FOCUS ON
MOROCCO
Click here to sign up for free weekly email
Email recaps are sent every Thursdays.
Sign up today
The disastrous confinement of the poor and the mediocrity of Maghreb regimes
March 25, 2020 (By Sophie Pons) - In Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, workers in informal jobs fear not only the novel coronavirus, but how they will survive emergency measures that have cut off their livelihoods. "We are stuck at home, with no work and no pay," said...
Education: Studying from home amid Covid-19
Tripoli, March 24, 2020 - By Rim Tahar - Either on television as in Libya or on tablets in the IT-savvy Gulf monarchies, in the time of novel coronavirus millions of schoolchildren around the Arab world are now learning lessons at home. Governments across the region...
Covid-19: Morocco deploys troops on the streets
Rabat, March 22, 2020 - Groups of Moroccans went out to pray and to protest in the streets at the weekend, defying orders to stay at home to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Images shared on social networks and broadcast by local media showed people...
Editorial: 2020, the exceptional year
Editorial by Arezki Daoud: It’s official, Covid-19 is now North Africa’s biggest problem, just as it is for the entire world. In recent times, we have heard of, but from afar, diseases such as the Ebola virus in West Africa, the plague epidemic in Madagascar, and...
Despite global health crisis, Arab regimes continue to repress
March 18, 2020 - Egyptian police arrested four prominent women dissidents Wednesday after they demanded the release of prisoners for fear of a coronavirus outbreaks in jails, their families said. The four activists and academics -- sisters Mona, Laila and Ahdaf...
Morocco: Journalist gets prison sentence for criticizing judge in a tweet
Rabat, March 17, 2020- Moroccan journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi said Tuesday he had been handed a four-month suspended sentence for criticising a judge in a tweet. A court in the Casablanca district of Ain Sebaa also ordered Radi to pay a fine of 500...
Morocco arrests Salafist preacher for publicly opposing anti-coronavirus measures
The Moroccan authorities arrested Salafist Preacher Abou Naim for publicly opposing anti-coronavirus measures enacted by the government of Morocco, including the closure of mosques. The prosecution stated that he “inciting hatred and violence” as a charge against...
Morocco: Second death and 10 more tested positive for Covid-19
A 75-year-old man, who tested positive to Covid-19, died on Tuesday, 17 March in Salé, Morocco, bringing the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in Morocco to two. The first person was an 89-year-old woman who died exactly a week earlier. Also, a new...
UAE and Morocco in diplomatic freeze (§)
To the amazement of the Moroccan monarchy, the United Arab Emirates has had no ambassador in Rabat for more than a year, causing a sharp stiffening of the Moroccan position vis-à-vis the UAE, recalling their ambassador in Abu Dhabi. Relations are traditionally...
Several Muslim countries close mosques, conservatives push back
Several Muslim countries have decided to close their mosques and ban collective prayers to protect their populations from COVID-19. Tunisia issued the mandatory suspension of prayers on 15 March as it closed cafes and banned all cultural, sporting and economic...
Authorities seek to appease population on food supply amid virus containment phase
Just as in many countries, North Africans have been flocking to their neighborhood markets, increasing their shopping in anticipation of a long Covid-19 confinement period. So far, the governments have not been so effecting in communicating their approach. There is...
Morocco-March 16: Morocco shuts down public places
Morocco-16 March: Government Minister tested positive for Covid-19
European tourists find their way back home after getting stranded in Morocco
Rabat, March 15, 2020 - Several special flights departed Morocco Sunday taking thousands of stranded Europeans home as the kingdom announced it was suspending all regular air traffic due to the coronavirus, authorities and airports said. The situation at Marrakesh...
Morocco: Tourism in the time of Covid-19
Fnideq, Morocco, March 14, 2020 - Tourists were stranded in Morocco on Saturday after the kingdom announced strict border restrictions in response to the coronavirus, leaving travellers stuck at borders, ports and airports. "We are lost!" said David, an Italian...
Morocco suspends major travel links
MEA Risk Brief: In a drastic move aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus, Morocco announced the suspension of air and sea travel to and from France. Morocco already has seven confirmed cases of COVID-19, and one patient has already died. The Kingdom has...
North Africa coronavirus: 12 March 2020 update
Listen to the audio podcast above By Arezki Daoud: It is not total panic mode yet, but there is a feeling that the situation is bubbling up a bit more every day and could get out of control. Most of the pressure that has been building can be attributed to the hype...
Morocco: First coronavirus death in Casablanca
Rabat, March 10, 2020 - Morocco's health ministry said Tuesday the country had recorded its first death linked to the new coronavirus, an 89-year-old woman who suffered from chronic health problems. The woman, a Moroccan citizen who had been living in Italy, "suffered...
Morocco confirms first coronavirus case from Moroccan national residing in northern Italy
On Monday, 2 March, Morocco confirmed its coronavirus case. Health authorities said the patient is a Moroccan national who resides in Italy but went home to Morocco where he tested positive for Covid-19. The 39-year-old man arriving at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca...
Moroccans rally for democracy and better living conditions
Tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of Casablanca on Sunday, 23 February 2020, to renew their demand for democracy, dignity and economic equality. Protesters also carried placard and photos of pro-democracy militants who are currently in prison to...
Connect
You can find us on a few social media platforms. Feel free to connect with us there.