Belgium’s MR Party pushes for recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara  (Read more...)

Moroccan diplomats #20 : Driss Al Amraoui, the printing press and the «Parisiennes»

In 1860, Mohammed IV simultaneously sent two ambassadors to Paris and London in a fairly sensitive period in the history of Morocco. For the French capital, the Alaouite sultan chose Driss Ben Mohamed Ben Driss Al Amraoui, son of a famous poet, for a mission that would last only a few months. The ambassador, in his book «Touhfat al-Malik Al-Aziz bi Mamlakat Bariz» (Masterpiece to the beloved king in the kingdom of Paris), describes his amazement for the technological advances of

Swiss post-seismic mission : Understanding building damage from the Al Haouz earthquake

A Swiss reconnaissance mission, led by scientists and engineers from the Swiss Earthquake Society for Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (SGEB), was sent to Morocco following the September 2023 earthquake. The team inspected building damage, documented prevalent construction typologies, and analyzed building mechanisms in affected areas. Their findings aim to inform Switzerland’s risk mitigation strategies and contribute to international research on earthquake resilience in

Morocco’s citrus industry grapples with climate challenges

With over 1.5 million tons produced annually—including 500,000 tons for export—the citrus industry is a strategic pillar of Moroccan agriculture. It supports more than 13,000 rural families, generates 32 million workdays, and relies on a network of 50 packing stations and 4 juice factories. Between 2010 and 2016, the area under citrus cultivation expanded from 98,000 to 128,000 hectares, spurred by the Green Morocco Plan and public-private partnerships on Sodea lands. Production

Islamophobia in France : A deepening divide and its historical roots

In recent months, political and media debates in France have intensified around the term «Islamophobia». While the United Nations has adopted the term to describe racism based on religious affiliation with Islam, France remains divided on its use. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has repeatedly expressed his reservations, arguing that the term carries ideological undertones and overlooks the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and religious entryism. Some voices, including those

Moroccan diplomats #19 : Mohamed Al Ghassani and the lost manuscripts

In 1690, Sultan Moulay Ismail, and after regaining Tangier and Larache, sent his minister Mohamed Ben Abdelouahab Al Ghassani Al Andaloussi Al Fassi to Spain to settle two major issues. The diplomat had to exchange Muslim captives for a library that used to belong to the Saadi dynasty and which was seized by Spanish pirates in 1612. His diplomatic mission was described in his book «Rihlat Al-Wazir fi Iftikak al Asir» (The Journey of the Minister to Free Captives). Moulay Zidane's

Morocco’s 2025 festival season : Dates, headliners, and highlights

The festival season is kicking off in Morocco this mid-May and will run through the summer. With a diverse lineup of music genres ranging from pop and jazz to rap and traditional Gnaoua, the 2025 festival season offers something for every music lover. Whether you're a casual festival-goer, a music enthusiast, or a tourist planning your summer holiday around music festivals, this article is for you. Yabiladi will be listing some of the major festivals taking place this season, their locations,

Moroccan diplomats #18 : Ben Othman Al Meknassi, a historian, writer and ambassador

In 1779, Alaouite Sultan Moulay Mohammed Ben Abdallah, aka Mohammed III, sent Mohamed Ben Othman Al Meknassi to Spain. The diplomat had to negotiate the release of Muslim captives, held by King Carlos III. He was also tasked with concluding a peace and trade treaty with the Spaniards and end a severe diplomatic crisis that led to the kidnapping of another Moroccan ambassador. Successfully, Ben Othman helped Morocco sign the treaty of Aranjuez in May the 30th, 1780, and the Spanish-Moroccan

Demographic challenges will require France to welcome 310,000 immigrant workers annually

In 2022, France welcomed 331,000 immigrants. In sectors known for labor shortages, such as home care, construction, and cleaning, immigrants remain overrepresented. Foreign workers are also increasingly present in skilled professions, as seen in the medical sector, where one-fifth of practitioners hold degrees from abroad. A report released on Monday, May 12, by the think tank Terra Nova examines this trend in light of an aging population, declining birth rates, and the active/inactive

Spanish Supreme Court overturns wrongful conviction of a Moroccan exonerated after 15 years

In a long and complex case that has sparked widespread controversy, the Spanish Supreme Court on Monday, May 5, 2025, overturned a third conviction against Ahmed Tommouhi, a Moroccan citizen who spent 15 years in prison for rapes he did not commit. The ruling was based on biological evidence and the retraction of victim testimonies from earlier police line-ups, effectively nullifying a conviction that dated back to 1995. Case Details Ahmed Tommouhi arrived in Spain in 1988 and began working