Friday, March 5, 2021

Nation

News Roundup: New COVID-19 cases; Prayers amid crisis; Aid from the EU

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Photo credit: Morocco World News. 

March 31, 2020.

Three stories you need to read today. Compiled and broken down for you by Reporting Morocco student journalists — every day. Brought to you from the School for International Training’s journalism program, Rabat.

Morocco Confirms 18 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Stands at 534

Source: Morocco World News

Lede: Morocco’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 18 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 534 as of 6 p.m. on March 30.

The ministry also reported that seven COVID-19 patients have died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths related to the epidemic in Morocco to 33.

News Roundup: Police Violence Video in Western Sahara; Nawal Benaissa Speaks in Amsterdam; Morocco Withdraws Ambassador to UAE

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Photo Credit: Reuters.

March 23, 2020.

Three stories you need to read today. Compiled and broken down for you by Reporting Morocco student journalists — every day. Brought to you from the School for International Training’s journalism program, Rabat.

Video contradicts Morocco’s justification of a brutal beating in Western Sahara

Source: The Washington Post

Lede/Introduction: The Fact Checker video team launched a three-part miniseries focused on stories from around the world where information online affected communities and people in real life.

Our final installment brings us to the disputed African territory of Western Sahara, where a video contradicts the Moroccan government’s justification for a brutal beating of two men.

News Roundup: Coronavirus; Cannabis; Virginity testing

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Photo credit: AFP. 

March 3, 2020.

Three stories you need to read today. Compiled and broken down for you by Reporting Morocco student journalists — every day. Brought to you from the School for International Training’s journalism program, Rabat.

Morocco declares first case of coronavirus

Source: Middle East Eye

Lede: Morocco has reported its first case of coronavirus as the illness continues to spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

The health ministry said the virus had been detected in a Moroccan man living in Italy who had returned to his home country.

News Roundup: Algerian Minister Condemns Moroccan Comments; Morocco Aids Military Exercise; King’s Migration Leadership Commended

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Moroccan soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Infantry Paratroopers in Senegal for Flintlock 2020.

Photo Credit: MA Defenses

March 2, 2020

Algerian Foreign Minister condemns Moroccan comments

Source: Middle East Monitor

Lede: Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum said that his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, had made “showcasing actions that often amounted to provocation and insult.”

Key Background: “Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita had strongly attacked Algeria, against the backdrop of its stance towards African countries’ opening of consulates in Laayoune city, which the Polisario Front considers the capital of Western Sahara.”

“Boukadoum added in a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, on Saturday in the Algerian capital that Algeria ‘does not build its relations with insults.’ ”

Why this is newsworthy: This event is newsworthy because it illustrates conflict between Morocco and Algeria.

News Roundup: Spanish Lawyer Expelled; Laayoune to Host Forum; Moroccan Artist Blurs the Lines

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Photo Credit: Meriem Bennani

February 27, 2020

Three stories you need to read today. Compiled and broken down for you by Reporting Morocco student journalists — every day. Brought to you from the School for International Training’s journalism program, Rabat.

Laayoune: The Moroccan authorities expel a Spanish lawyer

Source: Yabilaadi

Lede: The Moroccan authorities prevented on Tuesday a Spanish national from entering the city of Laayoune.

Key Background: The lawyer was prevented from leaving the plane after she landed in Laayoune via a flight from Casablanca. She was planning to attend the trial of a Sahrawi who is accused of offending a police officer and setting a car on fire.

News Roundup: Court Supports Deportations; Amnesty International Weighs In; Rabat Claims Culture Capital Title

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Photo credit: AP Photo/Jesus Merida.

European court backs Spain on express migrant deportations Source: AP News. Lede: The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday backed Spain’s express deportation of two African migrants back to Morocco from a Spanish enclave in northwest Africa as part of a mass expulsion. Key Background: The two men, along with several dozen others, crossed the high three border wire fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in August 2014. They were caught by Spanish police and immediately returned to Morocco. Why this is newsworthy: The article goes on to say that human rights organizations regularly criticize express deportations like this one.

News Roundup: 7.5 Tons of Cannabis Seized; A Non-Aggression Pact; A Meeting Between Development Model and Employers’ Association

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Photo Credit: DGSN (General Directorate of National Security)

7.5 Tons of Cannabis Seized in SW Morocco

Source: Morocco World News

Lead: The Judiciary Police of Guelmim, southern Morocco, have arrested eight individuals for their alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network. Police also seized more than 7.5 tons of cannabis resin.

Key Background: “The arrests took place on Tuesday, February 11, based on precise information provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), according to a press release from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).”

“Authorities seized the drugs from several warehouses in the rural commune of Taghjijt, about 80 kilometers east of Guelmim, and an all-terrain vehicle near the town of Assa, around 60 kilometers southeast of Guelmim.”

Why this is newsworthy: This event is newsworthy because of its significance.

News Roundup: Egypt’s Proposal Rejected; Environmentalism Awarded; Migrants Missing At Sea

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Morocco turns down Egypt’s proposal of «unified African Force»

Source: Yabilaadi

Lede: Morocco has rejected a proposal made by Egypt to create an African Force to fight terrorism in the continent.

Key Background: “A vision within which African forces operate together is preferable than forming a unified African military force,” wrote Middle East Monitor, quoting Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita.

Bourita said that “Morocco is one of the oldest African countries to participate in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, including the first-ever operation in 1960.”

Why this is newsworthy: This development is a small piece of the continually unfolding conversation around peace in North Africa.

News Round-up: Moroccans against Trump’s “Peace Plan”; Contracted Teacher Strike; New Highway Underway

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An estimated 10,000 Moroccans marched down Rabat’s city center to demonstrate support for Palestine and strong opposition of Donald Trump’s proposed “Peace Plan”.

Lede: The Moroccan government and its citizens have established a clear stance opposing the U.S. proposed “Peace Plan” for Palestine and Israel.

Key Background: Spearheaded by Jared Kushner, the Trump Administrations “Deal of the Century” has been opposed by Palestinian leaders and their Moroccan allies. The deal, which would recognize Palestine as an independent state, comes with many restrictions that some argue heavily favor the Israeli state. The two most prevalent being the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the legal recognition of Israeli settlements in the West Bank under international law.

News Round-Up: Western Sahara Exports; Call for Repatriation of Families; Northern Dam Proposal

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Photo Credit DR/Yabilada

EU: Exports from Western Sahara Remain Under Morocco Umbrella

Morocco World News

Lede: The European Union (EU) has denied rumors that it will ban Morocco from exporting products from the southern region of Western Sahara to European states.

Key Background: The union will apply the same standards to all imports into the European market from all countries and territories, including Morocco’s Western Sahara.

Why this is newsworthy: The question of how products exported from the Western Sahara will be labeled has been a recent point of focus. This latest statement by the EU reaffirms not only Moroccan sovereignty over Western Saharan exports, but also over the territory itself.

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