Latest Moroccan News

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

March 2, 2020 By Harrison Daley

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: Morocco Upholds Sentence for YouTuber; Village hopes to draw ‘Game of Thrones’ fans; Ceuta and Melilla want an independent economic model.

February 19, 2020 By Nejra Kravic

Photo credit: TV5Monde

February 19, 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 Upholds Sentence for Moroccan YouTuber ‘Moul Kaskita’

Source: Morocco World News

Lede: A Moroccan court sentenced the YouTuber to four years in prison in December 2019 for disrespecting Moroccans, public institutions, and King Mohammed VI.

Key background: The YouTuber appealed the verdict of the First Instance Court in Settat in after a judge handed him a four-year prison sentence on December 26.

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

February 13, 2020 By Harrison Daley

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 of the Day: September 24, 2019

November 14, 2019 By Bella Staal

Video: French Montana Causes Stir With Latest Album Visuals

Lede: Moroccan rapper French Montana has announced he will release his latest album, simply titled “Montana,” next month. He also teased the album’s cover and released an album trailer, both of which have already caused a stir on social media.

Nut Graph: The trailer and cover portray French Montana surrounded by women in burkas, wearing contrasting high-heeled red thigh boots. As the rapper probably anticipated, the choice to show burka-wearing women in a suggestive light has already got people talking.

Why this is news worthy: The Moroccan-American rapper is well known and has recently been gaining popularity.

News of the Day: November 8th

November 8, 2019 By nkaelaw

by N’Kaela Webster Police at Casablanca Airport Arrest 2 Tunisian Women for Drug Trafficking

by Morocco World News

Lede: Morocco’s security services at the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca have arrested two Tunisian women in possession of nearly 12 kilograms of cannabis resin.

Nut Graf: The operation is part of Morocco’s strategy to combat drug trafficking and cross border crimes.

Why is this Newsworthy?: Drug trafficking is becoming a huge problem in all parts of the world. Morocco is one of the largest exporters of drugs to other countries nearby, but this is especially interesting because it is two women who were arrested.

News of the Day: October 14, 2019

October 14, 2019 By nkaelaw

by N’Kaela Webster Burkina Faso Mosque Attack: Death Toll Rises to 16 by Morocco World News

Lede: Gunmen attacked worshippers at the Grand Mosque in the northern village of Salmossi in Burkina Faso on Friday, October 11.

Nut Graf: The BBC said that many locals fled to the Malian border after the attack. Quoting the UN, the news outlet added that more than 250,000 people in Burkina Faso have been forced to flee their homes over the past three months.

The deadly attack against worshippers comes a few weeks after an ISIS attack against soldiers in August in the north eastern village of Koudougou.