammed Timoumi embodies the beautiful game, fair play and the technical elegance that Moroccan fans adore; his performances in the group stage of the ’86 World Cup were quite simply a recital of technique and game intelligence. He too, of course, holds an African Ballon d’Or (1985). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b2737764f8d1ba60c079_Ahmed%20El%20Bahja.webp) Ahmed el Bahja: A supersonic winger of the 90s and 2000s, known for his performances with the national team at the 1994 World Cup. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b2a69a711336765467a7_Bassir.webp) Salaheddine Bassir: A prolific goalscorer, nicknamed Fekkak Lwhayel (The Savior) by the supporters of Raja de Casablanca, he was the delight of the fans of Hilal of Riyadh, who were so attached to the Moroccan that King Hassan II himself was obliged to step in to facilitate his transfer to the Super Depor. Scorer of an iconic volley against Scotland in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup in France — images that aired daily in the title sequence of Al Aoula’s news bulletin. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b31104d85a334112dc6f_Naybet.webp) Noureddine Naybet: A solid center-back trained at the WAC, with spells at FC Nantes and Sporting Lisbon, his best years were spent in the service of the Super Depor, nickname of the greatest team in the history of Deportivo la Coruna; he was crowned best defender of the Spanish league 3 times in a row, and he ended his career at Tottenham Hotspur in London. He captained the national team, remains to this day the record holder for the number of caps, and took part in several editions of AFCON and the World Cup. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b33fdd79e3c38eae5783_Hadji.webp) Mustapha Hadji: A whirling, technical winger, African Ballon d’Or winner in 1998. He also played for renowned European clubs, such as Deportivo La Coruna, Coventry City and Aston Villa. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b3b2e2391f6af28314bd_Ziyech.webp) Hakim Ziyech: An attacking midfielder with a silky left foot, nicknamed the “Wizard of Amsterdam”, currently under contract with Chelsea. He was a key element of the Moroccan national team during the memorable World Cup run in Qatar. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b43bdd79e3ae91af8043_Hakimi.webp) Achraf Hakimi: A supersonic right-back with 3 lungs, Achraf is the prodigy of Moroccan football, with a trophy cabinet already well stocked despite his young age. Trained at Real Madrid, launched by Zidane, he exploded at Borussia Dortmund, confirmed at the Internazionale of Milan, and is to this day the most expensive Moroccan player in history after signing for the Paris Saint Germain of Neymar, Messi and Mbappe. These players have contributed greatly to the popularity of Moroccan football and have served as role models for emerging young talents. ## The development of Moroccan football ### FRMF initiatives for youth training The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has launched several initiatives to improve the training of young players. Among them, the creation of regional training centers to identify and develop local talent. In addition, the FRMF has set up partnerships with European clubs to allow young Moroccan players to benefit from quality training and to be exposed to a higher level of competition. ### Infrastructure improvements Morocco has invested in the construction and renovation of modern stadiums to host international competitions and to offer national and local teams world-class facilities. Notable examples include the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, the Marrakech Stadium and the Adrar Stadium in Agadir. These investments testify to the country’s commitment to supporting the development of Moroccan football. ### International collaborations The FRMF has also forged collaborations with other federations and international institutions to share best practices and strengthen technical skills. These partnerships allow Moroccan football’s coaches, referees and officials to learn from the experiences of other countries and to apply the knowledge gained to improve the performances of national and local teams. ## Morocco’s historic epic at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Morocco’s epic run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar left its mark on the history of Moroccan football. The Atlas Lions finished in fourth place in the tournament, after being defeated 2-1 by Croatia in the bronze-medal match. ### Group stage Morocco’s journey began on November 23 with a 0-0 draw against Croatia in Group F. The Atlas Lions then followed up with two consecutive victories to finish at the top of their group. On November 27, they beat Belgium 2-0 thanks to goals from Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhlal. On December 1, they triumphed over Canada by a score of 2-1. ### Round of 16 On December 6, in the round of 16, Morocco sprang a surprise by eliminating Spain at the end of a dramatic penalty shoot-out (3-0). The Spaniards missed all three of their attempts, while Achraf Hakimi converted the decisive penalty for the Moroccans after 120 intense, goalless minutes. ### Quarter-finals On December 10, in the quarter-finals, the Atlas Lions pulled off another feat by beating Portugal 1-0. Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute, allowing Morocco to become the first African nation to qualify for the semi-finals of a World Cup. ### Semi-finals On December 14, in the semi-final, the Moroccans faced the defending champions, France. Despite a valiant resistance, they bowed out 2-0 to Les Bleus. Theo Hernandez opened the scoring as early as the 5th minute, and Randal Kolo Muani sealed the French victory 10 minutes from the end of the match, after a fine move by Kylian Mbappe. ### Third-place match On December 17, in the bronze-medal match, Morocco was beaten 2-1 by Croatia. Josko Gvardiol opened the scoring for the Croats in the 7th minute, before Achraf Dari equalized for the Moroccans two minutes later. However, Mislav Orsic restored Croatia’s lead just before half-time, sealing the victory and third place for his team. Despite their defeats in the semi-final and in the third-place match, the Atlas Lions made history for Moroccan and African football at this 2022 World Cup. Their exceptional run will remain engraved in memory and testifies to the evolution of Moroccan football on the international stage. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74f8b8cf5cc44c38309_Team.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74f8b8cf5ddb1c382cf_Bounou.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74f8b8cf5fc86c382f0_Drari.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74f8b8cf5553ec382f1_Amrabat.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74e3614aefd4d2c13ce_Regragui.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6420b74f3614ae0a062c1444_Ziyech%20Mazraoui.webp) Moroccan football has experienced significant development over the years, thanks to the efforts deployed by the FRMF, investments in infrastructure and international collaborations. The performances of Moroccan clubs in continental competitions and the remarkable careers of iconic players have contributed to the popularity of football in Morocco and have served as models for emerging young talents. The Atlas Lions’ historic epic at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar marked a major turning point for Moroccan football, demonstrating the strength and determination of the national team on the international stage. The fourth place earned by Morocco in this tournament testifies to the potential of this African nation and to its ability to compete with the best teams in the world. The successes and progress achieved by Moroccan football are the fruit of hard work and a long-term vision. They also show that, with proper training, continuous support and a passionate football culture, Morocco and its talents can shine on the international stage and inspire future generations of Moroccan footballers. --- --- title: "The Moroccan Haik, Cultural and Religious Heritage" description: "The Haik, a traditional and emblematic piece of clothing of Moroccan culture, is a piece of fabric measuring approximately 5 by one meter sixty, enveloping the body from head to toe. This article explores the history and evolution of this iconic outfit." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/haik language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/haik type: article category: cult published: 2023-03-08T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:55.813Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Traditions", "Islam", "Women of Morocco", "Craftsmanship", "Identity"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408be5814bac813633cd286_Main%20Image%20Haik.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Moroccan Haik, Cultural and Religious Heritage By Wealth of Morocco *The Haik, a traditional and emblematic piece of clothing of Moroccan culture, is a piece of fabric measuring approximately 5 by one meter sixty, enveloping the body from head to toe. This article explores the history and evolution of this iconic outfit.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408be5814bac813633cd286_Main%20Image%20Haik.webp) The Haik, also called “izar” and pronounced Hayek, is one of the iconic and traditional Moroccan outfits that women, but also men, wore outside and over their clothes. On Muslim land, believers attach extreme importance to modesty shown through clothing. The Haik, characterized by its plain, refined color and its ample form, is, in the collective mind, a symbol of purity and elevation. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64088e08676385474b28d68d_Haik%20Maroc.webp) The Haik is composed of a large piece of fabric of about 5 meters by 1 meter and 60cm that envelops the body from head to toe. This garment has two functions, one being protective against the cold and the sun in particular, and the second being religious by hiding the woman’s body and protecting it from prying eyes. Even if the art of draping was already present during the ancient era, it’s not precisely established how it appeared in this form in Morocco. Nevertheless, it is known that the word haik derives from the verb “to weave” in Arabic. During the Marinid era, in the 13th century, fatwas that sanctioned women who did not cover up enough were commonplace. Everything suggests that it is therefore a garment adopted in Morocco, in this form, as part of the strengthening of its Islamization. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408a16f747df309c5024139_Tuto%20Haik.webp) Therefore, over the centuries, the sporting of the Haik has become an important cultural and religious heritage in Morocco as evidenced by paintings, prints, photography but also books. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47644156b467e20e2d_Market%20At%20Tangier%2C%20G.%20J.%20Pinwell%2C%201842%20copy.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc463ccc49d5aa7760f5_Aouicha%2C%20J-P%20Portaels%2C%201818-1895%20.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47f1b5f902263580e8_Tableau%20Maroc%20Ancien%20Haik.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47b53668e0cd5f072a_Calle%20de%20Ayun%20-%20Tetuan%20by%20Mariano%20Bertuchi%2C%201884-1955.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc473ccc4918f177615a_Femmes%20devant%20la%20Menara%20de%20Marakkech%2C%20Marguerite%20Barriere-Prevost%20.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47f1b5f91aa23580f0_F%C3%AAtes%20des%20enfants%20%C3%A0%20Sal%C3%A9%2C%20Marguerite%20Barriere-Prevost%20.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47c275a4f30516c6c7_MARGUERITE%20BARRI%C3%88RE-PREVOST%20(1887-1981)%20MAROCAINE%20ET%20SON%20ENFANT%20DEVANT%20RABAT-SAL%C3%89%20.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408bc47ca3f61abc18aec98_Porte%20du%20Souk%2C%20Edy%20Legrand%2C%201892.webp) In the Christian West for example, one of the first references to the Haik in Morocco is that of Luis del Marmol Carvajal in the 16th century, evoking the Imazighen of the Haha region: > “Women wear a kind of coat; this dress is called hayque.” It was also found in 1699 in the French review by Mercure Galant: > “The gifts that Abdallah offered to Louis XIV on behalf of Mouley-Ismael [...] consisted of an embroidered saddle, a tiger skin, eight hats, five lion skins, and four dozen red morocco skins, and four dozen red morocco skins” Throughout history, numerous writings also mention the use of this garment in Morocco, especially those of Olfert Dapper, Pidou de St. Olon, Mouette, Georg Host, however, listing all these texts would be tedious. In Arab historiography, on the other hand, the research historian Vogelsang-Eastwood specifies that the oldest literary trace of Haik is found in the book “Rawd Al Qirtas” published at the beginning of the 14th century. He also points out that the city of Fez was an important manufacturing and export center in Africa and Iberia. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408a34dc701b3ce1b8f87ea_La%20Mujer%20Vejeriega.webp) *Monument to the Mujer Vejeriega in Cadiz, Spain.* Thus, Morocco has always been renowned for its textiles for clothing, and in particular for its Haik: • Documents from the 16th century mention that the king of Portugal ordered 9,000 Haiks from a trader in Safi in 1519, as demonstrated through the work of the archivists Mohamed Sijelmassi, Abdelkebir Khatibi and El-Houssain El-Moujahid. • The Moroccan Haik, and in particular that of Doukkala, was even found on the borders of the Sahel, as pointed out by the historian and researcher Michel Abitbol in his volume dedicated to trans-Saharan trade. • The French ethnographer and psychiatrist Gaetan de Clerambault conducted a study entitled “Women with the traditional Haik” in the 19th century, he reveals that Haik was exported from Morocco mainly to Algiers and Tlemcen. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408946afee0d2cfc807f365_Haik%20%20Export%20Tlemcen.webp) Later, “Le Commerce & l’Industrie a Fez” by the chronicler Charles-Rene Leclerc published in the 20th century, still shows that silk Haik made in Fez was exported to Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. The trade in Haik exported from Morocco was also a phenomenon observed and witnessed by art chroniclers Theo Laujoulet (1951) Paul Edel (1902), both present in Algeria. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/640893a75590794c85170c80_Haik%20Text%20Export.webp) An inventory drawn up at the same period by Jean Besancenot made it possible to identify 6 types of female Haik in Morocco. The difference lied in the color of the drape, the type of fabric and the technique for wrapping it. ### Era of decline It was during the 1940s with a speech by Lalla Aicha, daughter of Mohammed V, that the story of this garment marked a turning point. Lalla Aicha, invited Moroccan women to support independence by going to work, therefore, Moroccan women then traded their Haiks for their husbands' Jellabas, considered more comfortable to be able to work. The Jellaba’s hood was thus used as a scarf using pins. They still never went out without at least wearing a small veil that only showed their eyes, called ngab or ltam in some regions. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408d2e3ca3f6116c0a587f9_Ltam%20Jellaba%20deux%20Femmes%20Maroc.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6408d2e2ee4c4021a3bcb161_Jellaba%20Etudiantes%20Maroc.webp) This event marks the beginning of the decline of Haik in Morocco, but the beginning of the feminization of the Jellaba. Nowadays, the Haik in Morocco has almost disappeared despite persisting in a few cities such as Chefchaouen, Essaouira and Figuig. Despite the fact that wearing it was becoming something of a rare occurrence, in 2019, a glimmer of hope emerged when a group of young women mobilized to encourage Moroccan women to wear this garment in order to preserve this cultural and religious heritage threatened with disappearance. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64089e67cff77c6c42beab0c_Haik%20Nord%20Maroc.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64089e67cd9acabc1f6b34cd_Haik%20Nord%20Maroc%20Enfant.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64089e67820bf5ac61e117f7_Haik%20Portrait.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64089e67cd9aca816b6b34eb_Haik%20Modern%20Chamal.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/64089e66820bf52d36e117f6_Haik%20Femmes%20Maroc.webp) ## References - Rawd El Qirtas, 'Alī ibn ʻAbd Allāh Ibn Abī Zar' al-Fāsī, early 14th century - Luis del Mármol Carvajal, 16th century - Women with the traditional Haik, Gaëtan Gtian de Clérambault, 19th century - Commerce & Industry in Fez, Charles-René Leclerc, 20th century - Mercure Galant, 1699 - Moroccan costume, Jean-Pierre Besancenot, 1934 - For Modesty's Sake, Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1996 --- --- title: "Mohamed Ameziane, Precursor of the Rif War" description: "Born in Azan, a city occupying the east of the tribal region of Gelaya in the province of Nador in 1859, Mohamed Ameziane, nicknamed El Mizzian by the Spanish, will mark history by his military exploits against Spain and by becoming a precursor to the Rif War." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/ameziane language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/ameziane type: article category: hist published: 2023-03-01T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:31:59.846Z author: "The Riffian Museum" tags: ["Rif", "Resistance", "Wars", "Spain", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff67360122ed180318202b_photodetroupeespagnolentaindeglr.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mohamed Ameziane, Precursor of the Rif War By The Riffian Museum *Born in Azan, a city occupying the east of the tribal region of Gelaya in the province of Nador in 1859, Mohamed Ameziane, nicknamed El Mizzian by the Spanish, will mark history by his military exploits against Spain and by becoming a precursor to the Rif War.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff67360122ed180318202b_photodetroupeespagnolentaindeglr.jpg) Born in Zeghanghane (Azghenghan), a city occupying the east of the Gelaya tribal region in the province of Nador in 1859, Mohamed Ameziane, nicknamed El Mizian by the Spanish, will mark history by his military exploits against them and by becoming a precursor to the Rif War. In fact, he fought more than a hundred battles until his death in 1912. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff5ef780a7e8e02e1c9751_portraitamezianne.jpg) Coming from a prestigious family that built the Zaouia Qadiriya of Sidi Ahmed or Abdesallam in Zeghanghan, Ameziane studied Islamic jurisprudence, literature and theology at Qaraouiyine University in Fez. He then became Qadi from the Beni Bou Ifrour tribe who would later oppose Bouhmara, the Sultan’s Rogui. The latter making agreements with the Spanish was threatened by the tribes of the Rif and the army of Sultan Abdelaziz. Ameziane is an authority figure highly respected by his peers, it is said about him: > Sidi Mohand Ameziane is the last and most prestigious sharif of Baraka, not only because he displayed all the qualities of his predecessors, but because he played an important historical role. His reputation was great both among the Iqariyen, and among the Ichebdanen and the Ait Said, who are sedentary, as well as among the Imetalsen nomads. When he accompanied the emigrants to Algeria, no one dared to attack the passenger convoy, so much was his curse feared. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff5f2c80a7e882a41cb2a7_fortsegangan.jpg) In May 1909, a Spain eager for iron deposits will carry out mining work in the Rif. There was no resistance among the Riffans who were disunited until Mohamed Ameziane, coordinating with several tribal leaders, visited several mosques and markets in order to raise awareness about jihad. An uprising began in the Ameziane tribe, following an attack on June 9 in Sidi Musa that left 6 Spaniards dead and one injured. Despite this defeat, a determined part of the Rif was organized and met very gradually under the dome of Mohamed Ameziane. When the facts were known by the Spanish government, chaired by Maura, it decreed on 10 July the mobilization of three mixed fighter brigades, mostly formed by reservists from the Fifth Divisions of 1903 and 1904, causing riots in Madrid and Barcelona, where intense demonstration events known under the Castilian name of Semana Tragica (the tragic week) took place. Meanwhile, the Riffans are arming themselves and digging trenches in order to prepare for war. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff605dcdffc0ce087dbaba_sidimoussa.jpg) *Spanish soldiers in the quarries of Sidi Musa, 1909.* The Spanish could never have predicted the extent of dissent. However, the Rif, hit by a great famine, was attacked by Spain taking advantage of its weakening. In total, more than 40,000 Spaniards will be deployed for the offensive, 100 million pesetas will be spent and 4 months of war failed to retake the territories of Ameziane. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff61042a9adb206d961693_barrancolobo.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff61049b12b6b7eca53166_cadavresespagnols.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff61042cfe95de89fc49db_campanaafrica.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6096fdc9f9d6fd3bcab8_convoicompagnienordafricaine.jpg) To return to context, the tribes around Melilla were controlled by Rogui Bou Hmara in 1902, an usurper pretending to be the brother of Sultan Abdelaziz to the point of constituting a resemblance of a small kingdom in the Eastern Rif. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff63a1afc2172e05e146c3_portraitbouhmara.jpg) *The Rogui Bou Hmara.* He will negotiate with Spain the exploitation of the deposits, which will lead to the creation of La Compagnie Espagnole des Mines du Rif. The Riffans led by Mohamed Ameziane revolted by attacking these mining operations on August 8, 1908. Bou Hmara was finally beaten by the Iqeriyen in the Eastern Rif and his former collaborators ended up paying heavy fines to the Imgharen. He would end up tortured and publicly executed on September 2, 1909 by Sultan Moulay Abdelhafid in Fez. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff61e1a977c3e836cbdf81_capturebouhmara1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff61882865c9353dfe5b93_capturebouhmara2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6623f7befb00476fd573_capturebouhmara4.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6623fb51e22a5d98f106_capturebouhmara5.jpg) In the same spirit, a series of Rifan assaults led by Ameziane were launched on July 9, 1909 against Spanish industrial interests. In order to protect Melilla from attacks, Spain will send between 30,000 and 40,000 soldiers commanded by General Marina. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff62430122ed704011a03a_generalmarina.jpg) *General Jose Marina Vega.* General Marina was informed a few weeks later of an attack on Mount Gourougou and decided to organize a new convoy of troops. This convoy was immediately attacked on July 27 near the Wolf Ravine by the Riffians, pushing the Spanish to retreat. At the end of these fierce fighting, the Spanish were heavily affected, causing more than 1,000 deaths including General Pintos, General Marina and about 600 injured. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff62723298bf0c43e48407_generalpintos.jpg) *General Guillermo Pintos Ledesma.* September 29 will mark a new defeat of the Spanish troops at Souk el-Khemis, with 300 dead including General Vicario. The Wolf Ravine disaster is one of the bloodiest Spanish defeats in Africa, going so far as to inspire a song: > “In the Barranco Del Lobo there is a fountain that flows the blood of Spaniards, who died for Spain. > Poor mothers, how much you will cry when you see your children go to war! > I don’t wash, comb my hair, or put on my mantilla until my boyfriend comes back from the Melilla War. > Melilla is no longer Melilla, Melilla is a slaughterhouse where Spaniards will die like lambs.” ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6380f29bbbe3fd6120ba_caricatureguerrerif.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6381714ea34b5b288e26_photodetroupeespagnolentaindeglr.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff6380cf054382a3c905c0_troupeespagnol.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff662e24ae4468cbf07183_commemorationravindeloup.jpg) It was at dawn on May 15ht, 1912, leaving the Fajr prayer that an enemy troop of Regulares clashed with Mohamed Ameziane and surrounded him. Without the means to confront them, he tried to communicate but, having not been recognized, will be shot down. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff64404f21ac4d26456c3d_deceselmizzian.jpg) Dressed in a blue vest, a brown jellaba and two silk shirts, we’ll also find on his possession a Quran, a rosary, weapons as well as a letter declaring himself Sultan of the Rif and in which he calls on the Ait Ouriaghel tribe to rebellion. The Spaniards transport his body to Melilla in plain sight, displayed like a trophy, and then it will be handed over to his brothers who will bury him in their grandfather’s cemetery in their hometown of Segangan. After his death the thirst for resistance in the Rif will not disappear and the Riffians will keep in them the memory of a great courageous and pious man, whose name is associated with memorable battles: Kebdana, Selouane, Segangan, Diwana etc... With the most important among them being that of the Wolf Ravine. A decade later, the history of the resistance was once again written by the advent of one of the greatest anti-colonial figures to date, Mohamed bin Abdelkrim Al-Khattabi. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63ff645727e557f26150d74e_elkhattabitimecouverture.jpg) --- --- title: "History of the Ntaa Kaftan" description: "A jewel of Fassi heritage, the Ntaa kaftan carries an almost thousand-year history, from its rise to its decline. The story of a fading Moroccan treasure." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/ntaa-kaftan language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/caftan-ntaa type: article category: cult published: 2022-12-16T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:04.133Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Caftan", "Craftsmanship", "Fes", "Traditions"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4e8554821bce64a16169_6a5a4e556c6aef1c5e7fc8bc_fix-caftan-ntaa-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # History of the Ntaa Kaftan By Wealth of Morocco *A jewel of Fassi heritage, the Ntaa kaftan carries an almost thousand-year history, from its rise to its decline. The story of a fading Moroccan treasure.* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4e8554821bce64a16169_6a5a4e556c6aef1c5e7fc8bc_fix-caftan-ntaa-main.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63755d1e46bfef6ba5510d3a_8ac186628d88866fd52c1ff2ed57f0dd%20(1).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63755d3c1445afa21c6c492c_E0zFPnKX0AE6KR1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779d27e8d5ff2046b62632_IMG_20221115_021114.jpg) An emblematic piece of Morocco, the kaftan has a history that is almost a thousand years old. It takes on an original form in every urban city in the Kingdom. This article focuses on a type of Fassi kaftan that is tending to disappear: the ntaa kaftan, taking its name from the Moroccan embroidery of the same name. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6375606c3965702cefb702d0_IMG_20221115_015629.jpg) The ntaa kaftan maintains the traditional codes of Moroccan dress, in other words, a T-shape decorated with sfifa (braided ribbons) and aakad (buttons). On the other hand, it is made of silk velvet, enhanced with floral patterns using gold thread. Peacocks, which make up the DNA of this kaftan, are also embroidered and often at the bottom of the outfit. ## The birth of ntaa embroidery: ### Velvet in Fez The history of this sumptuous fabric is linked to the rise of the silk industry, from which it is most often woven. You should know that the city of Fez is one of the few silk production centers where pickpocketing trades are still used, quite similar to those that were known in Andalusia from the end of the 11th or 12th century (1). When the textile industry was in full swing under the Almohads, Fez had more than 3000 weaving workshops and weavers (2). And as early as the 14th century, it is reported that there was a silk production and market (3). The imperial city therefore enjoyed a climate favorable to velvet production. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779ddc87506e4de2580a7c_IMG_20220115_010532.jpg) But it was not as flourishing as in Genoa, Milan or Lyon. This is why the archives show that importing velvet was important. In the 14th century, before the Spanish occupied the city, it was by the road that went from Taza to Melilla that Venetian velvets were introduced to Fez. As for the Lyonnais velvet, called by Moroccan artisans *Moubber Francis,* Charles Rene-Leclerc, in his book on trade and industry in Fez, details this import with precision. Thus, three colors were requested: “emerald green, blood red and dark purple.” As for its use, it “is used to carve the caftans of rich women.” However, he noted that Italian velvet was beginning to compete with French velvets. This is not surprising when you compare it with the testimony of the Italian Edmondo De Amicis. Indeed, at the end of the 19th century, he reported that every year, about fifty Fassis traveled to Italy in order to re-obtain this soft fabric (4). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779de4f566b6cd76f970c5_IMG_20221115_023537.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779de08a321c85a6bc7bf2_IMG_20220927_191251.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779de5083f2f0fe6823db7_IMG_20221115_023144.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779ddff61242416207fb68_imago0096120493s.jpg) ### The manufacture of gold thread From time immemorial, and until the 20th century, the manufacture of gold thread in Morocco was a Jewish specialty (5). Vicaire and Le Tourneau report that it was also “one of the oldest, most renowned and most important industries in the mellah (= Jewish quarter) of Fez.” (“The gold thread industry at the mellah of Fez Vicaire Marcel and Tourneau Roger 1936 in the Economic Bulletin of Morocco”) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3ffd8ee976fa4cba93b4_InShot_20221122_170938591.jpg) To appreciate its age, you have to go back to the beginning of the 11th century, when the Jews of Sijilmassa already mastered this know-how (6). Also known as the “City of Gold”, the city of Sijilmassa has in fact long been an important commercial crossroads. Gold was abundant from Sahelian Africa to the point that the Arab historian al-Yaqubi described it as a city where “gold can be found as easily as plants”. ‍ ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377ae31d1a0101e1b0a4d89_IMG_20210715_214511.jpg) However, the archives do not mention whether these threads were used for the ornamentation of clothing during this period. This was not until the Marinid era, during which the famous theologian Ibn Khaldoun mentioned clothes decorated with gold thread in Fez (7). The Marinid Sultan Abu al-Hassan will also offer some to the Mamluk Sultan an-Nasir Mohammed as a diplomatic gift (8). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/63779f8d698a38462f912187_IMG_20220120_163556.jpg) The craft of gold thread subsequently developed and flourished especially in Morocco beginning in the 15th century due to the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. This is why the history of the ntaa kaftan is inseparable from that of the Keswal’Kbira, the formal costume of the Moroccan Jewish city girl. This dress originated in 15th century Spain, which the Megorachim would continue to wear in Morocco. The short jacket called “Gombaiz” that composes it is embroidered with gold thread. To make it, it requires the same techniques and know-how as a ntaa kaftan. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e4759eb052ba824255a43_InShot_20221123_171308267.jpg) *Chest plate of a Gombaiz/a ntaa kaftan.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e47cf7798cda4302b3d33_InShot_20221123_171223837.jpg) *Handle of a Gombaiz/a ntaa kaftan.* Jewish refugees from Sicily also brought with them their expertise in crafting gold thread after settling in Fez. Even today, people continue to name the golden threads in Morocco sqalli, which simply means ”*Of Sicily*” (9). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a031285ac81f9b4cdeec_IMG_20220928_232305.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a01aa9e51307431a8d16_20221115_061521.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a00ea9e513b28e1a8d12_20221115_062920.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a01dccc56f330b9a0b02_IMG_20221115_072858.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a01fea684d4be47099fc_IMG_20221115_072842.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a027083f2f4ccc83e3a5_IMG_20221115_072829.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a0226242877947811bc5_IMG_20221115_071946.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a00d81c79cf0986cd407_DANL4054.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a017624287522a810ef0_DANL4055.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a02a870a5fe13f6088c9_IMG_20221115_060154.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a02af8d89a46bb21757c_IMG_20221115_060258.jpg) ### Ntaa embroidery It was the union of these two elements, velvet and gold thread, that would thus give birth to ntaa embroidery (tarz). Suffice to say it, one of the oldest Moroccan embroideries. It is used in the ornamentation of various pieces: women’s and children’s costumes, slippers, belts, selhams, wall hangings, cushions, etc. > ‍*She was wearing an embroidered black kaftan, which we call Al Ntaâ embroidery, in which she swerves around as if she were a peacock > Excerpt from “The Man” by the Moroccan novelist Driss Belmlih, 2004* Although very old, this embroidery was only recently the subject of serious research. It was a “field still unexplored”, noted Amelie-Marie Goichon in 1937. Not because it didn’t fascinate or deserve attention, but because it was actually almost exclusively in women’s hands and made out of sight. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa82a34a1660853999be_20221115_071755.jpg) *Woman performing Ntaa embroidery in Fez, 1985* The sources therefore remained silent until the beginning of the 20th century, when it was observed and cited nominally by Prosper Ricard (10). In his inventory of Moroccan embroidery, in particular gold embroidery, he reports that in Fez “it is called terz d’en-neta; the gold threads, with a silk core, which are used to execute it, are called sqalli”. There is also a mention of this embroidery by Marguerite Bel in the famous historical magazine Revue Africaine (11): “Apart from embroidery with metallic thread on leather or velvet, called terz d’en-neta, which, in Fez, is executed by women, there were simultaneously at least five other types of embroidery”. Ntaa embroidery is also extensively documented by the renowned textile research institute in Leiden in the Netherlands (12). The director of this institute, Dr. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, a textile archaeologist and embroidery specializt, will even use ntaa embroidery featuring a majestic peacock, to illustrate the cover of her book on embroidery in the Arab world. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e39f25325eed1a7b48f73_InShot_20221122_165029437.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afb02ae7f47a42f72a23_IMG_20220927_191136.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afaaa104460d50bc8513_IMG_20220927_191139.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af837f36c025fb2915a7_FB_IMG_1600186053861.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af97a9e513044228664d_21945_img_663_1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afa0da2636db3af5bb50_21736_img_440_2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af9ee55799a02aae08f3_21736_img_440_1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af99da26365b05f5bb4d_21746_img_450_1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e39f07b1a788a640edc71_IMG_20221123_001847.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af856b828ffa67899c5d_FB_IMG_1613845128559.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377b11af6124217e51820b3_FB_IMG_1664149408202.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af8ea104463368bc847c_FB_IMG_1664348869531.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af8f6c1e00ac2f65fb65_FB_IMG_1664388326258.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af8ba34a160d343d6829_FB_IMG_1664389317062.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af816b828f0682899c5c_FB_IMG_1664390678709.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af8987a3e64bb10c6688_FB_IMG_1664390694034.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afb2083f2f1b78928133_IMG_20220112_025113.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377b12087a3e62f4f0dbc7b_IMG_20220413_160314.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377b13c87506ebd7665830f_IMG_20220508_092117.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377b1400a84033ff2243b0b_IMG_20220508_092142.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afa92160011faa6ae2c9_IMG_20221115_072539.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afa86c1e004c2b661c08_IMG_20221115_072558.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afa2da26368142f5bb51_IMG_20221115_072800.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377afa2a9e513808f287788_IMG_20221115_072811.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377af81083f2fa969924b10_Lalla-Hasna-Maroc-Mariage-1994-Photos-14.jpg) ### The Peacock, DNA of the ntaa embroidery The peacock design and its plumage represent the emblem of this gold thread embroidery. It is frequently featured at the bottom of the kaftan or often embroidered parallel along the sfifas (braided ribbon that crosses traditional Moroccan clothing from top to bottom). In Fez, this motif takes on a pomp and aristocratic appearance. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3b3a70bb3cd28cd0c3f_IMG_20220304_082018.jpg) A popular belief is that the peacock ornament is inherited from ancient trade between Morocco and the Far East, especially China (13). No wonder this majestic bird is also found on Fez porcelain, known as “taous”, whose inspiration draws on Chinese styles and Japanese Imari ceramics. This curious connection, between Moroccan taous plates and ntaa embroidery, is also made by Andre Goldenberg: > Can one imagine, among birds, in Morocco an image more beautiful than that of the peacock? Its plumage makes it a symbol of magnificence, which is not without a certain vanity. [...] The peacock gives a quality image to the Fez plates and dishes that it decorates and which are called taous (peacock). Some porcelain from China, which is very popular in urban areas, is also called “peacock”, whether this bird is included or not. These porcelain dishes are one of the gifts that are given to brides in Fez. They are sometimes rented for the pastilla, when you want to honor your guests. The beneficial and aesthetic image of the peacock explains why it appears in traditional objects as well as on modern supports. But it is in sqalli (Sicilian) embroidery, once a Jewish specialty, that the ornamental effect of the peacock finds its full development. A model of cut paper placed on the velvet is entirely covered by gold thread embroidery. Velvet is thus decorated to make slippers, caftans worn by brides. This velvet embroidered with peacocks is also often used on sofas, cushions and even the border of the mida, which are used during wedding ceremonies. - Bestiary of popular Muslim and Jewish culture in Morocco ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a25bc5839b2754eb75a5_IMG_20221115_090209.jpg) *Image taken from the book by Andre Goldenberg* ‍ Even though the peacock motif is relatively not something new in Morocco (14), embroidery in a way that was conspicuous was considered to be a bid’a (innovation) (15) and an affront to ancestral traditions. Since Moroccan society is conservative, sociologist Fatima Mernissi explains how difficult it was in her autobiography. Embroidering a peacock, something trivial at first glance, was thus the subject of a violent verbal brawl between the traditionalists (taqlidi reproducing the traditional motifs of Fez) and that of the modernists (the 'asri embroidering peacocks). However, this resistance did not last long, given that in the middle of the 20th century there was a craftsman in Fez, named Es Sahqi, who only processed models inspired by birds (16). Add to this that the peacock was no longer the only bird species to be embroidered. The sparrow motif (17) called bratel in Darija was appearing and also adorned kaftan, cushions and other ornaments. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a2b128d0360979172be5_IMG_20221029_054019.jpg) *Bratel pattern* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3ad7f466cb7550133fa4_InShot_20221122_164743174.jpg) *Ntaa kaftan decorated with bratel* And towards the end of the 20th century, by being associated exclusively for wedding items (18), the peacock occupied an important (even essential) place in embroidery. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f85d6e4b72c291fce7b0a_IMG_20221123_194418.jpg) *A ntaa kaftan for sale in the medina of Fez, 1997* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377b8162e81cf36f387b5a4_IMG_20221029_052927(1).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f7e416a88a8338d99a0cb_IMG_20221123_200207.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a398624287b66a83c4dd_FB_IMG_1600186065990.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a39ea34a16ea46357a9a_d237c495f0944524623f0092d9ac0367_L%20-%20Copie.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3ab24f0725f75838cdf_IMG_20221115_085930.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3b1983ae1956989d4e9_IMG_20221115_102906.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a39d0b508ac8cf7be445_037a3c35bcdaacb0f6ed30a66a4da5e8%20(1)%20-%20Copie.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a39947507f91c634f172_590a626270dc9ec1c2a34ea75a0c3b43%20-%20Copie.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3ab39fdd52264103939_173544_900360120_e8b4d4945926f9388efb772f1ae8a9bf%20-%20Copie.jpeg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3b3a70bb3cd28cd0c3f_IMG_20220304_082018.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3af1b3d5ad62fc210f7_IMG_20200908_222402.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3d92abca22d03894ca4_FB_IMG_1515968483402.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3e23b76db3a9760912f_IMG_20211116_235954.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3e53b76db3f4d609130_IMG_20220815_001541.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3e0adb078239c2698b2_IMG_20221003_200713.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a3db3b76db63c2608f99_wedding-seats-for-sale-in-fez-morocco-D29WR0%20(1).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377a5b524f0726101847b22_IMG_20221118_162710.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f8676222a7866cd49b4f4_IMG_20221123_194543.jpg) ### The ntaa kaftan*‍* #### The supremacy of the ntaa kaftan This is how the ntaa kaftan as we know it today was born. It was worn in henna during the ceremonies, as reported in this testimony by Lalla Zahra Skalli (19), a major figure in the PDI: *In these new-style weddings, there was only one kaftan of ntaâ (a simpler caftan), and I also had a tiara.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637ce690df2a93520d1b68e6_InShot_20221122_160700855.jpg) *Moroccan brides in ntaa kaftan in the 20th century* This famous fassi kaftan was gradually becoming a considerable success and its use did not stop only at wedding celebrations. It was found in particular on the young girls who celebrated Laylat Al Qadr (Night of Destiny). Indeed, the Moroccan tradition requires that girls celebrate their first fast day dressed like a bride. The ntaa kaftan, a piece that became essential during henna, was then omnipresent during this ceremony. The circumcised young boys, on the other hand, also wore jabadors and selhams decorated with ntaa embroidery. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e32db8da2ae0fbce6d12c_InShot_20221122_170818197.jpg) After settling down comfortably with Muslim women, it was the turn of the Moroccan Jewish community to welcome it. Whether during Mimouna, the holiday that marks the end of Easter, or during a wedding, it was this famous velvet kaftan that was worn. It had won the hearts of Moroccan Jewish women to the point of replacing, according to Mohammed Habib Samrakandi, the traditional Keswal’Kbira (20). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637cea5df64d04067af9394c_InShot_20221122_162118211.jpg) *Moroccan Jewish women in ntaa kaftan.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637ceac893207d2e7ce05d2a_InShot_20221122_162328374.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f86d5faacfb14ddf89433_InShot_20221124_145134092.jpg) *Moroccan Jewish women in ntaa kaftan.* ‍ Thus, little by little, its use was expanding and the ntaa kaftan even became a means of exporting our culture. It was an element of our international “soft power”. In 1957, Lalla Aicha and Lalla Malika, daughters of Mohammed V, both wore a ntaa kaftan at the New York Opera. A photo taken in 1960 can also be seen of a Moroccan woman wearing this dress at a reception in Great Britain. This was also the case in 1961 of the musician Moulay Ahmed Loukili, who for his performance in Italy, all of his female troupe wore pretty ntaa kaftans for the occasion. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3c050d85b3b5ce73efc5_InShot_20221123_131515349.jpg) This kaftan was the garment of almost every event and there is no shortage of examples. We can also mention Safia Ziani, the great figure of Moroccan theater. She also opted for this outfit during a performance at the Mohammed V National Theater. It was with a ntaa kaftan that Lalla Khadija Seffar Zniber received the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr. Zhou Enlai, in 1963. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3c8d081b5049262dc2e6_InShot_20221123_134405660.jpg) *Safia Ziani* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3d140d65e75ef6e34c2c_InShot_20221123_134045068.jpg) *Lalla Khadija Seffar Zniber* To represent her country, Leila Gourmala wrapped herself in a ntaa kaftan on the occasion of her participation in Miss Universe in 1964. A few years later, it was up to Miss Cerisette in Sefrou to follow suit and wear this traditional dress with dignity. Other events throughout history reveal the importance of this costume in Moroccan society, but it would take too long to review them all. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3dff081b505b8c2f14cd_InShot_20221123_132054117.jpg) *Leila Gourmala, Miss Morocco and Souad, Miss Cerisette.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e42d82cf958019501a12e_InShot_20221122_170425764.jpg) *Ntaa kaftan at various fashion shows.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e434d8ee9765577bd6eda_InShot_20221123_134543425.jpg) *Moroccan female singers wearing ntaa kaftan (on the left Zohra al-Fassia and on the right, a woman from Tetouan appearing in the Kuwaiti magazine Al Araby in 1973).* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f9e2ba0d96902878b8466_InShot_20221124_144733458.jpg) *Raise Abdellah Ben Driss and a woman in a Ntaa kaftan; Haja Hamdaouia.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e436b9adee0dee1f78a7e_InShot_20221123_134117641.jpg) *On the left, the wife of Haj Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi, founder of Wydad; on the right, the Egyptian actress Souad Hosni in Morocco.* #### The ntaa kaftan internationally The globalization of the Moroccan kaftan (21) will also allow a keen interest in this velvet caftan. As if to indicate that they found themselves in Morocco, the major international personalities did not hesitate to pose in their elegant ntaa kaftans. This is the case, for example, of the Greek actor Takis Emmanuel, Jacques Gall in Agadir, Antonella Agnelli in Casablanca, or even the famous American jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane, the French Arnaud de Rosnay in Marrakech, but also later of Puff Daddy, on his birthday in the ochre city. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f900d2b3a9632d073e51c_InShot_20221124_163425899.jpg) *Takis Emmanuel; Jacques Gall; Antonella Agnelli.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e43994c92a17378e9a64d_InShot_20221122_165458025.jpg) *Arnaud de Rosnay.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f903abf6086663f2079be_InShot_20221124_163530334.jpg) *Kenneth Jay Lane; Puff Daddy.* This Moroccan outfit is thus continuing its rise and has continued to become popular. It was a thriving industry and the main export product at the beginning of the 20th century (22), so much so that it entered the dressing rooms of Algerian women. This is not a new phenomenon. Interest in Moroccan culture in Algeria is an open secret. The French colonial administration had something to do with it. In the wake of the conquest of Algeria, it in fact put in place a cultural policy aimed at repairing and enriching ruined handicrafts (23). In the field of embroidery, this policy is reflected in the identical patterning of Moroccan embroidery, in particular those from Fez: > “Neighboring countries were finally asked for Oriental or Arab-Berber themes that are easy to acclimatize and develop in Algeria. [...] For embroidery, in order to invigorate the original formula of Algerian art [...], judicious borrowings have also been made from Moroccan art.” In addition, Morocco’s geographical proximity and commercial ties with Western Algeria also played a significant role. In 1905, Charles Rene-Leclerc noted a large number of Moroccan shops and warehouses in Algeria, especially in Maghnia, Tlemcen, Oran, and even as far as Algiers, etc. Other managers, in Constantine or Annaba, also had associates sitting down in order to facilitate Moroccan exports. (24) It was therefore first through Oran, a region more permeable to Moroccan influence, that Algerian women adopted the clothing habits of the neighboring country (25), before them propagating throughout the country. The work of the historian Lucien Govlin on “the legacy of the Ottomans in the artistic field in North Africa” confirms this to us: > ”*In Orania, and more precisely in Tlemcen, fashion came more from Fez* ” It was in this context that the Algerian researcher Ougouag-Kezzal deplored the disappearance of the Ottoman kaftan in Algeria in 1970, short and knee-deep, in favor of the Moroccan ntaa kaftan (26). > ”*Recently, the kaftan has been contaminated by the technique of long and wide Moroccan kaftans entirely and heavily embroidered with madjbûd (embroidery with gold thread). The Moroccan kaftan seems to be gaining ground*” ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e3ec92cf9581384fe8c08_InShot_20221122_164446790.jpg) *Two Algerian women wearing a kaftan, one from Tlemcen (of Ottoman origin), the second is a ntaa kaftan worn by a woman from Constantine.* The fact that she uses the word “contamination” is not insignificant. On the one hand, it is indicative of an invasion of traditional Moroccan clothing in Algeria. And on the other hand, a tendency to want to abandon the outfits inherited by the Turks, which Ougouag-Kezzal seems to regret. Lucien Golvin, again in the same book, adopted the same conclusion: > ”*It would be useless to deny the importance of the Ottoman legacy, but fashion trends, which are accelerating, are increasingly rejecting the memory of the presence of these Orientals.*” (“The legacy of the Ottomans in the artistic field in North Africa”) Euphemistically, or to better hide its origin, the ntaa kaftan is called nowadays in Algeria *Caftan el Qadi*. #### ‍*Its manufacturing technique and its decline* Unfortunately, its manufacturing technique had the reputation of making kaftan heavier (27) and this is what led, in part, to its disappearance. In addition, its manufacture, entirely handmade, took months, even years, because it required the intervention of several artisans. > “For the occasion, she was wearing her elegant tarz ntaa kaftan, in black velvet embroidered with gold, which she usually kept carefully folded in the cedar chest [...]. It was Aunt Habiba who embroidered this velvet kaftan encrusted with pearls herself. [...] She had spent three years there! (“Women’s dreams: childhood tales in the harem by Fatima Mernissi · 1997") Some steps are carried out by men in the medina, while women embroider at home. First, the patterns are cut out of paper. The pattern is then glued to the velvet. The embroiderers, for their part, cover them entirely with gold threads. Working from home, it is impossible to assess their exact numbers. However, we know that in 1937, there were between 2,000 and 2,500 gold thread embroiderers scattered throughout the streets of the Medina (28). Unable to follow or continue their studies, embroidery has in fact been a refuge for Moroccan women for a long time (29). Despite the various initiatives taken by the government and associations to professionalize this profession and preserve its know-how, the progress made in improving access to education has naturally caused the practice of ntaa embroidery to decline. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa7c7b9b8cb362bbfb97_IMG_20221115_072701.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa6b102b5ddddad37a0f_20221101_024006.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa5a102b5d10f7d35ae4_IMG_20221031_232138.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa6a7b9b8c2827bbe1eb_20221101_023951.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa53102b5de86bd34d96_IMG_20220922_210811.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa503ae2dbe1de56c6bc_22805_img_1607_1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa50e8d5ff2abdc1d221_22805_img_1607_2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa59e70247a8e904bfc9_IMG_20210612_160410.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa553de13cb4f89fcf23_IMG_20220418_015516.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa610b508a57d6808093_IMG_20220418_015536.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa63e8d5fff0e6c1ea12_IMG_20221003_194533.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa5e3ae2db3af856d6f7_IMG_20221029_053340.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377aa7c7b9b8cb362bbfb97_IMG_20221115_072701.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f7eeb6941fbb45ba457c9_IMG_20221123_194507.jpg) ### The future of the ntaa kaftan today In an era during which the use of the tarz ghorza kaftans, more commonly known as kaftan b tarz el fassi, dominates henna ceremonies, what is left of this gold thread dress? Our museums are full of them, testifying to the importance of this outfit in Moroccan culture. A true source of inspiration, the ntaa kaftan is immortalized under the brush of Moroccan painters. Thus, everything leads us to believe that this dress remains confined to a relic of the past. A piece of clothing from the past that can only be admired nostalgically through museum exhibitions, paintings and photographs. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e36ceac5a13997b5c45e5_InShot_20221123_010920937.jpg) *Representation of a ntaa kaftan by the painters Abdelilah Rahmini (top); Alvaro Robles Yanez, Chilean painter (center); and Rachid Echlaih (bottom).* This couldn’t be farther from the truth as it’s now standing the test of time. Moroccan designers indeed want to bring it up to date, without altering it. This is the bet that Myriam Bouafi has taken with her new collection. ”*Splendor and Diversity* ” or Houda Benmlih and her elegant kaftan in fuchsia pink. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e368c3fd9c347430c10ba_iMarkup_20221122_195603.jpg) By helping to breathe new life into this magnificent traditional outfit, a new page in its history is currently being written. As the old saying goes, fashion is a constant renewal. We only have to hope that the ntaa kaftan returns to its former place in the wardrobe of Moroccan women. As such, an inscription as an intangible cultural heritage requiring urgent safeguarding by UNESCO would be more than welcome. #### Photo gallery ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e377717bac9550706dfa4_iMarkup_20221122_195714.jpg) *Takchita revisited with ntaa embroidery.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e37b47b1a78140b0cd972_InShot_20221122_200300296.jpg) *The ntaa kaftan worn during a henna.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f95488400c95efa30304e_InShot_20221124_164946920.jpg) *More photos of the ntaa kaftan during a henna.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f8048667b8029e93f6a0a_InShot_20221124_144907076.jpg) *Ntaa kaftans exhibited in Riads (Fez and Marrakech).* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f8143a52e1f659f522149_InShot_20221124_145358127.jpg) *Ntaa kaftans worn by TV presenter Nouhade Senhaji, journalist Fawzia Talout Meknassi and French designer Eric Tibusch.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f82c3bf906b159ee78840_InShot_20221124_153931474.jpg) *Moroccan singer Amina Bensouda in a ntaa kaftan.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abe78a321c9bb9c81c63_IMG_20220122_131431.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377ab683ae2db5281577fa7_IMG_20220927_191340.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377ab5abf434be9a9d801f5_IMG_20220926_002931.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377ab5982da74eb5e148566_IMG_20221003_210707_824.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377ab643ae2db718f577fa3_IMG_20220304_081958.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abd88a321c2458c8031d_FB_IMG_1607564660692.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abdd0c602363049e6afd_IMG_20200712_192224.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abe6bfcea3bbf7c0695b_IMG_20200712_194601.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abde36197ebdb050580f_IMG_20220220_183014.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abe0da263617acf2a37c_IMG_20220507_092618.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abd67bbecf0cadfefe18_IMG_20220903_134528.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abd41b3d5a702ec8195f_IMG_20220927_191152.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6377abd423bed49316f8f5dc_IMG_20220927_191210.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637e4418de86fdb6241f6662_IMG_20221123_001757.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/637f80317e52e5b733de371a_IMG_20221123_194816.jpg) ## References - 1. Silks and other textiles from antiquity to the 16th century: catalog; Sophie Desrosiers 2004 - 2. Fez before the protectorate Roger Le Tourneau 1949 - 3. Rawd al-Qirtas - 4. Fez, historical and toponymic approach by Hassane Sqalli, 2014 and Morocco by Edmondo de Amicis 1882 - 5. For centuries, in Morocco, Muslims were forbidden to work with gold and silver for religious reasons. The Moroccan rulers therefore entrusted this task to the Jews: “Most goldsmiths are Jews who carry out their work in Fas Jdid and carry it to the old town to sell it. There, a market was assigned to them near the drug dealers. Indeed, neither gold nor silver can be worked in the old town (...), because it is said that selling silver or gold objects at a price higher than their weight is worth is usury. But the monarchs give the Jews permission to do so.” Leo the African in the 16th century/Jewish Society in Fez 1450-1700, Studies in Communal and Economic Life by Jane S. Gerber · 1980 - 6. “In Morocco at the beginning of the second millennium, Jews already made gold thread (for example, in Sijilmassa)” by Shai Srougo • The social history of the Jews of Fez in crafts made from gold thread between the Middle Ages and the French colonialist period (16th to 20th centuries) - 7. Fez: jewel of Islamic civilization Attilio Gaudio 1982 - 8. Relations between the Merinids and the Mamluks in the 16th century by Marius Canard1 939 - 9. Two thousand years of Jewish life in Morocco by Haim Zafrani 1998 - 10. Embroidery by Prosper Ricard · 1918 - 11. Revue Africaine, bulletin of the work of the Algerian Historical Society, Volumes 87-88 1943 - 12.[https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/regional-traditions/middle-east-and-north-africa/pre-modern-middle-east-and-north-africa/fes-gold-embroidery-morocco](https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/regional-traditions/middle-east-and-north-africa/pre-modern-middle-east-and-north-africa/fes-gold-embroidery-morocco) - 13. Best Of L'Intégrale Caftan, Volume 1 by Official Morocco - 14. Presence of birds in fragments of placemats from Fez dating from the 18th century.Hesperis 1967 - 15. Women's Dreams, Childhood Stories in the Harem by Fatima Mernissi · 1997 - 16. Golden thread embroidery in Fez, its relationship with silk embroidery, its accessories and trimmings by Amélie-Marie Goichon · 1939 - 17. Ibid. - 18. “Embroidery In The Everyday Life Of Artisans, Merchants, And Consumers In Fez, Morocco, In The 1980s.” UNL digital commons.Textile Society of America. - 19. Voices of Resistance, Oral Histories of Moroccan Women by Alison Baker · 1998 - 20. Horizons Maghreb N° 45/2001 - Landscapes And Gardens Of The Mediterranean - Mohammed-Habib Samrakandi. - 21. [https://moorishtimes.com/articles/caftan-international](https://moorishtimes.com/articles/caftan-international) - 22. “Embroidery In The Everyday Life Of Artisans, Merchants, And Consumers In Fez, Morocco, In The 1980s.” UNL digital commons.Textile Society of America - 23. France and indigenous works in Algeria by Jean Mirante 1930 - 24. Commerce and industry in Fez by Charles René Leclerc - 25. Nédroma, The Evolution of a Medina by Gilbert GrandGuillaume · 2022 - 26. OUGOUAG- KEZZAL (Ch.). The costume and ornament of the bride in Tlemcen. Lybica, volume XVIII, 1970 - 27. “there is *Tarz Nâa* which had the reputation of making the caftan heavier.” [https://femmesdumaroc.com/caftan/siham-el-habti-la-huitieme-merveille-special-caftan-2019-58844](https://femmesdumaroc.com/caftan/siham-el-habti-la-huitieme-merveille-special-caftan-2019-58844) + - “There was also another outfit, thick and rich, worn in one piece: the velvet caftan with Ntae embroidery.” Fabrics so dense that the seamstresses worked to make the cut slightly flared in order to give all their brilliance to the floral patterns >> (“The Caftan, a whole story (1/3) — femmes du Maroc”) - [https://femmesdumaroc.com/stylistes-caftan2015/le-caftan-toute-une-histoire-13-53379](https://femmesdumaroc.com/stylistes-caftan2015/le-caftan-toute-une-histoire-13-53379) . - 28. According to a census by the syndic of saddler traders, Haj Mohamed Sebti. Via Golden Thread Embroidery in Fez, its relationships with silk embroidery, its accessories and trimmings by Amélie-Marie Goichon · 1939 - 29. [https://aujourdhui.ma/culture/le-metier-de-broderie-a-le-vent-en-poupe-89797](https://aujourdhui.ma/culture/le-metier-de-broderie-a-le-vent-en-poupe-89797) --- --- title: "The Jabador: History and Origins" description: "The Jabador, a traditional Moroccan outfit worn on various occasions, was born at the beginning of the country’s Islamic era. This outfit will evolve throughout the centuries until eventually reaching the worldwide fame it has today." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/jabador language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/jabador type: article category: cult published: 2022-02-27T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:07.751Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Traditions", "Caftan"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba90078f69a77cdc1697f_ap-17337309673933-3467.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Jabador: History and Origins By Wealth of Morocco *The Jabador, a traditional Moroccan outfit worn on various occasions, was born at the beginning of the country’s Islamic era. This outfit will evolve throughout the centuries until eventually reaching the worldwide fame it has today.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba90078f69a77cdc1697f_ap-17337309673933-3467.jpg) The Jabador is a traditional Moroccan outfit worn on various occasions (weddings, engagements, baptisms, religious holidays etc...). It’s a set composed of three pieces: 1. A pair of pants 2. A tunic 3. A vest ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba612e7826419ba9f732b_FKczbUMXIAEorS3.jpg) Wearing Serwal (pants) and a Bad’ia (traditional sleeveless vest) had been in practice since the beginning of the era of Islamization in Morocco, so we can consider them in some ways the embryonic form of the Jabador. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba2014562195226e0b2bf_FKczdCbWYAEZfc0.jpg) This set was initially worn under the Kaftan or the Jellaba. It was the establishment, later, of a jacket to match a Bad’ia and a Serwal that gave birth to the Jabador. According to the Arabist Luciano Rubio Calzon, the Jabador is the garment that Hassan al-Wazzan (Leo the African) refers to in his Description of Africa published in the years 1525 where he mentions the nobles of Fez. After all, at its inception, this outfit was reserved for the country’s rich townspeople (merchants, dignitaries, ambassadors etc...). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba314c6ecfcb628d9fe52_FKczhscXIAwe8Fm.jpg) This passage from al-Fishtali in the 16th century also mentions the Jabador in filigree, describing a wax procession on the occasion of Eid Nabawi carried out in Marrakech by Amaria bearers. This tradition, perpetuated by the Neggafates, continues to the present day, requiring the bride’s bearers to wear the Jabador. Thus, through this Moussem of candle procession in Sale, the Jabador has retained all its authenticity and richness of yesteryear, having undergone very few modifications. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba4ad1757ae53fd7743b3_FKczeLkX0AUnnhT.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba47dc6ecfc70a8da8126_FKcziEZXIAIiPix.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba4ad188cb4a8eda947f5_FKczjyoXMAMXqRM.jpg) Moroccan iconographic sources are extremely rare due to the recommendation of Islam on the non-figuration of the human being, but these French engravings of 1699 of Moroccan ambassadors in Paris reveal to us what is similar to the primitive Jabador. Abdelmalek Lahlou reports that Jabador would even be a corruption of the word ambassador. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba4bd188cb41a95a947f8_FKczdwOXsAUkUqt.jpg) However, it was not until the 19th century that this outfit was explicitly mentioned in European literature. The latter would be the local dress in force in Tangier during the same period. However, a portion of the population continues to perpetuate the use of the Moroccan caftan. At the beginning of the 20th century, we note that the Jabador continued to be democratized and took up more and more space in the dressing room of Moroccans, even replacing the indoor caftan. *Excerpts from the sources below:* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba59578f69a2754bf24d2_FKczn87XwAEin6d.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba5951757ae4814781a36_FKczospXEAIkqCc.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba59458a027592d0efcf7_FKczoUPXoAYimG7.jpg) The momentum of Moroccan designers in the 20th century in the reinterpretation of traditional costumes did not spare this outfit, without however betraying its form and its traditional character. Designers will draw on Moroccan clothing heritage and add modern touches. The essence of Jabador will be turned upside down: - The Serwal Qandrisi will be replaced by modern embroidered pants - The Bad’ia will give way to a three-quarter Moroccan caftan - The transparent vest, on the other hand, is a replica of the Mansouria, a transparent fabric introduced by Ahmed Al Mansour in the 16th century. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba68744a88d756eea837a_FKczquLXMAYAEea.jpg) The set is decorated with typical Moroccan embroidery, heir to fourteen centuries of craftsmanship (SFIFA, Aakad, Dfira, Kitane etc...), all made of fine wool called Mlifa nowadays *(on the other hand, the archives mentioned the name Melf Keskessou or Kouskousou)*. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba5b044a88d9247e9aaa5_dbbf5aa010b869ab9078cc566525ad62.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba6d16a27d75052229368_EsmETRtXUAYiugC.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba1d1e1d470d59f9c4b4e_FKczcASWQAQRP40.jpg) The 20th century was also the period during which the Jabador became popular among women, thanks to the wonders of the first generations of Moroccan designers. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba7fe1757ae332f7abfe4_FKc0I2EWUAEqlTV.jpg) *Exhibition of a Jabador stylized by Zina Guessous.* As for men, Moroccan women will first wear it under the jellaba. Today, this Moroccan outfit is making its way beyond national borders. Indeed, Morocco has always been renowned for its traditional outfits and the Jabador is no exception to the rule. In 2019, traditional clothes (caftan, Jabador, jellaba...) were already at the top of the most requested products abroad. *Excerpts from the sources below:* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba893456219645feb08df_FKc0KUtXIAc3_es.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621ba893a95a08ee7bdaaf5e_FKc0J5gXIAMRRrk.jpg) ## References - Moroccan costumes, Jean Besancenot, 1944 - Recuerdos de un viaje a Marruecos, Fernando Amor, 1859 - Journey to Morocco, Étienne Richet, 1909 - Trip to Morocco, Ali Bey, 1803 - Main picture: [Mosa'ab Elshamy](http://www.mosaabelshamy.com/personal-favorites#ap-17337309673933-3467) --- --- title: "The Moors & the Discovery of America" description: "The discovery of America is often attributed to Christopher Columbus, despite the fact that this has been refuted several times. The reality is that several peoples discovered the American continent long before, such as the Vikings but also the Moorish and Muslim explorers." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/moors-america language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/maures-amerique type: article category: hist published: 2022-02-23T00:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:11.969Z author: "Adil Astaib" tags: ["Cartography", "Exploration", "Andalusia"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621660f0159580d1eafb9134_Sailing%20Boats.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Moors & the Discovery of America By Adil Astaib *The discovery of America is often attributed to Christopher Columbus, despite the fact that this has been refuted several times. The reality is that several peoples discovered the American continent long before, such as the Vikings but also the Moorish and Muslim explorers.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/621660f0159580d1eafb9134_Sailing%20Boats.jpg) The discovery of America is often attributed to Christopher Columbus, despite this fact being refuted several times (the presence of the Vikings being the most popular alternative). There are many theories explaining the presence of humans in America, but the best known is that of the Beringia Land Bridge. This theory suggests that towards the end of the last ice age, humans crossed a strip of land connecting Siberia to Northwest America. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/62165d055f9bb237dc7fad79_Beringia.jpg) *Source: National Geographic* This land passage existed thanks to the low sea levels, going as low as 120 meters. The melting of the glaciers at the end of this ice age caused the waters to rise, making the land bridge disappear along the way. ### Pre-Columbian Moorish explorers to the New World In an interview on The Deen Show with Jerald Dirks, American author and psychologist, Dirks said that Muslims went to America long before Christopher Columbus, adding, “We Muslims were here long before Christopher Columbus ever thought of coming to America.” There were a number of trips from the Muslim world to the Americas long before Christopher Columbus. The oldest of these was that of Khashkhash ibn Said ibn Aswad, leaving Muslim Andalusia in the year 889CE. Sailing west across the Atlantic to discover a new land which turned out to be the Caribbean Islands. Ibn Aswad ended up making a roundtrip to the carribeans and back to Andalusia. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/62165d7e3df6b17818af7032_Al_Masudi%27s_Map_of_the_World.jpg) *Ali al-Masudi’s map including a continent in the West, according to the discoveries of Ibn Aswad.* A Muslim geographer and scientific advisor to the king of Sicily by the name of [Sharif al-Idrisi](/en/articles/charif-idrissi) written in the 12th century about a group of eight Muslim sailors who sailed west across the Atlantic from Andalusia to arrive on two new islands where they were captured by Native Americans and held captive. After two or three days, an indigenous king who acted as a translator between the locals and these travelers organized their release and their return to Andalusia. This shows that Native Americans had close contacts with Muslims. However, these trips were not only made from Andalusia but also from Africa. ### Pre-Columbian Mandingo explorers to the New World Around the year 1310 CE, the Sultan of the Mali Empire named Mansa Aboubakar II, brother of Mansa Musa, sent expeditions west across the Atlantic. He called on engineers from Lake Chad to build ships so that he could launch his fleet across the ocean. He hired a crew of sailors, traders, builders, artists, warriors, and scholars and provided them with enough rations to last for two years. After a lone captain and one of the 200 ships he had sent returned to Mali claiming that the other ships had been pulled into a current and disappeared, Mansa Abubakar II started preparing a fleet again. Mansa Abubaker II decided to make the trip himself in 1311 CE. He traveled with his men on 1000 ships and sent another 1000 with provisions. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/62165f39311a5f2a38c0bb5f_Kankan%20Moussa.jpg) Aboubakar’s fleet landed in the Americas. We have proof of this because there is an indigenous South American tribe that, even today, continues to use Mandingo ideograms as a form of written communication. There is also a North American Indian tribe whose word program was written by a Moravian missionary in the middle of the 18th century. When modern linguists examined it, they discovered that many of these words were in Mandingo, the language of the Mali Empire. The Mandingos explored parts of America, intermarried with Native American tribes, and gradually their history was lost. The most convincing proof will come from Christopher Columbus himself, who wrote in his diary that Native Americans confirmed: “People with black skin had come from the Southeast in boats, trading in gold-tipped spears.” These spearheads were described as “guanin” by Native Americans, which is the Mandinka word for gold, the language of the Mali Empire. Adding to that, chemical analysis of the spearheads revealed that the gold came from West Africa. During Christopher Columbus’s third voyage to the New World in 1498, he landed in Trinidad. He and his son Fernando Columbus discovered that Native Americans had woven cotton towels like those used in West Africa as well as similar clothing from Muslim Moors. Hernando Cortez described indigenous women dressed as a “long veil” and men as “panties painted in the style of Moorish draperies.” In addition, Fernando Columbus notes the similarity between the hammocks of Aboriginal children and those of North Africa. ### Pre-Columbian Moroccan explorers to the New World A famous [Moroccan geographer and cartographer by the name of Sharif al-Idrissi](https://moorishtimes.com/articles/charif-idrissi) (1099-1166) wrote in a book of his that a group of marine navigators from Morocco set sail onto the Atlantic Ocean from Lisbon. On the fourth day, they reached an island where they met a translator speaking to them in Arabic, which suggests that its residents were Muslims from North Africa, most likely from Morocco. In 1291, Sheikh Zayn Eddine Ali Ben Fadhel al-Mazandarani left Tarfaya to the west under the reign of King Abu-Yaqub Sidi Youssef (1285-1307). He describes his journey through the “sea of fog and darkness” leading him to reach Green Island in the Caribbean. ### Conclusion All of these trips contributed to the knowledge we have today about the Americas. The Moroccan Empire and the Mali Empire exerted a significant influence on the culture and practices of Native Americans. Both empires have made great strides in discovering the new world with some theorists arguing that without the sailors and explorers of North Africa and Andalusia, just as with the Ottoman Empire blocking the Silk Road, the American geopolitical climate would not be the same today. --- --- title: "The Banu Hilal, Banu Maqil and Banu Sulaym: History of the Settlement of Arab Tribes in Morocco" description: "Introduced in a context of war and games of alliances, Arab tribes, in particular the Banu Hilal and the Banu Maqil, played an undeniable role in the politics and history of the kingdom. Their arrival will also gradually influence the culture of Morocco, thus contributing to building the Arab-Berber component of the country." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/arab-tribes language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/tribus-arabes type: article category: hist published: 2022-01-30T13:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:15.912Z tags: ["Identity", "Arabness", "Almohads", "Almoravids", "Alaouites", "Saadians", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/62127fba16e851c33ee69301_2.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Banu Hilal, Banu Maqil and Banu Sulaym: History of the Settlement of Arab Tribes in Morocco *Introduced in a context of war and games of alliances, Arab tribes, in particular the Banu Hilal and the Banu Maqil, played an undeniable role in the politics and history of the kingdom. Their arrival will also gradually influence the culture of Morocco, thus contributing to building the Arab-Berber component of the country.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/62127fba16e851c33ee69301_2.jpg) ## Introduction The introduction of the first Bedouin tribes into North Africa took place in a context of war between the Shiite Fatimid empire and the Zirids. Founded in 909, the Fatimid Caliphate was established thanks to the Berbers Kutamas from Ifriqiya. Unable to unify the Maghreb, they settled in Egypt and founded Cairo in 969. ### Background It was at the beginning of the 8th century that the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym, two Arab tribes from Nejd and Hejaz and themselves subdivided into several clans (including the Athbedj, the Riyah and the Zoghba) returned to Egypt through the Sa’id. During the first half of the 11th century the Egyptian campaigns were devastated. The Hilalians, led by Abu Zayd Al Hilali, moved to the Maghreb in 1050. This migration was encouraged by the Fatimids who wanted to punish their Zirid vassals and their Hammadid cousins for joining the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. The Fatimids having handed over land titles to the heads of Arab tribes, their advent was therefore, from their point of view, legitimized. At the same time, the Fatimids were getting rid of tribes that were particularly difficult to control from their territory in Upper Egypt. Indeed, the Qarmatians and other supporters of the Umayyad Abu Qurrah showed a certain hostility towards this empire, causing multiple revolts by Arabs in the Middle East, in particular therefore by Hilalian tribes. The Zirids were quickly defeated and their neighbors the Hammadides and Zenets were greatly weakened. The last battle was fatal, the Hilalians-Hammadides coalition decapitated the leader Abu Soda of the army composed of the Ifrenids in 1058: the Berbers delivered the country to the Hilalians. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f663492738ccb284d822d4_7.jpg) Ibn Khaldun, a contemporary of the Marinid era, historian and demographer from Tunis, a city that witnessed the first Hilalian advances in the Maghreb, describes a catastrophic mutation of the regional economy, the transition from a nomadic to a sedentary economy, since in many plains regions, farmers gave up to invaders. In 1057 Kairouan was taken and plundered, the fall of Kairouan led to considerable consequences, as its literate elites took the road of exile and took refuge in Fez where the Kairouan neighborhood was created: > Like a cloud of grasshoppers, they destroyed everything in their path [...] If Arabs need stones to fix their pots on a fireplace, they degrade the walls of buildings in order to get them; if they need wood to make stakes or tent poles, they destroy the roofs of houses. — Ibn Khaldoun, Al Muqadima, 1377 #### The Banu Hilal migration and its impact on Berber society as seen by contemporary historiography: > The Arab nomads shook and then destroyed the Zirid (Tunisia) and Hammadide (Eastern and Central Algeria) kingdoms, conscientiously plundered the flat country, made the sedentary people flee, granted their alliance, temporary and often failing at the critical moment, to the Berber princes who, in exchange, granted them territories. Once these have been settled, the Banu Hilal turn their eyes to other horizons, to other “springs” as they say, where their herds will find new pastures and the warriors of the cities to plunder or to ransom hard [...] in less than three centuries, the Hilalians made their way of life triumph and succeeded, without having wanted to, in Arabizing most of the world linguistically and culturally. a Berber who no longer deserves its name. > It is a strange and in fact quite wonderful story that this ethno-sociolinguistic transformation of a population of several million Berbers by a few tens of thousands of Bedouins [...] The nomadic Arab contingents, who spoke the sacred language and derived great prestige from it among Muslims, far from being absorbed by the Berber mass, served as models, attracted it to them. — Gabriel Camps, French prehistorian and specializt in the history of the Berbers based in Algiers, 1992:151-164 The Hilalian invasion is certainly the most important event of the entire Maghreb Middle Ages. It is it, much more than the Muslim conquest, that transformed the Maghreb for centuries. Before the Hilalians, this country, except Islam, had remained profoundly Berber in language and customs; it had become so again politically as it shook up the authority of the East [...] The Bedouins brought with them their language, which can easily be distinguished from urban dialects, the legacy of the first Muslim conquerors. From this Bedouin Arabic, come most of the rural Arabic dialects spoken today in North Africa [...]. With them, nomadism became invasive, taking land that was made for it from the cultivation of cereals or orchards, destroying by asphyxiation villages and secondary cities, leaving only a thin agricultural fringe along the coasts, around the cities that remained, or inside the mountain ranges that the Arab flow bypassed without penetrating them. > All these transformations, it should be noted, were slow in general; it is not an impetuous torrent that should be talked about, but rather about the relentless flow of the rising tide; almost no memorable battles, no spectacular facts: a steady, almost gentle, but irresistible push. — Charles-Andree Julien, historian, specializt in North Africa and teacher in Rabat 1952:414-415 ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f66390f5e685aeaddb33ed_2.jpg) Some researchers denounce a certain instrumentalization of this event by Western writings, disregarding the political context and highlighting partial writing concerning the arrival of the Banu Hilal. According to the historian, Mr. Kadache, the Zirid rulers themselves gave orders to destroy crops. Ibn Khaldoun being very close to the current government, could not afford to write on the subject with complete freedom of conscience. Wasn’t making Arabs harmful invaders a way to legitimize the French presence? The fundamental antagonism between Nomads and Settlers, Arabs and Berbers does not correspond to historical reality. It is a myth. Serious historians believed it, even though the results of their research refuted this theory on a number of essential points. G. Marcais, one of the best experts on the problem of the Arabs in Tamazgha, subscribed to it from the preface of his book, although he gathered a wealth of facts that are proof that there was no real invasion. This myth is not the result of chance. It was consciously forged, and instilled within the framework of colonialist ideology. — Yves Lacoste, geographer and geopoliticologist from Fez, “Ibn Khaldoun: Birth of History, Past of the Third World”, pp. 95-102 > “Ibn Khaldoun, the essential reference in historiography, recognized the Hilalians for honorable qualities that were passed over by some under silence. For example, the alliance of Hilalian leaders with Berber princes in mutual fidelity to commitments. The Athbedj made a pact with the Hammadids and the Riyah with the Zirids. And what the colonial chronicle especially does not mention is the deep attachment of Hilalian descendants (ex-colonized) to their actions. Unnoticed loyalty. It was even a powerful source of resistance to identity alienation underpinned by the civilization project of “savages”. — Youssef Nacib, Doctor of Letters and Human Sciences at the Sorbonne, professor at the University of Algiers and the University of Tizi-Ouzou, A gesture in fragments, a contribution to the study of the Hilalian legend in the Algerian Highlands”, pp. 82-92 ## The Almohad era ### The historical context in the Maghreb The first caliph of an empire created by sedentary Berber mountaineers from the Tinmel region, Abd al-Mumin could only be hostile to the arrival of nomadic Bedouins in the East of the Maghreb. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f663acb46beb74e80ddd99_4.jpg) Added to this were the threats of the Norman king Roger II of Sicily who seized the island of Djerba in 1134 where he imposed his suzerainty on Mahdia and threatened Bougie, the most prosperous port in eastern Maghreb and the evacuation area of the Hammadides. Roger II arrived in Tripoli in 1146 and then settled in Gabes, Sfax and Sousse. Fixed in the ports, the Norman conquerors lost interest in the hinterland, but monopolized the maritime trade of the region for their benefit. While these events were taking place, the Banu Khazroun managed to stay in Tripoli until being driven out a year later by the Normans from Sicily. ### The Almohad intervention The growing dangers posed by the Bedouins to what remained of the Hammadid states, as well as the Norman incursion, prompted the Almohads to intervene. Gathered in Sale in 1151, the Almohad army left the banks of the Bouregreg river and headed north, making it appear that it was leaving for Andalusia. Abd al-Mumin even went as far as Sebta and only later did he direct his troops eastward. Through Tlemcen, the army arrived in Algiers where it was joined by al-Hassan Ben Ali (Zirid), driven from Mahdia by the Normans. The Hammadid troops will be easily defeated in front of Bougie and the Almohads will enter the city left to burn and massacre. Abd al-Mumin will thus settle accounts with the Hammadids of Bougie, having tried to rescue the Almoravids during the Battle of Tlemcen in 1145 and who had previously driven Ibn Toumert from their city. Abd al-Mumin then gave up marching on Kairouan and then returned to Marrakech after appointing governors and installing garrisons in the conquered regions. #### The Battle of Setif The Battle of Setif is a key event in the settlement of Arab tribes in Morocco. It is important to note that Abd al-Mumin, motivated long before this episode by the expansionism of his caliphate, already aspired to incorporate all Arab confederations into the political-military elites of the empire. This fight took place in 1153 between the Almohad army and the Hilalian tribes threatened by the advance of the Caliphate to the East. The caliph Abd al-Mumin, who had just left the city of Bejaia to go to the heart of the empire, learned that a large number of Hilalian Arabs had decided to advance against him. An army of about 30,000 Almohad Berber cavalry then set out to counter this assault. ![Roger II de Sicile.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f6650523b2725ea4c2a97a_Roger_II._Sicilsky.jpg) *Roger II of Sicily.* Roger II of Sicily, informed of Hilalian ambitions and disturbed by the presence in force of the Almohads, proposed to these tribes a military alliance, something that their emirs declined on Islamic principle. The chroniclers therefore nicknamed the Battle of Setif “the Battle of Women” since the Hilalian emirs preferred to make the choice to fight alongside their own wives than to ally themselves with unbelievers against other Muslims. The Hilalians were defeated after three days of battle. Abd al-Mumin decided not to push the Arabs back to the East but to put them under his service. This decision was explained by his ambition to gather all the forces of Islam in view of the holy war that he intended to wage against Christians engaged in the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. The Hilalian tribes will now constitute the Almohad army, providing their military service in exchange for dispensing with the Kharadj and the recognition of a number of advantages. Abd al-Mumin thus gave priority to jihad while avoiding a potential alliance between the Bedouins and the Norman princes of Sicily, the latter being adept at playing divisions in order to weaken the Muslim camp. In order to facilitate their relationships, Abd al-Mumin employed diplomatic efforts that demonstrated deep respect for his tribes. In his book, the historian Ibn al-Khatir mentions the political involvement of dignitaries from the Athbedj, Addi, Zoghba, Qurrah and Riyah tribes who constituted an assembly responsible for the appointment of the Almohad caliph. For example, these tribes will name the son of the Caliph Mohamed as the crown prince of the Empire. > He reserved the women and children, whom he put under good care and whose care he entrusted to eunuchs who were responsible for looking after them and providing for their needs. When he arrived in Marrakech, he settled them in large houses and gave them large pensions; then he had his son Mohammed write to the Arab emirs that their wives and children were under good care, that he had forgiven them and treated them generously. So these emirs hastened to come to Marrakech, where Abd el-Mumin returned their families to them, treated them well and distributed large amounts of money to them. These procedures reconciled their hearts to him, and they settled down with him. He did not change the way he treated them. And it was with their help that he did what we will say under the year 551 concerning the designation of Mohammed as heir apparent.” — Ibn al-Athir, biographer and historian, contemporary of the Almohad era ### The beginning of the political-military influence of Arab tribes through the centuries in Morocco So it was the Almohads who opened Morocco to the Arabs. Until the dissolution of the Guichs during the Alawite era with the protectorate, the reigning dynasties always sought to take advantage of their demographic and military strengths in the context of crusades, conquests and battles. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f663efff306fefb71063fd_5.jpg) *Jarmun ibn-Riyah.* The integration of Arab tribes into the Almohad military elite highlights charismatic commanders, in particular the Hilalian Jarmun ibn-Riyah who distinguished himself during his victory at the Battle of Alarcos at the head of the Arab mujahideen. The Banu Hilal therefore formed a privileged militia whose exploits will be evoked even in Arabic poetry within the Almohad empire. The chronicler Ibn Abi Zar al-Fassi tells in “Raw al-Qirat” that he used to recite the following verses during his excursions in Andalusia to encourage his troops: “O Believers! Be patient, struggle patiently with each other; be firm and fear God. You will be happy. O Believers! If you assist God in his war against enemies, he will assist you and strengthen your step.” > The policy of recourse to the Guich tribes, initiated by the Almohads and continued by the Marinids, had, for its part, contributed to the occupation of Sais and the Atlantic plains by Arab tribes from the Central Maghreb. Other Arab tribes had gradually infiltrated from the east and south-east. — Tribal movements and socio-political dynamics ## The Marinid era The transition to the Marinid era was marked by an atmosphere of discord. Several stories bear witness to the Marinid massacres against Banu Hilal tribes because of their support for the Almohads. ### The tribal composition inherited from the Almohads In 1198, the Hilalian Sufyan and Khult tribes, originally from Central Maghreb, were moved to the region of Tamesna by the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur and the Banu Jabir were in turn settled in the region of Tadla. The Khults had acquired great political importance by allying themselves with the Almohads. The Gharb will be populated by the Riyah to oppose the actions of the Banu Ghania, the last contenders of the Almoravid heritage. They will be installed by the last Almohad caliph, Abu Dabbus, in the Marrakech region. ### Under the Marinids The Sufyans were among the Almohads’s most active supporters and remained hostile to the Marinids. To control them, the Marinids called on another Arab tribe from the central Maghreb, the Banu Malik (branch of the Zughba), who were installed in 1279 in Tamesna to monitor them. On the other hand, the Khults chose to support the new dynasty. They left the Tamesna region in the 14th century to occupy the Gharb and they will thus disperse the Riyah whose tribe name will cease to appear in chronicles. At the end of the century, the Sufyan tribes will find themselves weakened and will disperse in the Gharb absorbing the Banu Malik among them. ### The Marinid Army ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fa9c7062ac3576bee465_9.jpg) The army consisted mainly of tribal contingents, some from Zenata Berber tribes from the Maghreb and others from the Banu Hilal that the Almohads imported. These tribes will participate in several expeditions to Andalusia, in particular to Sevilla in the company of the Acem, Khlut and Athbedj of the Atlantic plains. In 1285, other raids took place especially during the summer season with the participation of Arab cavalrymen Banu Jaber from Tadla as well as victorious raids on Christian territories. The historian al-Nasiri testifies to the courage of the Hilalian warriors of the Arab confederation of Jochem. In addition, the caliph Abu Yaqub an-Nasr established around 3000 Berber and Arab warriors in the western borders of Muslim Andalusia to support the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. ## The Saadian era A revival of the Moroccan guich system (military tribes) was formed with the Saadian sultans in the 16th century, during the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur. The military institution will mainly be composed of Banu Hilal and Banu Maqil tribes including the Oudayas, Rahamna, Ouled Dlim and Ouled Jamaa. In addition to tax exemption (except religious taxes), they received land grants on land that was devolved to them. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f8244a42d7d18689b8c87c_sz4bR8Zg.jpg) *The Dar Jama & Jama Palace, located in the cities of Meknes and Fez, are former possessions of the Jama family built in the 19th century.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f8247c37e2c14b045d9619_ewaa50tn.jpg) *When the Sultan died in 1894, in disgrace of the new Sultan Abd El Aziz (1878-1943), two members of the Jama family (the Grand Vizier and the Minister of War) were imprisoned in Tetouan. The family was dispersed and their property confiscated.* The conquest of Morocco by the Saadians was based on the guich of Ahl Souss, which mainly included Banu Maqil whose strongest components were those of the Shbanat and the Zlrara. These Maqils incorporated Berber elements such as the Teknas of the northern Sahara under their name. The tribes of the Guich of Ahl Souss occupied the region of Marrakech, Tadla and then the region of Fez. Some of their elements, who moved to the Fez region, settled under new names in pre-Rif Berber countries. In particular, they formed a Hyayna and Ouled Jama country where they mixed with the local Berber populations, creating a new genealogy. In the region of Marrakech, the first tribes of the Guich of Ahl Sous were, in the middle of the 16th century, followed by components of all the Dhwi Hassan tribes of the Sahara, the Ouled Dlim, the Rahamna, the Rahmanna, the Ahmar, the Ahmar, the Ouled, the Ouled Bou Sba, the Sraghna and the Abda. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fb49defecfea3f03fa4d_ouedelleben.jpg) All these Maqil tribes gave their names to the territories between Oum Errabia and the High Atlas and then between the Safi region and the western border of Tadla (Rahamna, Ahmar, Abda, Abda, Skhana, Skhana and tribes of the Guich of Marrakech). At the dawn of the 16th century, the Oudaias formed the Saadian guich with their neighbors Brabish and Ahmar in Mauritania and Oued Dahab. The political fortunes of the Oudayas are due to Moulay Ismail being born from an Oudaya mother. This kinship determined him to make this tribe one of the pivots of his guich. It is therefore found in all the military commitments of the Alaouite period. However, it was an undisciplined tribe that will often be seen on the side of pretenders who contested the legitimate throne. Their conflicts with the city of Fez were numerous. It was only in the 19th century that this tribe was ordered to disperse into various garrisons, including the well-known one in Rabat. The Arab tribes of this era contributed to the overwhelming Moroccan victory at the Battle of the Three Kings. The chronicler Abou El Kacem Zayani counts 10,000 men from the Arab-zenete Guich of Cheraga, 5000 Arabs from Gharb, and 5000 Arabs from Haouz out of 50,000 men. The Hilalian confederation of Hyayna located north of Fez was also illustrated by its ferocity in its participation in Oued El Leben against the Ottoman Empire and the Battle of the Three Kings against the Empire of Portugal. In 1582, the Saadian Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur conquered the region of Touat (Algerian Adrar) thanks to generals Ahmad ibn Barkah and Ahmad ibn Haddad al-Ghamiri al-Maqili, from the Arab tribe of Banu Maqil. *Nomads of the tribal confederation of 'Arīb in M’hamid Al-Ghozlan (Qsar Saadien), 1960s.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fa614ced260a37e9bd98_10.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fa61ad1b7f30090a7ff4_11.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fa61049913a62658b115_12.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fa614ced263e15e9bd97_13.jpg) ## The Alawite era As under most previous dynasties, the Guiche tribes were exempt from taxes, were often rewarded, and were granted land in exchange for their contingents. At the time when the revolts were appeased under the reign of Moulay Ismail, the majority of the Cherifian army was now composed of soldiers from the Sahara and the border areas of the Empire, namely Tafilalet, Souss, Western Sahara and Mauritania, where was originally from Lalla Khnata Bent Bekkar, one of the four official women of Moulai Ismail. The Banu Maqil, who inhabited these lands in large numbers, therefore represented the first and main contingents of the Alawites. The Hilalian Arab tribes Khult and Cherarda were also used and referred to as the Makhzen tribe, providing several of their contingents to the Cherifian army. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f663c92738cc2cd1d87451_6.jpg) ### Moulay Ismail’s reforms and the Reha system Moulay Ismail then created the Guich of the Oudayas. This one is divided into three “Reha”. It must be distinguished from the Oudaias tribe itself. #### Ahl Souss The Reha of Ahl Souss is composed of four Arab Maqil tribes from the same region, namely the Oulad Jerrar, Oulad Mtaa, Zirara and the Chebanatea. In the 16th century, these tribes formed the Saadian army against the Arabs Jochem of Gharb, part of the Banu Hilal who are the Khluts, and Sufyan who supported the Merinids of Fez. #### The Mghafra The Mghafra are Banu Maqil people from Mauritania, where the wife of Moulay Ismail Lalla Khnata Ben Bekkar comes from. #### The Oudayas The Oudayas (also spelled Udayas or Oudaias) are a powerful desert tribe from Adrar, with a strong camel cavalry. Nomads recently returned to the North, they were in Souss when Moulay Ismail took Marrakech in 1674. The sovereign sympathized with a poor shepherd also of Maqil origin named Bou-Chefra whose people had to flee the desert because of the drought by bringing together all his people to create an elite army. ### Toward the modern era Recall that during the Saadian era, the Khult were one of the largest tribes in Gharb. True to the Saadian heritage, they opposed the emergence of the Alawites. We thus see them allying with their Tliq confederates in Ghailan, the “Prince of the North”, against Moulay er-Rachid. This hostility did not abate and they were later seen allying themselves with el-Mostadhi and er-Rifi against Moulay Abdallah. They will finally end up siding with the dynasty at the beginning of the 19th century, and they will be installed in 1852 by Moulay Abderrahman in the region of Fez and Meknes to monitor the Arab tribes who arrived from Algeria in the 18th century. The Khult and the Tliq will gradually lose their preponderance in Gharb and will gradually be pushed back into Habt by the Banu Malik and the Sufyan. It is in this region that they were found in the 20th century. In the second half of the 19th century, the Banu Malik and the Sufyan were themselves repulsed by the Maqil Banu Hassan who confined them to the north of Sebou where they are today. The last attempt by the Banu Hassan to cross the Sebou was stopped in 1912 by French troops. Disparate components of the Hilalian tribes remained in Chaouia and Doukkala, two denominations of ancient Tamesna. We find traces of it in some ethnonyms of tribes or fractions. Thus, the current Ouled Ziyan tribe is named after a fraction of the Banu Malik. The Ouled Hariz have an ethnonym that connects them to the Jusham Ouled Jabir. *Photos of the Kasbah of the Udayas* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7f9dc3180212148f4360c_xTIcvIoC.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7f9db4ced2621d1e9bd43_H_jBCO0-.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7f9dc62b740260fdb5025_Q5qHK5E5.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7f9db318021e25af4352c_QdE_ngtH.jpg) ## The strengthening of the Arab-Berber component under the Guich system The establishment of Bedouin tribes exerted a significant linguistic and cultural influence in rural areas, in contrast to the so-called “post-Umayyad” Arabization, which mainly affected urban and elitist areas (Tetouan, Meknes, Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez mainly). This massive dissemination of Bedouin speech is explained by the weight of the prestige of military tribes in society as well as the fact that the Berbers considered the Arabic language to be important as a vector for the spread of Islam. Moreover, the Berber nomads were the first to adopt the language, especially those from the Zenet group, while the Sanhadja of the South and the Tuaregs, who were too distant, did not suffer the same influence. In addition, the arrival of these Bedouin tribes changed the physiognomy of part of Libya and of the whole Maghreb, which until then Berber, gradually became Arab-Berber. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f662a742318d8183a89342_1.jpg) One of the greatest cultural phenomena resulting from this fusion is the development of the equestrian art of Tbourida (or Fantasia), very popular in the countryside of Morocco. Each tribe in the country has one or more Tbourida troops with a greater concentration in the regions of Tadla, Doukkala, Abda, Bni-Amir, Charqaoua, Lahmar, Rahmar, Rahamna, Rahamna, Beni Ouarayn, Beni Ouarayn, Zemmour, Zair, Zayane and Beni Znassen. There are five types of Tbourida: Hayaynia in the Fes-Meknes region, Chekaouia in the Beni-Mellal-Khenifra region, Khayatia in Greater Casablanca; Nassiria in the Doukkala-Abda region; and Sahraouia in Saharan Morocco. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61f7fb33d6f9c12bd9b6f7e7_tbourida.jpg) There are nearly a thousand troops throughout Morocco. They produce shows to animate the Moussems (seasonal festivals). Among them, 330 officially participate in an annual national championship, composed of regional and inter-regional competitions and a national final. In addition, Tbourida is at the origin of the development of the market for Barbe and Arab-Barbe horses, which represent 80% of the Moroccan livestock. Tbourida is the main outlet for this equine production. Although these Arab tribes succeeded in imposing their language and disseminating it, often mixed with local Berber populations, they also naturally adopted Berber cultural elements resulting from a fusion that was consolidated over the centuries under the weight of windows. ## An interactive map to find out where the different tribes of Morocco are located: ## References - Benabdallah, 1994:37-38 - Tribal movements and socio-political dynamics of territories, Moha-Med V University, Rabat - How Berberia became the Maghrebarabe, Gabriel Camps - Al Muqaddima, Ibn Khaldoun - A gesture in fragments, a contribution to the study of the Hilalian legend in the Algerian Highlands, Youcef Nacib - Ibn Khaldoun: Birth of History, Past of the Third World, Yves Lacoste --- --- title: "When the United States Almost Nuked Morocco" description: "On January 31, 1958, the United States kept secret an incident involving a nuclear bomb at the Sidi Slimane Air Base that could have killed thousands of people." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/usa-nukes language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/usa-nukes type: article category: hist published: 2022-01-10T12:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:20.977Z author: "Adil Astaib" tags: ["Modern History", "Protectorate"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1dc2b1ae49dbfa637ea4_welcome.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # When the United States Almost Nuked Morocco By Adil Astaib *On January 31, 1958, the United States kept secret an incident involving a nuclear bomb at the Sidi Slimane Air Base that could have killed thousands of people.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1dc2b1ae49dbfa637ea4_welcome.jpg) In 1951, the United States built five military installations in Morocco, including the Nouasseur Air Base, now the Mohammed V International Airport. The United States kept secret an incident involving a nuclear bomb at the Sidi Slimane Air Base that could have caused thousands of casualties. The day after its independence, the Kingdom of Morocco pressured the United States to withdraw from its territory, which they did around 1963. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dbf527ce69a304a4538523_Picture1.png) *Map of the American Air Force of Morocco under French protectorate.* In 1950, just after the outbreak of the Korean War, the U.S. Department of Defense urgently needed to establish strategic air bases. There was also growing concern about the air defense alert system. According to NSC 68 (a top secret journal of the National Security Council), the Soviet Union would be preparing to launch devastating attacks by 1954, due to its growing stockpile of nuclear weapons and a newly developed bomber that could carry the atomic bomb. The air bases agreement of December 22, 1950 stipulated that the United States would expand and use French facilities already on site in Morocco. At that time, it was impossible for the United States to negotiate with the Sultan. They had to negotiate the best deal with France. In January 1952, President Truman authorized the storage of non-nuclear weapons in Moroccan bases under French protectorate, where the B-36 and B-47 bombers were located *(the French were not supposed to know)*. The Navy also raised the issue of the overseas deployment of nuclear weapons to the president. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1a66c97fd71329a6ec74_Sidi%20Slimane%20AB%20Officers.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1a65b6ba6f141e6b90fe_Ride%2050s.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1a65f130feabf909212e_airfoce%20march.jpg) On May 28th 1953, the 45th Fighter Squadron went to the Sidi Slimane Air Base, a strategic air command base, shared with bomber groups flying B-36s and B-47s. The squadron’s main mission was to fly air defense patrols off the Moroccan coast and around the Atlas Mountains in the east. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc1ca5040862c6f8c1cbaf_B37.jpg) *The Boeing 47.* After being granted permission to deploy nuclear weapons in Britain, Morocco, and West Germany (from April to June 1954), B-47 bombers will start carrying nuclear weapons starting May 1954. The bombers were carrying a Mark-36 second-generation hydrogen bomb. This nuclear weapon, designed around the 1950s, weighed about 8 tons and was about a thousand times more powerful than the Mk-III bomb (also known as the “Fat Man”) that exploded over Nagasaki killing around 60 000 people. On January 31st, 1958, at a Strategic Air Command base in Sidi Slimane, a B-47 bomber carrying a Mark 36 carried out a simulated takeoff during an exercise alert. The aircraft’s left rear wheel failed when it reached about 55 km/h, causing the tail to collide on the runway and a fuel tank to break. The flames quickly reached the plutonium in the nuclear weapon on board and merged into the track. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61dc2565885609532e6a6d8d_45th.jpg) *The 45th Fighter Squadron in Sidi Slimane.* The crew members escaped without injury. Although the firefighters had only 10 minutes to put out the flames, they focused on the plane much more than the nuclear bomb before withdrawing under the orders of the commanding general of the air base. The plane continued to burn for 7 hours. The Mark 36 bomb did not explode but there was some contamination in the immediate area of the accident. After the plane and the asphalt underneath were removed, the runway collapsed. A fire truck and their uniforms had slight alpha contamination until detected. Following the incident, exercise alerts were temporarily suspended, and the B-47 aircraft were checked for faults. The Americans felt it would be in their best interest to keep information about the incident confidential. An American officer declared that “any revelation about the transport of nuclear weapons by our planes abroad would have negative consequences and would offer great opportunities for Soviet propaganda”. The Americans concluded “[that] it was agreed that the Department should advise the Pentagon that we do not agree to the publication of a statement regarding the Sidi Slimane incident”, but the ambassador still informed senior Moroccan officials and King Mohammed V of the incident for their confidential information. Shortly after the incident, a small official denial was communicated to The New York Times. The director of the European Regional Affairs Office was concerned about what happened in Sidi Slimane because he was not aware of any evacuation exercises. “The reports from the Rabat embassy and in the press referring to (an) evacuation of the base rather surprised us because no mention had been made of such a procedure”. The American Embassy in Paris replied: “In the case of the Sidi Slimane incident, the commander-general chose to take advantage of it to put into practice his evacuation plan. It is unfortunate that this evacuation practice was linked to a plane carrying a nuclear weapon and that this fact became known”. So the Americans finally chose to deny that a nuclear bomb could have killed hundreds, or maybe thousands. ## References - https://unredacted.com/2013/10/09/document-friday-narrative-summaries-of-accidents-involving-nuclear-weapons/ - https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb442/ - https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb442/docs/doc%205A.pdf - https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb442/docs/doc%205B.pdf - https://thebulletin.org/2014/03/accidents-will-happen-an-excerpt-from-command-and-control/ - https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB197/nd-9.pdf - https://nuke.fas.org/norris/nuc_81010001a_n22.pdf - https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1955-57v18/d193 --- --- title: "History of the Moors: Between Origins and Afrocentrist Myths" description: "Born in ancient Morocco, the Moors gave their name to the Muslims of the Maghreb and Andalusia. Between documented history and Afrocentrist myths." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/moors language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/maures type: article category: cult published: 2021-12-28T13:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:29.059Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Ancient History", "Mauretania", "Identity"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb10c69fe879a0afd03573_FEVi9D-WYAEoDyi.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # History of the Moors: Between Origins and Afrocentrist Myths By Amerruki *Born in ancient Morocco, the Moors gave their name to the Muslims of the Maghreb and Andalusia. Between documented history and Afrocentrist myths.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb10c69fe879a0afd03573_FEVi9D-WYAEoDyi.jpg) The Moors, originally a group of people native to the region of present-day Morocco, bordering the Numidians of the East and various Berber peoples, saw their name assigned to the rest of the Muslims of the Maghreb Al Aqsa (North-Western Africa) region as well as Andalusia. More recently, the heritage of Moorish civilizations, ancient and Islamic, is today the prey of an insane historical revisionism, whose main ideology is Afrocentrism. Afrocentrism is a predatory ideology whose sole aim is the appropriation of any ancient North African civilization. Its adherents, often African Americans in search of identity or belonging to religious sects, have the ultimate goal of excluding people who are not black and living in North Africa from their own history by portraying them as colonists or invaders of land formally belonging to a supposed black ethnicity. Whether Egyptian, Greek or Carthaginian civilizations, none has escaped this revisionism that is increasingly sneaking into the American media as well as into the agenda of certain organizations such as Amnesty International, which, in a publication on social networks, declared that the history of the black (American) people was therefore Moroccan, Indonesian, Egyptian and many other countries... In the case of the Moors, these attempts at appropriation are carried out by a sect called The Moorish Temple of Science. Founded in 1913 by Noble Drew Ali, an African American claiming to be the successor of the prophet in Islam, this organization will work by appropriating the flag of modern Morocco and all of its civilizational heritage in order, and in the false prophet’s own words, to give identity and pride to its followers. The ideology of this sect is therefore in line with the Afrocentrist discourse in general, which, if not fought, risks seeing its theories popularized through American cinema, recent historical books and so on. *In this article, the use of the word “black,” an adjective used simplistically and erroneously by American theorists, refers to an ethnicity that is supposed to be united because of its dark skin color. In reality, the majority of African Americans belong to the Bantu ethnic group, which has no cultural, historical or genetic relationship with other African populations sharing the same complexion.* ![Carte Mauri](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6034c17b1157c3392f314cc4_Carte%2BMauri.jpeg) ### *Origins of the Moors and Antiquity.* At its genesis, the word Moor, taken from the Latin for *Mauri* referred to the tribe with the same name in the north of present-day Morocco, this term will describe all the surrounding civilizations (Maurusii in Punic, Maurii in Greek, Mauritania in Latin) as a synonym for the word “West”. Then, and with the annexation of Numidia (present-day Algeria) by King Bocchus, this word will be extended to all the inhabitants of Mauretania just as was the term “Al Maghrib” a millennium later. The Moors were several groups of Berbers who played a significant role in the history of the Roman Empire and therefore of the region. Leading kingdoms opposing Rome such as Mauretania under Bocchus I or Mastanesosus to important allies and clients such as Ptolemy of Mauretania, the history of the Moors was very well documented by historians of Antiquity in view of their proximity. Some Roman emperors and governors of Berber origins: ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb04bd9c62f1ca80f46c3c_Lucius%20Quietus.jpg) *Lusius Quietus and his Moorish cavalry. Romanized Berber prince and governor of Judea. Recognized as one of Emperor Trajan’s best generals.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb04fe617bbe0c295c0984_Septimus%20Severus.jpg) *Septimius Severus. Roman emperor of Libyan origin and Berber-Punic culture.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb052725107d2434bdefeb_Caracalla%20Louvre.jpg) *Caracalla. Roman emperor was known for his edict granting Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Empire.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb054498ca410f548f29ca_macrinus.jpg) *Macrin. Roman emperor of Mauretanian Berber origin.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb05b198ca4112c08f29d8_Ptolemy%202.jpg) *Ptolemy of Mauretania.* However, according to Afrocentrist theories, the Moorish kingdoms as well as the populations of the Roman domain would have belonged to this supposed black ethnicity, a fact that according to them would be maliciously masked by historians for reasons of racism or other. For others, the Moors were part of the Egyptian world (which they also consider to be originally black people). Finally, the third group considers the Moors to be cousins of the Hebrews (relying on the statues of Jesus in black in Poland). This is obviously false, as the representations, often in the form of mosaics or busts, demonstrate the opposite. The Moors represented themselves as having a fair complexion and with more Mediterranean features than anything else. *Here is a gallery of ancient representations found in Morocco and currently in various museums in the kingdom.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0767060d9c7c1ed7d5ef_Rabat25.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb076728341c7e802fccf8_Lixus16.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb076728341c43dc2fccf1_Lixus18.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb07679c62f134e0f79a20_Tanger04.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0767afc2eaa58c50fb8b_Volubi55.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0911e49c247f6d7b903e_main-qimg-99fd980302b3c1f351522044f97169d6.jpg) ### *Islamic period and changes in the term.* However, depending on the Roman period, this word took on a different meaning. At the dawn of the first Muslim conquests of North Africa, Count Julian’s Mauretania and his particular alliance with the Berber commander Tariq Ibn Zyad, leading the efforts of the Arab Umayyad Empire, culminated in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, culminated in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, now Andalusia. Christian civilizations will very quickly extend the use of the word Moor or Moor in English to any Arab or Berber Muslim in the North African region. These Moors of Andalusia, combining different Arab, Hispanic and Berber cultural elements, will see a civilization flourishing culturally, economically and scientifically. The Almoravid, Almohad and Merinid Empires are, in the Moroccan context, an example illustrating the continuity of this Moorish as well as Berber component beyond antiquity and well through the Islamic Golden Age. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0883ace0975978a40fde_Castillia.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0883ace0976a10a40fdf_main-qimg-3afa66d457e4fa362cab4d3e7224ae99.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb08838f496928a8c261b1_main-qimg-54efd702e3a734fa37cfb01730a80b3a.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb088398ca41d6d28f2a43_main-qimg-68d3e100e8b1df01885286ad0a773a65.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb08838f4969f511c261af_main-qimg-00233efe1c4db2bf86515d0f9843754f.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb08838f496905b2c26182_main-qimg-d5e21c29cd0ec8d37b9c2cec1493e7d3-c.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb08838f4969e318c261b0_main-qimg-e9f9a2436cfa787d29bb6005e33c555c.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb01fb02bc94472d4c41a5_section%20afro.jpg) ### *Afrocentrist arguing points.* The main points of support for the Afrocentrist agenda border on fantasy or even science fiction. For them, the black ethnic group would have reigned over the world, in peace, until the arrival of Albinos or fair-skinned peoples. These peoples would not only have enslaved them but also erased their history in order to better enslave them. As admirable as it is, this myth unfortunately remains based on a dichotomous vision of the world, opposing blacks, a mono-ethnic people, against a world of multicolored colonists. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb096732886739ce564c16_Msta4.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb08ea328867678c55e187_Moorish%20Sect.jpg) *Members of the Moorish Temple of Science sect who call themselves real Moroccans.* As for the Moorish Temple sect, they believe that Morocco was a nation located between Africa and America (Morocco => Al Murika =>America). Based on the recognition of the United States under the Alawite Sultan Mohammed III, they believe that America was a Moorish dominion (and therefore managed by Bantus). Finally, they rely on the Moors Sundry Act of 1790 to legitimize their ideas. This law prevented nationals of the Alawite empire from being tried as slaves on American soil. Therefore, in the absence of scientific and concrete evidence, adherents of this ideology use orientalist portraits and pseudoscience as explanations. Orientalism is an artistic current that emerged in the 19th century from the curiosity of Europeans during the colonial era. Its artists, often Belgian, German or Hungarian (therefore having no contact with North Africa), will often exaggerate if not give exotic features to the subjects represented as well as their skin color. This colorization was intended to deprecate North African subjects and legitimize a saving and civilizing colonization. There is also an amalgamation due to the fact that the word Mohr means Negro in German. Elsewhere, if they were not portraits of slaves, they were often also reimaginings of Muslim Andalusia, centuries after the departure of Moorish civilizations. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb01c5ea9a11be601cb67f_129194412206708648_9feca283-a06f-4bfb-bbe3-23d0b797c48d_89347_570.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb01c6dcfddb89ae199f50_Jean-Francois-Portaels%20-%20Tutt%27Art%40.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb01c5dcfddbdba4199f4f_jean-francois-portaels-6148263.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb01c584cf8d154d430102_Portaels%20Tanger.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0a5190714b83b711a8bf_MR4vQ6Jc.jpg) *An English newspaper calling the Ambassador of the Sultan of Morocco “Ambassador Moor”.* ### *The reality.* The original and modern Moors, that is to say the Moroccans of today as well as the Maghreb populations who have seen this term extended to them throughout history, are not as different as their ancestors. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0aa102bc9437084fa484_tisserands.jpg) *Moroccan weavers, “Moorish Weavers” in English.* Indeed, even in the middle of the 20th century, the Sultanate of Morocco and its inhabitants were commonly called the Moorish Kingdom. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0ac76fff1fec7fc2bbee_Moorish%20Embassy%20Berlin.jpg) *Moorish embassy in Berlin.* ### *What science tells us.* Genetic studies, in addition to the stories of anthropologists such as Ibn Khaldun, prove that there is a clear distinction between Moors and populations of sub-Saharan origin. Y chromosome haplogroup studies (transmitted from father to son) are used to determine the paternal descent of any person. The most frequent haplogroup in Morocco is the E-M35, which is present in approximately 70-85% of Moroccans. This same haplogroup can be divided into several haplotypes, the most relevant in this context being the E-M81 and E-M78 haplotype. The latter were found in skeletons dating back to 7000 and 15000 years respectively in Morocco, making it a testament to the genetic continuity of the Moroccan people. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61cb0d4298ca41f4c18f2b3a_IMG_6451.jpg) Indeed, the presence of E-M81 can reach up to 98% in the most Berber regions of the country such as the Souss region. Arabization, an argument often used by Afrocentrists to explain the complexion of North Africans, has also not contributed to a genetic replacement of the local population because even in the most Arabized cities, paternal ancestry remains mostly Berber of origin. Of course, there are Moroccans of Arab or other ancestry today, but we’ll explore that in another article. --- --- title: "History of the Hyayna Tribal Confederation" description: "The Hyayna tribal confederation, created in the 16th century and located northeast of Fes, is composed of three major tribes: the Oulad Amran, the Oulad Alian and the Oulad Riab. Its history begins during the reign of the first Saadian Sultan Mohammed al-Sheikh." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/hyayna language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/hyayna type: article category: hist published: 2021-11-09T09:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:37.364Z author: "Moorish Movement" tags: ["Fes", "Saadians", "Modern History", "Arabness"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3fddd2c16051f6c5a063_banner.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # History of the Hyayna Tribal Confederation By Moorish Movement *The Hyayna tribal confederation, created in the 16th century and located northeast of Fes, is composed of three major tribes: the Oulad Amran, the Oulad Alian and the Oulad Riab. Its history begins during the reign of the first Saadian Sultan Mohammed al-Sheikh.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3fddd2c16051f6c5a063_banner.jpg) The Hyayna tribal confederation located northeast of Fes is composed of three major tribes: the Oulad Amran, the Oulad Alian and the Oulad Riab. This confederation, formed in the 16th century, consists of a graft of Banu Hilal Arab Guiche tribes, formerly Zianid allies before joining the Saadian army in their fight against the Ottomans, to an original Berber Sanhaja group. Established strategically in the area of Fes by the Saadian dynasty, it aimed to protect the territory from foreign invasion and to control the rebel tribes. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a31db1f5ee0efa9123465_Ep3OCr9W4AUB1kb.png) The Spanish chronicler Luis del Marmol Carvajal toured the country in 1540CE. A captive at first, he’ll gradually forge good relationships with the sultanate. He paints a picture of a rich agricultural tribe that had 25 villages and supplied 4 000 fighters to the powerful Saadian dynasty. These tribes not only accompanied the Saadians in their takeover of Fes, but also in its protection against the Ottoman invaders. Their most notorious contributions will be to the Battles of Wadi al-Laban against the Ottoman and the Battle of the Three Kings against the Portuguese. The Hyaynas would therefore play a major role in Moroccan politics from the 16th century, with the Saadian Empire extending to Timbuktu. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a401aba1e7f6582e98a7d_min.jpg) During the Alawite era, in 1860CE, the Hyayna tribes participated in the Battle of Tetouan against the Spanish Empire alongside Riffian tribes (among others). The Hyaynas will then be called upon by Sultan Abd el-Aziz against the impostor Rogui Bou Hmara. In 1912, following [the establishment of the French protectorate](https://MoorishTimes.com/en/articles/fez-treaty), the Hyayna attacked Fes with other tribes, especially Jbalas, under the orders of Mohamed Hajjami from El Jaia. This leader wrote to the tribes to encourage them to defend Moroccan territory, having also fought several battles against the French general Hubert Lyautey. The Saadians settled the Hyaynas in a region previously exclusively inhabited by Imazighen. Together with other influential Arabic-speaking tribes in the Guiche (army), they contributed to the strengthening of the linguistic Arabization of Fes. They retained characteristics of Hilalian speech all while remaining influenced by Berber. In short, their dialect is quite similar to that of their Cheraga and Oulad Jamaa neighbors. The Hyaynas are known for their olive oil production. For example, Alwan is a fairly famous olive oil that is produced using a traditional extraction process. These processes relate to an old culture in Morocco that began in Antiquity in the city of Volubilis. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3d467ea465be53dc1104_volubilis.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3d46b1f00a81a3fa9da0_hyaynaolive.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3d473f3ecb15d169bd6b_hyaynaolive2.webp) The Hyaynas are also known for their delicious preparation of the famous artisan bread, the harcha. This specifically Moroccan cake made from semolina, butter and milk has spread since the Middle Atlas. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3dfceba47adc2fe4a0e4_harcha.jpg) The traditional music of the Hyayna is Hayt, a genre of ancient folk song. In this dance, the bendir is used, an instrument that is very common in Berber music. Ghayta is also used. As in other Moroccan tribes, fantasia is an integral part of the Hyayna culture. The city of Tissa is known as the “mother of horses”, this city is famous for its big Fantasia festival, a very ancient equestrian tradition in Morocco. For the Hyaynas, the horse is a mark of social success and a basic element for their celebrations. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a3ed90edbeb47500af9ba_Ep3OFBhXEAAT8D5.jpg) Since the 19th century, the Hyaynas started celebrating a 15th century saint named Sidi Mohamed Ben Lahcen. This seasonal festivity coincided with the harvest season. Indeed, there is a culture of Idrisid saints and chorfas (people whose lineage can be traced back to the prophet). Many chorfas live with the Hyaynas (Janatyine, Ouazzanyine, Baqqalyine). Many “saints” are also buried in the region (Sidi El Mekhfi, Sidi Daoud). The Moroccan Arabic-speaking tribal confederation has an estimated population of 200 000 members and represents one of the most important ethnic groups in the pre-Riffian region. ## References - The Conquest of Morocco, by Douglas Porch - On the linguistic continuity of pre-hilalian of the Jebli type beyond the territory of the Jebala, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Fouad Brigui - Moroccans in the North: between memory and the project, Mohamed El Moubaraki - Man and his environment in the pre-Riffian hills of the “Hyayna”, University of Beni-Mellal, Saïd Arif - Notes on the tribes of eastern Morocco, notice prepared by intelligence officers from the Fez circle, Publication of the Morocco Committee --- --- title: "How Morocco Saved Saddam Hussein’s Iraq from an International Embargo" description: "Under the 1990 UN embargo, Morocco played a key role in the Oil-for-Food program to relieve the famine gripping Saddam Hussein’s isolated Iraq." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/maroc-irak-embargo language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/maroc-irak-embargo type: article category: pol published: 2021-11-09T07:50:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:56.982Z author: "Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Geopolitics", "Arab League"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a29c2c1baa1529e046b91_banner.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # How Morocco Saved Saddam Hussein’s Iraq from an International Embargo By Moroccan Royal Archives *Under the 1990 UN embargo, Morocco played a key role in the Oil-for-Food program to relieve the famine gripping Saddam Hussein’s isolated Iraq.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a29c2c1baa1529e046b91_banner.jpg) In the wake of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the international embargo that followed, a UN program called “Oil-for-Food” was put in place to allow the Iraqis to ease an unprecedented food crisis in the country. However, this program saw its purpose diverted by a group of actors who made it possible to supply the Iraqi government with foreign currency and to source supplies while evading the embargo. Morocco was an unlikely player in this affair. Through the Moroccan bank Bank Of Africa, Morocco helped Saddam Hussein’s Iraq circumvent the international oil embargo. Bank Of Africa, formerly BMCE, is one of the leading banks of Morocco and Africa, established in 31 countries (including a very recent presence in China). Outside Morocco, BOA supports several countries through loans to finance their infrastructure or foreign investments. Its chief executive is Othman Benjelloun, the 2nd largest fortune of the Kingdom and the 15th of Africa with 2 billion euros. As one of the tools of national soft power, the Moroccan bank has often followed the royal tours, notably in Africa, with several projects to set up local operations or to finance humanitarian investments. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a24457630ae4252cc35e8_Benjelloun%20Mohammed%20VI.jpg) *Othman Benjelloun and King Mohammed VI.* BOA took part in several loans to the Iraqi government before the invasion of the country, notably for oil infrastructure. With the total having reached 22 million euros, BOA (still expanding at the time) sought to make contact with the leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. To that end, the Moroccan bank will hire the former ambassador of France to Morocco and later representative of France to the UN, Jean-Bernard Merimee, to make contact with the Iraqi foreign affairs minister Tarek Aziz. It all begins in 1995, with the opening of negotiations on the UN program after the severe embargo on Iraq. To allow the latter to honor its promises, Merimee will take advantage of his role at the UN to propose and negotiate the famous Resolution 986 that will lead to the “Oil-for-Food” operation. His closeness to the Iraqi minister will allow him to get this resolution accepted quickly, a resolution that will be used to divert the export of Iraqi barrels and make it possible to repay BOA while providing the Iraqi government with foreign currency. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a285e50d463450347aa15_Picture1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618a285ec1baa1922c030b7f_Picture2.jpg) During the negotiations for the program, it was agreed between the French intermediary and the Iraqi minister that the Moroccan debt would be repaid by delivering Iraqi crude through a shell company based in Liechtenstein, Fenar Petroleum. The company was to import barrels of Iraqi oil, sell them off in Europe and repay Benjelloun’s bank. The profits received by this company are paid into Merimee’s account in Casablanca before being sent on to BOA. Thus the UN and the French courts estimate that 2 million dollars in barrels of oil will be sold between 1999 and October 2001. The French diplomat will recover from this affair a minimum of 156,000 euros, which he decided to launder by buying and fitting out a riad in Ouarzazate. In 2000, Morocco decided to break the UN embargo and sent several RAM planes carrying several tons of food and medical supplies intended for the Iraqi people. > This trip is a strong message addressed to the Security Council and the Arab League. We condemn the continuation of the embargo and the suffering and hardships of the Iraqi people and we demand the end of this joke that has lasted so long[...] -Mohammed al-Khusami, Head of the Popular Committee and head of the Moroccan delegation. In 2003, the young King Mohammed VI decides to launch a royal appeal for solidarity after the American invasion of Iraq. Bank Of Africa, grateful for the Iraqi commitment during the UN program, decided to take part in the appeal and will contribute more than one million euros to help the country battered by years of embargo and now by an invasion. Moreover, 2 months before the war, the minister who had been in contact with Benjelloun, Tarik Aziz, visited Morocco and thanked the Kingdom for all the help provided during the embargo. In 2004, an Iraqi newspaper named Al-Mada cites the name of Merimee but also that of his colleague Boidevaix, recounting how these two French officials used and circumvented UN Resolution 986 to import Iraqi oil. After 1 year of judicial investigation, Merimee is released but remains censured for corruption and influence peddling by the Quai d’Orsay. He will admit before the judge that the minister Tarek Aziz “had done him a favor”. --- --- title: "The Green March and the Liberation of the Moroccan Sahara" description: "The Green March, the result of the political genius of the late Hassan II, saw 350,000 Moroccans mobilize to peacefully liberate the southern provinces of the Kingdom." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/green-march language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/marche-verte type: article category: hist published: 2021-11-06T06:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:40.521Z tags: ["Sahara", "Modern History", "Geopolitics"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618576836605e9f3a2656cc3_Marche%20Verte%20Banner.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Green March and the Liberation of the Moroccan Sahara *The Green March, the result of the political genius of the late Hassan II, saw 350,000 Moroccans mobilize to peacefully liberate the southern provinces of the Kingdom.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618576836605e9f3a2656cc3_Marche%20Verte%20Banner.jpg) The Green March, or Al Massira Al Khadra, was prepared 3 months before it was revealed to the people. It was the day before the annual speech commemorating the departure into exile of the royal family on August 20, 1975 that the late Hassan 2 had the idea in the middle of the night for this famous march. > You were able to observe thousands of people protesting in all the big cities in favor of the Sahara. So why not organize a gigantic peaceful rally that would take the form of a march? -Hassan II during the 1975 speech. It was then after this speech that he summoned the Ministers of Trade and Finance to whom he asked for a forecast of safety stocks in order to avoid an increase in prices due to an average harvest in the year. Thus, on August 21, 1975, the late Hassan II summoned 3 officials: General Achabar, General Bennani and Colonel Major Ziati. They took an oath not to disclose anything to the rest of the government despite disagreeing with this approach. Discretion was necessary because the movement of 350,000 people in southern Morocco could not be improvised. Why send 350,000 Moroccans to the Sahara? The figure would correspond to the number of Moroccans born each year at the time. The logistical plans were studied and finalized with meticulous care. The King’s Office did everything by hand to ensure the smooth running of the plan. Food rations, the quantity of candles to light the camps, blankets, water supplies and so on had to be accurately calculated. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618576e73e6e82be82505b6a_marocains-coran-marche-verte%20miniature.jpg) It was then at the beginning of October that the government was informed. On October 16, 1975, Hassan II delivered during his speech: > “I had not yet finished my speech when already, from the open patio where I was standing, I could hear the clamors coming from the neighborhoods near the palace in Marrakech. In all the cities and towns of the Kingdom, people went out into the streets shouting “We are volunteers!” It was a real rush.” Hassan II warned walkers several times during his speeches, warning them of the possibility of encountering minefields, tanks or artillery barrages. The question he asked himself during the 2 months of preparation was about young Moroccans who, blessed by progress, might not share the same patriotism as their parents. Would they go in front of the tanks? He quickly realized that the Moroccan people had hardly changed. It will be on October 26th, in the presence of Kurt Waldheim (Secretary of the UN) that Hassan II will inaugurate the Grand Dam of Al Massira. He was talking to journalists from different countries about the March, whose volunteers were standing in perfect order. ![Barrage Al Massira](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6034c1489f70fb2374aa2861_barrage-youssef-ben-tachfine.jpeg) *Al Massira dam* For nearly two weeks, 10 daily trains transported volunteers from North and Eastern Morocco to Marrakech, from where they were then transported by trucks to Agadir and then Tarfaya. There were 7813 trucks with 10,000 officers ordering the March, 470 doctors and paramedics, and 230 ambulance cars. A transport of 17,000 tons of food, 23,000 tons of water, 2590 tons of fuel as well as weapons and ammunition in case it was necessary to defend themselves. The Royal Armed Forces accompanied the volunteers in the rearguard. Hassan II informed the Spanish government about the March and specified in what spirit it was being undertaken. It was then that the Spanish government gave the order to withdraw its troops about forty kilometers to the south. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61857a67f65b850331053732_6034c148c4a4db39979229f4_files-9782.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61857a67e9657906cc8561b0_femmes%20marche%20verte.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61857a6715292a05c311e0f8_Marche%20Portrait.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61857a6775554fd1f544e519_Marche%20Verte%20Drapeaux1.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61857a67a7530d54c2e477bc_marche%20verte%20femmes.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/618577cb9234f58fce5894f4_Marche-Verte.jpg) 10% of the volunteers were women. Men and women were armed with a green flag, a national flag and a copy of the Quran. The march went well, with the volunteers walking a long distance until November 9th. The King, from Agadir where he was monitoring the external repercussions, was alerted to the decisive negotiations about to begin. This was very good news for the sovereign because it involved the preparation of the Tripartite Agreement which was to be signed on November 14 in Madrid between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco. On November 18, the text of the law on the decolonization of the Sahara was passed by the Cortes. At the beginning of February 1976, a United Nations mission, chaired by Olaf Reydbeck, went to Laayoune. Difficulties will emerge from Boumedienne’s maneuvers, whose troops will pass themselves off as the Polisario forces in some southern provinces. Recall that the Algerian government had always declared that the Sahara case did not concern it. For his part, Hassan II said: > We have no intention of harming the Algerian Revolution in any way; our principle is not to interfere in the affairs of others. We don’t want more of us meddling with ours. Is this the war that the President of the Algerian Revolution Council wants to force us into? Everyone knows that Morocco is a nation that has only one will: to work in peace, both with the North and with the South, the East and the West. But if it is the future of Morocco that we definitely want to attack, the future of its people, the future of its faith, we will defend ourselves in war as we defended ourselves in peace. I don’t have anything else to say. --- --- title: "The international influence of the Moroccan Kaftan" description: "Engagements, weddings, baptisms: the Moroccan kaftan is a must from the Maghreb to the rest of the world. Inside the global rise of an emblematic outfit." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/kaftan-internationally language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/caftan-international type: article category: cult published: 2021-10-31T15:35:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:43.405Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Caftan", "Craftsmanship", "Women of Morocco", "Traditions"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617eb10e516eecc15b16d2cd_lala%20aicha%20wide.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The international influence of the Moroccan Kaftan By Wealth of Morocco *Engagements, weddings, baptisms: the Moroccan kaftan is a must from the Maghreb to the rest of the world. Inside the global rise of an emblematic outfit.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617eb10e516eecc15b16d2cd_lala%20aicha%20wide.jpg) Whether it’s an engagement, a wedding or a baptism, the Moroccan kaftan is an indispensable outfit. Emblematic of Moroccan culture, the kaftan will appeal not only to Maghreb women and their diasporas but also to women from the Middle East. Several factors over the course of history have allowed the Moroccan kaftan to spread internationally. It all began in 1950 with the improvement of the conditions of Moroccan women. Moroccan designers were introducing European aesthetics and fashion elements with lightweight, flowing fabrics used in European high fashion. They also reduced the number of layers and the usual kaftan width. The Moroccan dress then underwent a profound change. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61797ab8d55611331bb5276f_Vogue%20Article.jpg) *An article in American VOGUE (July 1966), illustrating Ms. David Naylor-Leyland, Lady Egremont and Ms. Ahmet Ertegun, Lady Antonia Fraser, Countess Michel de Ganay, Ms. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Ms. Leo d’Erlanger, Ms. Giancarlo Uzielli and Ms. Lesley Blanche, all wearing Moroccan kaftans.* Pioneers of the time included Zina Guessous (1925-1998), Naima Bennis (1940-2008), Zhor Sebti (born 1928), and Tamy Tazi (born 1930). Their creations attracted and charmed international icons like Oum Kalthoum or Queen Beatrix of Holland. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617977e6e827a32f5dbcace2_Oum%20Khalthoum%20in%20Naima%20Bennis%20Caftan.jpg) *Oum Kalthoum wearing a kaftan designed by Naima Bennis.* These creators have given the kaftan its credentials, attracting the attention of numerous international magazines. The famous editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Diana Vreeland has devoted numerous articles to Moroccan clothing. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617990ee99ea5b527a0189dc_Tamy%20Tazi%20for%20El-Sharkiah.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617990ee7271e766c17ae19d_Tamy%20Tazi%20Gran%20Mundo.jpg) It is in this context that the Moroccan kaftan has inspired many Western designers. This was the case with Yves Saint Laurent, a native of Oran in Algeria, who discovered the kaftan for the first time during his stays in Marrakech. He reinterpreted it and created iconic outfits. > When I discovered Morocco, I understood that my own chromatism was that of zelliges, zouacs, djellabas and kaftans. > It was then that I became more sensitive to light and colors, that I especially noticed the light on colors [...], at every street corner in Marrakech, we meet impressive groups of intensity, relief, men and women where pink, blue, green, purple caftans mingle. — Interview with Yvonne Baby, “Yves Saint Laurent at the Metropolitan in New York. Portrait of the artist”, Le Monde, December 8, 1983. Praised by numerous international personalities, the Moroccan kaftan is a great success. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617c041e52833058a5de1b11_Arnaud%20de%20Rosnay.jpg) *Arnaud de Rosnay (1970).* It has become the perfect blend of tradition and modernity. An idea that the first fashion magazine “Women of Morocco” strongly encourages. In 1996, the magazine launched an annual event called “Kaftan”. The objective? Present traditional Moroccan clothing from a new angle through international fashion shows. Over time, the event has become a reference in Morocco and in the world. It thus contributed fully to the international influence of the Moroccan kaftan. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617c04d2e5c8f66dcb56246f_Jim%20Morrison.jpg) *Jim Morrison* The royal family also played a major role in promoting this outfit. True to Moroccan tradition, the kaftan is the official garment for almost all events. Formerly carried by ambassadors, it was now time for the royal princesses to take up the torch and showcase it internationally. They often appear with kaftans of unparalleled elegance. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617ea7e329366923d8c3f498_lala%20aicha%20buckingham.jpg) *Princess Lalla Aicha visiting Buckingham Palace, London 1965.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617ea8acf0da91123c499705_Obamas%20Caftan.jpg) *Princess Lalla Salma, her three sisters-in-law at the Royal Palace in Marrakech with Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto 2016.* Thanks to the increasing interest in Moroccan women’s clothing, the Mattel company, which makes the famous Barbie dolls, was inspired by it. In 1999, they launched the Moroccan Barbie. In order to represent Morocco, the doll is naturally dressed in a kaftan. The American company held a second edition in 2013. This time the doll was wearing a green kaftan. It was also decorated with accessories promoting authentic Moroccan clothing. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/617eaa69f744d5f05a776184_moroccan-barbie.JPG.jpg) The Moroccan Barbie thus criss-crosses the whole world. It attracts admiration wherever it is sold and conveys a radiant civilisational image of Morocco. In the space of a few years, the Moroccan kaftan has therefore become very famous and very popular. It has successfully established itself around the world and is now causing an international sensation. Numerous documentaries around the world have also been devoted to the magnificence of this outfit. This is the case of Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, China, the United States, Norway, the Netherlands or even Jordan. ## References - Moroccan fashion: design, culture and tradition | Maria Angela Jansen - MOROCCO IN THE PRESENT: from one era to the next, a changing society | Baudouin Dupret, Zakaria Rhani, Assia Boutaleb and Jean-Noël Ferrié --- --- title: "Discovery of the Oldest Evidence of Clothing in a Moroccan Cave" description: "A group of scientists has discovered tools from 120 000 years ago in a Moroccan cave making them the oldest evidence of clothing manufacturing so far." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/oldest-clothing-evidence language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/decouverte-de-la-plus-ancienne-preuve-de-vetements-dans-une-grotte-marocaine type: article category: hist published: 2021-09-20T09:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:54.745Z tags: ["Ancient History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61484b39762dec656b0537f8_grotte%20contrebandiers.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Discovery of the Oldest Evidence of Clothing in a Moroccan Cave *A group of scientists has discovered tools from 120 000 years ago in a Moroccan cave making them the oldest evidence of clothing manufacturing so far.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61484b39762dec656b0537f8_grotte%20contrebandiers.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61484b4c6c91103ca4fc628e_Grotte%20contrebandiers%20outils.jpg) A team of scientists said last Thursday that artifacts discovered in a cave in Morocco, dating back to 120 000 years ago, indicate that humans made specialized bone tools to skin animals and then treat their skins to produce fur and leather.‎ This discovery in the Smugglers' Cave, located about 250 meters from the Atlantic coast in the city of Temara, seems to be the oldest evidence known to us of clothing in the archaeological record. The‎ invention of clothing is logically a major reason for the expansion of the human species, which appeared more than 300 000 years ago in Africa then across the world. This invention will then be a major component of human identity today. ‎The scientists found 62 tools made from animal bones and then identified a pattern of cut marks on the bones of three small carnivore species: a fox, a jackal, and a wild cat, indicating that they had been skinned for fur, not meat. The frames of antelopes and wild cattle suggest that the skins of these animals could have been used to make leather, while meat was consumed.‎ ‎“Clothing is a unique human innovation,” said Eleanor Scerri, an evolutionary archaeologist and co-author of the study, also from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.‎ ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61484b5b914435068426d5fc_Scientists%20Grotte.jpg) ‎The cave artifacts are dated to an era during which evidence of personal adornment and other signs of human symbolic expression appear at various archaeological sites.‎ As organic clothing perishes over time, none has therefore been found in the cave, so their shape or complexity will also remain a mystery to us. That said, the tools could have been dated to around 120 000 to 90 000 years ago. ‎Before this discovery, the oldest evidence of clothing was bone needles from around 45 000 to 40 000 years old in Siberia.‎ Neanderthals, close cousins of Homo Sapiens, are believed to have invented clothing earlier given their presence in Eurasia, a cold continent that predates ours. [*Original article as well as the images appeared on Reuters.*](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/moroccan-cave-yields-oldest-clues-about-advent-human-clothing-2021-09-16/) --- --- title: "Ibn Shu’ayb Al Jaznai: The Story of the Riffian Scholar" description: "Portrait of Abu al-Abbas al-Jaznai, a Riffian scholar from Taza who excelled in Arabic, medicine, philosophy and mathematics across medieval Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/abu-al-abbas language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/abu-al-abbas type: article category: cult published: 2021-08-13T13:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:50.395Z author: "Le Maure Malikite" tags: ["Religion", "Rif", "Islam"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6116833097dbe47545fb40f3_kees-kortmulder-LzDtQIWBgoU-unsplash.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Ibn Shu’ayb Al Jaznai: The Story of the Riffian Scholar By Le Maure Malikite *Portrait of Abu al-Abbas al-Jaznai, a Riffian scholar from Taza who excelled in Arabic, medicine, philosophy and mathematics across medieval Morocco.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6116833097dbe47545fb40f3_kees-kortmulder-LzDtQIWBgoU-unsplash.jpg) Abu Al-‘Abbas Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Shuy’ab Al-Jaznai is a great Riffian Moroccan scholar from Taza. He excelled in various fields, from the Arabic language to medicine, through philosophy and mathematics. He was born and raised in the city of Taza, in a family of the “Igzennayen” tribe, whose members are found mainly around Taza, and to a lesser extent not far from Nador. Training and initiating himself in the Islamic sciences with local men of letters, his interest and his immense potential very quickly led him to move to the imperial capital Fes, where the leading authorities in every field, religious or secular, were then to be found. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6116861226a7a32a0b72d4eb_Fes.jpg) There, several scholars took him on as a student. Among them we can cite the illustrious scholar Ibn Ajrum, whose work on grammar remains to this day a reference in many universities throughout the world. Under him, he studied grammar and the grammatical school of Al-Kufa. He also took his science of hadith in the gatherings of Muhammad Ibn Rushayd, a leading figure of hadith in his time. He likewise traveled to Ifirqya to deepen his knowledge of medicine. The historian at the royal court, Isma’il Ibn Al-Ahmar (from an Andalusi family established in Fes), describes him in prose as having shone in language, poetry, algebra, as well as Maliki fiqh. He says of him: " [...] despite being of Amazigh origin, he handles (Arabic) as the Arab Bedouins would, and uses surprising Arabic terms (or tools)." Ibn Khaldoun also speaks of him as having reached an impressive level in the Arabic language, to such an extent that for him, he had attained “imamate” in Arabic prose and poetry. His reputation for excellence reached the court of the Marinid Sultan of Morocco: Abu Sa’id Ibn Ya’qoub. He remained at the sovereign’s side as a physician and for his skills in Arabic. He joined his Lord in 1348 (749 of the Hijra), after a life devoted to knowledge and to the service of Allah. Today, the physician’s quarter is dedicated to him in his city of Taza. ## References - - « المنار المنيف في التعريف بعلماء الريف» by Toufiq Al-Ghalbzouri. - - «التعريف» by Ibn Khaldoun. - - «أعلامالمغرب والأندلس في القرن الثامن » by Isma’il Ibn Al-Ahmar. --- --- title: "The Emirate of Nekor, the first Muslim State in North Africa" description: "The Emirate of Nekor was a principality located in the Rif region. Named after Oued Nekor, it’s located near present-day Bni Bouayach in the al-Hoceima province." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/nekor-emirate language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/emirat-nekor type: article category: hist published: 2021-08-03T09:25:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:46.433Z author: "The Riffian Museum" tags: ["Ancient History", "Islam", "Rif", "Mauretania"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610921f0ef9161970e21660b_ExPnBARWYAEtqVs.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Emirate of Nekor, the first Muslim State in North Africa By The Riffian Museum *The Emirate of Nekor was a principality located in the Rif region. Named after Oued Nekor, it’s located near present-day Bni Bouayach in the al-Hoceima province.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610921f0ef9161970e21660b_ExPnBARWYAEtqVs.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61092243e66550774fa5f869_ExPnBdpWEAISZLf.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6109222a673bd78383c8b66c_ExPnBgEXMAUylCo.jpg) The Emirate of Nekor was a principality located in the Rif region, precisely in what’s today the province of al-Hoceima, near Bni Bouayach. The principality was the first Muslim political organization in North Africa. It took place a century before the Idrisids, founders of Fes, who Islamized the Berber tribes present in the vicinity. The Emirate of Nekor and the Idrisid dynasty were then two neighboring states. The emirate was founded in the year 710 of the Common Era (CE) by al-Himyari Ibn Mansour Salih. It’ll play a decisive role in spreading Islam in the Rif region, being accepted by the population of Temsamane, who will become the first to convert, followed by the other tribes in the region. Ibn Salih established this emirate in a spirit of loyalty to the Umayyad dynasty, under the reign of Caliph Abd Al Malik Ibn Marwan. The emirate will have established friendly relationships with the Caliphate, resulting in a lot of exchanges. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6109231b93c0d82685999d3e_ExPnC9rXEAk1Ma0.jpg) Due to the famine that afflicted Andalusia during this period, many Andalusians settled in the Ajdir area. The emirate was rich in natural resources and experienced an unprecedented economic boom. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610923532d7739d766b4f787_ExPnDlzWgAg0HN2.jpg) Although the Idrisids did not pledge allegiance to the emirate, they nonetheless maintained good relationships with it. Ahmed ben Idris II will end up marrying Um al-Saad bint Saleh, sister to Emir Salih, with whom he’ll live out the rest of his days in the Emirate of Nekor. The emirate will be ruled by a dozen emirs, the tombs of which are still present there. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6109237aad566cce5c12835f_ExPnEf1XMAIdNYy.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6109237b76f1c96601d2ecaf_ExPnEjxWYAAtre2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6109237ae9317a0be12d6639_ExPnEl7WUAMJzWZ.jpg) In his book titled “Roads and Kingdoms”, al-Bakri tells us about a Viking raid by the leaders Hastein and Bjorn Ironside on Nekor, taking place in the middle of the 9th century CE. It is said that 2 daughters of the Emir were taken as hostages and that their bond was paid by the Umayyads. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610923b76f670ba41833f7c6_ExPnFEwW8AIl4KU.jpg) The Ait Ouriaghel tribe had a complicated relationship with the emirate. According to al-Bakri, during the reign of Emir Salih II ibn Sa’id from 803 to 864CE, the Riffian Ait Ouriaghel and Igzenayen tribes revolted by supporting the emir’s brother Idris. Politically linked to the Umayyads of Cordoba, the emirate was also the target of several offensives by the Fatimid Empire and Bedouin tribes led by Musa ben Abi al-Afia. ![Image](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610923e24ac7632fb34a4c21_ExPnFejXAAUrPwP.jpeg) Thus, the Emirate of Nekor was in the midst of the Umayyad-Fatimid conflict until its annexation by the Almoravid Empire led by Yusuf Ibn Tashfin, who’ll end up razing the entire city. ![Image](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610924260ff0290941fe46df_ExPnGWwXIAQoquJ.jpeg) It is widely accepted that the Salihid family descends from the Himyarite confederation of tribes, located in present-day Yemen. Ya’qubi, after visiting the kingdom in the 9th century, denied this and claimed that the Salihids would be Berbers from the Nafzawah tribe. ## References - Description of Northern Africa/by El-Bekri; translated by Mac Guckin from Slane - Author: Bakri, 'Abd Allâh ibn 'Abd al-'Azīz Abu 'Ubayd al- (1040-1094) - Roads and Kingdoms - Author: al-Bakrī - A More Precise Dating of the As - Saqaliba Rebellion in the Medieval Maghrib - Autor: D. Rozmus - Music in Iberia to 711 - Autor: Dwight F. Reynolds --- --- title: "From Mazagan to the Present: The History of the City of El Jadida" description: "Mazagan, El Jadida, a city most certainly not like the others. A beautiful little city that has always stood out for its historic sites, its beautiful beaches, its refined gastronomy, natural riches, its fertile lands, the abundance of its fish… but also for such a captivating history." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/el-jadida language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/el-jadida type: article category: cult published: 2021-07-30T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:49.176Z author: "Mazighan Daily" tags: ["El Jadida", "Resistance", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61044413a6aeace64e404464_el%20jadida%20cistern.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # From Mazagan to the Present: The History of the City of El Jadida By Mazighan Daily *Mazagan, El Jadida, a city most certainly not like the others. A beautiful little city that has always stood out for its historic sites, its beautiful beaches, its refined gastronomy, natural riches, its fertile lands, the abundance of its fish… but also for such a captivating history.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/61044413a6aeace64e404464_el%20jadida%20cistern.jpg) Beginning with the name it was given, “Mazagan” is a name thought to stem from the Berber toponym “Mazighan”, meaning “water from the sky”. A term said by some to have been used in the region to designate the wells intended to collect rainwater... But according to the geographer Al Idrissi, who wrote the city’s name in Arabic as Mazighan in the 10th century, the term would mean “millstones”. Andre Prive supposes, for his part, that the word is of Portuguese origin, and that after its destruction, the city was called Al Mahdouma, “the demolished one”, before finally adopting the name of El Jadida (“the new” or “the brand-new”) once it had been rebuilt. At the beginning of the 15th century, the Portuguese are said to have found a small abandoned tower in ruins, which had reportedly been used before as a guard post called “El Brija” which is the diminutive of “borj”. During the construction of the first citadel, they called it “Castello real”, then provisionally, “Sao Jorge” after the rebuilding of the fortress. It should be noted that the Portuguese were aiming to expand their trade route through Morocco, which they regarded as the second Portuguese Algarve, owing to the fact that the Kingdom geographically faced the European Algarve. They were therefore strongly attached to it, economically as well as militarily. The islands of Madeira, the Azores and Cape Verde completed, by virtue of their proximity, the Portuguese naval, economic and military Atlantic triangle. Thus, as early as the 14th century, Portugal embarks on a vast enterprise of discovery of the islands and coastline of the South Atlantic, which would allow them to sail around Africa and reach the Indian Ocean, so as to develop the flourishing trade with India. This gave rise to the need to establish ports of call along this maritime route, for the resupply of their ships. After a first attempt, in 1509, to establish their authority by erecting a small square fort fitted with four towers around the old ruined guard tower called El Brija (Castello Real), it was in 1514, following the conquest of Azamor, (present-day Azemmour), that the Portuguese settled in the region. In 1541, this city established on the frontier between Christendom and Islam became the first ideal city of the renaissance outside Europe. Some 2,000 people settled there until its abandonment by the Portuguese, in 1769, on the orders of the Portuguese royal power. Thus, this city lived almost entirely enclosed, having contact with the outside only to provide for its food needs. The water from the wells, located outside the city, was often contaminated by the tribes settled in the surrounding areas, who throw dead animals and other waste into them, so much so that the Portuguese put in place an ingenious system for collecting rainwater inside the city. The collected waters were thus drained toward an immense cistern installed in the guard room of the old castle of Mazagan, to form their reserve. The Portuguese cistern was thus conceived and became, in a way, the symbol of the city of Mazagan. ![La Citerne Portugaise d’El Jadida.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/610446bfed24319c6ce54a5d_Cisterne%20d%27El%20Jadida.jpg) After the siege of Mazagan of 1561, organized by the Saadian Sultan Moulay Abdallah, no further war was waged against the fortress until 1768, when the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, backed by an army of 75,000 soldiers and 44,000 sappers, was firmly determined to retake this city, to make it a symbol of his ambition to consolidate the Sharifian Empire. Although the city was totally besieged, the resistance of the people of Mazagan, who endured the worst privations, revealed the heroism of these inhabitants, who emerged victorious. A peace agreement was signed between Morocco and Portugal. All the more so as the borders of Brazil were threatened to the South and to the North, as the Portuguese crown no longer regarded the conquest of North Africa as a political stake, and as Lisbon no longer provided any support to Mazagan, which was in utter decay and abandonment, ravaged by famine and by epidemics. The pressure from Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, as well as the rebuilding of Lisbon, entirely destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake, became the ideal opportunity for Portugal to withdraw definitively, and with dignity, from Morocco. ![Resistance de Mazagan.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6104472c81781f18870c45e0_mazigan%20resistance.jpg) A truce was observed during which the 2,600 inhabitants of Mazagan were able to reach the Sea Gate. They carried away their personal belongings as well as the religious ornaments of the city, and such was their rage that they destroyed everything before their departure and blew up the Governor’s gate, in such a way that the city became impassable and inaccessible by land for years. It was then named Al Mahdouma (the demolished one). The 14 ships cast off their moorings on March 11, 1769, with the plan of rebuilding an identical city on Brazilian soil. After a transitional six-month stay in Lisbon, they set sail again toward Amazonia on September 15, 1769, for a new adventure, carrying with them the memory of this Moroccan Mazagan. --- --- title: "The Shiism of the Idrisids" description: "To the question “were the Idrisids Shiites”, the answer is: yes, but which Shiites?" url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/idrisids-shiism language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/chiisme-idrissides type: article category: cult published: 2021-07-18T07:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:52.696Z author: "Le Maure Malikite" tags: ["Religion"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60f3f11461bb0c7ed3c348f1_blue%20gate.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Shiism of the Idrisids By Le Maure Malikite *To the question “were the Idrisids Shiites”, the answer is: yes, but which Shiites?* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60f3f11461bb0c7ed3c348f1_blue%20gate.jpg) ## What is Shiism? Indeed, Shiism cannot be reduced to a single current or trend, or a monolithic ideological block. Let’s go through each of these currents. During the political conflict between Ali ibn Abi Talib (son in law to Prophet Muhammad) and Muawiya (Umayyad Caliph), the followers of Ali were called “Shi’at Ali” which translated to "the followers of Ali". Ali had two sons with Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad: al-Hassan and al-Husayn, who will be our main focus excluding his third son Mohammed Ibn Al Hanafiya whom he had with Khawlah Bint Ja’far. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60f3eff63aaff23b3b1951d0_descendance%20ali.png) Upon his death, two currents emerged within the political “Shiism” that had formed around him: the Shiites who followed al-Hassan, and the Shiites who followed al-Husayn. al-Husayn had a son, Ali, who himself had two sons: Muhammad al-Baqir, and Zayd Ibn Ali. The group of Zaydis (which we’ll explore in detail later) considered that Zayd Ibn Ali was the best successor, while the rest of the Shiite currents agreed on the fact that Mohammed al-Baqir was, of the two, the one to follow. Muhammad al-Baqir’s successor was Ja’far al-Sadiq (very influential and respected in the Maliki madhab by the way). The succession of Ja’far Al-Sadiq again created two divergent currents, which will give rise to the two largest Shiite currents to date. Among his five children, two stood out: Ismail was considered a successor by the Ismaelis, and Moussa al-Kazhim was considered to be the successor by the Twelvers. Thus we understand that “Shiism” was primarily political. The dogma of infallibility, the esotericism around imams, and other innovations, were only developed later, around the 10th century, by the Twelver Shias. For example, Yahya Ibn Ma’in was questioned by Imam Ahmad, because he did not understand why he thought that Imam al-Shafi’i was a Shiite. Yahya Ibn Ma’in replied that in his fiqh chapter on the unjust, al-Shafi’i had placed Ahl Al Bayt among the victims of injustice, and the Umayyad Party as the oppressors. It can thus be understood that the fact of being affiliated or not with “Shiism” was essentially conditioned by his position on the conflict between Mu’awiya and Ali. ![A large ribbed dome crowned by a small metal boat rises above a building of carved stone.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc421591d436be506c3_6ae52878c5110f243cb9c3b3_chiisme-idrissides-1.webp) *The mausoleum of Imam al-Shafi’i in Cairo. Photo: PaFra, CC BY-SA 3.0.* ## The current of Zaydism Today, when we talk about “Shiism” or “Shiites”, several elements stand out in the imagination of many people: the insult of companions, a fiqh and a heritage drastically different from those of Sunnis, the elevation of “imams” to the rank of infallible and mystical individuals, the belief in the falsification of the Quran etc… These elements however are foreign to traditional Zaydism. One of the reasons the Twelvers and Ismailis did not follow Zayd Ibn Ali is the fact that he clearly, and famously, affirmed his respect for the first well-guided Caliphs (Rashidun) and companions, saying that he only heard good things about them from his father, and frequently asked for the mercy of the Lord for them. Following this clear position, some Shiites rejected Zayd Ibn Ali and his religious legitimacy, it was from there that the name "Rafidhi" (the one who rejects/refuses) began to be used to refer to Shiites who were systemically hostile and without nuances to the first Caliphs and companions. An appellation that is therefore by definition contrary to Zaydism and its foundations. Not to mention the numerous words of great Zaydi scientists going in this direction and supporting it. For example, the 14th century Imam al-Mahdi Ahmad Ibn Yahya did not differentiate between those who insulted Ali, and Abu Bakr or Omar. Another huge reference of the 9th century Zaydism, Imam al-Hadi, ruled firmly and clearly on the flogging of those who insulted the companions. ![A tall brick minaret with a white balcony rises above an earthen enclosure wall and a sandy lane.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc421591d436be506de_6ae52879f71d639514260a86_chiisme-idrissides-2.webp) *The al-Hadi Mosque in Saada, Yemen, in 1986. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0.* There are still hundreds of quotes following this trend, which reveals that Zaydism in its tradition and essence is deeply opposed to the insult and curse of companions. Note that among the Zaydis, the Quran was not considered as corrupted by the companions but rather preserved. When it comes to the infallibility of imams, Zaydism sets itself apart from other Shiite currents, by affirming that a governor can be legitimate politically, even if other contenders for the regency exist and are better. The conditions for coming to power are also much broader than simply being a descendant of Nabi: you must be notoriously pious and reliable, and have reached the level of ijtihad in all Islamic fields. Here we are far from the esotericism and mysticism put forward by the Ismailis and Twelvers in relation to imams and their legitimacy. **So, at the level of fiqh, how can we situate Zaydism in relation to traditional Sunni schools?** Zaydi fiqh is extremely similar to Hanafi fiqh, and for good reason: Imam Yahya Ibn al-Husayn al-Hadi, seen above, is the founder of Zaydism as a distinct ideological and even political entity and he took his fiqh from the Hanafi school. This is verifiable by observing his legal positions in his fiqh books like "Al Ahkam Fi Al Halal wa Al Haram" among others, where a large part of the opinions are those of Abu Hanifa. When we know that Abu Hanifa was very attached to Ahl Al Bayt (his school being considered to be that of Ahl Al Bayt, because a lot of opinions come from Ali and Abdullah Ibn Mas’oud), and that he had financed and supported the revolt of Zayd Ibn Ali (with whom he studied) against the Umayyads, this seems more than logical. The Zaydis also use the various Sunni collections of hadith in their ijtihad (al-Bukhari the best known among others), especially since references to Zaydism are found in several transmission chains of the various collections. Add to this the words of very great Zaydi scholars such as Ibn al-Wazir or even Ibn Ismail al-San’ani (from the 15th and 18th centuries respectively), who have repeatedly refuted the Twelvers and clearly affirmed their proximity to the Sunnis, considering Zaydism to be one Sunni school among others. ![A tall cylindrical tower of ochre brick with a clock stands beside a large arched portal.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc421591d436be506e2_6ae5287ad698a6d965b53b86_chiisme-idrissides-3.webp) *The clock tower of the Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad. Photo: Moshtakmoshtak, CC BY-SA 3.0.* Thus, all these elements objectively and unambiguously differentiate the Zaydites from the Rawafids, and by extension from all the excesses and dogmas specific to the latter. ## And Idriss I in all this? After showing that Shiism was very diverse in its currents, and that the school of Zaydism was in many ways similar (even affiliated) to Sunnism, how can we situate Idriss Ibn Abdallah Al-Kamil in the Shiite spectrum? As seen above, Shiism was first and foremost a political statement. And it was as a descendant of the Prophet, and a political opponent to the Abbasids (who had initially rebelled against the Umayyads as defenders and standard bearers of Ahl Al-Bayt) that Idriss was fought and forced into exile from the Hejaz to the Maghreb to flee the massacres of the Prophet’s descendants. There, he was going to found his own kingdom, the first a Muslim political entity that is truly distinct from any Abbasid influence in Iraq and the Umayyad influence in Andalusia. ![A courtyard paved in zellige tile, ringed by white arcades, opens onto an ochre minaret and green-tiled roofs.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cc521591d436be506fc_6ae5287b01ef55cabb06dbdc_chiisme-idrissides-4.webp) *The courtyard of the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss at Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Photo: YassirZek, CC BY-SA 4.0.* Thus, the foundation of his kingdom and his dynasty are in no way based on an esoteric/mystical heresy, based on the rejection and traditional curse of companions, such as that of the Ismaili Fatimids of Egypt, or the Twelver Safavids of Iran. ## References - Al-Shabah al-Zaydiyid of al-Husayn - Taree Algiers - Manor in Abu Dhabi - Al-Shafari Mosque - The House in Ali Hulal Al-Haram - Al-Harouas and al-Qasr in al-Sub al-Que --- --- title: "Communique: The Moorish Organization Responds to the Publication by Jeune Afrique of a Slanderous Opinion Piece: Here Is the Reality of the Interview Between the Journalist and the Moorish Organization" description: "The Moorish Organization answers Jeune Afrique’s slanderous opinion piece on the Moorish Emergence, setting out the reality of the disputed interview." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/communique-jeunafrique language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/communique-jeunafrique type: article category: pol published: 2021-06-27T19:40:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:51:54.160Z author: "Carl Johnson" image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e0cff3a879be508e17f6_Moorish%20Articles.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Communique: The Moorish Organization Responds to the Publication by Jeune Afrique of a Slanderous Opinion Piece: Here Is the Reality of the Interview Between the Journalist and the Moorish Organization By Carl Johnson *The Moorish Organization answers Jeune Afrique’s slanderous opinion piece on the Moorish Emergence, setting out the reality of the disputed interview.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e0cff3a879be508e17f6_Moorish%20Articles.jpg) Early this Sunday, June 27, Jeune Afrique published an article on the Moorish Emergence. It will prove to be, in fact, a politically slanted opinion piece, barely disguised as journalistic work. Nina Kozlowski, a journalist for Jeune Afrique, had contacted a member of the Moorish Organization ahead of the writing of this piece. What was truly said during that exchange? On May 18, 2021, a member of the Moorish Organization was approached by the journalist Nina KOZLOWSKI as part of a journalistic inquiry. The exchange revolved around basic questions. Yet this is not what comes through in the recent article published by Jeune Afrique. Perhaps one is to believe that the journalist was expecting controversial, clumsy, or even slanderous remarks. Nothing of the sort, of course, came to pass. What was written amounts, in fact, to a hit piece that explicitly resembles the carbon-copy discourse of a few detractors of the Moorish Organization. The Moorish Organization does not grant the slightest consideration to the non-constructive or defamatory offenses uttered against it. It speaks out this time in view of the slanderous remarks addressed to it in the article published by Jeune Afrique. Titled “Morocco — the Moorish, X-ray of a connected nationalism”, the article is, as it happens, only barely — if at all — connected to the reality of the Moorish emergence and its sociological complexity. The article essentially refers to assorted news items relating to current events in Morocco. Hardly any mention of the various communication channels of the Moorish Organization and of the content they publish. This muddled article, which claims to deal specifically with the Moorish, touches upon: the Twittoma as a whole in relation to the recent Morocco/Spain diplomatic crisis; the Abdeslam Ouaddou case; the enthusiasm of Moroccans following Trump’s declaration last December; run-of-the-mill “fake accounts” singled out by name… In short, one cannot quite discern the connection between the aforementioned subjects and the content explicitly published by the various communication channels affiliated with the Moorish Organization. This article is in reality a barely concealed partisan opinion piece, largely inspired by the journalist’s anti-establishment entourage. A piece of work, in the end, hardly objective & professional, and somewhat disappointing given what one has grown accustomed to reading from Jeune Afrique. An intellectual dishonesty that therefore deserves to be corrected. The lines that follow will constitute a reconstruction of the interview between the journalist and Carl Johnson, who is quoted in the article. ***NINA: WHEN, HOW, AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WAS THIS MOVEMENT BORN? WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU BELONG TO THE FIRST CIRCLE OF ITS FOUNDERS?*** **CARL JOHNSON**: The Moorish concept originally emerged in order to counter the misappropriation of the name “Moorish”, essentially in the English-speaking sphere. Moorish is, to this day, still clumsily used to define Black or African-American populations, whereas the “Moors” [les Maures] are historically the ancestors of Moroccans. The Moors were the inhabitants of the Maghreb Al Aqsa, the far west of North Africa. In other words, the populations of the preceding Moroccan dynasties, as well as those of the same region during Antiquity, were called “Moors”. ![Painted portrait of a bearded man in a white turban and black cloak, hand near a gilded saber hilt, with 1600 lettered in gold.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb5ef974dec01b7a12b_6ae5286adff088ebf0536a3e_communique-jeunafrique-2.webp) *Portrait of Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud, Moroccan ambassador to Elizabeth I, painted in 1600. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.* Likewise, the Moorish emergence was justified in part by the weak presence of Moroccan voices on social media. There was no Moroccan voice of reference to defend the interests of the Moroccan community and to promote Morocco in all its dimensions. The succession of these observations prompted this Moorish emergence to diversify its horizons. The components of Moroccan identity [History & Culture] being attacked, defamed, or even appropriated; this Moorish emergence naturally took its position in the face of these problems and seized the Responsibility of confronting these offenses. The Moorish emergence came together naturally. It is made up of Moroccan women & men driven by the love of their country, Morocco. They are committed to defending everything that concerns the Kingdom, from near or from far. The Moorish emergence holds only one constant at heart: love of the homeland. We would therefore define ourselves simply as patriots, nothing more, nothing less. Our primary interest is to make Moroccans aware of their rich history and heritage, of their age-old values and their national identity. We also aim to defend the national interests of Morocco — interests which, in the view of the Moorish Organization, transcend political affiliations and which, consequently, we regard as a primordial and legal duty incumbent upon all Moroccans, as expressed in Article 38 of the Moroccan Constitution: “All citizens, women and men, contribute to the defense of the Homeland and of its territorial integrity against any aggression or threat”. ***NINA: HERE WE GET INTO CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS, BUT I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN THE SUBSTANCE. DO NOT THINK THIS IS A TRAP, I AM JUST CURIOUS AND I LIKE TO BE EXHAUSTIVE.*** ***‍*****CARL JOHNSON**: Have no fear, the Moorish Organization is not hostile to this type of question. On the contrary, we appreciate being confronted with this kind of inquiry. It allows light to be shed on shadowy areas that often wrongly defame the Organization.***‍*** ![Bronze bust of a young man with short curly hair, against an orange wall.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb5ef974dec01b7a131_6ae52898d4481bc6deb003b2_communique-jeunafrique-3.webp) *The bronze bust of Juba II, found at Volubilis. Photo: Laci3, CC0.* ***NINA: DOES THE MOORISH ORGANIZATION HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE COLOR BLACK? DO YOU DENY THAT BEFORE THE ROMAN COLONIZATION, THE MOORS (ACCORDING TO A GREAT MANY ACADEMIC WRITINGS) WERE A MAJORITY-BLACK POPULATION, MIXED WITH THE BERBERS, LIGHTER-SKINNED (STILL ACCORDING TO CERTAIN SOURCES), THE PALETTE OF COLORS HAVING CONSIDERABLY BROADENED.*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: The Moorish Organization has no problem whatsoever with the color black. The Moorish Organization has mobilized a great many historical and biological sources, as well as the academic literature, in order to take a coherent and well-founded position on the question of the Moors. Our conclusions are unequivocal: the Moors have always been a population with a very large Berber majority. There may have been, over the course of History, small movements of Sub-Saharan populations after the Almoravid Era [10th century]. That said, these influences in no way call into question the fact that the Moors have always been Berber. We are not waging a fight specifically against Black populations who would identify with the Moors. We stand as a rampart against anyone who would harbor the ambition of rewriting the History of Morocco and of its original people: the Moors. There is a genuine will to rewrite History, one articulated in part around the Afrocentrist current. The Moorish Organization firmly opposes the distortion of the History of Morocco. It is in this sense that it has been continuously committed for more than a year now. Furthermore, we are willing to share with you all the elements of information relating to our position on the question of the Moors, an originally Berber people. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d8ddd48deb0b1571ec82cd_Untitled-2.jpg) ***NINA: FINALLY, I UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRE TO DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF THE MOROCCAN NATION, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SOMETIMES RADICAL REMARKS OF SOME OF YOUR SYMPATHIZERS? YOU SEEM TO BE AN EXTREMELY CULTIVATED AND EDUCATED PERSON, I IMAGINE YOU ARE ATTACHED TO THE IDEA OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: As for the radical discourse of our [supposed] sympathizers: the Moorish Organization holds itself essentially responsible for what is disseminated through its official communication outlets. Quite obviously, the Moorish Organization does not encourage the extremist outbursts of those who would identify with the Moorish emergence. That said, we have no control over what is said here and there. The discourse disseminated through the various Moorish communication channels stands far removed from extremist discourse. Quite the contrary, we favor the pedagogical and constructive approach, and this in all circumstances. To a certain extent, the Moorish Organization has no reason to be excessively alarmed over this question. Extremist outbursts, from one side or another, exist everywhere. The Organization is naturally no exception to this.***‍*** ***NINA: AND WHAT ABOUT THE ARABOCENTRIST WILL TO REWRITE HISTORY?*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: The Moorish Organization takes a stand against any unfounded and mendacious rewriting. This holds equally for Arabocentrist rewriting. The Organization has no vocation to impose one precise way of thinking. It holds to the truth. We in no way deny the various Arab components of Moroccan identity, whether in its History or in its Culture. The Organization strives to uphold the truth and to refute whatever stems from the imaginary or from discourse resting exclusively on ideology. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d8df502bbaff04681908d6_Untitled-4.jpg) ‍***NINA: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU TAKE UP THE EMBLEMS OF THE VARIOUS DYNASTIES THAT REIGNED OVER MOROCCO (AND BEYOND), AMONG ALL THESE DYNASTIES, IS THERE ONE FAVORED BY THE MOVEMENT FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE MOROCCAN HERITAGE?*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: The Moorish Organization does not aspire to define a preference for one part of its History to the detriment of another. Each dynasty will have brought its added value to the edifice. We hold to the promotion and the valorization of these different contributions. ![Rectangular red and gold hanging covered in Arabic inscriptions, with a large eight-pointed star at the center and discs along the bottom.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb5ef974dec01b7a134_6ae5286a2f548e8e901d0db5_communique-jeunafrique-4.webp) *The Las Navas de Tolosa banner, captured from the Almohads, at the monastery of Las Huelgas. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.* By valorization, one should not understand “embellishing”. This valorization operates through intellectual & pedagogical means. The way knowledge is transmitted, the way sources are gathered and their reliability ascertained: it is in this sense that one must understand the valorization of History and of the Moroccan heritage more broadly. The Organization is committed, however, to neglecting no chapter of its History. The Moorish philosophy aims to bring to light what is unknown [or only approximately known] to Moroccans. ***NINA: EARLIER YOU SPOKE TO ME OF THE TERM "MOORISH ORGANIZATION". DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOUR MOVEMENT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE STRUCTURED, AND IF SO TO WHAT END? DO YOU WISH TO GO BEYOND AN INFLUENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?*** **CARL JOHNSON**: Indeed, the Moorish emergence is becoming more and more structured. The Moorish emergence is not understood by all. Our Organization is often associated with individuals or with communication channels that have no affiliation with our organization. Likewise, the paternity of certain hashtag initiatives is wrongly attributed to our Organization. Reference may notably be made to the hashtag insulting the Moroccan Minister of Culture. The Organization formally objects to being associated with such initiatives. The structuring of the Organization is also taking place for practical reasons. The horizons of the Organization have diversified. The Organization intends to intervene wherever it could play a relevant role. This it has begun to do, notably through the humanitarian operations it has recently carried out. ***NINA: IN MOROCCO, YOUR ADVERSARIES CLAIM THAT THE SECURITY SERVICES ARE BEHIND YOU, THAT THE DEEP STATE SUPPORTS YOU.*** **CARL JOHNSON**: Concerning those who are described as our “adversaries”, a clarification might be in order. The Moorish Organization encourages debate and has no vocation to impose a mode of thinking. Moroccan women and men who happen to disagree with the content disseminated through our communication channels could not be described as “adversaries”. The Moorish Organization advocates dialogue among Moroccans and holds to the unity of its People, in spite of differences of ideas. Criticizm and opposition are not bad things in themselves, quite the contrary. It is through criticizm and the existence of a constructive opposition that Morocco is brought to progress. That said, the Organization keeps its distance from nihilistic dynamics, unproductive by their very essence. It may appear simplistic to be accused of being the fruit of a “deep state” on the pretext of defending the interests of one’s Country and one’s People with ardor. In reality, we attach little importance to these accusations. To a certain extent, these accusations obstruct freedom of thought and of expression. We naturally prefer the confrontation of ideas to their disqualification by categorizing them as non-debatable. ***NINA: WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT ANONYMITY IS WHAT FEEDS ALL THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND “OUTING” ATTEMPTS. SO WHY THIS CHOICE?*** **CARL JOHNSON**: The anonymity of the Organization is of interest for several reasons. The Moorish Organization proceeds from the principle that what matters is less the messenger than the message conveyed. In this sense, revealing the identity of the contributors appears secondary. Moreover, some contributors opt for anonymity for reasons of safety and security. There are legitimate concerns. Other contributors opt for anonymity out of strict respect for their private life. More broadly, anonymity is not absolute within the Moorish Organization, insofar as the very fact of interacting and sharing thoughts steps outside the strictly anonymous frame. ***NINA: FOR THE TIME BEING, HOW MANY FOUNDERS, LEADERS & ACCOUNT MANAGERS DOES THE ORGANIZATION COUNT? HOW MANY SYMPATHIZERS?*** **CARL JOHNSON**: As for precise information concerning the Moorish Organization, it does not appear opportune to reveal it. The Organization is that of all Moroccans and does not claim a nominal paternity. As for sympathizers, one would need to refer to the followers of the various Moorish communication channels: @MoorishMovement, @MoorishTimes, @Moorskingdom, @MoorishFacts, @MoorishMovEN, @MoorishMovNL, @MoorishMovAR, @MoorishTmazight, @MoorishMovES, @WealthofMorocco, @LeMaureMalikite, @MoroccanArchive,@MocroSoccer, @MocroTeam. Some of these pages are also present on other social networks such as InstaGram, FaceBook, or TikTok. ***NINA: WE ALSO SEE THAT ARABIC SPEAKERS HAVE JOINED IN, WHEREAS BEFORE THE MOVEMENT WAS VERY FRANCOPHONE/ANGLOPHONE, HOW DID THE JUNCTION COME ABOUT?*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: Truth be told, Arabic-speaking Moorish groups already existed before the [Francophone] Moorish emergence on the Twitter space. That said, the Moorish Organization is independent, centered around the aforementioned communication channels.***‍*** ***NINA: AND IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THE LEADING MINDS OF THE MOVEMENT ARE MREs?*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: As for MREs, they make up a notable part of the Moorish Organization. That said, there are also local Moroccans within the Organization.***‍*** ***NINA: I ALSO COME BACK TO THE "MRE" ASPECT OF THIS MOVEMENT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS AN ARGUMENT USED BY YOUR DETRACTORS. MANY MOORISH ARE AGAINST THE ABOLITION OF ARTICLE 490 OF THE PENAL CODE, HONESTLY HOW IS THAT ANY CONCERN OF CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN EUROPE?*****‍** **CARL JOHNSON**: The question you raise is interesting, and it tends to raise another: should local Moroccans be the only ones concerned by the socio-legal dimension of Morocco? MREs nonetheless enjoy their civil and political rights with regard to Morocco: should they be excluded from the democratic process and from society’s debates on the pretext that they do not live on the national territory? ![Cars roll out of a ferry’s hold onto the quay as a uniformed officer in beige looks on.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cb5ef974dec01b7a12e_6ae5286b2f548e8e901d0e48_communique-jeunafrique-7.webp) *A ferry unloading at the port of Tanger Med during Operation Marhaba 2023. Photo: Tanger Med Port Authority.* The Organization wishes to signify its disappointment with regard to Jeune Afrique, which will have allowed the publication of this defamatory and manipulative piece. Moreover, the quality of the writing is well below what one is accustomed to reading. The Moorish Organization takes this opportunity to recall once again that it is responsible only for what is disseminated through its official communication channels. Thus, whatever comes from any channel other than those aforementioned has no grounds to be associated with the Moorish Organization. Likewise, the Organization invites the journalist to produce so much as one piece of evidence supporting the claim that the Berber identity is “despised” through our communication channels. If she is not in a position to do so, it is then suggested that she correct this error. Should the journalist prove unaccommodating, we will then invite her to wallow in her intellectual mediocrity. Truth be told, one lapse more hardly matters to us, considering the journalistic poverty through which she has distinguished herself. We amicably call upon Jeune Afrique to vet more meticulously what is published through its pages. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d8de5fc867002453e14a7d_Untitled-3.jpg) The Berber identity — like all the other components of Moroccan identity — is widely valorized in the content published through the Moorish communication channels. The Moorish Organization follows the momentum set in motion by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in his speech delivered at Ajdir in 2001, in which it is notably made explicit that “the Amazigh constitutes a principal element of the National culture, and a cultural heritage whose presence is manifested in all the expressions of Moroccan History and civilization”. This error of judgment by Nina Kozlowski, if one may call it that, is revealing of the insufficient consideration given to the Moorish emergence. One may thus affirm that the journalist has missed her subject. Finally, the Moorish Organization takes the liberty of making a clarification that has become necessary. It is hereby brought to the attention of public opinion, and of any person with an interest in the question of the Moorish Identity or emergence: That neither Mr. Armando Smith nor Dr. Mohamed Badine El Yattioui are the founders, the initiators, or indeed the leaders of the Organization. That any mendacious allegation to the effect that the two individuals cited are behind the Moorish Organization, or have influenced it, is nothing but a false allegation. As a final point of clarification, Mr. Armando Smith and Dr. Mohamed Badine El Yattioui are not members of the Moorish Organization. --- --- title: "Origins of couscous" description: "Couscous is one of the most emblematic dishes of Morocco. Also consumed more widely in the Maghreb, this dish is now the subject of disputes between various countries in the region over its origins." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/couscous-origins language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/origines-couscous type: article category: cult published: 2021-06-16T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:34.503Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Gastronomy", "Hospitality"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c9356d765f8eaf8e4e82ca_Couscous%20Grains.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Origins of couscous By Wealth of Morocco *Couscous is one of the most emblematic dishes of Morocco. Also consumed more widely in the Maghreb, this dish is now the subject of disputes between various countries in the region over its origins.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c9356d765f8eaf8e4e82ca_Couscous%20Grains.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c936824b3cda73a1f612fd_112bis.jpg) The culinary historian Lucie Bolens is said to have described primitive jars of couscous found in tombs dating back to the reign of the Berber king Massinissa. > Couscous is the form in which North Africans preserved, prepared, and cooked cereals. It seems attested, for the time of Massinissa, by couscoussiers found in burials, but does not seem to have reached Tripolitania to the east. *-Dr. Lucie Bolens, Professor of History at the University of Geneva.* The use of the verb “to seem” by Lucie Bolens is not trivial. It is necessary to remember that this is a hypothesis, which is now invalidated by the work of the Institute of Archaeology in Algiers. > Many researchers have begun to refer to the hypothesis that the origin of couscous dates back to the time of Massinissa. Based for the most part on the work and research of G. Camps about King Numidius. > However, returning to his research there is no evidence affirming the existence of couscous at that time. *-Houria Cherid, Institute of Archeology at the University of Algiers.* Marianne Brisville, doctor in history, confirms the idea that couscous did appear in the Middle Ages (and not during Antiquity). According to her, couscous was born in the Middle Ages in the Maghreb, and more precisely in Western and Central Maghreb (modern-day Morocco and Algeria) from where it spread to the Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia) as well as to the Eastern Maghreb (modern-day Tunisia) and probably to Sicily, which was Muslim between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Kilien Stengel, project manager at the European Institute of Food History and Cultures, specifies in his book that the dish appeared in Morocco in the 10th century. Thus, as a conquering country, Morocco, under the Almoravid dynasty, exported couscous to several countries in the northern Mediterranean. The Almohads also made it possible to strengthen the spread of this dish in the Iberian Peninsula as well as the Eastern Maghreb region. > The fortune of this language promoted by the governments is similar to the movement to spread dishes from Maghrib Al Aqsa in Andalusia and Ifriqiya, starting with couscous. *-Mehdi Ghouirgate.* ![Image](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c9438f6631c11d1da6ccce_E3hryV7VcAMC-9v.jpeg) It is in this context and this period that couscous first appears in an Andalusian cooking recipe manuscript. The couscous in this manuscript is described as coming from the city of Marrakech, capital of the Empire. In some Middle Eastern countries, couscous was also known as al-Maghribiyya (the Moroccan one). For example, in a recipe book written in Aleppo in the 13th century, couscous is described as Moroccan *(couscous al-maghribi).* *‍*In the 16th century, we later find a trace of this dish in the book by Hassan al-Wazzan, also known as Leo the African. This explorer, having traveled all over North Africa, accurately describes the preparation and consumption of couscous in Morocco in Fez and in the Haha region (Ihahan tribe). > In winter they eat salty meat, with a meat they call cuscusu, which is made from dough that they cook in pierced earthenware pots to receive the smoke from others who are nearby. *-Leon the African.* Other works throughout history bear witness to the presence of this dish in Morocco, such as a certain manuscript of more than 500 recipes written by an anonymous Andalusian author called the Maghreb and Andalusia Cookbook during the Almohad Era. ![Image](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c943595ff2ac73cbdc92d6_EkYr8ypWoAIBKQr.jpeg) ![Image](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60c9436c3c91bacb90df051c_EkYr-NtXkAIZIUL.jpeg) *Excerpt from a passage from the book.* This is the oldest literary record mentioning Moroccan vegetable couscous and dating from the 13th century. In this book, the author refers to a Marrakech recipe known as “couscous fitiyani”. It is a couscous that is consumed particularly by soldiers. This manuscript was found by Georges Seraphin Colin in Morocco. It is now kept at the National Library of France in Paris. ## References - Kitab al-Tabikh fi'l-Maghrib wa'l-Andalus fi'asr al-Muwahhidin. - [Moroccan civilization: arts and cultures, Mohamed Sijelmassi](https://books.google.fr/books/about/Civilisation_marocaine.html?hl=fr&id=pT7aAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y), Abdelkebir Khatibi. - [The Almohad Order (1120-1269): A new anthropological reading](https://books.google.fr/books/about/L_Ordre_almohade_1120_1269.html?hl=fr&id=5M_TDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y), Mehdi Ghouirgate. - Kitab al-Wusla ilâ l-Habib fi wasf al-Tayyabat wa l-tîb. - Lucie Bolens, Andalusian cuisine, an art of living, 11th-13th century. - And the Middle Ages invented couscous, Marianne Brisville. --- --- title: "The Moroccan Kaftan in its Varieties" description: "Sfifa, aakad, cuts and embroidery: the Moroccan kaftan comes in many forms. A survey of the main types of kaftan and the features that set them apart." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/kaftan-types language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/types-de-caftan type: article category: cult published: 2021-05-14T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:20.403Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Caftan"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e4f6b0bc6c43d966aafa_Princess%20Lamia%20Solh.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Moroccan Kaftan in its Varieties By Wealth of Morocco *Sfifa, aakad, cuts and embroidery: the Moroccan kaftan comes in many forms. A survey of the main types of kaftan and the features that set them apart.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e4f6b0bc6c43d966aafa_Princess%20Lamia%20Solh.jpg) This piece of Moroccan clothing has evolved over the centuries and is now available in various forms. It maintains its own characteristics however, namely sfifa and aakad. It is a garment steeped in history and therefore has many variants. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee037900d74baa1fad9a2_E0zFIsqXEAQhI3H.jpeg) #### The khrib kaftan A brocade kaftan made by the Bencherif family in Fez. The word “Khrib” would mean “the one who ruins” because in the past, this brocade was extremely expensive. It is characterized by its yellow color and by numerous embroidered roses. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0375f1c0327886f8465_E0zFJMSWUAIU5Al.jpeg) #### The Bahja kaftan ‍ A brocade kaftan with floral patterns, also made by the Bencherif family. Luxurious, it was famous in Fez and Marrakech. Brocade was taken over and reused to decorate the interiors of houses. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee037df48ff6a957d43ea_E0zFLw9XMAMVSBL.jpeg) #### The Ntaa kaftan. Silk velvet kaftan, often black or dark green, embroidered with gold thread (sqalli). This kaftan gets its name from the ntaa embroidery (tarz), characterized by the appearance of floral and/or peacock motifs. Nowadays, the dress is worn by the bride on henna day. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0371df840318675f81a_E0zFO1tWUAEhi3p.jpeg) #### The kaftan of Tetouan Short, loose-fitting kaftan often worn over a vest. It is woven on velvet, brocade, or silk. Embroidered with gold thread, it has a distinctive decorative element on the breastplate called “Khanjar” (dagger). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0375c1fdf614110eb20_E0zFQwCWYAAYmxk.jpeg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0370d55a461fbd8c15a_E0zFSYnXIAEibTB.jpeg) *Sadria worn under the Tetouan kaftan.* #### The kaftan of Rabat Embroidered garnet velvet kaftan decorated with gold thread stripes. Often worn without a belt, this kaftan is accompanied by the famous Touqida (conical cap). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee03856270b747040b20c_E0zFS5tXEAwbm-A.jpeg) #### The kaftan of Sale Velvet kaftan with long sleeves and dark colors. It is distinguished by its embroidery with gold thread using the Tarz Maallem technique. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0383bc40d183c0272d2_E0zFVqiXoAEDFB2.jpeg) #### Oujda’s kaftan Kaftan with short sleeves in silk velvet embroidered with soustains, braids and gold thread. It has two ovoid patterns on either side. It was specially worn during wedding ceremonies. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee038f36e2d4970643ce5_E0zFXRoWQAI6e9j.jpeg) #### The modern kaftan It maintains the traditional kaftan codes (sfifa and Aakad) but leaves more room for reinterpretation. Designers revisit it and play with cuts, but also with fabrics (silk, brocade, lace, etc.), embroidery, etc. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0381248077bbe01640b_E0zFaimXoAM4mXq.jpeg) #### Jawhara kaftan Luxurious kaftan made of silk fabric. It is characterized by its successive bands accompanied by floral motifs. Worn for various ceremonies, it is one of the most popular kaftans in Morocco. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee038dac9f54b7b7c2f45_E0zHcKMWQAo-7x4.jpeg) #### Takchita / Mansouria The Takchita is composed of at least two pieces unlike the kaftan. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0380830252232aec5a6_E0zHeVYXMAAFcHh.jpeg) #### Makhzani kaftan for men It refers to the kaftan worn by the literati and by the senior officials of Makhzen. It is composed of a kaftan of sheets, often white, and a light, transparent fabric (called Mansouria or Farajiya). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee03800de9270d958aefd_E0zHgC4XEAUwVCl.jpeg) #### The Makhzani kaftan for women The princely kaftan, that of women, is worn by the royal family and is decorated with abundant sapphires, braids, and cut from luxurious fabrics: velvet, grand prix brocades, etc. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee0389f9592010f40fc09_E0zHh7VXIAIBGev.jpeg) #### Kswa l’Kbira (big dress) Ceremonial kaftan for the Jewish city girls. It is made of green or red velvet and embroidered with gold threads. It consists of a breastplate, a corselet, petticoats, a skirt, a silk belt, sleeves, a scarf and a crown. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/609ee03800de92bfe658aefe_E0zHkAgWUAA9c9A.jpeg) --- --- title: "The History of the Idrisid Emirate in Arabia" description: "From 1908 to 1930, an Idrisid emirate, founded and directed by a religious leader from Fes, extended in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/idrisid-emirate-arabia language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/emirat-idrisside-arabie type: article category: hist published: 2021-04-25T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-01T08:06:28.201Z tags: ["Modern History", "Idrisids"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e5caf4bf563a3e1c8d77_Idrissid%20Emirate.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The History of the Idrisid Emirate in Arabia *From 1908 to 1930, an Idrisid emirate, founded and directed by a religious leader from Fes, extended in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e5caf4bf563a3e1c8d77_Idrissid%20Emirate.jpg) ![Muhammad_bin_Ali_al-Idrisi_(محمد_بن_علي_الإدريسي).jpg](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6034c14aceb5f9176bcf556e_Muhammad_bin_Ali_al-Idrisi_%2528%25D9%2585%25D8%25AD%25D9%2585%25D8%25AF_%25D8%25A8%25D9%2586_%25D8%25B9%25D9%2584%25D9%258A_%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25A5%25D8%25AF%25D8%25B1%25D9%258A%25D8%25B3%25D9%258A%2529.jpeg) *Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Idrisi.* Founded and directed by the charismatic religious leader and commander of Fassi origin Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali al-Idrisi, from 1908 to 1930CE, the Idrisid emirate of Asir extended over Jizan and Tihama in the eponymous province, currently Saudi Arabia and Yemen. ## Genealogy Muhammad ibn Ali al-Idrisi comes from a noble family whose genealogy dates back to Idriss I, founder of the city of Fes and the first Moroccan sovereign. More precisely, he’s the grandson of Ahmad bin Idris al-Fasi, a Sufi Islamic scholar from Fez, who studied at the prestigious al-Qarawiyyin University and worked in Morocco and then in the Hejaz region in Arabia. He marked his era as the founder of the Idrisiyya a set of Sufi traditions and confraternities. Through his followers, he has exerted a diffuse influence throughout the Muslim world. He settled in the town of Zabid in Yemen, which was a major historical center of Muslim scholarship and died in 1837 in the city of Sabya in what’s today Saudi Arabia, which would go on to become the capital of the Idrisid Emirate under the reign of his grandson. ## Context At the beginning of the 20th century, the Middle East was almost entirely under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The situation evolved during the First World War through the confrontation between the Entente (United Kingdom, France, Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire). Before Muhammad al-Idrisi arrived in Asir, there seemed to be no unifying factor present among the population. Ruled by the Ottomans, the Asir region was in anarchy at the time, anti-Turkish feeling was brewing, triggering ethnic and sectarian conflicts between the Ottoman leaders and the local inhabitants. The rise of the Idrisid state in Asir could be seen as a continuation of tribal rebellions against Ottoman rule. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60853f4547b0467e3947921b_608536b7db9558010ffa5fcc_Hejaz%252C_Asir%252C_Yemen_%25281919%2529.jpeg) Muhammad al-Idrisi then began spreading the teachings of his grandfather and encouraged local residents to maintain a more rigorous adherence to Islam. In 1908, al-Idrisi gained the status of Imam and many tribes in the Asir region recognized him as spiritual leader and then warlord. The following year, he began to put in place his first efforts to overthrow Ottoman power in the region. Following this, the Idrisid troops succeeded in taking the Farasan Islands, surrounding cities as well as rallying several tribes. The emirate’s rise in power led to some sort of pacification between the Ottomans and the Idrisids. In the Treaty of al-Hafair, al-Idrisi obtained the title of Kaymakam of Asir, which made him a de facto semi-independent leader of the region under Ottoman suzerainty. With this said, following negotiations with Italy, Sayyid Muhammad’s forces came into open conflict with the Ottoman forces in Abha. The Idrisids were defeated in 1911 by Hashemite forces under the orders of Hussein ibn Ali, sharif of Mecca, still loyal to the Ottomans. The tide would change however when Muhammad concluded a secret military alliance with Britain, at war at the time with the Ottomans in 1915. Afterwards, Sharif Hussein changed sides, and joined the British to oppose the Ottomans. His military campaign was a success and at the end of the First World War, Sayyid Muhammad became governor of a sovereign state recognized internationally as the Idrisid Emirate of Asir. ## End of the Emirate After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Arabian Peninsula was gripped by internal rivalries and it was clear that England was no longer in a position to honor its commitments, which will constitute **a** factor in the decline of the emirate. Moreover, the sovereignty of the emirate of Asir was threatened by the contemplation of Hussein bin Ali, king of Hejaz and by Yemen led by Imam Yahya. The death of Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Idrisi will cause a family quarrel for the throne. Once the new emir al-Hassan came to power, the leaders of Hejaz and Yemen laid claim to Idrisid possessions. In June 1934, the Saudis and the Yemenis signed a treaty of friendship and brotherhood between Saudi Arabia and Yemen providing for the establishment of peaceful and diplomatic relations between the two countries. The treaty also provided for the demarcation of the borders between the two countries, which was completed in 1936, and thus the lands of the Emirate of Idriss were divided causing its dissolution. ## References - The Idrisi State in Asir: Politics, Religion and Prestige in Arabia | Anne K. Bang | 1997 - The Encyclopaedia of Islam (Second Edition) | Headley | 1954-2005 --- --- title: "The Repeal of Article 490 of the Moroccan Penal Code Demanded by the Moroccan Outlaws 490 Collective" description: "Seizing on the conviction of Hanaa, the young 24-year-old woman who found a sexual video of herself on the internet, the Moroccan Outlaws 490 collective launched a mobilization to repeal Article 490 of the Penal Code and decriminalize sexual relations outside marriage." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/article490-opinion language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/article490-opinion type: article category: pol published: 2021-02-13T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T00:51:54.268Z author: "Carl Johnson" tags: ["Opinion", "Society"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e66c92b639986ac1a93a_Magnifying%20%20Glass.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Repeal of Article 490 of the Moroccan Penal Code Demanded by the Moroccan Outlaws 490 Collective By Carl Johnson *Seizing on the conviction of Hanaa, the young 24-year-old woman who found a sexual video of herself on the internet, the Moroccan Outlaws 490 collective launched a mobilization to repeal Article 490 of the Penal Code and decriminalize sexual relations outside marriage.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e66c92b639986ac1a93a_Magnifying%20%20Glass.jpg) ### A recap of the facts. Hanaa, a young 24-year-old Woman, was sentenced on January 4, 2021 to one month in prison and a 500-dirham fine for “sexual relations outside marriage” and “public indecency[[1]](#_ftn1)”, after the circulation of a video of a sexual nature[[2]](#_ftn2). The man appearing in the video is no longer on Moroccan soil. The individual who recorded and circulated the video is also abroad. The Moroccan justice system has issued a national arrest warrant against the man who appears in the video. He resides in the Netherlands: a State with which Morocco has no judicial cooperation agreement[[3]](#_ftn3). On February 3, 2021, upon her release from prison, Hanaa declared her intention to file a complaint against the pornographic sites that had circulated the video, and against the person who filmed and circulated the images without her knowledge. Simultaneously, the **Moroccan Outlaws 490** Collective initiated a virtual campaign aimed at the repeal of Article 490 of the Penal Code[[4]](#_ftn4). The #STOP490 then spread across the Moroccan web. ### The activist Collective’s dubious communication. On February 3, 2021, the **Moroccan Outlaws 490** Collective shared the following message on its InstaGram account: “*To support Hanaa from Tetouan and demand the repeal of Article 490 of the Penal Code, share the #STOP490*” [[5]](#_ftn4). This activist group, which defines itself as a “Moroccan social and citizen Movement”, seized the occasion to express its main demand: repealing Article 490 of the Penal Code. What, then, of Hanaa, guilty within the meaning of Article 490, but also a victim of her ex-partner’s *revenge porn* within the meaning of Article 447-1[[6]](#_ftn2)? If one looks into the Collective’s InstaGram posts, one observes that it is repeatedly stated that **“*****the person behind the video’s dissemination is not being troubled by the justice system*****”,** without specifying why. According to most of the media outlets citing the investigation reports and the statements of various lawyers, the maker of the video resides abroad and has not truly been identified. It is precisely for these reasons that the individual has not faced justice, and not because of some supposed leniency of the authorities implicitly suggested by the Collective. As for the man appearing in the video, he has been identified and a national arrest warrant has been issued against him. This detail was likewise passed over in silence by the association, and that throughout the promotion of the virtual event. The shadow cast over these additional pieces of information fed a frustration and a sense of persecution across the various comment sections of the posts. Still on its InstaGram account, the Collective suggests that only Hanaa, in her capacity as a Woman, is targeted here by the law: **“*****A victim of sexual exploitation and of the dissemination of private videos without her consent, it is nonetheless Hanaa who, through the application of law 490, finds herself behind bars… Which goes to show just how insidious and dangerous this article is*****”**. Through this message, the association suggests an outrageous conflation. Hanaa has certainly suffered a harm within the meaning of Article 447-1 of the Penal Code, but that is not what she was convicted for. This Woman, who acknowledged her offense, was indeed convicted of public indecency and sexual relations outside marriage under articles 483 and 490 of the Penal Code. The harm suffered by an offender does not cancel out the offense they commit. Moreover, Hanaa’s lawyer himself indicates that “what is at stake in this case is the protection of intimacy and private life[[7]](#_ftn3)”. After passing over in silence the details concerning the two other individuals involved in the case, the Collective will have shamefully instrumentalized Hanaa’s condition as a Woman for its activist ends. Upon observation, is there truly a founded link between the harm suffered by Hanaa and the Collective’s demands? It appears obvious that this is not the case. ![Printed Bulletin officiel page: a table of penalties for offenses against morals, then the text of articles 489 to 491.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c88_6ae528609f9245e258360f0b_article490-opinion-2.webp) *Articles 483 and 490 of the Penal Code in Bulletin officiel no. 2640 bis, June 5, 1963. Document: Bulletin officiel of the Kingdom of Morocco.* The Collective is de facto building on an erroneous presentation of the case. What emerges is a poorly concealed manipulation of its some +85,000 followers[[8]](#_ftn4). Beyond this point, one notices that the activist group did not particularly insist on the true injury done to Hanaa, who was subjected to the dissemination of private information without her knowledge. Is that not what she is truly a victim of? Why not have insisted more on the judicial prosecution of the two other individuals involved? Ultimately, the Collective is no longer really defending the young Woman. Likewise, it no longer really cares about her psychological situation, since it continues, to her detriment, to relay this case for strictly activist ends. Moreover, Karima Nadir, spokesperson for the Collective, does not hide the opportunism of the association, which knowingly rode the wave of the Hanaa case to recall the diversity of demands calling for the repeal of all legal articles hindering the individual freedoms[[9]](#_ftn5) of Moroccans. What, then, of the **#STOP490**? The Collective claims to defend a cause that concerns all Moroccans. An inclusive initiative that would raise the voice of those traditionally reduced to silence. Although the communication around the virtual mobilization was carried out — at first — in French, Arabic and English, the hashtag is in English. This may seem trivial, but it is legitimate to wonder who the true audience of the operation carried by this hashtag really is. Would the use of a hashtag in Arabic or darija not have been wiser given the objective pursued? Would the targeted audience then no longer be the Moroccan people as a whole, but a segment usually receptive to hashtags in a foreign language? More broadly, the general communication, as well as the testimonies gathered on the Collective’s InstaGram network, are almost entirely in French or English. Does the Collective truly stand as the voice of all Moroccans? The Collective’s established communication leads one to believe it does not. More broadly still, was one of the objectives pursued by the association not to place its demands under the spotlight of the international media? Indeed, the Collective relays via InstaGram the #STOP490’s appearances in the Dutch, Egyptian and Swiss press, or again on BBC Arabic. Is this supposed to be gratifying? Is this supposed to represent significant progress for the demands being brandished? ![A woman with curly hair in a checked jacket sits at a television studio desk.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c8b_6ae5286201ef55cabb06d4b3_article490-opinion-3.webp) *Karima Nadir, co-founder of the Hors-la-loi collective, on a Tele Maroc set. Photo: Tele Maroc, via Openchabab.* ### A religious approach to Article 490 of the Penal Code. This point will be addressed modestly. The task of exploring the question in depth will be left to specializts in the field. The Preamble of the Constitution states that Morocco is a “sovereign Muslim State”. Likewise, in its third article, it is stated that “Islam is the religion of the State”[[10]](#_ftn1). Islamic Law designates fornication as a grave sin. It is punished by 100 lashes, on the condition that the clear and unambiguous testimony of 4 adult men first be gathered. For its part, Moroccan Law addresses fornication essentially in **Article 490 of the Penal Code**, which provides that: “all persons of the opposite sex who, not being united by the bonds of marriage, have sexual relations with each other are punished by imprisonment of one month to one year”. The intervention of a specializt to shed light on the sources of Law inspiring this article would be pertinent. One may wonder whether custom, a moderate reading of the legal provision of Islamic Law[[11]](#_ftn2), an arbitrary choice by the Moroccan legislator — or all three at once — were drawn upon. Be that as it may, while the penalty incurred under Moroccan Law is not the same as that incurred under Islamic Law, religious morality seems to have justified the wording of Article 490 of the Penal Code. ### Religious morality and Moroccan ethics. The **Moroccan Outlaws 490** Collective calls for the repeal of Article 490 of the Penal Code in the name of individual freedoms. That said, through what prism are these individual freedoms being invoked? Are they invoked through the prism of Moroccan society? Or through that of a foreign society? At first glance, one quite easily observes that the demand for the law’s repeal is characterized by a Western approach to the question, literally disregarding Moroccan particularism with respect to the issue at hand. ![Two-column printed page headed La Constitution, Preambule.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c9e_6ae52863dff088ebf0536756_article490-opinion-4.webp) *The preamble of the 2011 Constitution in Bulletin officiel no. 5964 bis, July 30, 2011. Document: Bulletin officiel of the Kingdom of Morocco.* Until now, Article 490 of the Penal Code has never truly been the object of any considerable divergence within Moroccan society. Some will speak of a relative consensus on the question; others will point to the absence of any conclusive study, or to a taboo complicating sincere speech on the matter. Be that as it may, since this law took effect, there has not been a single instance in which it stirred discord or marked any substantial divergence in Morocco. Accordingly, the absence of any large-scale study can, as things stand, be justified by its lack of necessity. The intervention of a specializt would nonetheless be welcome to shed light on the possible applicability of this norm before its inscription into the Penal Code. This would make it possible to determine Moroccan society’s relationship to this prohibition before 1913[[12]](#_ftn1), and would then settle the matter for those who would agree in thinking that fornication was not legally punished until then. Through its various demands, the Collective quickly disregards Moroccan social cohesion[[13]](#_ftn2), within which numerous values are articulated — chastity, modesty and honor, to name only these. Values nonetheless intrinsically tied to Islam, but also to the centuries-old social heritage of Moroccans. One may consider that these values belong to a broader set of convictions consciously shared by all. A kind of ethical corpus forged in each person’s conscience. One could also amuse oneself by challenging this assertion through the absence of any detailed study. More concretely, a methodical process scarcely compatible with the ethical corpus of Moroccan society, combined with the Collective’s aggressive approach, naturally diminishes the receptiveness of Moroccans as a whole to the message being chanted. The Collective has not even made the effort to adapt its discourse to Moroccan specificity. The association seems to impose its will on the entire Moroccan people while clinging desperately to the fleeting platforms granted by a few Western media outlets; which adds not the slightest value to the substance of the debate required in Morocco. ![A woman with curly hair in a mustard sweater and white collar smiles, looking to one side.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c9b_6ae5289768a33b68674b55e8_article490-opinion-5.webp) *Leila Slimani, co-author of the outlaws manifesto, at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2017. Photo: Heike Huslage-Koch, CC BY-SA 4.0.* ### Repealing Article 490: a legitimately founded demand? One may indeed wonder by whom and for whom the Collective’s initiatives are undertaken. This questioning may once again seem trivial; that said, the form of this Movement betrays its proclaimed ambitions. Indeed, Oum El Ghait Ben Sahraoui specified in 2019 on the set of TV5 Monde[[14]](#_ftn1) that the initiator of the Manifesto defending the individual freedoms of Moroccans was Sonia Terrab and not Leila Slimani: this so as not to suggest that the Manifesto was a production from outside Morocco. However, one need only glance at Sonia Terrab’s FaceBook account to realize that she expresses herself exclusively in French. The events and articles relating to her demands are likewise in French. Ultimately, even if she does reside in Morocco, the fight she wages through the Moroccan Outlaws 490 Collective is addressed almost exclusively to a French-speaking audience. Must we recall which language Moroccans speak? According to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, 35% of Moroccans are French speakers[[15]](#_ftn2). Are we to understand that the Collective’s Manifesto defends the individual freedoms of only 35% of Moroccans? Are we to understand that the individual freedoms of the 65% of Moroccans are not worth defending? How can one claim to raise the awareness of one’s people, or to defend them, when addressing them in a language foreign to them? Two thirds of the Moroccan population are de facto excluded from the debate. From then on, can the demands of this association really be considered truly legitimate? In its form, this collective appears to have very little legitimacy as to the demands it expresses. As early as 2019, Rachid Hachachi was already telling RT France[[16]](#_ftn3), at the time of the Hajar Raissouni affair, that the initiatives of the Moroccan Outlaws 490 Collective amounted to bourgeois demands. The political scientist also spoke of a “desire to transpose a fight that is not that of Moroccans, but that of a small Moroccan minority Westernized in its way of life, and of the Moroccan petite bourgeoisie”. A description that seems to fit the Collective, judging by its communication methods, which are non-inclusive to say the least. Likewise, the Collective contents itself with a foreign media platform while relegating to second place that of the very State to which its demands are addressed. ![Protesters hold up three posters showing a woman in a red headscarf, with slogans in Arabic.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c97_6ae52863ef974dec01b5b65c_article490-opinion-6.webp) *Activists hold up portraits of Hajar Raissouni outside the Rabat court, September 9, 2019. Photo: Youssef Boudlal, Reuters.* ### Does the Collective really seek to establish debate? Would that same debate be legitimately founded? The **Moroccan Outlaws 490** Collective claims to be committed to establishing a debate around its demands. Yet that is not what one observes in light of its various methods. Whether it be its aggressive and denigrating communication toward the Moroccan women and men attached to the morals it fights, or the knowingly distorted reality it suggests to its audience in order to stir up a misleading sensationalism; in both configurations, the association restricts the room left for debate. Thus, by focusing strictly on the individual freedoms it brandishes, the Collective entirely disregards the social consequences that the possible repeals or amendments of laws deemed liberticidal could generate. The supporters of #STOP490 agree in thinking that the decriminalization of sexual relations outside marriage would constitute no social disruption. The post-repeal social transition is regarded by these activists — wrongly — as a given. The reality could indeed be quite different. Let us suppose Article 490 of the Penal Code were repealed: would Moroccan mores thereby normalize access to contraception? Would this be an open door to an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases, to a rise in unassumed pregnancies and births, to the construction of new orphanages, or to a potential resurgence of abortions performed in secrecy? Absolutely nothing guarantees that these scenarios are not the ones awaiting Moroccan society. And none of these themes are truly addressed by the activists. A parenthesis on abortion deserves to be opened. **Article 453 of the Penal Code** provides that: “abortion is not punished when it constitutes a measure necessary to safeguard the mother’s health and is openly performed by a physician or a surgeon with the spouse’s authorization”. An abortion thus permitted, but strictly conditioned. The Hajar Raissouni episode in 2019 was an occasion for the Collective to renew its demands for the amendment of this law. Parliament is said to have recently intended to broaden the legal conditions for abortion[[17]](#_ftn1), but this advance would be “far from sufficient”[[18]](#_ftn2) according to the association, which would hope to make abortion a Right vested in every Woman, whatever the circumstances in which she would resort to it. On this subject, light could be shed on the remarks of Doctor Aissam Bachir[[19]](#_ftn3), who recalls the content of Simone Weil’s 1974 speech on the question of abortion in French society. The former Stateswoman made it explicit that abortion was to remain the exception, for situations without a way out[[20]](#_ftn4). According to the Doctor, abortion is not a Right but a medical necessity. ![Black-and-white photo, seen from above, of a woman standing at a lectern fitted with microphones, reading her notes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543ca4_6ae528647ef1074850264810_article490-opinion-7.webp) *Simone Veil at the rostrum of the French National Assembly, November 26, 1974. Photo: AFP.* Amending Article 453 to broaden the conditions for abortion, so as to stem its clandestine practice, would be welcome in Moroccan society. This new provision would remain compatible with the Moroccan ethical corpus; however, the Collective has no intention of settling for it. Has the association asked Moroccan women for their opinion? Perhaps they do not ask for as much as the Collective demands of the legislator? Perhaps it is the case, but what do we know of it? Ultimately, on what foundations does the Collective legitimize its demands? Debate is not really being suggested; important notions of the debate are bypassed, such as the place of the Right to life in the face of the claimed Right to abortion. Whatever the demand, the activist methodology is reproduced and de facto rules out the supposedly healthy debate being pursued. On the one hand, the Collective moves away from any prospect of debate; on the other, it feeds the social rupture between its supporters and the rest of the Moroccans never consulted. This fracture was moreover illustrated on social media through the confrontation of the hashtags #STOP490 and #KEEP490. A confrontation that brought no added value to a debate that would nonetheless deserve to be examined. The Collective’s attitude is regrettable in many respects: this association has shown itself to be non-inclusive and hardly conciliatory. One may wonder whether, failing to invest itself in social peace in Morocco, the Collective really wishes to craft solutions to the various societal issues. ### What is problematic in Article 490 of the Penal Code The criticizm leveled against Article 490 of the Penal Code is relatively vague. Does the Collective oppose the content of this law? Or is it its applicability that is being contested? As a reminder, Article 490 provides that “all persons of the opposite sex who, not being united by the bonds of marriage, have sexual relations with each other are punished by imprisonment of one month to one year”. The question that arises here is that of how the crime is established. How is proof adduced? In principle, proof is established by a report of in flagrante delicto findings drawn up by a judicial police officer, or by the confession of the accused[[21]](#_ftn1). In practice, one finds that it is very difficult to gather these elements. The authorities then take to guessing at potential sexual relations. This is an overreach of duty, forcing these same authorities to pass judgments on individuals’ appearance. There, already, is the first anomaly in the applicability of Article 490 of the Penal Code. This new approach to sexuality by the public authorities thus sheds light on the now no longer moral but social dimension of the criminalization of immorality[[22]](#_ftn2). Once again in practice, the legal prohibition of sexual relations outside marriage tends to be concretely enforced only against girls generally from precarious classes[[23]](#_ftn3). That is a second anomaly in the applicability of Article 490 of the Penal Code. By opting for this detection practice essentially focused on the female sex, the male sex gets off lightly. On the one hand, the authorities’ improvised applicability — which is obviously not legislated — creates an inequality of treatment; on the other, it strikes at the integrity of the Moroccan Woman who, when subjected to an arbitrary police check, is often categorized as a prostitute[[24]](#_ftn4) for the sole fact of having engaged in an activity deemed to resemble it. Meriam Cheick raises the idea of illegalism[[25]](#_ftn5), borrowed from Foucault, here conveying the authorities’ false neutrality toward the female and male sexes. It is precisely in this sense that the Moroccan Woman suffers an injustice, and not because she is convicted of an offense she has actually committed[[26]](#_ftn6), as the Collective contends. This injustice endured by the Moroccan Woman constitutes a third anomaly in the applicability of Article 490 of the Penal Code. While the three elements above illustrate rather well the fallible character of this law, another major consideration might suffice on its own to call into question the legitimacy of the legal provision’s improvised applicability. Would the authorities’ improvised attitude not be a violation of the Right to privacy, a Right nonetheless guaranteed by the Constitution in its Article 24? “Everyone has the right to the protection of their private life. […] The home is inviolable. […] Private communications.”; the question may seem legitimate. This potential violation of the Right to privacy constitutes a fourth anomaly in the applicability of Article 490 of the Penal Code. A statistical parenthesis: arrests relating to sexual relations outside marriage have been declining in recent years. By way of illustration, the city of Tangier recorded 404 cases in 2009, then only 80 in the year 2014. This decline reflects less an actual fall in sexual relations outside marriage than a softening by the police of repressive measures in matters of morals. The young anthropologist[[27]](#_ftn7) goes on to indicate that “the moralization of the current decade now seems to proceed through the security of the city and, thereby, through a strengthening of police work focused on upholding not the moral order but the social order”[[28]](#_ftn8). In the end, one observes that while the number of arrests for sexual relations outside marriage stands at +15,000 in 2019, the trend is on the whole downward[[29]](#_ftn9). ### What must be changed in Article 490 of the Penal Code. One may finally ask what the adequate solution would be with regard to Article 490 of the Penal Code. If the pros and cons had to be strictly weighed, one might be hostile to its repeal, and perhaps a little less so to its preservation. The Collective has failed to be convincing in justifying and legitimizing its ambitions. In parallel, the supporters of #KEEP490 did not have to strain their arguments, given the poor level of the demands they were confronted with. ![A man in glasses and a blue suit speaks with one hand raised in front of rows of wooden seats.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6ae52cacdff088ebf0543c8e_6ae528655223b9148eda1f4a_article490-opinion-10.webp) *Mustapha Ramid, then minister of state for human rights. Photo: Le360.* The substance-free opposition between #STOP490 and #KEEP490 literally smothered any attempt at a pragmatic approach to the question, effectively ruling out the possibility of a third outcome to this battle of ideas: amending the article. What if #EDIT490 were in fact the appropriate solution? A modification of the legal provision insisting on [1] the undifferentiated treatment of the genders; [2] the objective gathering of proof, no longer founded on the random judgment of the police officer; [3] the establishment of a third category, distinct from prostitution and from adultery and compatible for both Women and men; [4] the spelling out of what does or does not infringe the Right to privacy when the police officer carries out his mission, and the clear determination of its limits — this with a view to protecting the Right to privacy, a constitutional Right guaranteed to all individuals. It may seem obvious that a single sentence is insufficient to spell out the complexity of Article 490. Mustapha Ramid indicated in December 2019 that “the State does not have the right to break into the private space, to spy on adults and to break down their doors in order to violate their intimacy[[30]](#_ftn1)”. A statement that could be skillfully articulated through the amendment of Article 490. In any case, it is this option that seems the most opportune. The repeal of Article 490 of the Penal Code will never be permitted in Morocco. These demands belong to utopia. The King of Morocco is carried in part by a religious legitimacy; Islam is certainly no mere accessory in the exercise of power. What would the attitude of the Moroccan people be upon the announcement, by the Commander of the Faithful, of the decriminalization of sexual relations outside marriage? What would be the reaction of the neighboring peoples who, for several centuries, have been bound to the Muslim frame of reference enshrined in the Moroccan monarchy? If the regional reference point of Islam were to withdraw from its religious legitimacy, what would the strategic consequences be, both for Morocco and for the neighboring States whose peoples are in the majority Muslim? The repeal being demanded is part of a strictly individual dynamic, de facto excluding any collective approach, be it national or international. These demands relegate the collective interest to second place in favor of marginal individual interests. An ultimately selfish outlook, carried notably by the Collective **Moroccan Outlaws 490.** ### A final word. The **Moroccan Outlaws** Collective would gain from being more inclusive. It would likewise gain from being more in tune with the Moroccan reality it strives not to see, or to misunderstand. Likewise, thinking that the solution exists only through the blessing of the West is a misstep. This breach opened toward the outside also favors foreign interference in matters of undesirable ideology. Moroccans of all stripes would lend more credence to an initiative bearing a strong Moroccan imprint. The Salvation of Moroccan society will come only through the Moroccan people and ideas of its own. Inspiration is certainly an opportunity; the transposition of foreign systems is, on the other hand, a defect. If one follows the dynamic of the opposition between #STOP490 and #KEEP490, reflection around #EDIT490 would be far more pertinent and constructive. If one takes the broader view of a dynamic aimed at Moroccans as a whole, hashtags in Darija or Amazigh would undoubtedly have been preferable. It is not Europe that must be made aware: it is indeed Moroccans. ## References - [1] Article 483 of the Penal Code: Anyone who, through deliberate nudity or through the obscenity of their gestures or acts, commits a public affront to decency is punished by imprisonment of one month to two years and a fine of 120 to 500 dirhams. - [2] A video dating from 2015, recently circulated online - [3] Details provided by Ms. Ghizlane Mamouni, lawyer at the Paris bar and member of the 490 Collective. [https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/02/03/au-maroc-une-affaire-de-revenge-porn-relance-le-debat-sur-la-liberte-sexuelle_6068672_3212.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/02/03/au-maroc-une-affaire-de-revenge-porn-relance-le-debat-sur-la-liberte-sexuelle_6068672_3212.html) - [4] “All persons of the opposite sex who, not being united by the bonds of marriage, have sexual relations with each other are punished by imprisonment of one month to one year”. - [5] [https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0hh_KlKi4/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0hh_KlKi4/) - [6] “Anyone who knowingly and by any means, including computer systems, proceeds to intercept, record, disseminate or distribute words or information uttered in a private or confidential setting, without the consent of their authors, is punished by imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of 2,000 to 20,000 dirhams. The same penalty applies to anyone who knowingly and by any means proceeds to capture, record, disseminate or distribute the photograph of a person in a private place, without that person’s consent”. - [7] [https://www.medias24.com/affaire-de-la-video-sexuelle-a-tetouan-une-procedure-d-appel-bientot-lancee-15887.html](https://www.medias24.com/affaire-de-la-video-sexuelle-a-tetouan-une-procedure-d-appel-bientot-lancee-15887.html) - [8] Combined follower count across the InstaGram and FaceBook social networks - [9] Karima Nadir : « Pour changer les mentalités, il faut changer les lois », 5 févr. 2021 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD9XUOLVqVY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD9XUOLVqVY) - [10] Moroccan Constitution [https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/constit/ma2011.htm](https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/constit/ma2011.htm) - [11] The Moroccan Nation adhering to a so-called “moderate” approach to Islam, Art.1 of the Constitution - [12] 1913 marks the entry into force of the Penal Code. This date coincides with the beginning of the protectorate. - [13] What Ibn Khaldun more broadly termed Asabiyya, which he was already observing under the Almoravid Era. - [14] htps://[www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18090315529101276/](http://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18090315529101276/) - [15] Such a percentage may seem somewhat overestimated [https://www.medias24.com/francophonie-francais-maroc-marocains-942.html](https://www.medias24.com/francophonie-francais-maroc-marocains-942.html) - [16] Liberté sexuelle au Maroc, revendication d'une «minorité» de Marocains pour Rachid Hachachi [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD4C3Zm8xd4&list=ULxRVLcpFPUmI&index=12861](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD4C3Zm8xd4&list=ULxRVLcpFPUmI&index=12861) - [17] Abortion would be legal if it results from rape, if it results from an adulterous relationship, in cases of insanity, and if a fetus suffers from a genetic malformation impossible to treat at the time of diagnosis. The procedure must be supervised by a competent medical body, and performed before 90 days of pregnancy. - [18] [https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ReGvSFEAJ/?utm_source=ig_embed](https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ReGvSFEAJ/?utm_source=ig_embed) - [19] "Réflexions sur le débat des libertés individuelles" By: Dr. Aissam Bachir [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJpo5-41il0&feature=share](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJpo5-41il0&feature=share) - [20] Simone Veil : son discours historique en faveur de l’IVG, 26 novembre 1974 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTAmCUgoSZ4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTAmCUgoSZ4) - [21] Article 493 of the Penal Code: Proof of the offenses punished under articles 490 and 491 is established either by a report of in flagrante delicto findings drawn up by a judicial police officer, or by a confession recounted in letters or documents originating from the accused, or by a confession in court. - [22] Mériam Cheikh, « De l’ordre moral à l’ordre social. L’application des lois pénalisant la sexualité prémaritale selon des lignes de classe », L’Année du Maghreb, 17 | 2017, 49-67. - [23] [25] [28] Ibid - [24] Ibid, “a category they define not in terms of sexual practices but first and foremost in terms of social belonging” - [26] Within the meaning of Article 490 of the Penal Code - [27] Mériam Cheikh - [29] [https://www.medias24.com/video-intime-a-tetouan-campagne-de-soutien-et-appels-a-l-abrogation-de-l-article-490-16311.html](https://www.medias24.com/video-intime-a-tetouan-campagne-de-soutien-et-appels-a-l-abrogation-de-l-article-490-16311.html) - [30] [https://fr.le360.ma/politique/mustapha-ramid-la-loi-ne-sanctionne-pas-les-relations-sexuelles-consenties-dans-lespace-prive-203732](https://fr.le360.ma/politique/mustapha-ramid-la-loi-ne-sanctionne-pas-les-relations-sexuelles-consenties-dans-lespace-prive-203732) --- --- title: "The Ancient Cities of Morocco" description: "With a human presence estimated at 300 000, Morocco very early on had an important activity. Its hinterland is full of archaeological sites that are exceptional both in terms of their remains and their antiquity, making them the last trace of a civilization that was once prosperous and influential even beyond the Sahara." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/ancient-cities language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/cites-antiques type: article category: hist published: 2021-02-07T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:47.548Z author: "Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Mauretania", "Volubilis", "Rome", "Ancient History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c0a79c1a59545d198ef0_static1.squarespace.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Ancient Cities of Morocco By Moroccan Royal Archives *With a human presence estimated at 300 000, Morocco very early on had an important activity. Its hinterland is full of archaeological sites that are exceptional both in terms of their remains and their antiquity, making them the last trace of a civilization that was once prosperous and influential even beyond the Sahara.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c0a79c1a59545d198ef0_static1.squarespace.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d384b3a3f9a61508546c0e_image-asset.jpeg) With an estimated human presence of 300 000 ([Homo Sapiens from Jebel Irhoud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebel_Irhoud)), Morocco had significant human activity very early on. Its hinterland is full of archaeological sites that are exceptional both in terms of their remains and their antiquity, marking the last trace of a civilization that was once prosperous and influential even beyond the Sahara. So here is a (not exhaustive) list of these historic places that are unique in the world. ## Rirha, Morocco’s Oldest Capital After decades of excavations, Moroccan researchers (with the help of French and Spanish teams) were able to find the legendary Rirha (or [Gilda](https://journals.openedition.org/nda/1419)), capital of Mauretania according to Greco-Roman writings. Located in the plains of the Gharb, the oldest archaeological traces of the site date from at least the 6th century before the Common Era (BCE). The city was built around a Moorish center and a late Roman extension. The site appears to have been abandoned around the 3rd century CE before having a modest revival under the Almohad Empire. Excavations are still ongoing in the hopes discovering more information on the ancient kingdom of Mauretania. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033bb3a6352221dd99d6852_caldarium-thermes-Rirha-2018.jpeg) ## The Saracen Tower or Borj Esserrajine, the ancient moorish fortress of Taza Unfortunately, the history of this fort remains a bit of a mystery. However, all the inhabitants of the region attest to legends dating back to its pre-Islamic era. The few written sources mentioning this fort describe its history as follows: during antiquity, Taza was only a simple fortified city (or oppidum) before becoming a real fortress and an important political center when its kings, confident in their power, were able to face attacks from Rome. From their confrontations with the Roman civilization, the Berbers brought back their ideas and methods. In fact, some of its walls date from around the 2nd century BCE, which gave this tower a particular shape and a notable resemblance to certain Roman towers. The Berbers also imported pottery techniques from Rome. Thus, several pieces of pottery were discovered, in addition to oil lamps, soup pots, vases with handles etc… With the arrival of the Almohads on the scene, the ramparts were extended to protect the upper town of Taza from incursions from the east. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d385abc0cd133f66eb86d5_efe.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d385abdc462701b1b6e425_142427095_2819472125001838_7761088207264396325_n.jpg) ## The Lost City of Nul Lamta and Agwdid Fortress During antiquity, cities could develop in two main ways. The first being sedentarization around a fertile area, which can be seen in Morocco especially in the fertile plains of the North-West. The second way was trade, with some places of exchange allowing traders to settle down in order to respond to the demand of growing customers, often nomads, crossing the region. The oldest known commercial city in Morocco was born this way. Nul Lamta was located south-east of Guelmim in what is now called the Tighmert Oasis Rosary. Existing before the arrival of the Idrisids, it had its heyday during the advent of the Almoravid era. Indeed, Abdallah Ibn Yassine, founder of the Almoravid movement, was a native of this city and he’ll eventually pass away after conquering Sijilmassa, Aghmat, the Souss region and Nul Lamta. The city became a place of commercial exchange between West African populations and the rest of Morocco, thus developing a trans-Saharan route from the Senegal River to Marrakech via Oualata and then Nul Lamta. The Almoravids added the fortress of Agwdid and exported the architecture of the commercial city to Oualata, Timbuktu, and Gao. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d385cb3f56092c34612620_nu.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d385cbde887c6dee031bac_agwdid.jpg) ## The ancient city of Volubilis, a jewel of Moorish and Roman culture Arguably the most popular archaeological site in Morocco, Volubilis was a major city from antiquity until the arrival of Islam. Founded by the Berbers and attached to the Kingdom of Mauretania, the city experienced exceptional development when it entered the Roman fold in the 3rd century BCE. The city’s enclosure was composed of 9 walls, places of worship and also towers around the city. Located on a fertile plain, the region will experience significant commercial and agricultural development thanks to its various roads, an intricate terracotta pipe system and an aqueduct. Volubilis remains a witness to the coexistence between the Moorish and Roman civilizations, a coexistence that is particularly visible by the addition of a Mauretanian altar to Roman basilicas. The city was inhabited for more than 7 centuries before Idris the Second founded the city of Fes. The site has been the subject of numerous archaeological excavations since the beginning of the 20th century and only half of it has been excavated to date. The quality of the finds and the site led to its classification on the World Heritage List by the [UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/836/). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033bfde353abe6d8b532c5e_1611856574680.jpeg) ## The Cromlech of M’zora, tomb of a moorish king Located south of Asilah, the Cromlech surprised many researchers and archaeologists because of its resemblance to Stonehenge and its history. M’zora (or Msoura) is composed of a central tumulus surrounded by 167 monoliths of various sizes. Known as early as Roman times, this site had the reputation of being the tomb of the giant Libyan king Antaeus, killed by Hercules according to legend. The Roman general Sartorius even went to the site to verify the veracity of this reputation before finding, according to Plutarch, a corpse measuring sixty cubits (~26 meters). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c018d5410e5d07a18e3a_DCIYqY5XcAAWfpJ.jpeg) Cromlech remained a place of worship and the exercise of Moorish power (King Ascalis even took refuge there) for several years before being abandoned following the Roman conquests. In particular, this type of tumulus can be found almost everywhere in north-western Morocco, which presumes a common civilization around the Moorish dynasty. The site will remain peacefully preserved by the locals who will nickname the place “el outed” (the picket) in reference to its pointed shape. Several European geographers and travelers will mention this place until the excavations of the Spanish archaeologist *Cesar Luis de Montalban* which will permanently damage the place in the 1930s. According to testimonies of locals who participated in this excavation, there would be a tomb under this site containing a giant sword and human bones similar to the description of Sartorius… ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c027701d310679fde1b5_qn6goj9b8km51.jpeg) ## Secrets that are still buried… Because of its high population density and its seniority on these lands, human settlements in Morocco number in the hundreds. Even before the Punic or Roman influence, several traces of the sedentary existence of Berbers / Moors are scattered all over the place. One of the traces of this existence is found in the various names of Moroccan regions and rivers (Mulucha/Moulouya, Draa, Sus…). Unfortunately, many archaeological sites have yet to be excavated properly, being great of a task with ridiculously low resources allocated to it. These ancient and mysterious cities are just waiting to be studied to reveal all their secrets, those of a population with a significant degree of civilization, with its own common culture, language and writing, and whose influence has been felt from the Mediterranean to the Sahel. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c056e24d3dd336873f5e_Lixus_in_Morocco.jpeg) --- --- title: "The Oukaimeden Observatory: a Cradle of Scientific Discoveries" description: "Ranked every year since its foundation in 2007 among the top 10 in the world, the Oukaimeden Observatory has been behind numerous astronomical discoveries, helping cement some Moroccan names in the stars along the way." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/oukaimeden-observatory language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/observatoire-oukaimeden type: article category: cult published: 2021-01-31T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:27.786Z author: "Moorish Movement" tags: ["Astronomy", "Science"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e6d418f7a5c276103d6e_Oukaimden%20Observatory.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Oukaimeden Observatory: a Cradle of Scientific Discoveries By Moorish Movement *Ranked every year since its foundation in 2007 among the top 10 in the world, the Oukaimeden Observatory has been behind numerous astronomical discoveries, helping cement some Moroccan names in the stars along the way.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e6d418f7a5c276103d6e_Oukaimden%20Observatory.jpg) It’s thanks to the Morocco Oukaimeden Sky Survey that this academic astronomical observatory in Morocco has been ranked every year since its foundation in 2007 among the top 10 worldwide in its class. It’s also thanks to the efforts of Moroccan scientists from this observatory, from which the TRAPPIST-North telescope is based and operated, that the NASA will announce on February 22nd 2017 the discovery of 7 exoplanets, 3 of which are in the habitable zone of their discovered system. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38281dcd3d13843b3277f_Trappist-1%2BSyst%25C3%25A8me.jpeg) *Trappist-1, a system with seven potentially habitable planets.* > Thanks to NASA’s Spitzer satellite and the dozens of observatories involved, we were able to determine the existence of seven planets. — Zouhair Benkhaldoun, director of the observatory. This discovery’s not only creditable to our ingenious Moroccan scientists but also to the mountainous sites suitable for astronomical observation that Morocco offers us, ranging from Rabat to Erg Chebbi (Sahara). This has permitted the discoveries, on several occasions, of astronomical phenomena, including meteor showers, shooting star shows and so on. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3825d99b797035b9f6623_Pluie%2BM%25C3%25A9t%25C3%25A9orites%2BMaroc%2B9%2BJours.jpeg) This exoplanet discovery project started 4 years ago. Zouhair Benkhaldoun, president of the observatory, explains it in a few words on this video. The Moroccan research team wanted to name one of the exoplanets and its parent star. This request being granted, they are now called Isli and Tislit in reference to the lakes with the same names and meaning fiancee and fiancee, all referring to the Amazigh legend surrounding them. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3824b3d7a906d7c43d90d_isli%2Btislit.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3824c89fc813f09140d50_isli.jpg) ## The legend of Isli and Tislit In addition to the geological aspects, the lakes of Isli and Tislit also symbolize romanticism in Moroccan Berber culture. This legend is inspired by the story of two lovers from the tribes of Ait Ibrahim and Ait Yazza, respectively. Once upon a time, in the heart of the Atlas Mountains, there was a surprisingly beautiful young girl named Tislit. Having decided to take the family sheep for a walk, she met a young shepherd. They talked and laughed incessantly, but everything changed when they discovered that their tribes were sworn enemies; Isli was from the Ait Yazza tribe and Tislit, for her part, belonged to the Ait Brahim tribe. Their love however was so intense that it didn’t stop them from meeting. One day, Tislit revealed her love for Isli to the only person she could trust, her mother. Later that day, in a nearby village, Isli explained to his father that he wanted to ask Tislit, a girl from another tribe, to marry him. But none of the parents accepted this relationship, which would lead to war and devastation. Heartbroken, Isli and Tislit met for the last time behind the hills, and it was there that the young lovers exchanged vows and finally drowned to be spared a life apart. Their flow of tears would have created two lakes (Isli and Tislit) in the Moroccan High Atlas. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382c69abfba1e0dd4a326_Lac%2BIsli%2BMaroc.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382c6ed4768719e20008d_Lac%2BTislit%2BMaroc.jpg) ## Atlas dark sky Morocco, one of the projects of the Oukaimeden Observatory The Oukaimeden Observatory, now known for its scientific achievements and its numerous astronomical discoveries, is in fact the leader of this major citizen project: the creation of a dark sky reserve in the Toubkal National Park. This project, called “Atlas Dark Sky Morocco” (ADSM), is unique in its kind nationally and internationally. An international dark sky reserve is an area of exceptional dark sky quality that is the subject of scientific, educational, cultural, or natural conservation. The international dark sky reserve “Atlas Dark Sky Morocco” will be the first protected area in North Africa and the largest in the world in terms of area (about 40 000km2). Educational workshops are offered to students and residents of the Dark Sky Reserve in order to make them aware of the importance of this project. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382e0673e8815f26ffee4_C.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382df2b0f233cca0adc9c_d.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382df2ee62d089217aa11_J.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d382e0c0cd132099e909e3_JK.png) --- --- title: "The History of the Almohad Caliphate" description: "Born of an unprecedented revolutionary movement and religious puritanism, Ibn Tumart’s Almohad movement will quickly grow to dominate the entirety of the Maghreb and Andalusia, making Marrakech the capital of the region and earning it the title of Caliphate." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/almohads language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/almohades type: article category: hist published: 2021-01-28T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:33.148Z tags: ["Almohads", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/603524bb52472e674fc1e025_Almohad-Flag.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The History of the Almohad Caliphate *Born of an unprecedented revolutionary movement and religious puritanism, Ibn Tumart’s Almohad movement will quickly grow to dominate the entirety of the Maghreb and Andalusia, making Marrakech the capital of the region and earning it the title of Caliphate.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/603524bb52472e674fc1e025_Almohad-Flag.webp) ![Le Califat Almohade a son apogee.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6033c22548c1a5b7a7ce09bb_Almohad%2BMap.jpeg) *The Almohad Caliphate at its peak.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38733e80fb459d9d5157c_Drapeau%2BAlmohade.png) The Almohad movement, having emerged around 1120CE, established a regime which, in the form of a vast empire and Moroccan caliphate, would extend for more than a century throughout the Muslim West, including Andalusia and central and eastern Maghreb (today Algeria, Tunisia and part of Libya). The founder of the movement, Muhammad Ibn Tumart, is a preacher from the Berber tribe of Hargha, themselves belonging to the Masmoudas tribal group. He is originally from Igiliz, a small village in the middle of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas. As early as 1120, he’d blame the Almoravids, ruling at the time over the Empire of Morocco, for their corruption, heresy and their anthropomorphism. He’ll take refuge in Igiliz, his native hamlet, near Taroudant which will be considered his first Hijra and the moment during which he’ll proclaim himself Imam and Mahdi. The Atlas will constitute his main base through which he’ll organize his troops in preparation for his conquest and removal of Almoravid power, while setting up his unique Tawhid ideological system, learning several Islamic concepts together to form the Almohad doctrine. Four years later, he’ll move along with his followers to Tinmel in the High Atlas, which would eventually become the cradle and the first capital of the movement. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38754eea04d3ca385a9d7_Ibn%2BTumart.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3875417df0fe72cb2cdbe_Igilliz%2BAlmohades.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3875f2d56245b46bd4536_Tinmal%2BMosque.jpeg) *The Tinmel Mosque.* The Tinmel Mosque rallies the Hargha tribes and a large part of the Masmoudas, including the Hintata, Gadmiwa, Ganfisa, Haskoura and Hazraja, all from the Grand Atlas. These tribes would form the backbone of the Almohad political-religious movement. Ibn Tumart will make the people of the Gharb or the West pass off as the chosen Muslim people, promoting by the same stroke the Berber language. The Eastern Maghreb was considered a different civilizational pole according to him, with a companion of his from Bejaia being referred to as Sharqi (oriental) by the Masmoudas in opposition to Gharb (Morocco). After Ibn Tumart’s passing and burial in Tinmel 1129, Abd al-Mumin rose up as the proclaimed successor to the Mahdi. Abd al-Mumin was a disciple of Ibn Tumart from the Nedroma region, formerly part of the Almoravid Empire. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3877e8c841c35de2eb569_Abd%2BAl%2BMumin%2BCalife%2BAlmohade.jpeg) Abd Al Mumin was therefore elected in 1132 in the Tinmel Mosque by the 10 companions of the Mahdi and the 50 Almohad sheikhs, who proclaimed him in order to avoid any conflict between Masmoudas tribes, given he was Zeneta. This political genius was mainly the work of Abu Hafs, at that time leader of the Hintata. Abd al-Mumin will then channel his efforts to seize the Almoravid Empire by taking over the Moroccan part first. Leaving Tinmel in 1139 with his Atlassian troops, he continued to travel the country until 1147 with his capture of Marrakech, causing the official fall of the Almoravid dynasty. Having become master of Morocco, whose capital was Marrakech, he’ll set out to conquer the Eastern part of the Maghreb by gradually seizing Algiers, Bejaia, Constantine and then Tunis, Kairouan and Tripoli. During his conquest, he committed some notable massacres, such as in Tlemcen (his region of origin) and in Bejaia. Abd al-Mumin considered the Central Maghreb and Ifriqya (modern day Algeria and Tunisia) as conquered lands whose inhabitants were subject to taxes. Thus, his Empire will extend as far as Tripoli and Andalusia. Besides the Caliph’s family, the families of Ibn Tumart’s former companions, originally from the Atlas, will equally handle the empire’s political affairs. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d387abc71de363c1b2d282_Conqu%25C3%25AAtes%2BAlmohades%2BMaghreb.jpeg) Marrakech, still the capital of the Empire, was its most radiant city, both in terms of size and beauty. Below is an excerpt from a 13th century Christian song describing the kingdom of Morocco, of which Marrakech was a great and glorious city. Abd al-Mumin had a fortress built called Ribat el-Fath, which would become Rabat throughout history. This city served as a base for Moroccan armies heading towards Andalusia. Many other landmarks were built, especially in Morocco, the westernmost part of the Almohad Caliphate. Among others, we can mention the Koutoubia, the Grand Mosque of Taza or the iconic Tinmel Mosque. The Almohad Empire was directly named Kingdom of Morocco (or in Spanish Reino de Marruecos) by Westerners. The word Morocco derives from Marrakech, capital of the Empire, which itself takes its name from Amur N Akuch, meaning Land of God in Berber. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d388181895a89a93bdbfbd_Libro%2Bdel%2BConocimiento%2Bde%2BTodos%2Blos%2BReinos.jpeg) *You can see the name “Marruecos” accompanied by the Almohad flag on the “Libro del Conocimiento de Todos los Reinos”, dated 1385CE.* In 1162, with the aim of forming war fleets, he commissioned the construction of 400 ships, including 220 in Morocco (el-Mamoura, Tangier, Ceuta, Badis and other ports in the Rif). Abd al-Mumin died in Sale and was taken to Tinmel, where he’ll be buried near the tomb of his predecessor, Ibn Tumart. He was succeeded by his son, Abu Yaqub Yusuf (born in Tinmel from a union between Abd al-Mumin and the daughter of a Hintata chief). It was proclaimed after an agreement among all the Almohad chiefs and in particular with Sheikh Abu Hafs, leader of the Hintata, containing himself the functions of vizier. Abu Yaqub Yusuf concluded the war against the Christians of Andalusia and faced a revolt in Gafsa (present-day Tunisia). He’s also known for having built the Seville Mosque (now La Giralda) and for having begun work on the famous Hassan Tower in Rabat. He died fighting in Portugal and was also buried in Tinmel. Yaqub al-Mansour will be brought to power by the Almohad sheikhs. He sent a fleet against the crusaders to take Jerusalem. Several Moroccans will participate in the repopulation of the holy city, establishing a neighborhood and a gate called “Portal of Morocco”. In fact, he’ll even ambition to take over Constantinople long before the arrival of the Ottomans. (*For the full article on this part of the Almohad Empire’s history,* [***follow this link.***](/en/articles/almohads-constantinople)*)* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3884bae3002715cfd8c7c_Portail%2Bdu%2BMaroc%2BJerusalem-Edit.jpeg) *The Portal or the Gate of Morocco in Jerusalem.* Under his rule, the Almohad army inflicted a great defeat on the king of Castile at Alarcos in 1195, which won him the title of al-Mansur (the Victorious). The army was mainly composed of tribes from the Maghreb al-Aqsa: the Haskoura, Ghomara, Beni Marin, Hintata, Banu Hilal but also Andalusians and some tribes from the Central Maghreb. Yaqub al-Mansur will commission the construction of two mosques in Marrakech and will also be the architect behind the development of the city of Rabat. He died in 1199 and was buried in Marrakech. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3889797c013a7ef6a07d3_Empire%2BAlmohade%2BDeclin.jpeg) *The Almohad Empire in its decline.* The bustling Empire will start to decline in the 13th century, suffering various defeats from the Christians who were victorious in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 and suffering internally from revolts across the Almohad domain. This will reduce its area to its birthplace: present-day Morocco, the conquered regions therefore each gaining their independence. Among the kingdoms created after the fall of the Almohads were those of the Zianids of Tlemcen and the Hafsids of Tunis. Gradually, the Zenatian Marinids of northern Morocco will gradually gain territory until taking over the former empire’s domain in its entirety in 1269. --- --- title: "History of the Moroccan Kaftan, from the Almohads to the Present Day" description: "Symbolizing the perfect union between tradition and modernity, the Moroccan kaftan is an essential outfit in any woman’s wardrobe. However, this garment has changed in its use as well as its forms over the centuries." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/kaftan-history language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/histoire-caftan type: article category: cult published: 2021-01-12T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:30.567Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Caftan", "Traditions", "Craftsmanship"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e767be6f52c070815b42_Histoire%20du%20Caftan.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # History of the Moroccan Kaftan, from the Almohads to the Present Day By Wealth of Morocco *Symbolizing the perfect union between tradition and modernity, the Moroccan kaftan is an essential outfit in any woman’s wardrobe. However, this garment has changed in its use as well as its forms over the centuries.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e767be6f52c070815b42_Histoire%20du%20Caftan.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32e4624cc9c07ace65f9e_ottoman-empire-reference-osman-i-portrait.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32e46b113003163d1b940_Stanislaw_Antoni_Szczuka_(1652_1654-1710).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32e46e82c5ad91a26da4d_kanadiso.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32e46a611ca5c493f2157_main-qimg-a558d4b3775d4301f54b82b0ca9700f9.jpg) The kaftan or caftan is a piece of clothing once adopted by the great imperial powers. In ancient Persia, it was a mantle that was open at the front and was often called *Kandys*. In the Ottoman Empire, it was a long jacket called *Peliffe* in French literature and which the Turks described as *Chylaat* [1] [2]. Elsewhere, in Poland, it was more like a dress called *Kontusz* in the 16th century. It is therefore a generic term that includes various long-range coins in major empires. The kings of the East used this dress as an honorary award. Indeed, they used to offer them to persons of distinction and to the ambassadors of foreign powers at their court [3]. Before adopting its current definition, in other words Moroccan and feminine, the kaftan was previously the preserve of men. Each kaftan has its own characteristics. For example, in Morocco, the kaftan is a one-piece long dress. It is decorated with various ornamental techniques [4] resulting from the know-how of Moroccan artisans (Maalems). ![Couture Caftan Marocain](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32f5d8edd4ee50c7e2667_Couture%2BCaftan%2BMarocain.jpeg) Fully open at the front, this kaftan is lined with braided silk braid (Sfifa) and fastened with a row of buttons (Aakad) whose inspiration would draw inspiration from the shape of cherries. Moreover, the manufacture of these buttons was historically and remains today a specialty of Sefrou, a small province a few kilometers from Fez where a cherry festival takes place every year [5]. As for the manufacture of silk stripes, the Maalems, on the other hand, were based in Fez. ![Fakron Caftan Marocain Mdemma](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d32ec3a13160cfcf4491a4_Fakron%2BCaftan%2BMarocain%2BMdemma.jpeg) *A typical m’damma.* The kaftan is sometimes accompanied by a belt (m’damma) made of finely chiselled solid gold and inlaid by a *Fakrone* (turtle) in the center, supposed to bring happiness and protect against the evil eye. However, this very old outfit will undergo numerous changes over the course of its history. ### The birth of the kaftan. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d330cff068d9112cb401ca_ba4ea24d72f3663a4150913dc03bf60d--andalusia-spain-moorish.jpeg) *In a miniature of The Tales of Santa Maria, the Almohad Caliph appears in a kaftan finely embroidered on the collar and on the forearm.* It first appeared in the 12th century during the reign of the Almohad dynasty. Initially, the kaftan was reserved for royalty, simple and without ornaments. The rulers at the time, preaching a return to the fundamental sources of Islam and wishing to break with the opulence of their Almoravid predecessors, refused to use silk and gold in their clothing [6]. Under Caliph Muhammad an-Nasir, a census established for fiscal reasons counted no less than 3,490 weaving workshops [7] and counted more than 3,000 weavers [8] in Fez. ### From simplicity to luxury. Over time, princely weaving workshops (Tarz) partly dedicated to the manufacture of kaftans flourished, especially under the Marinids. Wearing a kaftan will gradually begin to become common [9]. More sumptuous, it will blend with new fabrics such as brocade. Ibn Khaldoun mentions silk garments and belts decorated with gold threads woven in Fez [10], thus marking the break with the simplistic doctrine of the Almohads. As a sign of good relations, the kaftan was offered as a present to the sultans of foreign powers as well. A list of gifts sent by the Marinid Sultan Abu Al-Hassan to Sultan Mamluk an-Nasir Muhammad indeed cites garments embroidered with gold, and garments made of taffeta, wool, and rigid silk and with variegated details [11]. The sultans of the Marinid dynasty also sent luxurious clothing to the Ottoman sultans [12], the latter naming them Fas Kaftanlar in reference to the city of Fez. The Marinid civilization, which had established its capital in Fez, thus enjoyed a prestigious industrial, intellectual, and cultural influence, so much so that the Nasrid kings of Granada imitated those of Fez. [13] ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3310589cb2f04a40108a7_Boabdil%2BCaftan.jpeg) *Kaftan of Sultan Abu Abdallah Muhammad XII, Army Museum, Toledo.* ### The democratization of the kaftan. Towards the end of the 15th century, the kaftan took a new turn with the massive arrival in Morocco of Andalusians driven from Spain. They settled mainly in Tetouan and Fez but also in Chefchaouen, Rabat and Sale. The Andalusians brought with them their know-how, which blent harmoniously with Moroccan culture and art. This Andalusian influence will mainly be evident in its contributions to embroidery. The Hispano-Moorish culture will be very well preserved in Morocco, so much so that each city today cultivates its own style of embroidery. However, the Saadian era revolutionized the use of this garment. Women will finally appropriate it, which will therefore mark the beginning of the feminization of the kaftan [14]. This female demand will also be very strong, thus encouraging innovation in the use of new fabrics and so on [15]. On the men’s side, the kaftan will be made with a sheet imported from England called *Brown Blues*. The dark blue of these varieties of sheets will become the national color of clothing for the wealthy class [16]. Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour established the fashion for a transparent tunic over the traditional kaftan, which is nicknamed *Mansouria* in reference to his name [17]. This outfit, known as *Takchita*, is therefore composed of two pieces unlike the kaftan: the first is the tahtiya and the second is called fouqia or dfina or mansouria. ![Miniature ottomane du sultan Saadien Ahmad Al Mansour, 17ème siècle.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3314db9eb645a071f5814_Ahmed_al_mansour.jpg) ![Lalla Messaouda, mère d’Ahmad Al Mansour.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3314d8f70d0a9b942ca61_Lalla%2BMessaouda.jpg) ![Mohammed Ben Ali Abgali, ambassadeur du Maroc en 1725.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3314dbf7032199b64fde1_31.jpg) ### The kaftan in European art. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d33398a872b8d3ee7b9fbb_In-Article%20Image.jpg) The Alawite era is symbolized, among other things, by the openness to Europe. Indeed, many European painters and writers stayed in Morocco and represented, through their works, the Moroccan costumes of yesteryear [18]. The Alawite sultans sent diplomats and ambassadors to the various European powers in order to contract peace and trade treaties. European painters, in turn, will not fail to represent them in honor. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d334cb1909f00d1d7a4cf7_Marocaine%2BVintage.jpeg) The kaftan will of course be mentioned in various Moroccan texts. The study of a marriage contract dating from the 18th century tells us that the trousseau of a bride in the High Atlas was as rich, abundant and refined as that of a city bride in Fez at the same time. Certain garments such as the kaftan, thought to be reserved for the city, were also used in the High Atlas [19]. During the same period, a letter from Sultan Abderrahmane Ibn Hicham to the governor of Tetouan saw him order him to donate a kaftan to all new arrivals in Tetouan. Indeed, at the dawn of the French conquest of Algeria, tens of thousands of Algerians took refuge in Morocco and more precisely in Tetouan. Several sources testify to Moroccan hospitality towards their neighbors at the beginning of their colonization [20]. *Some representations of Moroccans by European artists.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e09b8313e76ffdc08_Picture13.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e1909f05c347a21e5_Picture14.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349f4d849a83b7fe2480_Picture15.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e6bd5a78915967104_Picture16.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349ece88a0303a6b85d6_Picture17.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349f23644be0149d1652_Picture18.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e9cba1a0863084544_56.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349eb9eb6420fd218a7d_Picture19.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349f68f4e8eeae446f38_Picture20.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349ece88a014d76b85d7_Picture21.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349f0e120a16b6e39931_Picture22.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e31c12b862507d432_Picture23.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3349e076d76659a18808f_Picture24.png) ### The modern kaftan. This is how the kaftan has passed through the ages and generations, with different cuts, colors, fabrics. It remains deeply rooted in Moroccan culture. It was only very late, in the 19th century, that this mixed garment became exclusively feminine. The Moroccan woman, eager for modernity, will push designers to revisit the kaftan. Designers will play a major role in modernizing it and while ancient civilizations abandoned their kaftans, in Morocco the kaftan will be a marriage between tradition and modernity. Nowadays and in the context of globalization, the Moroccan kaftan crosses the borders of the Kingdom and shines internationally, being worn today not only by women in the Maghreb and the Middle East but also in Europe. --- --- title: "The Women Who Shaped Morocco’s History" description: "From founders of capitals and universities to rebels, the history of Morocco has been shaped by these women who fought and won their way into the pantheon of the country’s legends." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/femmes-du-maroc language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/femmes-du-maroc type: article category: hist published: 2021-01-10T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:25.149Z tags: ["Women of Morocco"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd6781f15a4d76f98b62_Tin%2BHinan.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Women Who Shaped Morocco’s History *From founders of capitals and universities to rebels, the history of Morocco has been shaped by these women who fought and won their way into the pantheon of the country’s legends.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd6781f15a4d76f98b62_Tin%2BHinan.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34d961ffa297f643f7ba2_Tin%2BHinan.jpeg) ### Tin Hinan, the queen of the Touaregs A native of the Tafilalt in Morocco, Tin Hinan, who lived in the 4th century, is known for having unified the Touareg tribes. She leaves her tribe with her servant Takama to settle in Abalessa, in present-day Algeria. She is said to be at the origin of the matriarchal system of the Touareg of the Hoggar. Once in the Hoggar, she organizes the social life of the Touareg populations and will go as far as creating a trade network. The oral traditions surrounding her describe her as a tall woman of striking beauty, with fiery eyes, commanding respect and authority. In 1925, archaeologists uncover in the Hoggar a tomb at the summit of a mountain. They discover that the body belonged to a person who limped, matching the writings of Ibn Khaldoun designating the Touareg as the children of tiski, meaning the one who limps. Today, the Touareg of the Hoggar regard Queen Tin Hinan as their common ancestor. Songs and poems are dedicated by the inhabitants of the southern Maghreb to this great woman tied to the Touareg identity. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34d60ba8a5fcb3193ecdc_Fatima%2BAl%2BFihri.jpeg) ### ‍Fatima al-Fihri, the founder of the world’s first university Fatima al-Fihri, daughter of the wealthy merchant Muhammad al-Fihri, is known in Morocco as a generous woman, devoted to the religious sciences and founder of the famous university of al-Quaraouiyine. At the beginning of the 9th century, she emigrates with her family from Tunisia to settle in Fes, Morocco. At that time, the city was renowned as a cosmopolitan metropolis. Upon their father’s death, Fatima and her sister Mariam inherit his great fortune, which they devote entirely to the service of the community. In 859, Fatima Al-Fihri founded the al-Quaraouiyine mosque and university, initially composed of a prayer hall, a library and a few classrooms. The university, which at first offered only religious teachings, began over time to give diversified courses covering Arabic grammar, mathematics, astronomy and music. Over the decades, the place grew, gained in importance and became one of the best universities in the world, attracting along the way several great scholars such as the historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldoun or the geographer [Charif al-Idrissi](https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/charif-idrissi). Today, the university of al-Quaraouiyine is [recognized by UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/170/) as the oldest university in the world still in operation. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34dd49a5871bc25d27781_Zaynab%2BNefzaouia.jpeg) ### Zaynab Nefzaouia, founder of Marrakech Zaynab Nefzaouia was an important figure of the Almoravid dynasty. Beautiful, intelligent and passionate about politics, she founded the city of Marrakesh, reigned over the Maghreb and even reigned over part of Spain. She was much coveted by the men around her, yet declined their offers, insisting: *“I would marry none but the sultan of this country”*. She eventually saw her ambitions through, marrying a total of 4 sultans. The best known of them is Youssef Ibn Tachfine, first sultan of the Almoravid dynasty. In 1062, Zaynab draws up the plans of the city of Marrakech, which she then presents to her husband, the latter building the city in accordance with his wife’s plans. She was so influential during her husband’s reign that she was nicknamed al-qa’ima bi mulkihi, “The one who looks after her husband’s kingdom”. She often took charge of diplomatic negotiations, a role she fulfilled so well that she was called a magician, in reference to her eloquence. Zaynab Nefzaouia, through her example, impacted the condition of the women of her time. Thus, thanks to her, the princesses of her day were allowed to take part in political life. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34ded171127723ae77aa2_Sayyida%2Bal-Hurra.jpeg) ### Sayyida al-Hurra, the pirate princess. Sayyida Al-Hurra is a princess of Moroccan-Andalusian origin who lived during the Wattasid reign. She spends her childhood in the kingdom of Granada but, having lived through the period of the Reconquista, she endures a forced exile that marked her deeply. Her family then settles in Morocco, where her father founds the city of Chefchaouen. At the age of 6, she was promised to Ali al-Mandri, a friend of her father and prince of Tetouan, 30 years her senior. She takes an active part in her husband’s reign and even succeeds him after his death in 1515. Having always sought to avenge the loss of the kingdom of Granada, Sayyida al-Hurra allies herself with the famous Turkish corsair Barbarossa. She raises a fleet and leads a piracy network tasked with foiling the invaders’ plans, plundering their fleets and imprisoning their men while demanding ransoms. The Spanish and the Portuguese had no choice but to ally themselves with al-Hurra, so as to attempt to negotiate the release of the captives. Sayyida al-Hurra succeeded in protecting her kingdom from the territorial ambitions of Spain and Portugal, and was, by the same token, feared and respected. She reigned over the city of Tetouan for 30 years before being deposed by her stepson. She will pass away around 1562 in Chefchaouen, her tomb lying at the Zawiya-Raissuniya. *Read:* [***The Story Of The Corsair-Queen Sayyida Al Hurra***](https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/sayyida-al-hurra) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34e03d133d95b98d590c0_Kharboucha.jpeg) ### Kharboucha, the rebel slave A true icon of resistance in Morocco, Kharboucha was born toward the end of the 19th century in the Oulad Zayd tribe, in the Abda region. In her time, certain tribes were revolting against the central power in order to preserve their autonomy. Despite her illiteracy, she will lead a resistance within her tribe against Aissa Tamri ben Omar, who was Caid of a neighboring tribe. She will use her songs and poems as weapons to point the finger at the social injustices and the crimes committed by the tyrannical Caids. At the beginning of the 20th century, Aissa Tamri Ben Omar gives the order to disarm the men of the Oulad Zayd tribe and to confiscate their lands and their livestock. Kharboucha was captured, but Ben Omar decided to keep her at his side, taken with the beauty of her voice. He greatly enjoyed her songs and so decided to invite her to each of his ceremonies, so that she would sing and entertain the Caid’s noble guests. One day, he invited Kharboucha to come and sing, but she took advantage of her audience to denounce the Caid’s crimes through a provocative song. Seized with rage, he ordered Kharboucha to be tortured and, according to some versions, buried her alive. It is as she was being buried that she sang her last verses. > This night is the night of torture. > Oh, father, how I suffer. > But nothing is eternal. > Oh, father, how I suffer. > The ultimate end is death, > Oh, father, how I suffer. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d34e1670c75132c936107c_Touria%2BChaoui.jpeg) ### Touria Chaoui, the first female pilot in the Arab world Touria Chaoui was born on December 14, 1936 in Fes. From an early age, she stood out at school thanks to her excellent academic performance. Around the age of 13, she accompanies her actor father on his tours and discovers the world of cinema, shooting her first film in Fes, entitled “La Septieme Porte”. She will, however, discover another passion: aviation. Wanting to become a pilot, she begins her training at only 14. It is on October 17, 1951 that she will officially become the first female pilot of Morocco and of the Arab world. She will thus draw the attention of the whole world: the newspapers will praise her exploits, while the royal family will welcome her to the palace to congratulate her. She will be assassinated by a bullet on March 1, 1956, at only 19, while bringing her little brother home from school. The motive for the murder remains unknown to this day, but her murderer, Ahmad Touil, had already assassinated several political figures before, suggesting that the reason for the murder was political. Touria Chaoui will have campaigned both for the improvement of women’s condition and for Morocco’s self-determination. --- --- title: "Does the Moroccan Kaftan have Foreign Origins?" description: "Persian, Ottoman or Umayyad? The origins of the Moroccan kaftan are clouded by myths. An inquiry that untangles the true story of a legendary garment." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/kaftan-origins language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/origines-caftan type: article category: cult published: 2021-01-10T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:23.416Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Caftan", "Traditions", "Craftsmanship"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e88f193be9055f172da3_Boadbdil%20Caftan.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Does the Moroccan Kaftan have Foreign Origins? By Wealth of Morocco *Persian, Ottoman or Umayyad? The origins of the Moroccan kaftan are clouded by myths. An inquiry that untangles the true story of a legendary garment.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6e88f193be9055f172da3_Boadbdil%20Caftan.jpg) The origins of the Moroccan kaftan are at best ignored but at worst (and often) surrounded by confusion and misconceptions. From supposed Persian, Ottoman or even Umayyad origins, the origins of the Moroccan kaftan have in reality no link with the East. ### What is the Persian kaftan? ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ea56db2ac01dc905376b_Persian%20Caftan.jpg) *Relief from the ruins of the Apadana Palace in Persepolis located in Iran showing two men (left and right) wearing a kandys.* Numerous studies conducted on the outfits of the ancient peoples of ancient Persia mention the existence of a kaftan and more specifically of an outfit called candys/kandys [1]. Ancient Greek literature from the 2nd century tells us that the candys was a tunic fitted with sleeves and fastened at the shoulders. The king’s was made of fine purple, while that of the other Persians was made of vegetable purple and sometimes made of skin. [2] Nowadays, it is rare to find sources that allow this garment to be modeled. However, one of the oldest kaftans on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York [3] can help us better imagine and visualize it. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ff3c0ee255c0e280e7e_Caftan_MET_DT1115.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ff22b0f2307a41163cb_hb_1996.78.1_av1.jpg) It is, in fact, a linen coat with silk borders that represents the typical clothing worn by riders along the Silk Road in the North Caucasus during the 8th and 10th centuries. The kaftan was reconstructed from fragments of clothing excavated from a cemetery near Moshchevaja Balka [4]. This Persian kaftan would have traveled thanks to the expansion of Islam to enter Morocco, this idea being obviously false.[5] You should know that not all peoples automatically adopted the Persian kaftan with Islamization. Moreover, the kaftan entered Morocco much later than the advent of Islam and well before the arrival of the Ottomans in North Africa [6]. It was indeed in the 12th century under the Almohad dynasty that the kaftan appeared in Morocco [7], but this kaftan was very different from the clothes worn in the East. Ibn Tumart, founder of the Almohad movement, went to Baghdad, then under Abbasid rule, to study under the Persian philosopher Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali. From the sight of his costume, the philosopher knew that Ibn Tumart was a foreigner [8]. This is a confirmation that there is no link connecting the Moroccan kaftan to that of ancient Persia. ## References - 1. ERNEST PARISET | HISTORY OF SILK | 1862. THE BOOK TELLS US THAT “MEDIC CLOTHING CONSISTED [...] OF A MANTLE WITH SLEEVES, CALLED CANDYS, AND A DOUBLE TUNIC WITH SLEEVES THAT WERE NARROWER THAN THOSE OF THE CANDYS.” - 2. METHODICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA KNOWN AS THE “PANCKOUCKE ENCYCLOPEDIA” - ANTIQUITIES, DIPLOMATIC MYTHOLOGY OF CHARTRES AND CHRONOLOGY. VOLUME 2 - ANTOINE MONGEZ | 1786 - 3. HTTPS://WWW.METMUSEUM.ORG/ART/COLLECTION/SEARCH/327518 - 4. KNAUER, ELFRIEDE R. 2001. “A MAN'S CAFTAN AND LEGGINGS FROM THE NORTH CAUCASUS OF THE EIGHT TO TENTH CENTURY: A GENEALOGICAL STUDY.” METROPOLITAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 36 - 5. MOROCCAN ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD IS IMMENSELY UNDER-STUDIED. IN THE ABSENCE OF RESEARCH, THE HISTORY OF MOROCCO DEPENDS LARGELY ON SPECULATIVE THEORIES AND THEREFORE SUFFERS MAINLY FROM AN EASTERWARD BIAS. - 6. ALMOST ALL ARAB COUNTRIES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MOROCCO AND PART OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, WERE TERRITORIES UNDER THE RULE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE - 7. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAFTAN COSTUME | MUFIDA ABDLNOR KASSIR | 1978 - 8. HISTORY OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, UP TO THE PRESENT DAY | AMEDEE PAQUIS |1836 --- --- title: "Gnawa Art, from Roots to Blossoming" description: "Savored internationally, the art of Gnawa music is a testimony to the cultural richness and diversity that Morocco’s vast empires brought it." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/gnawa language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/gnawa type: article category: cult published: 2021-01-07T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:52.203Z tags: ["Music", "Gnawa", "Essaouira"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6eaeea3c1b50f65b73da8_Gnawi.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Gnawa Art, from Roots to Blossoming *Savored internationally, the art of Gnawa music is a testimony to the cultural richness and diversity that Morocco’s vast empires brought it.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6eaeea3c1b50f65b73da8_Gnawi.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ec94f1953b3777afdb4_les-gnawas.jpeg) The Gnawa are a brotherhood of musicians of Saharan origin whose style rests on songs, dances and syncretic rituals as a means of entering a trance. The term also refers to the musical style of sub-Saharan reminiscences practiced by these brotherhoods or by the musicians who draw inspiration from them. It is today one of the main genres of Moroccan folklore. Bilad Al-Soudan, a designation referring to sub-Saharan Africa, was a well of human resources for any power taking part in the slave trade, exchanging salt, textiles and metals for slaves destined for armies, agriculture or the construction of cities and fortresses. These slaves, coming mainly from the regions of present-day Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal, crossed the Sahara on foot. The union of the different cultures generated by the sub-Saharan diaspora, over time, created an interesting fusion reflected through the various cultural samples, all culminating in today’s Gnawa culture. Moreover, the etymology of the word gnawa finds its root in Chleuh in the word “agnaw”, meaning “the mute”, for the slaves, ancestors of this community, hardly knew how to speak the local dialects. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ee99f2f6f2d2f14e420_Essaouira%2BMorocco.jpeg) Gnawa music loses itself in its own history, sources on the subject being scarce, but it remains evident that it stems from ancient animist rituals of West Africa, still present in its practices today and naturally reworked to be in conformity with Islam. During the nocturnal ceremonies called “lila de derdeba” (night of possession), the Gnawa enter a hypnotic trance through music and dances evoking marabouts and protective saints. These saints hold a supposed panoply of powers, ranging from the expulsion of demons and the healing of psychic troubles to the healing of various wounds *(scorpion stings, spider bites […]).* This musical style will certainly radiate over a large part of North Africa, but it is most particularly in the city of Essaouira, a great historic trading port and a true North African crossroads, that Gnawa culture will be born and cultivated. Inspiration there is visibly interchangeable, its houses and ramparts having soaked up the musical styles of the genre whose capital it will become. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38f1c742d9d46591d561f_25317_104884586201105_100000386928611_123273_51100_n.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38f1bc173aa1a00ada10d_unnamed%2B(4).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38f1d1895a850cec2aa85_image-asset.jpg) ### The instruments of the art Technically a 3-stringed bass, the guembri was originally made from a large calabash in sub-Saharan Africa. Once in Morocco however, the instrument will be made of fig wood or, ideally, walnut wood. The making of the guembri follows two methods, the first amounting to hollowing it out of a single mass of wood, while the other consists of grinding several cut boards so that they fit together to form the resonance box. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38f28d8e10326e18e2cd1_guembri2014-2_09.jpeg) The final size of this instrument varies between 70 and 100 centimeters for the most voluminous models. The strings, for their part, are made of goat gut, while the leather of the box often comes from camel neck, whose thick skin resonates with a sound approaching the bass. Accompanying the symphony, the q’raqeb are castanets of wrought iron, chiseled on the edges. Their shape is rather intriguing, consisting of a pair of half-spheres on both sides. The sound of this instrument, twinned in each hand, represents according to some the chains that the slaves once wore. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2af3781e02e4ecacda5766_6a2af2cea075bb9c1799c871_Gnawa%2520-%2520Qraqeb.jpeg) *A pair of qraqeb. Photo: TDBakker (CC BY 3.0)* ‍ Finally, governing the rhythm of Gnawa evenings is the tbel, made of goatskin and played by striking it with sticks of varying shapes. ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a2af3781e02e4ecacda576d_6a2af2d04d8e6113cd6235cc_Gnawa%2520-%2520Tbel.jpeg) *A tbel drum. Tropenmuseum collection (CC BY-SA 3.0)* Today, Essaouira hosts throughout the year numerous festivals and events tied to Gnawa music, culture and heritage. It is only through these events that the brew of emotions conjured by Gnawa melodies is passed on. This art has managed to export itself beyond the ramparts of Essaouira, having even inspired groups such as Nass El Ghiwane and the Orchestre National de Barbes, but also Western artists like the emblematic Jimi Hendrix, the latter having been marked by Gnawa magic after a journey to Morocco. The music group Innov Gnawa earned, in turn, a Grammy Awards nomination in the United States in 2018. The following year, Morocco inscribes Gnawa on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. --- --- title: "Al-Idrissi, the Man Who Changed How We See the World" description: "Centuries before GPS, the Moroccan geographer Al-Idrissi drew the first map of the world. Portrait of the man who changed how humanity saw the Earth." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/charif-idrissi language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/charif-idrissi type: article category: cult published: 2020-12-28T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:16.362Z tags: ["Geography", "Cartography", "Science"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cefbc9bb0d6cf26ca048_Charif%2BIdrissi%2BCarte.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Al-Idrissi, the Man Who Changed How We See the World *Centuries before GPS, the Moroccan geographer Al-Idrissi drew the first map of the world. Portrait of the man who changed how humanity saw the Earth.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cefbc9bb0d6cf26ca048_Charif%2BIdrissi%2BCarte.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3833694f3d32b7b2c30d3_image-asset.jpeg) *The original world map by al-Idrisi. On the right, the map is inverted to adopt the modern cartographic approach (North - South pole).* Centuries before GPS put the entire world at our fingertips, man relied on the work and research of cartographers to find his bearings in the world. One of the best-known cartographers, who published the first representations of the world, was the Moroccan geographer, traveler and scholar Charif al-Idrissi. Al-Idrissi’s book, “Tabula Rogeriana” (known in Arabic as “*Nuzhat al-Mushtaq Fi’khtiraq Al-afaq* ”) has the incredible renown of being one of the greatest works of medieval geography and cartography. Of al-Idrissi, we know that he was born in Ceuta in 1100, when the territory was governed by the Moroccan dynasty of the Almoravids. He came from a noble family, affiliated with Idris I, uncle of the prophet Muhammad and founder of the city of Fes in the 8th century, as well as of the Idrisid dynasty, which will be the first modern Moroccan state. An explorer at heart, he will already have made several journeys during his youth through a good part of the Mediterranean, the Maghreb, the Hejaz, Egypt and Asia Minor. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38352341e225cb064b6ed_Charif%2BIdrissi%2BCarte.jpeg) He grew up in Cordoba, city of the caliph and the intellectual as well as cultural center of the Almoravid empire, an empire in which he will pursue his university studies. After the fall of Cordoba, he will find refuge in Sicily, where he will be welcomed by the Norman king Roger II and will then be engaged by the latter as his official geographer. Al-Idrissi will craft two prototypes of the very first world map at the behest of the king of Sicily: one on a silver sphere, and the other on a flat silvered board. A second commission from the king concerned the writing of al-Idrissi’s celebrated work (Tabula Rogeriana), including more than 70 drawn maps, which he completed in 1154, shortly before his death. Al-Idrissi will lead a life filled with travels and collaborations with various envoys for his works, and he will draw on many ancient maps and accounts of Moorish explorers to support his work. In the end, it will have taken him 18 years of exploration and research to complete the task. Al-Idrissi has been considered one of the most important medieval geographers, given the quantity of geographical information he collected. Likewise, he supported the theory of the sphericity of the Earth and, although his maps had a circular shape, he explained that the disk merely symbolized the shape of the world. > The earth is round like a sphere; if this were not the case, how would the water hold upon it? ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d383782179c45b4168f477_Al%2BIdrissi%2BGlobe%2BCarte.jpeg) *Reproduction of a world map made by Al Idrissi in 1154.* Throughout the 20th century, al-Idrissi’s map will be the subject of numerous historical studies devoted to particular regions, such as the British Isles, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Africa and India. “Tabula Rogeriana” remained for nearly three centuries one of the most advanced medieval world maps, used by explorers such as Ibn Battuta, Ibn Khaldun, Piri Reis, Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama for their discoveries and their voyages. Among these works, some ten manuscripts of al-Idrissi’s Treatise were preserved across the world. Several theories circulate as to the place of his death; indeed, the place of his burial is unknown, though he is said to have passed away in 1165 in Sicily. --- --- title: "Baba Aishur, a Folklore in Perdition" description: "Ashura is a festival celebrated on the 10th day of Muharram. Its unfolding is practiced in various ways throughout the Muslim world. Baba Aishur is one of the most famous mythical characters in Morocco, his name coming up often during this night." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/baba-aishur language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/baba-aichour type: article category: cult published: 2020-12-27T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:16.530Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Traditions"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6eb39b56b3e79080fc1d8_Aichour.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Baba Aishur, a Folklore in Perdition By Wealth of Morocco *Ashura is a festival celebrated on the 10th day of Muharram. Its unfolding is practiced in various ways throughout the Muslim world. Baba Aishur is one of the most famous mythical characters in Morocco, his name coming up often during this night.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6eb39b56b3e79080fc1d8_Aichour.jpg) Ashura is a festival celebrated on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram. It’s celebrated in various ways throughout the Muslim world, respective of the local cultures. For Shias, Ashura is a commemoration of the massacre of Imam Hussain, while Sunnis on the other hand tend to fast during the event, corresponding with the day God saved Moses from the Pharaoh by spliting the sea. In Morocco, the celebration of this festival has maintained its spirituality while being complemented by other cultural practices where legends and stories intertwine. Today, it’s nicknamed the ***Children’s Day*** and is still celebrated all over the kingdom. On the day of Ashura, water balloons are thrown at passers-by and each group or partakers lights a big fire where various songs and dances are performed. This day’s traditional dish is couscous with dried meat (Gueddid). However, at the turn of the 21st century, its most iconic mascot, Baba Aishur is slowly being lost to forgetfulness. ## Baba Aishur Baba Aishur is one of the more popular mythical characters in Morocco, his name often coming up on the night of Ashura. Although the stories differ about him, Baba Aishur is said to be a frightening and merciless demon. He’s described as having ox hooves and is said to wear a large burnous made of wool and of course, that he eats human flesh. Baba Aishur was also described as being quite the womanizer, which is why on the night of Ashura, girls put on their best outfits, style their hair and chant in unison *"My Aishur, my Aishur, for you I let go of my hair, my Aishur, my Aishur…'* His life has conflicting counts on its conclusion, some saying he died during his prayer prostration while others believe he died by drowning, washed away by a river. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ebb2585d41c3f8af2c55_Baba%20Aichour.jpg) ## Celebration On the night of Ashura, young girls bury dried meat bones that were previously eaten at dinner. These bones will be unearthed in the early morning for each family to make a representation of Baba Aichour, whose body will be made of bones and whose clothes will be woven wool. Afterwards, the young children take a walk with the doll on a platter, where they raise money by asking for the blessing of Baba Aishur. The day ends around a huge bonfire around which young and old gather. There’s not much sleep to be had on the night of Ashura as the festivities go on until morning. At dawn, the death of Baba Aishur is announced symbolically. The families thus gather all the dolls representing him and surround them with a large white sheet, to which is added a lock of hair, incidentally, to conclude the celebration of this legend. To conclude, the whole thing is buried and the songs thus resume, this time about his death. ## Baba Aishur disappears Nowadays, this tradition is no longer celebrated in the Moroccan kingdom as a whole. Indeed, only a few very conservative villages honor it by celebrating it every year. The elders of big cities are increasingly the only ones to keep the memory of Baba Aishur, who is nevertheless an important character in our mythological heritage, thus deserving his place in our memories. --- --- title: "Falconry, a thousand-year-old heritage of Arab culture in Morocco" description: "A testament to the Arab element constituting Moroccan culture, falconry is a tradition still practiced among the Doukkala." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/falconry language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/fauconnerie type: article category: cult published: 2020-12-25T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:10.153Z tags: ["Arabness", "Doukkala", "Traditions"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ed928300f577681ea949_barbary%20falcon.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Falconry, a thousand-year-old heritage of Arab culture in Morocco *A testament to the Arab element constituting Moroccan culture, falconry is a tradition still practiced among the Doukkala.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ed928300f577681ea949_barbary%20falcon.jpg) Falconry, also called ***Tabizayt*** in Morocco, is a thousand-year-old tradition imported from the Arabian Peninsula and practiced long before the Hijra in the Gallo-Roman world. Honored in Islam, this practice has been maintained for nearly a millennium. In Morocco, falconry became part of popular culture in the 13th century during the era through its introduction by the Bedouin tribes of Banu Hilal**.** ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d390f1ad51c13371a4297a_image-asset.jpeg) *The Barbary Falcon.* Thanks to the presence of a local breed of falcon called **Barbary falcon**, falconry will develop rapidly and become popular among sultans, caliphs, but also among nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. Considered a cavalier groupe of people and part of the tent civilization, nomadic tribes favored large areas of hunting ground. Falconry is at the same time a means of entertainment, physical exercise, and dietary diversification that Moroccans excelled at. Several historians attest to this practice for a long time, such as the *Sheikh Ibrāhīm Ben 'Abd Al-Jabbar al-Husseini*, famous Arab poet and falconer of *Figuig* from the 16th century, which testifies to the presence of this practice through his works. Falconry therefore plays an important role in Moroccan diplomacy and ancient texts attest to the interest of Moroccan sultans in this practice. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d391109e626a49ec9d5d7e_image-asset.jpeg) > At the very beginning of the last century, hunting was “a sport in honor” among the Doukkala people, who had taken the art of training birds quite far. Some Moroccans had even trained eagles to hunt gazelles. Some great lords, such as the famous Qa’id of the 'Abda, Si Omar Ben 'Aissa, were big fans of falcons and did not back down at any cost to get these birds of prey. — Edmond Doutte, Historian. Historian by profession and former Moroccan ambassador in Iraq and to UAE, *Abdelhadi* *Tazi* has devoted books to the role of the falcon in the history of Moroccan diplomacy. Thus he explains in ”***The Falcon Hunt between the Mashrek and the Maghreb*** ” published in 1980: > The falcon represented the most precious gift and was intended to create a climate of relaxation or served to strengthen diplomatic ties between countries. Indeed, in the 14th century during the Marinid era In Morocco, the sultans of Fez were investing in falcons. The Sultan Abu Al-Hassan owned dozens of them and offered them to the rulers of Egypt. In Andalusia the praise of falconry is shown in poems, proverbs, songs, manuscripts, and even in architecture. The falconers of the emirs of Alhambra (Granada) were housed in a reserved area near the castle and some Iberian treatises bear witness to this oriental impregnation. The Arab influence appears in the lexicon of Roman works: the Book of the Hunt of *Don Juan Manuel* published in 1325 in the Marinid period. Throughout the second millennium, the sultans of Morocco had diplomatic exchanges with the kings of Europe (especially those of France, England, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark Austria, Sardinia***,*** Naples and Portugal). And in the Renaissance era, the appeal of *The East* has intensified exchanges between the two shores of the Mediterranean, in particular between Sicily and North Africa. Falconry around the Mediterranean was prosperous and well developed, giving rise to several exchanges: both on a practical level, knowledge and diplomatic gifts (falcons, accessories, etc.). The Barbary Falcon was highly appreciated by the majority of European courts. Hawks were included in royalties and taxes, some tribes in the region of Doukkala (Atlantic coast) donated falcons as an annual fee to the Portuguese trading posts established on some coasts between the 15th and 17th centuries. The Wattassid sultans and the dignitaries of Maghreb in general imported numerous falcons from Europe in the 17th century. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3917b79ce4cb373cca1bf_Sans%252Btitre%252B1.jpeg) *Moulay Ahmed Qasimi, falconer to Caid Moulay Mehdi Al-Khalifa of Tetouan, 1930.* Thus, in 1533, the French king Francois sent to the Moroccan Wattassid *sultan,* Ahmed Ben Mohamed, various falconry objects: 30 bird gloves enriched with pearls, about six dozen chaperones each decorated with pearls and other silk gloves. Numerous exchanges of sand accessories for falcons took place between the Princes of Orange of the Netherlands and Moroccan sultans around the ***17th*** century. In 1789, the Alawite sultan Mohamed Ben Abdellah also received from the danish King Frederick beautiful falcons. In the book "***History of falcon hunting in Morocco*** ", it is explained by R. al-Hassani that the Alawite Dynasty even created the function of royal falconer during the reign of Moulay Ismail**.** In addition, Sheikh Muhammad Ben Abdullah had a hospital for birds of prey in Fez. Today, Morocco is the only African country to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among the nations leading in the recognition of Falconry as an intangible cultural heritage for Humanity. The Arab tribe of *Quwwasim****,*** near the city of El Jadida, is the only one in Morocco to be the subject of a royal decree authorizing it to keep and train falcons. The falconers of *Doukkala* are now renowned in the Arab world for their skill and their mastery of this ancestral art. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d391900d85880b3db10321_format_web_img_5114.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d39190a173b72a20fe255e_Festival-de-la-fauconnerie-.jpg) --- --- title: "Peto Syarif, a Revolutionary Hero of Moroccan Descent in Indonesia" description: "An Indonesian legend, Peto Syarif is one of the most famous revolutionaries in Southeast Asia. His least-known fact? His Moroccan origins!" url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/peto-syarif language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/peto-syarif type: article category: hist published: 2020-12-23T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:48.121Z tags: ["Islam", "Modern History"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4ef054821bce64a1a544_6a5a4e6a5d854d0e97429d61_fix-peto-syarif-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Peto Syarif, a Revolutionary Hero of Moroccan Descent in Indonesia *An Indonesian legend, Peto Syarif is one of the most famous revolutionaries in Southeast Asia. His least-known fact? His Moroccan origins!* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4ef054821bce64a1a544_6a5a4e6a5d854d0e97429d61_fix-peto-syarif-main.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3893be0391750238647e7_image-asset.jpeg) A major figure of the anti-colonialist struggle, a national hero and a legend in Indonesia, Peto Syarif is one of the most famous revolutionaries in Southeast Asia. Also known as Muhammad Syahab, Peto Syarif studied religion and war tactics at the same time. After launching the movement for the purification of Islamic laws in Indonesia, he dedicates his life to the fight against the Dutch colonists. While several literary works on his life exist, many omit his Moroccan origins. Peto Syarif was first known as an imam under the name of Tuanku Imam Bonjol. Born in 1772 in Bonjol, in the west of the island of Sumatra, he is the descendant of a Moroccan family in Indonesia, the Bayanuddin family. ### A rigorist childhood. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3896320e367ad7ec4b91d_image-asset.jpeg) *Bonjol, capital of the Minangkabau.* Muhammad Syahab grew up in a household where Islam is very important, and will therefore receive a religious education from his childhood onward. Besides learning to read the Quran and Islamic laws, he also learns the knowledge of metallurgy, of mining, of Silat (an Indonesian martial art) and other skills that a typical young “Minang” (the name of the ethnic group living in Sumatra) must possess. After completing his 8 years of Islamic studies, Muhammad Syahab received the title of Peto Syarif. Peto Syarif gradually decides to contribute Islamic teachings to the community. He was described as a man greatly appreciated for his honesty, his kindness and his piety. However, he continues to study under other Muslim theologians and takes a great interest in politics. Thus, he studies war strategies and quickly obtains an important role in the international affairs of his country. ### The birth of the Padri movement. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3897a9e626ae3a59ae380_image-asset.jpeg) *Engraving published in 1831 depicting the struggle between the Padri Movement and the Dutch colonists.* It is in 1807, just after a pilgrimage to Mecca, that the anti-colonial struggle of Peto Syarif begins. Inspired by the young Wahhabi movement spreading across the Arabian Peninsula, he co-founds the Padri movement with other pilgrims and decides to build a fort in order to proclaim the State of Bonjol in which a current similar to Wahhabism will be applied. The State of Bonjol will succeed in reducing the production and consumption of drugs (Opium, Tobacco…) forcibly exported by the Dutch to offset their trade balance. Following this success, Peto Syarif sent several emissaries to regions of Indonesia in order to spread his movement. They succeeded in conducting negotiations with the leaders of local communities regarding the goals and objectives of the Padri movement: eradicating the illicit practices carried out by society and fighting Western colonization. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3898a8ae49931f8391b74_image-asset.jpeg) *Tomb of Peto Syarif.* The influence of the Padri movement grew daily and the task of Imam Bonjol became very heavy. He faced not only the traditional chiefs, but also foreign powers, namely the Dutch who had controlled Padang since 1819. Feeling their positions threatened, the Indonesian traditionalist nobility calls upon the Dutch, who intervene in 1821 to defeat the Padri faction. At first, the Dutch could not win militarily against the Padris, their resources being exhausted by the resistance of Diponegoro in Java. They will end up signing the Masang agreement in 1824 putting an end to the hostilities with the State of Bonjol. ### The end of the Padri War. The Padri War will have lasted nearly 16 years, stretching from 1821 to 1837. First of all, the Dutch colonial forces attempt to control the West of Sumatra, the colonial government signed a treaty with the traditionalist nobility and sent troops into the hills of Minangkabau, initiating grueling battles against the partisans of the Padri movement. It is in 1836 that the battle of the Great Fort of Bonjol takes place, during which hundreds of Dutch soldiers bombarded the defenses of the Padri and managed to infiltrate the interior of the fort. That said, with determination, the Padris will succeed in defeating the opposing camp and expelling the Dutch from the fort. Through a ruse of negotiation, the resistance of Imam Bonjol came to an end after his capture and exile by the Dutch colonial army in October 1837. He dies on November 6, 1864, at the age of 92 and is buried in Sulawesi. The site of his tomb is marked by a house in Minangkabau (West Sumatra). Tuanku Imam Bonjol has been named a national hero of Indonesia since November 6, 1973. The name of Tuanku Imam Bonjol is also present in public spaces (streets, stadiums…) and even appears on the 5,000 Rp banknotes issued by Bank of Indonesia on November 6, 2001. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d389a845ddc0becf76084b_image-asset.jpeg) --- --- title: "Moroccan tannery, a thousand-year-old heritage" description: "Practiced since the 12th-century Almohad era, Moroccan tannery survives in one of the world’s last traditional trades. A thousand-year-old craft heritage." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/tannery language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/tannerie type: article category: cult published: 2020-12-16T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:13.436Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" tags: ["Craftsmanship", "Fes"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ec492af778f222470363_Tannery.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Moroccan tannery, a thousand-year-old heritage By Wealth of Morocco *Practiced since the 12th-century Almohad era, Moroccan tannery survives in one of the world’s last traditional trades. A thousand-year-old craft heritage.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ec492af778f222470363_Tannery.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d44b6eb96d1e2ccd5f5a8a_carlos-ibanez-J8fb7sDC5as-unsplash.jpg) Tannery is an art that’s been practiced for several centuries in Morocco, one of the only places in the world where tanning is done in a traditional way to this day. It was at the time of the Almohad dynasty, in the 12th century, that this art spread in the kingdom, mainly from Fez and Marrakech. Tanneries can be found in other cities such as Tetouan or Taroudant, where the tradition is maintained and practiced using the same techniques as before. ### The transformation process ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d44d02356443fb31e065eb_Untitled-1.jpg) The transformation of animal skins into leather in traditional tanneries is done in 3 essential steps: First, you have to put the skins into large containers filled with lime, ammonia and pigeon droppings where they will rest for several days. The second step is to remove the remaining hairs from the skins and color them by immersing them in tanks filled with natural dye. For example, mint is used for the color green, henna for the color orange, leaves and stems of indigo for the color blue, etc. Finally, the skins are rinsed then dried and finally sent to artisans who will make bags, coats, shoes, etc. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d44dcf937209827f40ef68_carlos-ibanez-644X6zmy1Hk-unsplash.jpg) ### The Chouara tannery. The city of Fez has three ancient tanning establishments, but the largest is the Chouara tannery, which is also the oldest in Morocco. It has existed for 900 years, extends over 7200 m² and more than 500 master artisans produce 3,000 to 5,000 leather skins every day. In this traditional tannery, everything is handmade and the materials and techniques are the same as in the 12th century. Several historical sources prove that tanning was an important industry from the beginning of the city’s history and played an important role in the economy; the products of the tanneries of Fez were even exported to Baghdad. Al-Jazna’i states that the Almohads (late 12th to early 13th centuries) owned a total of 86 tanning workshops and another source attests that there were around a hundred under the Marinids (late 13th to 15th centuries). The Chouara Tannery continued to expand to now contain 193 tanning workshops. The heritage that the world will share with Morocco through this tannery is the famous tarbouch, or Fez hat whose pigment that gives it its color was extracted from crimson berries. Fez in the Ottoman era would refer to the entire Sultanate of Morocco. Consequently, the popularization of this hat by the Ottomans throughout their empire, bordering on Morocco at its peak, paid tribute to this practice, which can be described as a millennium. Today, Morocco is the only country where the Fez hat is regularly worn by its heads of state as well as during official visits. ![La famille royale accueillant Emmanuel Macron, actuel president de la France.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d44de1e30f3d46c39f7798_Famille%2BRoyale%2BMaroc%2BMarocaine%2BMacron.jpeg) *The royal family welcoming Emmanuel Macron, current president of France.* ‍ --- --- title: "Avempace, a Scientist Immortalized on the Moon" description: "Avempace or Ibn Bajja was an astronomer, philosopher, musician and a poet, all at once, who was so charming with his descriptions of the stars that he won a place there forever." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/avempace language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/avempace type: article category: cult published: 2020-11-30T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:10.447Z tags: ["Philosophy", "Astronomy", "Almoravids", "Music"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cee5c75747474fc59555_127-160729-ibn-bajja-3.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Avempace, a Scientist Immortalized on the Moon *Avempace or Ibn Bajja was an astronomer, philosopher, musician and a poet, all at once, who was so charming with his descriptions of the stars that he won a place there forever.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cee5c75747474fc59555_127-160729-ibn-bajja-3.webp) Abu Bakr Mohammed bin Yahya bin al-Sayegh commonly referred to as Ibn Bajja, or by his Latinized name Avempace, was born in 1095 in the Taifa of Saragossa, modern day Spain and died in Fez, Morocco. He was not only a great Arab-Muslim thinker, but also an active politician in Moroccan society who served as minister for the Almoravids. Avempace wrote extensively on astronomy, logic, philosophy, music, botany, medicine, psychology, and poetry. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d383c917dc48664e25a1a3_Kitab%2BAl%2BNafs.jpeg) *The cover of “Kitab al-Nafs”.* His book titled *Kitab al-Nafs (Book of The Soul)* was a philosophical treatise focusing on psychology and the principles of logic and reason. Although this treatise establishes a parallel with Aristotle’s work *De Anima (On the soul)*, with which it is often compared, it is not an explicit comment by him. Avempace also had an influence on Averroes (1126-1198 AD), an Andalusian philosopher famous for being the “commentator on Aristotle” during the Almoravid and Almohad eras. Ibn Bajja had particular gifts for song and for music which earned him the recognition of the powerful through his writings of musical treatise and composing of popular songs. The manuscript contains a series of Avempace’s works, including his most famous, the Solitaire rule. In this series, three passages deal with music. The first two concern the theory of hearing: Sound production Transmission Perception The nature of the bodies that produce sounds The vibration of the lute string The difference between sound and musical note The human voice While the third passage focused on the melodic correspondence between the proportions of celestial and terrestrial music, natural elements, moods, and so on. He’s also credited with the synthesis between Oriental music, Berber music and Hispanic music as well as the zajal poetic form intended for singing and which has endured through the Romancero. Avempace, philosopher and poet, sang this short poem one night near the grave of one of his friends while the moon was rising in the sky: > Your friend has just been put in the grave > And you appear after his death > What are you not veiling > So that your eclipse will be a mourning habit for him. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d383f829c6ecdb1dc953f4_Avempace%2BCrat%25C3%25A8re%2BLune.jpeg) Avempace’s writings are available in some of the best libraries in the world, such as Oxford, El Escorial, Berlin, Cairo, Taskent, Istanbul, and Baghdad. In 2009, in honor of his achievements, The International Astronomical Union founded in 1919, decided to name a lunar crater in his name. --- --- title: "The Treaty of Fez and the Bloody Days" description: "Riots, rebellions and repression. The Treaty of Fez, signed on the 30th of March 1912, was a painful moment in the history of the Charifian Empire. The consequences of this one will go from demonstrations to bloody clashes, from Fez to the rest of Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/fez-treaty language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/traite-fes type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-25T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:03.828Z author: "Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Fes", "Colonisation", "Resistance", "Protectorate", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd1abe2a78e12e9a1ffe_Moulay%2BAbdelhafid%2Bet%2BEug%C3%A8ne%2BRegnault.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Treaty of Fez and the Bloody Days By Moroccan Royal Archives *Riots, rebellions and repression. The Treaty of Fez, signed on the 30th of March 1912, was a painful moment in the history of the Charifian Empire. The consequences of this one will go from demonstrations to bloody clashes, from Fez to the rest of Morocco.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd1abe2a78e12e9a1ffe_Moulay%2BAbdelhafid%2Bet%2BEug%C3%A8ne%2BRegnault.jpg) The 19th century was a painful moment in the history of the Charifian Empire. Very weakened economically and politically by its debts and defeats due to the wars undertaken against France (in particular the Battle of Isly) or even Spain (Battle of Tetouan) in a context of anti-colonial struggle. The culmination of these colonial ambitions took place on the 30th of March 1912. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38a41be6f305c8e246ec2_Moulay%2BAbdelhafid%2Bet%2BEug%25C3%25A8ne%2BRegnault.jpeg) *Signature of the Treaty of Fez between Moulay Abdelhafid and the representative of France, Eugene Regnault, March 30th 1912.* ### The Treaty of Fez The Treaty of Fez established a Protectorate for the last independent state in North Africa. The text put forward administrative, judicial, educational, economic, financial and military reforms, meticulously organizing the French presence in the Cherifian Empire. The French, anxious to dispel German ambitions after the Agadir Crisis, saw this treaty as a success. However, in Morocco, this treaty will lead to the start of a long process of fighting between the indigenous tribes and the occupying power. By signing the Treaty of Fez, Moulay Abdelhafid accepted the Protectorate, under the pressure of five thousand French soldiers camped under the walls of his palace in Fez and the occupation of vast areas in the west and east of his kingdom, putting an end on that day to 12 centuries of independence of the Kingdom of the Setting Sun. As soon as the signing was done, the Sultan did not want any news to be spread in the hopes of maintaining a semblance of peace. That was the case, at least until he left the city of Fez... The news quickly began spreading like wildfire throughout the Kingdom. The very first voices to condemn this treaty were those of the Charifian soldiers present in Fez. Indignation and dismay were general in the spiritual capital of the kingdom to the point that the inhabitants of Fez decided, from the 17th to the 19th of April 1912, to flood the streets in order to voice their anger against the “transfer of Dar El Islam (land of Islam) to Christians”. Faced with the ferocious repression of French soldiers, acting as conquerors rather than pacifiers, the inhabitants of Fez joined the Moroccan soldiers in the protest that would turn into bloody clashes. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38a658c1c3026246fb18c_Journ%25C3%25A9es%2BSanglantes%2Bde%2BFes%2BHubert%2BJacques.jpeg) ### Bloody days in Fez These clashes, which were very violent, caused a great deal of damage and marked the French to the point that they called this event “bloody days in Fez”. The rioters massacred French civilians and soldiers. The Sultan was rejected by being referred to under the contemptuous term of “Sultan sold to Christians”. The treaty was seen as a betrayal by Moroccans and it would intensify battles against French troops in the rest of the country. After these violent riots, Sultan Moulay Abdelhafid was forced to abdicate and was exiled by the French. His half-brother Moulay Youssef took his place on the throne. In Fez, the French military corps managed to manage its very first post-Protectorate crisis thanks to the military reinforcements sent. The protectorate forces deplored the death of some sixty French people during these events. The role of the Alawite Sultan was reduced to a simple spokesperson for the Protectorate at a time when General Hubert Lyautey, appointed General Resident in April, reigned over the state. The fighting raged on, peace was gone, and conflicts continued throughout the empire, be it with the takeover of Marrakech by Ahmed al-Hiba, the revolts in the Chaouia region, or the Rif War. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38a869267121e739b43e1_Massacre%2Bde%2BFes%2BMarcel%2BThierry%2B1912.jpeg) *Excerpt from a comic strip by Marcel Thierry in 1912, showing “The Massacre of Fes”.* ### The Franco-Spanish union against Morocco Faced with the difficulty of maintaining peace throughout Morocco, the French decided to ally themselves with another colonial power. In November 1912, France and Spain reached a common agreement, following which Morocco was divided into three main parts: an area in the center, controlled by France, an area in the north with the Rif and an area in the extreme south with the enclave of Sidi Ifni, Tarfaya and the Sahara. For its part, Tangier will benefit from the status of an international zone. The colonial forces then continued their pacification and occupation operation, which had lasted for almost 22 years since the Treaty of Fez. Archive images of the “Bloody Days of Fez” by Hubert Jacques: ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ab145ddc096f77761ca_022-cimetiecc80re-militaire.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38aafc4ff9794547cd05b_bsacn_11.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ab0926712cb759b5e57_Emeutes-Fes.png) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ab0c41eb28252da44b2_massacrefez.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ab03f5609fc1c626323_Tritel2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38ab097c01309c56c1750_unnamed.jpg) --- --- title: "Prussian Trauma in the Moroccan Rif" description: "The Prussians tried to take possession of the Moroccan Rif region in 1856. This little-known provocative operation caused a scandal during the middle of the 19th century in Germany and influenced German-Moroccan relations thereafter." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/prussians-in-rif language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/prusses-au-rif type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-24T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:07.508Z author: "Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Wars", "Rif", "Alaouites", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ccce45329d8034d0cad2_bato.jpeg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Prussian Trauma in the Moroccan Rif By Moroccan Royal Archives *The Prussians tried to take possession of the Moroccan Rif region in 1856. This little-known provocative operation caused a scandal during the middle of the 19th century in Germany and influenced German-Moroccan relations thereafter.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ccce45329d8034d0cad2_bato.jpeg) Few people know it, but the Prussians tried to take possession of the Moroccan Rif in 1856. This operation, provocative but unknown, followed a major scandal that emerged during the middle of the 19th century between this region and the Prussian Reich, which subsequently influenced Prusso-Charifian relations. ## The Rif during the 19th century During this period, northern Morocco was administered by the descendants of Jaysh al-Rifi, an influential army during the 17th and 18th centuries, created by Sultan Moulay Ismail from tribes in the Eastern Rif. This army corps will maintain its autonomy and will be the de facto rule over the Pashaliks in the north until 1912, the year upon which the French and Spanish protectorates came into effect. The Rif as a territory has been, historically, quite impenetrable due to its mountain range, its steep coasts and the overprotection of locals. As a result, the few ships that came close to the coast of this country were plundered. Thus, the northern tribes were at that time recognized as being the last Barbary pirates still active in the western Mediterranean. This is evidenced by the Cape Three Forks, 25 kilometers off of the city Nador, which was a shipwreck cemetery feared by sailors. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38afe45ddc0076d77d368_Pirates%2Bdu%2BRif.jpeg) *The captivity of the sailor, Paul Peinen: French soldier captured by pirates in the Rif.* ## The arrival of the Prussians In 1852, two Prussian fleets, schooners from Stettin led by Prince Adalbert docked near the Cape of the Three Forks, the wind being insufficient to continue their journey. All of a sudden, and without the Prussians' expectation, the fleets were plundered and three sailors on board were killed by a group of Riffian pirates. This event, which was overly mediatized due to the affront to Prince Adalbert, did not remain without consequences. Four years later, in August 1856, an exercise in the Mediterranean was organized by the admiral of the fleet and cousin of King Frederic William: Prince Adalbert, who was accompanied by Prince William of Hesse. Aboard the Danzig Frigate, they traveled along the shores of the Rif. As the event of 1852 was not compensated for by the Makhzen (political authority of Morocco), the prince had only one desire: to take revenge for this affront. He ventured into the Cape of the Three Forks with nearly 60 men and proceeded to provocatively plant a Prussian flag on a hill. The Riffians, alerted by this intrusion, decided to meet to fight the Prussians. To the surprise of their opponents, these aboriginal soldiers were so numerous that the Prussians had no choice but to retreat, astonished at their failure. The losses were non-negligible, with 7 dead and 18 injured, including Prince Adalbert himself, injured in the thigh during the fight. After this total failure, the Prussian Navy erected an eagle-shaped monument for the dead in that battle in Gibraltar in 1863. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38b1245ddc0856277f4a0_Prince%2BAdalbert%2Bde%2BPrusse.png) *Prince Adalbert of Prussia.* ## Involvement of powers Prussia, with its honor now tainted, asked the Sultan of Morocco once again for compensation regarding the incidents in the Rif. He declined the offer, arguing that he had no authority over the tribes of the Rif. An appeal to the powers was therefore necessary, with Berlin asking for the intervention of Paris, London and Madrid. It’ll therefore be on the 29th of August 1856 that Napoleon III, supported by England and Spain, promised to do what was necessary to prevent similar events, since it was not the first time that European fleets were plundered near the Moroccan Rif region. In the end, no action was taken and the promised measures were abandoned. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38b2345ddc0196e78126a_Mouchoir%2BImprim%25C3%25A9%2BBataille%2Bdu%2BRif.jpeg) *Printed handkerchief illustrating the battles between Prussians and Riffians.* ## Aftermath Despite a humiliating defeat that was overhyped in German-speaking newspapers, Prince Adalbert’s prestige grew. Several newspapers praised his heroic act and the people praised the prince for trying to avenge his nation. Following these significant events, few European ships approached the shores of the Rif. These events would however encourage, 40 years later, Kaiser William II to take an interest in Morocco and to try to compete with Franco-Spanish ambitions on these lands. However, these incidents have only been recounted from a European perspective as even today, the real motivating reasons behind these fearsome pirates of the Rif remain somewhat of a mystery. Hypotheses explain that because of their isolation from the rest of the world, the inhabitants of northern Morocco feared seeing other peoples dominate their own, thus preferring to keep their shores inaccessible. --- --- title: "Zaynab Nefzaouia: Behind every great man hides a woman" description: "De facto queen of Morocco at the height of the Almoravid empire, Zaynab Nefzaouia, founder and architect of Marrakech, had an influence that reached well beyond her lifetime." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/zaynab-nefzaouia language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/zaynab-nefzaouia type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-18T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:47.424Z author: "Wealth of Morocco" image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd2c510491c9f07836de_Zaynab%2BNefzaouia.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Zaynab Nefzaouia: Behind every great man hides a woman By Wealth of Morocco *De facto queen of Morocco at the height of the Almoravid empire, Zaynab Nefzaouia, founder and architect of Marrakech, had an influence that reached well beyond her lifetime.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd2c510491c9f07836de_Zaynab%2BNefzaouia.jpg) Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, born in Aghmat in 1039, in Morocco’s High Atlas, was a Berber queen who had great influence over the Almoravid dynasty; she was queen of Marrakech and took control of the Maghreb, as well as part of Spain. Zaynab was admired as much for her beauty as for her intelligence and her ability to rise to power. Her first husband was Luqut al-Maghraw, an emir of Aghmat, who later died in battle and whose riches and lands Zaynab both inherited and controlled. Her second husband was Yusuf ibn Ali, chief of the Wurika and Aylana Berber tribes, though according to Ibn Khaldun she may instead have been his concubine. Ibn Ali, displeased by her audacity, soon repudiates her. She always received many marriage proposals in the region from tribal chiefs, but she always refused, for she had the ambition of marrying a man who would rule an entire country. She thus went on to marry Abu Bakr ibn-Umar, king and founder of the Almoravid dynasty as well as of the city of Marrakech; it is said he showered her with wealth and power. Like the previous ones, this union does not last. Abu Bakr is called upon to subdue a revolt within the Sahara desert. Considering that his wife cannot follow him, he leaves her and advises her to marry his cousin Youssef ben Tachfine as-Sanhaji, to whom he entrusts command in his absence. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38b76b8f4843d6394ff51_Empire%252BAlmoravide%252BVers%252B1100.jpeg) *The Almoravid Empire in the 12th century.* She gave him two children, Ali and Tamima Ben Youssef ibn Tachfine. Ibn Tachfine was able to conquer the Maghreb thanks to her counsel and her expertise in negotiations. Zaynab Nefzaouia draws up the plans of the city of Marrakech while awaiting the return of her husband, away at war. Upon his return, Ibn Tachfine has the city built in accordance with the plans she created. She was nicknamed "the magician" for this, and many people believed that she communicated with the jinn and that she had supernatural powers. She passes away around 11 years after her husband, but the year of her death is disputed, and it is presumed that she died in 1075 or later. Her influence was felt in the mores of Almoravid Morocco, having allowed royal women to take part in politics and education. She also organized classes for noblewomen with Hafsa bint Al Hajj, one of the most celebrated poets of medieval Arabic literature. Zaynab will also employ two women physicians at the palace, something until then uncommon. Princess Fannu of the same dynasty will in turn take an active part in defending the capital from a fortress during the fall of the Almoravids in 1147. --- --- title: "Mauretania Tingitana at the Dawn of the Umayyad Conquest" description: "According to George Ostrogorski, the only serious resistance the Arabs encountered in the Maghreb was led by Count Julian, governor and commander of Mauretania Tingitana before its Islamization." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/count-julian language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/comte-julien type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-11T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:00.118Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Ancient History", "Islam", "Mauretania"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cc0345329d1cd4d0c903_Comte%2BJulien.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Mauretania Tingitana at the Dawn of the Umayyad Conquest By Amerruki *According to George Ostrogorski, the only serious resistance the Arabs encountered in the Maghreb was led by Count Julian, governor and commander of Mauretania Tingitana before its Islamization.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cc0345329d1cd4d0c903_Comte%2BJulien.jpg) In the Moroccan subconscious, our Berber ancestors would have quickly converted without any resistance to the Arab armies from the Middle East. Apart from Koceila, the Berber king having succeeded in not only repelling but also defeating Uqba Ibn Nafi during the Battle of Tahouda and the Kahina des Aures, we have no mention of any real Moroccan resistance. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38c4a6a51b20fc2e01504_Maur%25C3%25A9tanie%252BTingitaine%252BComte%252BJulien%252BYulyan%252BUlban.jpeg) *Area of Mauretania Tingitana under the control of Count Julien.* During this period Mauretania Tingitana was under the control of Count Julian (Ulban or Yulyan). According to various sources, he would be a Byzantine or Visigoth prince but according to modern historians such as Luis Garcia de Valdeavellano, there is a very strong possibility that Count Julian was of Berber origin from the Ghomara confederation and of Christian faith. We can thus exclude any kind of Byzantine influence since the weakening of the latter during the arrival of the Umayads (revolts, assassinations, period of instability). As said before, he was governor of the Ghomara confederation, composed of Christian Masmouda tribes and extending from Tangier to Sebta. Other sources add that he was (in addition to being governor of Tingis), governor of Algeciras, Cadiz, Cartagena and Tarifa (i.e. former Byzantine Spain). In 665, the second Umayyad invasion of the Maghreb began, which arrived for the first time at the borders of Maghrib Al Aqsa. In 682, Uqba Ibn Nafi tried to conquer Tangier despite the warnings of his companions. His ambitions will be doomed to failure as Luis Garcia from Valdeavellano tells us: ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38c65736ec0a948f25a11_Comte%252BJulien%2B%25281%2529.png) > In their fight against the Byzantines and the Berbers, the Arab leaders had greatly expanded their possessions in Ifriqya, and by the beginning of 682, Oqba ibn Nafi reached the shores of the Atlantic, but he was unable to occupy Tangier, as he was forced to turn back his way to the Atlas Mountains by a man whom history and legend have retained under the name of Count Julian. According to Ibn Abdal Hakam, Julian would have sent his daughter “La Cava” to Toledo in Roderic’s court for her education. Nevertheless, La Cava will be abused by him, which will push his father to want revenge. Despite having easily repelled Musa Ibn Nusair during a siege in Ceuta, which, according to George Ostrogorski, was the only serious resistance the Arabs had encountered in the Maghreb, he appealed to the Umayads for help by offering them several gifts and thus attempting a policy of approach. After that, he asked for the help of Tariq Ibn Ziyad and by offering him all his boats which would also serve him for his future conquest of Andalusia. After Tariq’s victory in Guadalete, Julien ceded Tangier to him and according to medieval chronicles, Tariq was the king and prince of the believers of Morocco as well as of the rest of the Moors. Julien will end his life in Ceuta, which will then be taken peacefully by the Umayads. --- --- title: "The Almohads at the Conquest of Constantinople" description: "Around three centuries before the emergence of the Ottoman Empire, the Almohad Sultan Yaqub Al-Mansour would try to take Constantinople with the aim of reuniting the Muslim world in the midst of a war against the crusaders." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/almohads-constantinople language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/almohades-constantinople type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-10T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:19.669Z tags: ["Almohads", "Islam"] image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4e7ad593e90215409864_6a5a4e5054821bce64a1443b_fix-almohades-constantinople-main.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Almohads at the Conquest of Constantinople *Around three centuries before the emergence of the Ottoman Empire, the Almohad Sultan Yaqub Al-Mansour would try to take Constantinople with the aim of reuniting the Muslim world in the midst of a war against the crusaders.* ![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6a5a4e7ad593e90215409864_6a5a4e5054821bce64a1443b_fix-almohades-constantinople-main.webp) As early as 1190CE, the Almohad Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur would try to take Constantinople, almost 300 years before the Ottoman Empire. It is a little-known (and especially forgotten) fact of history, which the Moroccan historian Abdelhadi Tazi will bring up to date in his book [**Intermediary in Morocco’s International History**](https://books.google.fr/books/about/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF.html?id=g0dyAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y) published in 2001. This article is based on an excerpt from the original Turkish-Ottoman book Kitab Al Bahriye, *(Navigation book)* by the Ottoman historian Piri Reis, dating from the era of Suleiman the Magnificent (16th century). ### At its source: A strategic alliance In the 12th century, war raged between Muslims and Christians. Faced with the various crusades carried out in the Near East and Spain, two major Muslim powers will conclude a strategic alliance. The Almohad Caliphate, under the reign of Yaqub al-Mansur, established a partnership with Sultan Saladin’s Ayyubid Egypt. The Ayyubid ambassador Abderrahman Ibn Moukid was sent to negotiate the treaty, which would lead to the recognition of the caliphal authority of the Almohad dynasty and the sending of Almohad soldiers and boats in support of the Sultan. Very quickly, several Almohad battalions were sent to support Egyptian positions in the Near and Middle East: - Attacks on crusader positions in the Middle East - Thwarting the expedition against Mecca in 1182 - Protecting Rabigh from cross attacks - Capture of Jerusalem in 1187 This last event will be followed by a repopulation of the city by several Moroccan and Maghrebi populations in what is now called the Moroccan district. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38cb6d9e9b95332e35364_Quartier%2BMarocain%2BJ%25C3%25A9rusalem.jpeg) *Moroccan district of Jerusalem between 1898 and 1946.* ### The Almohads on their way to Constantinople According to Piri Reis, an Almohad battalion also participated in other attacks against Christians in the North of the Near East in order to take Constantinople. With a fleet of more than 1000 boats, the soldiers met from Marrakech and decided to leave for the capital of the Byzantine Empire. These boats sketched the Mediterranean periphery, strolling from city to city trying to approach Constantinople. The Ottoman historian tells us the Almohad army razed several Greek islands such as the island of Ios (southern Greece) whose traces of plunder were still visible in 1528, 400 years later. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38cd6c4ff97fc317dc531_Ile%2Bde%2BMoria.png) *Island of Lesbos (or Moria).* The Almohad troops succeeded in reaching the island of Moria (Lesbos) near the Turkish coast and decided to spend the winter there. However, Piri Reis' explanations stop here; we can extrapolate to the fact that the Almohads did indeed try to besiege Constantinople without succeeding, and would have descended to the south to attack the Christian fortresses of present-day Lebanon. ### Why Constantinople? The Almohad authority, ambitioning to become the Caliphate of the Muslim world, undertook several military and political actions to hold this title. One of the clauses of the Almohad-Ayyubid partnership treaty imposed by the former was the recognition of the Sultan as Caliph. Once this clause was accepted, Yaqub al-Mansur sought greater legitimacy by protecting Mecca and by massively supporting the recovery of holy sites such as Jerusalem. The size of the fleet that left for Constantinople clearly shows the Sultan’s desire to obtain sufficient legitimacy to be recognized in the Muslim world. The taking of Constantinople is also of a religious nature in view of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): > Certainly, the city of Constantinople will be conquered. What an excellent commander was the one who would conquer it, and what an excellent army was his. As such, many other Muslim rulers tried to take the Byzantine capital such as Umar Ibn Abd al Aziz, Isham Ibn Abd al-Malik, Mahdi Abbasi, and Harun Al-Rashid. It also shows the strong link that united the Almohad and Ayyubid dynasty after the call of Saladin, a link that made it possible to repel the various Christian crusades, offering the first Ayyubid Sultan the title of “Knight of Islam” and to the third Caliph Almohad the title “Al Mansour” (The Victorious), a link that could have changed the face of the Mediterranean. --- --- title: "The Sunken City of Tighalin" description: "In the Safi region, the myth of the ancient sunken city, in the likes of Atlantis, is an integral part of local folklore. The evidence of its existence is for the most part disputed." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/tighalin language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/tighaline type: article category: cult published: 2020-11-08T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-01T08:06:28.299Z tags: ["Myths and Legends"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd7f17d5f35a0ac053f8_Tighaline.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # The Sunken City of Tighalin *In the Safi region, the myth of the ancient sunken city, in the likes of Atlantis, is an integral part of local folklore. The evidence of its existence is for the most part disputed.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd7f17d5f35a0ac053f8_Tighaline.jpg) On the 28th of September 2020, the Moroccan association for the research and conservation of underwater historical heritage discovered several archaeological relics dating from the 2nd century BCE in the ocean floor, over a length of 30 kilometers, between Safi and Sidi Bouzid. In a statement to the *MAP*, the vice-president of the association Reedouane Bourka pointed out that these discoveries could tell us about Tighalin, a mythical city rooted in the legend of Safi. Let’s take a deep dive and try to piece together the lore on this mythical city that’s still being talked about over two millennias after its disappearance… ## The Tighalin myth ![Grotte du Studieux, a quelques kilometres de Safi.](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d450ba6d92dbf7e57c5e5d_Tighaline%2BGrotte%2Bdu%2BStudieux%2BSafi.jpeg) *Grotte du Studieux, a few kilometers from Safi.* According to a legend from the city of Safi, Tighalin is a city engulfed by the sea 7km from Cape Cantin (Cape Beddouza), itself at a 33km distance from Safi. The place is said to be inhabited by a mermaid and her children who come to recite the Quran in the Studious Cave (a cave very similar to the Cave of Hercules in Tangier). Legend has it that several fishermen, visiting the place or fishing nearby, overheard these children chanting inside the cave. Curious and worried, they approached the cave to see where these sounds came from. The children, frightened by the arrival of the fishermen, fleed and threw themselves into the sea through the entrance to the cave. According to this legend, these children are supernatural beings descended from the mermaid, who birthed them in the same cave. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4516b177584a3368174ac_774513_590035814389896_1486461857_o.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4516b199145833d6d406b_1264525_590035491056595_795137958_o.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4516ac777e6dbdb9e2124_1265990_590035777723233_579601443_o.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4516bb0929e265d7ef4e2_1266700_590042617722549_747778432_o.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4516bba28ea5f8b84df6c_1277881_590036487723162_1933367651_o.jpg) ## From myth to reality ![Tighaline](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d450d2289a946fbc39ceef_Tighaline.jpeg) Apart from the oral legend circulating among the ancients of the region, very few sources mention this mythical city. The Moroccan historian Ibrahim Harakat explains in his book “Morocco Through History” that during the Carthaginian visit to present-day Morocco by [Hannon the Navigator](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannon_le_Navigateur) In the 16th century before the common era (BCE), they stopped in a region called Ras Solis, between the cities of present-day Kenitra and Safi, and built a place of worship dedicated to Poseidon, god of the seas and storms. Since the Carthaginians were the builders of certain Moroccan cities such as Tingi (Tangier) or Lixus (Larache), it’s possible that the city of Tighalin has a Carthaginian origin. However, there is no mention of the city in Carthaginian texts, which suggests it was possibly a lighthouse that ended up collapsing after a storm and/or being hit by waves just as the lighthouse of Alexandria which met the same fate as well as having fueled several myths and legends. On the 15th of December 2005, a team from the show Amoudou conducted a major search operation north of the city of Safi, 400 meters deep to try to find traces, even if minimal, to prove the existence of this city, but their efforts were in vain, being unable to find anything except a few small remains of the 18th century. Several other writers who have recounted the history and geography of the region, such as the historians Fkih El Abdi El Kanouni (19th century) and Hassan al-Wazzan (16th century), have never mentioned mythical sites or cities refering to Tighalin. Similarly, for Mohammed Sbihi Slaoui or Armand Antona, this city only exists in the imagination of the people inhabiting the region. Modern marine authors and explorers in the likes of Piri Reis mentioned several sunken cities without ever hinting at Tighalin. For some villagers however, the sea levels were supposedly much lower than they are today. ## Renewed hope through archaeological research The discovery of remains dating back almost to 2000 years ago have brought back the topic of this legend once more. According to Redouane Bourga, a founding member and vice-president of the said association, these archaeological discoveries could date back to the second century BCE and even to the Bronze Age (2000 years, from 2700 to 900 BCE). The association also discovered prehistoric caves as well as fossilized human bones from Ain El Moucha in the area of Cap Beddouza (30 km from Safi) and the remains of a warship over four centuries old. The Safi region remains full of unknown places and virgin archaeological sites, continued Redouane Bourga. New scientific surveys are planned to shed more light on the mysteries of Tighalin… --- --- title: "Sayyida al-Hurra, an Unparalleled Moroccan Corsair Queen" description: "Nicknamed the Corsair Queen of Morocco, Sayyida al-Hurra dominated the western side of the Mediterranean for decades from her position as governor of Tetuan before becoming queen." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/sayyida-al-hurra language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/sayyida-al-hurra type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-07T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:41.436Z tags: ["Women of Morocco", "Wattasids", "Pirates", "Tetouan", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd3d46b75c0cdb5cec0d_Sayyida%2BAl%2BHurra.webp publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Sayyida al-Hurra, an Unparalleled Moroccan Corsair Queen *Nicknamed the Corsair Queen of Morocco, Sayyida al-Hurra dominated the western side of the Mediterranean for decades from her position as governor of Tetuan before becoming queen.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cd3d46b75c0cdb5cec0d_Sayyida%2BAl%2BHurra.webp) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38bda36f3748b20b1370e_Sayyida%2BAl%2BHurra.jpeg) Sayyida al-Hurra bint Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami, was born in 1493 in Chefchaouen; a city founded by her father, Ali Ben Moussa Rachid, in 1471. Her first name is not unanimously agreed upon, sometimes being reported as Fatima, sometimes Aicha, but everyone referred to her by her nickname Sitt al-Hurra, meaning “The Free Lady”. In Chefchaouen, then a fortified city-state, the young warrior was trained and educated by the greatest scientists of her time and in order to better face the Christian occupation, Sayyida al-Hurra would go on to marry Mohamed al-Mandari, the second governor of Tangier, which subsequently strengthened the alliance between their two families. Having benefited from extensive experience in foreign and judicial affairs from her husband, she succeeded him upon his death in 1529, and governed in Tetuan for nearly 30 years. It’s during this reign that she would gain her iconic nickname of the free woman. It was also during this same period that she joined forces with Arudj Reis Baba-Oruc, an Ottoman privateer feared by all. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38be7f42ee3e5e7179c0f_Barberousse.jpeg) *Arudj Reis (in Turkish: Oruc Reis).* This duo will indeed shake the seas. Sayyida al-Hurra, leader of a sizeable army, will for her part deploy perfect strategies to direct naval traffic and privateer businesses in the western part of the Mediterranean. Barbarossa, for his part, took care of the Eastern Mediterranean. Their collaboration was more than sumptuous as these two privateers conducted numerous sea trips all while amassing a small fortune thanks to the ransom they were demanding from the Spanish and Portuguese in exchange for the release of prisoners; as anyone wishing to negotiate had to deal with the Corsair Queen herself. She earned the respect of Spanish Christians, and anyone who caught wind of her sailing the waters refrained from venturing there. In 1541, she married Ahmed al-Wattassi, former King of Morocco. She was so powerful and influential at the time that when the Wattasid Sultan of Morocco offered her a marriage alliance, she was able to impose her terms of arrangement on him. Sultan Ahmad al-Wattassi was therefore persuaded to organize a wedding in Tetuan, with their marriage seemingly being purely diplomatic, as both continued to live in their respective capitals after that. This made Sayyida a queen residing in Tetuan, entrusted by her husband for relations with the Portuguese. Sayyida al-Hurra, the Moroccan Corsair Queen, has left her mark on the history of the kingdom through her prestige and his achievements. A series dedicated to her was broadcasted on 2M: --- --- title: "Haddou Lakhal, Morocco’s First Airplane Pilot" description: "Born on the eve of the protectorate, Haddou Lakhal will mark the history of Morocco by being not only the Sultanate’s first aviator, but also an icon of the Moroccan resistance." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/haddou-lakhal language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/haddou-lakhal type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-05T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:54.580Z author: "Amerruki and Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Colonisation", "Protectorate", "Rif"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cbeca3d2ad1d0dcc8298_Haddou%2BLakhal.jpeg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Haddou Lakhal, Morocco’s First Airplane Pilot By Amerruki and Moroccan Royal Archives *Born on the eve of the protectorate, Haddou Lakhal will mark the history of Morocco by being not only the Sultanate’s first aviator, but also an icon of the Moroccan resistance.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cbeca3d2ad1d0dcc8298_Haddou%2BLakhal.jpeg) Few people know him, and yet he definitively influenced the process of decolonization in Morocco and, more generally, in North Africa. Haddou ben Hammou Lakhal is one of those men who fascinated the European colonists to the point of frightening them about the “consequences” of progress among Africans. Let us return to the 19th century to understand the story of this great Rifian diplomat. ### The race to colonize Morocco. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38d679214aaff3b418744_Maroc%2BLapin%2BSahara%2BDecoupage.jpeg) *French satirical drawing, 1905.* His story begins in 1888. Despite the modernization of the army set in motion by Moulay Hassan and Moulay Abdelaziz, the Sharifian Empire could not compete with the appetite of the European powers while stabilizing the country. Morocco is threatened by two problems, which punctuated Alaouite policy throughout the century: the tribal revolts, backed by the zaouias, against the payment of taxes. These regions are called Blad-Al-Siba (land of anarchy) and the various Sultans organize several Harka (military campaigns) to pacify these places. The second problem, the most decisive in the colonization process, is the country’s indebtedness. This indebtedness is caused as much by the cost of the Harka as by European loans for industrial investment (the Dar Al Makina factory) as well as for the modernization of the army (for example: the acquisition of steamships and Krupp cannons). ### The childhood of Haddou Lakhal. It is in this context that Haddou Benhammou Lakhal is born in the province of Izmouren, near Al Hoceima. Very early on, his family settled in French Algeria. His parents found him a job with the man in charge of the port of Marsa Ben M’hmidi (formerly Port-Say), Mr. Bourmance Say. He will very quickly go from servant to friend and confidant of the latter, who had come to realize the young man’s intelligence: “His master, noticing the intelligence of this little Moroccan, took an interest in him and raised him, not as a subservient servant, but as a confidant.” — Le Gaulois newspaper, April 1926 Shortly afterwards, Haddou Lakhal decided to launch his first business ventures, notably through a Moorish cafe he christened “Au rendez-vous des pirates” and which, in little time, became the gathering place of the emissaries of Abdelkrim Al-Khattabi. With the start of the European wars, he cooperated with the French intelligence services against Spain and will receive airplane pilot training at the air base of Oran. ### Imprisonment on the Jaffarine Islands. Captured by the Spanish, he was imprisoned in a fortress on the Jaffarine Islands. He used his intellect to devise an almost Machiavellian plan to flee the prison, and in a single night swam the twenty kilometers that separated him from the coast. He will manage, after several days, to reach French Algeria while dodging the Spanish patrol boats (either by swimming, or by floating on his back for hours). ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38d8e9abfba21c3d7499d_Haddou%2BLakhal%2BAvion.jpeg) > The European war came, we needed intelligence agents, he was enlisted by the French services and was not long in distinguishing himself by his courage and his tireless activity. — Arthur Meyer, 1926 ### From French intelligence to Rifian intelligence. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38d9d31d2c77905c7fb88_Abdelkrim%2BAl%2BKhattabi%2BComite%2Bdu%2BRif.jpeg) *Abdelkrim Al Khattabi and the Rif committee.* His life took a turn during the Rif War; he joined the revolt from the very beginning by rallying his tribe (Bocoya). Within the republic of the Rif, he quickly climbed the ranks: - Caid of the Bocoyas - Political attache at the Rifian ministry of foreign affairs - Head of Rifian intelligence - Minister of aviation in 1923 His near-perfect knowledge of the French, Spanish and Rifian languages, as well as of darija, allowed him to very quickly gain importance within the Rifian establishment. > He arrives in Ajdir on horseback after three days of riding, changes attire in Oujda and sets off again either for Fez or Rabat, or for Oran, wherever missions call him. — Arthur Meyer, 1926. ### A tireless diplomat. He strung together journeys day and night, stopping only to sleep, to refuel his Ford or to switch to his horse. After covering one hundred and twenty kilometers on horseback, he would arrive in Taourirt, climb into his Ford and set off again without taking any rest. In one week, he took five hours of sleep, traveling by night, doing business by day, having gone from Oran to Rabat, seen officials, concluded deals. All the European diplomats were impressed by his power of action, described as ”**extraordinary**”. A shrewd diplomat, he was regarded as a gentleman by the Europeans. Haddou will carry out several initiatives for the Rif: various purchases, negotiations for the settlement of Rifian debts, approaches to the French military commanders, peace talks with Spain between 1923 and 1924… > I like the Riffians as they are, but I do not want them to grow. — Hubert Lyautey to Haddou Lakhal, 1924. He succeeded in negotiating the purchase of German airplanes, rallied Moroccan crowds from Fes to Oran, all while earning the sympathy of many colonists through his courtesy. He will be regarded by the French as one of Abdelkrim’s most precious auxiliaries. The Spanish delegates said they found themselves facing a very shrewd diplomat, who knew the Moroccan question better than any European politician. However, the failure of the Republic of the Rif marked a turning point in his life… ### A decisive legacy in Morocco’s independence. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38de113b14faacd52b3d5_%25C3%258Ele%2Bd%2527Essaouira.jpeg) *The island of Essaouira.* Captured by the French, he was exiled to the island of Essaouira in 1926, where he spent the rest of his days until 1950, the year of his death. His prestige and his intellect made France aware of the danger of progress in Morocco… Through Haddou Lakhal, the French understood that they could not occupy Morocco indefinitely and peacefully if the people educated themselves. Their fears will nevertheless end up coming true. On January 11, 1944, a group of Moroccan intellectuals will unite a large part of the population behind the Manifesto of Independence. Then will begin the process of decolonization, which will come to an end in 1956 with the official independence of the Kingdom of Morocco, 6 years after his death. --- --- title: "Volubilis, a Berber-Roman Heritage" description: "Former capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, Volubilis or Walili is a testimony, through its ruins and mosaics, of the Berbero-Roman heritage of Morocco." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/volubilis language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/volubilis type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-04T04:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:32:59.933Z author: "Moroccan Royal Archives" tags: ["Volubilis", "Architecture", "Ancient History", "Rome", "Mauretania"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d36f45f15ad1eb9a553f23_Volubilis_Capitoline_temple.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Volubilis, a Berber-Roman Heritage By Moroccan Royal Archives *Former capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, Volubilis or Walili is a testimony, through its ruins and mosaics, of the Berbero-Roman heritage of Morocco.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d36f45f15ad1eb9a553f23_Volubilis_Capitoline_temple.jpg) ![Volubilis.jpeg](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e37b38836cb48519c9e_Volubilis.jpeg) The archaeological site of Volubilis *(Walīli / ⵡⴰⵍⵉⵍⵉ in Arabic and Amazigh)* in Morocco offers us a great overview of Moroccan civilization during Antiquity. Initially a simple Berber village founded in the 3rd century BCE, it very quickly became the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, ancestor of present-day Morocco. The Roman occupation from the 1st century BCE will allow the city to develop Mediterranean architecture. Volubilis prospered thanks to an intense olive oil trade (olive presses can still be found in the ruins). In particular, it includes: - A forum - Several Roman baths - A rampart with 8 doors - Rich houses decorated with mosaics - Oil mills and bakeries The Romans imbued the city with their style, the various ruins of baths and mosaics are a perfect example. The city will then become a center of influence of Roman civilization in [Mauretania Tingitana](https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/count-julian) (Roman province). Weakened by the fall of the Roman Empire, the city will lose its attractiveness and will be occupied by the Awraba tribe. The city will be reborn with the Islamization of the Maghreb. Fleeing Baghdad and seeking to escape from the Abassids, Idriss I will settle it in 789CE. By marrying the daughter of the leader of the Awraba tribe from Walili, he’ll launch the Idrisid dynasty, the first post-Islamic Moroccan dynasty. His son, Idriss II, founded the city of Fez in 818 near the site, which caused the decline and neglect of Volubilis. The UNESCO classified this site as a world heritage site in 1997,[considering its universal value as “exceptional”.](https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/836/) The remains of this ancient city can still be admired, with it being situated in the middle of olive groves and fields. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5bfcbabd63c9ed7e07_EgNb5I_XgAID-EF.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5a341e227e9067e60d_EgNcbFgXgAE_oY2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5ad1e680fa552749c4_EgNcrWvXsAIOxQM.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5bfcbabd6ee3ed7dfa_EgNcwTTWAAEkyxJ.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5a3fdc0403a12fe8d1_EgNa64uXgAAM9iP.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5b12ce8def5005a188_EgNXFmOWkAE3l_W.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38e5b742d9dd4e11cb37c_EgNXO0GWkAAhA2h.jpg) --- --- title: "Operation Torch and the Anfa Conference: Morocco at the Heart of the World War II" description: "In the midst of one of the deadliest wars in the history of mankind, Morocco will be invited to participate in the conflict by opposing the Vichy regime." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/operation-torch language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/operation-torch type: article category: hist published: 2020-11-01T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:34:13.657Z tags: ["Wars", "Protectorate", "Casablanca", "Modern History"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ccef6c6ef25cfd3c4fd7_ob_f04194_debarq.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Operation Torch and the Anfa Conference: Morocco at the Heart of the World War II *In the midst of one of the deadliest wars in the history of mankind, Morocco will be invited to participate in the conflict by opposing the Vichy regime.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ccef6c6ef25cfd3c4fd7_ob_f04194_debarq.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3740fc41eb241ead1fde5_Operation%2BTorch.jpeg) On September 1st 1939, one of the deadliest wars in the history of mankind began. This war pitted Axis forces on the one hand against the Allies on the other. Despite its Protectorate status, Morocco was invited to participate in the conflict by opposing the Vichy regime. The Moroccan Goumiers will join the Free French forces under the command of General de Gaulle. At the height of the domination of the Axis countries, Morocco would host one of the operations that would turn the tide of the war, this being Operation Torch. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d37449f2d54072abc2508d_Port%2Bde%2BFedala%2BOperation%2BTorch%2B1942.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d37449d1d51011d8a5970e_boardin.jpg) Also known as the “Three Day War”, the operation began on July 24th 1942 when the Allies decided to open a front against Germany in North Africa, de facto under the influence of the Vichy regime. The combined Anglo-American General Staff therefore decided to land simultaneously in Morocco as well as in Algeria. These territories, once liberated, were destined to serve as bases to counterattack the Third Reich in the Mediterranean. As for the Nazi officers, they were convinced of the importance of seizing the Strait of Gibraltar in order to lock it down and land more easily in the Sultanate. On November 8th 1942, Allied operations began in North Africa. The Americans landed at the ports of Casablanca, Safi, Fedala (Mohammedia) and Mehdia in Morocco, but also in Algiers and Oran. These will displace from Norfolk and Casco Bay the largest naval force launched into the oceans, with five aircraft carriers and more than 102 naval vessels, crossing more than 8000 kilometers on waters infested with German submarines. American ground forces in Morocco will include 35,000 soldiers on 9 regiments, 41 destroyers, 4 submarines, 8 minesweepers and 23 landing ships for the infantry. The air forces will be composed of fighters [F4F Wildcat](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F4F_Wildcat), bombers [SBD Dauntless](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBD_Dauntless) and torpedo boats [TBF-1 Avenger](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TBF-1_Avenger). To fool the Axis' fleet, the American Navy made it seem like the convoy was heading for Dakar and that the course was going to be returned to Morocco. But when the counter-orders reached the Axis submarines, American soldiers were already on the Moroccan coast. 9,000 men and 65 tanks of American forces landed in Mehdia to occupy the Port-Lyautey air base (Kenitra). This was followed by the landing of 19000 men and 65 tanks in Fedala and 6500 men and 109 tanks in Safi. The 172 planes embarked during the landing provided air support in order to occupy the city of Casablanca from the north and south. Mehdia, Fedala and Safi easily fell in the face of the Allied forces. This was not the case for Casablanca, in which an important battle would rage over three days. Its port was ruined, with fires abound and shipwreck cemeteries numbering in the thousands. The battle kept raging on and a large death and injured toll was counted both among the Allies and among the soldiers of the General Nogues and Admiral Michelier, leaders of the Vichyste resistance in Morocco. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3747d9bd8e19664ee26cb_mrpatt.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3747dad51c18e4196b204_download.gif) Because of the refusal of Nogues and Michelier to surrender, General Patton, commander of Operation Torch, decided to surround the city of Casablanca and ordered the following day a naval and aerial bombardment of the White City. By midnight, all preparations had been completed within the Allied forces. Almost 4 hours later, his intelligence officer told him that the Vichyste resistance was preparing to surrender. Patton refused to cancel the bombing until General Nogues capitulated. The latter therefore ordered an immediate ceasefire. Casablanca’s garrison agreed to confine its troops to their barracks and to surrender their arms. The end of hostilities was welcomed by demonstrations of joy all over the city while throughout the battle, the Americans were designated as enemies by the Vichyists. 67 days after the disembarkment, Casablanca will host the Anfa Conference (code named **SYMBOL**) where the Allies will come up with a plan of action against Nazi Germany. In addition to rallying Morocco to the Allied camp, this event will be a crucial step towards the independence of the Charifian Kingdom. This conference will see the participation of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, by General de Gaulle and the late King Mohammed V. The rally will end with the following agreements: - Require the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers - Invade Italy from Sicily once the fighting in Tunisia is over - Support the Soviet Union more against the Third Reich, especially on the Stalingrad front - Support of the Moroccan Goumiers to the Free French forces under the command of General de Gaulle A message from American President Roosevelt was distributed to the inhabitants of the city of Casablanca, dispelling the hostility of the last Vichyists. Published in Arabic and French, it advocated for the neutrality of the population vis-a-vis the Allied soldiers, the protection of the rights and sovereignty of the Moroccan and French people, and finally, for better days and world peace in collaboration with the United States. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d374b74e03dbd0f1d36443_messagefromrosey.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d374b725d036016b3c3c7c_roseymosey.jpg) --- --- title: "From the Almohad Era to Modern Times: The Influence of Ibn Tufayl" description: "A philosopher, astronomer, physician and mathematician of the Almohad era, this little-known author will have a direct influence on several modern literary and artistic works." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/ibn-tufayl language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/ibn-tufayl type: article category: cult published: 2020-10-27T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-08-04T12:44:56.314Z tags: ["Philosophy", "Almohads", "Literature"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ced252fcb6c4bc4e5280_Ibn%2BTufayl.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # From the Almohad Era to Modern Times: The Influence of Ibn Tufayl *A philosopher, astronomer, physician and mathematician of the Almohad era, this little-known author will have a direct influence on several modern literary and artistic works.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037ced252fcb6c4bc4e5280_Ibn%2BTufayl.jpg) Ibn Tufayl is a philosopher, astronomer, physician, mathematician born in Wadi-Ach in 1110 in the present-day city of Cadiz in Andalusia, during the reign of the Moroccan Almohad dynasty. Little is known of his life as an author; most of his works having unfortunately been lost, we are left with a few versified pieces, of contested authenticity, recounting events of the period in which he lived. His prodigious philosophical novel, Hayy Ben Yaqdhan, is the only manuscript to have been passed down to posterity, and the one that made his glory. His narrative tells the story of a young boy, Hayy Ben Yaqdhan, the sole inhabitant of an island completely untouched by civilization. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d3843c9c5e20fe8e245263_Hayy%2BIbn%2BYaqzan%2BManuscrit.jpeg) *The first two pages of a manuscript containing the text of Ibn Tufayl’s Hayy ibn Yaqzan, Ms. Istanbul, Ayasofya 04807-001.* Hayy Ben Yaqdhan, considered by some a forerunner of the Age of Enlightenment, will have a significant influence on the European world. Edward Pococke, the famous British orientalist and professor at Oxford, undertook the translation of his masterpiece in 1671. Ibn Tufayl’s work will be a major source of inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. The famous story of Tarzan is, of course, directly inspired by the child Hayy Ben Yaqdhan. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38462c126ae274e357b37_%25C5%2592uvres%2Binspir%25C3%25A9es%2Bpar%2BHaq%2BBin%2BYaqdhan.jpeg) > Tarzan the wise man is the afterword to Ibn Tufayl’s Self-Taught Philosopher. — Severine Auffret Lessing and the author of "Life of Pi", Martel, were manifestly influenced by the literature and the philosophy of Ibn Tufayl. Considered the very first philosophical novel in literary history and one of the first to conceptualize the notions of the self-education of a being cut off from civilization, of the feral child and of the tabula rasa, it will provide Voltaire with material for his philosophical tales. Baltasar Gracian, for his Criticon, and thinkers as prestigious as Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, John Locke, Thomas More and Isaac Newton will be marked by this masterful work. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d38475ed47681633216308_Ibn%2BTufayl.jpeg) A political actor within the empire, from 1163 he becomes the physician and advisor to the Almohad sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf in the then capital of the empire, Marrakech. He will also have been the protector of Ibn Rochd (Averroes) and the instructor of the famous astronomer Nur-Ed-Din Al Betrugi. He dies in 1185 in Marrakech, and the sources attest to the presence of the Moroccan caliph at his funeral, striking proof of the importance of this polymath’s achievements. --- --- title: "Aicha Kandicha, from Resistance to Myth" description: "The legend of Aicha Kandicha is familiar with most Moroccans. Starting in the 16th century, this resistance fighter gradually transformed into the legend of the fatal seductress that we know today." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/aicha-kandicha language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/aicha-kandicha type: article category: cult published: 2020-10-24T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:56.124Z author: "Moorish Movement" tags: ["Myths and Legends", "Resistance", "Colonisation"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cdd0c10689500e3f72b0_Aicha%252BKandicha.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Aicha Kandicha, from Resistance to Myth By Moorish Movement *The legend of Aicha Kandicha is familiar with most Moroccans. Starting in the 16th century, this resistance fighter gradually transformed into the legend of the fatal seductress that we know today.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/6037cdd0c10689500e3f72b0_Aicha%252BKandicha.jpg) Regardless of their age, most Moroccans are familiar with the legend of Aicha Kandicha (or Qandisha). Her story began in the 16th century during the Wattassid era, in a context of fierce struggle against the Portuguese presence on Moroccan territory. In Morocco, Aicha Kandicha has become a myth, described as a fatal seductress, the ambassador of the djinns, one who terrifies men as much as she does women. Her story has spread orally for about five centuries, initially among the nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples of Morocco. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45214df9e8910b56691fe_Aisha%2BKandisha.jpeg) In reality, Aicha Kandicha was originally one of the first Moroccan resistance fighters in history. Historians claim Aicha Kandicha was the daughter of a notable member of a Souss tribe. Her beauty was described as rare and unparalleled, with pure fair skin, almond jet eyes, a blood-colored mouth, and silky black hair that fell to her hips. Aicha was said to be engaged to a young long-bearded Moroccan captain. In the 16th century, Morocco was weakened, making it a target of European intrusions. The powerless Wattassid dynasty saw itself losing Agadir and then Mazagan (El-Jadida) to the Portuguese. The tribes however resisted, and it was at this point that Aicha became famous for carrying out successful attacks against the occupiers. After each attack, she’d withdraw into the mountains with her guerrillas. The situation became more and more frustrating for the Portuguese, unable to capture her, especially given her success, which, striking fear into them, granted her a nickname by the occupants of “La Condessa” (The Countess), hence her Moroccan nickname of Kandicha. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45226369cee7560352a9c_Aicha%2BKandicha.jpeg) Moreover, she went on to receive a lot of support from the population and dozens of people became involved in her guerrilla warfare, seduced by her beauty and courage. Her technique mainly consisted of using her charms to attract soldiers who were then killed by her accomplices during nocturnal ambushes. One day, after being spotted by the opposing Portuguese camp and aiming to punish her, her entire family as well as her fiance would be coldly executed. Shocked, she’ll soon fall into a murderous madness, wandering in the forest which sparked the rumor among the local populations that she was preying on young people to devour them, also killing all the soldiers who crossed her path. She locked herself up for months, refusing to eat and to communicate with anyone. At some point however, she broke her silence and joined the men of the village in their guerrilla war against the Portuguese. She vowed to avenge her husband who was killed by the Portuguese. Her beauty once again came of help, as she seduced numerous Portuguese officers and persuaded them to follow her at night to secluded areas. It’s then that she’d pull out her knife to slit their throats. After her death, her spirit lingered on, haunted the area. According to numerous witness reports from the inhabitants of Morocco, the ghost of Aicha Kandicha still exists, attacking single men who travel at night. It’s only through her legs that one can recognize her, as she’s said to have goats' hooves. Men who recognize her can escape. The unlucky ones giving into her enchanting voice never returned among their families. Thus, Aicha the militant heroine became the evil spirit taking revenge-personification on men. Aicha la Condessa will remain one of the most extraordinary popular legends of Morocco, reflecting the cultural and historical heritage of the country. --- --- title: "Tunisia, an Underrated Architectural Jewel in the Mediterranean" description: "Beyond the white houses of Sidi Bou Said lies an underrated Mediterranean architectural heritage, from Carthage to the Andalusian medinas of Tunisia." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/tunisia-architecture language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/architecture-tunisie type: article category: cult published: 2020-09-29T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:07.295Z author: "Amerruki" tags: ["Architecture", "Tunisia"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ede68787f1f1d5fc64a5_Sidi%20Bou%20Said.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Tunisia, an Underrated Architectural Jewel in the Mediterranean By Amerruki *Beyond the white houses of Sidi Bou Said lies an underrated Mediterranean architectural heritage, from Carthage to the Andalusian medinas of Tunisia.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ede68787f1f1d5fc64a5_Sidi%20Bou%20Said.jpg) Tunisian architecture is often associated with the stereotypical white houses with blue doors and windows found in coastal cities, best represented by Sidi Bou Said. This however, doesn’t do its heritage justice, as the history of Tunisia is no better represented than by the different architectural styles found in its various regions. ### *Troglodyte architecture* The Amazigh village of Matmata is perhaps the most famous for having featured in Star Wars Episode IV in 1976. Underground cave-like houses, called troglodyte structures, remain a unique sight, with some houses being interconnected by passages dug inside each one. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d452fbb50d227d6bc6f0f5_Matmata_-_Tunisia.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d452fbdf55190599c1ada4_Matmata-Southern-Tunisia-Troglodyte-City-999155.jpg) ### *Ibadite architecture* The island of Djerba, known for maintaining not only its Amazigh identity but also its Jewish heritage, is characterized by simplistic white buildings, an architectural style generated with Ibadi Islam. The strikingly white buildings are complemented by shades of blue and green from the Mediterranean landscapes around the island. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4530822198702b33b1292_Mosqu%C3%A9e_Elmay_08.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45307384f1c9560c5c7b2_Tunisie_Jema%C3%A2_Fadhloun_5.jpg) ### *Clay Brick Architecture* Specific to the cities of Tozeur and Nefta, the distinctive yellow clay brick is produced locally and is used to build foundations and decorate structures with interesting geometric patterns. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453165bb9c699525869a8_More_brickwork_Tozeur_Medina-2.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d4531659f0ac6c9dc1ec56_Nefta_-_The_old_city-2.jpg) ### *Andalusian/Moorish architecture* Unlike the southern regions of Tunisia, the north, in cities like Tunis, Kairouan, or Testour to name a few, has inherited architectural styles from the early Islamic era, with Hispano-Moorish mosques and buildings most commonly found in medinas. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45325937209737f422a3f_image-asset%2B(1).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453262c8617ebeb5365cf_image-asset.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45326f38b8e1f8d545dfb_Minaret_de_la_grande_mosqu%C3%A9e_de_testour_3.jpg) ### *Roman architecture* Perhaps the most impressive is El Jem, considered to be the largest Colosseum outside of Italy. Despite the passage of numerous Muslim Empires, Roman structures have survived, another example of their persistence being the Roman pools in Gafsa. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45336937209593e4233e1_image-asset%2B(2).jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453361640c60ddd6e750c_Roman_Pool_in_Gafsa-2.jpg) --- --- title: "Moroccan Embroidery: Heritage Through Textile" description: "From tablecloths to haute-couture kaftans, Moroccan embroidery is an art found in every home in the kingdom. Its history, motifs and living know-how." url: https://moorishtimes.com/en/articles/moroccan-embroidery language: en translation: https://moorishtimes.com/articles/broderie-marocaine type: article category: cult published: 2020-09-27T16:30:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T13:33:03.904Z tags: ["Craftsmanship", "Caftan"] image: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ee630423ae74df9d67cf_Beaut%C3%A9%20Orientale.jpg publisher: The Moorish Times --- # Moroccan Embroidery: Heritage Through Textile *From tablecloths to haute-couture kaftans, Moroccan embroidery is an art found in every home in the kingdom. Its history, motifs and living know-how.* ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60e6ee630423ae74df9d67cf_Beaut%C3%A9%20Orientale.jpg) Moroccan embroidery is an art form found in every home in the kingdom, regardless of status. The embroidery itself decorates a wide range of items, from tablecloths to high fashion apparel such as the Moroccan Kaftan and the Jellaba. Throughout the history of the kingdom, each ancient city or imperial metropolis developed its own style, hence the names of each bearing their respective city names. The distinction between the embroidery style of each region can be seen through the use of different patterns and colors. There are two main techniques used in Morocco, the first of which is called sewn embroidery or “Tarz el-Ghorza” which consists of counting the threads of the fabric used for embroidery. The styles of Fez, Meknes, Sale, Azemmour, and Chefchaouen can all be attributed to this particular technique. On the other hand, the drawn pattern technique involves using fabrics with a pre-drawn pattern and then filling it with tightly packed threads. This technique is used in embroidery in Rabat, Tetouan as well as other gold threads using styles. ### *Embroidery of Tetouan* The history of embroidery in the northern city goes hand in hand with its own. After the Reconquista, Muslim and Jewish Andalusians who settled permanently in Tetouan contributed to its embroidery developing a unique style. The style found in Tetouan is also known as Taajira. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453d0f8b9756082e185b3_Beaut%C3%A9%2BOrientale%2C%2BJean%2BFran%C3%A7ois%2BPortaels.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453d0f8b975a3cfe18602_Broderie%2BMarocaine%2BT%C3%A9touan.png) ### *Embroidery of Fez* The embroidery found in Fez is a testimony to Morocco’s millenary heritage, as it was born in the kingdom’s first imperial city. For centuries to come, Fez remained the cultural heart of Morocco, with a few factors contributing to this being its rapidly growing population, home to the world’s first university and of course, remaining an integral part of every Moroccan dynasty that owned it. Its style is characterized by an emphasis on smaller details and patterns, often in polygonal forms. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453dd59f0ac3184c26ba4_EiDmNV7WkAkS6eb.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453ddf38b8e3ed4551e0d_EiDmP-rXsAAUHJe.jpg) ### *Embroidery of Azemmour* Azemmour’s style, also called “Tarz Zemmouri”, is often based on cotton-based canvases. Craftsmen often adorn fabrics no larger than 2 meters with animal or creature designs, with blue and red being the preferred colors. The finished product is often a household item, such as a curtain or a pillowcase. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453e6937209446d42be3c_EiDmQ-5WoAUUaoN.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453e633e6cd11b13d8dac_EiDmRRFXYAE_7yi.jpg) ### *Embroiedery of Meknes* At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish the style of Meknes from that of its imperial older sister, Fez. Although their embroidery techniques are similar, Meknes maintains an Amazigh touch despite the Fassi influence, which is evident in the mixing and matching of colors to highlight patterns drawn in black or dark red. The result is pleasant but simplistic embroidery that is often used as tablecloths, napkins, or even scarves. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453f2021960592cdb0bc2_3580fab11952b097d9692312b4a74b95.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453f2532ca0a34bbe969b_img_3404.jpg) ### *Embroidery of Rabat* While the old style of Rabat could be defined as monochrome and minimalistic, the new style does not shy away from using vibrant colors and coupling them with liberal patterns. Tarz Rbati is preferably worked on silk, brushed cotton or transparent chiffon. The patterns are very varied and often represent bouquets of flowers and similar designs. Its scope is also wider, as it can be found not only in small household items such as sofa pillowcases, but also on large canvases such as kaftans, etc. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453fbe5b4215026c932e0_EiDmSzHWAAgohjp.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d453fb937209324442d32b_EiDmU4SWAAAYl6k.jpg) ### *Embroidery of Sale* Although very similar to Rabat, Sale’s embroidery style is very different in terms of look. Like its neighboring town, Sale has an old (first image below) and new style. The ancient Slaoui style is differentiated by the use of unique colors on blank canvases, usually sewn dark blue or carmine red, the results of which often resemble a floral pattern although in a less liberal geometric style. Sale’s new style imposes no restrictions on colors, often combining colors to create similar geometric patterns with the addition of an additional design, such as a palm, a symbol of protection against the evil eye. ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45406e5b42164a5c9414f_386aa1852d71254cc6f8dee82589f723.jpg) ![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/603218b0b7c47a73660d49b8/60d45406df5519ce18c27a8e_EiDmVp3WoAA00BU.jpg)