Morocco's Boycott - Gains Support in Fez

The boycott campaign, launched last week, has been growing in its influence among Moroccan people, officials, and politicians concerned about the high prices of Sidi Ali (bottled water), Afriquia (gasoline) and Centrale Laitière (dairy products)

Morocco World News reports that Moroccan activist, professor, and head of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU) Nabila Mounib, has broken her silence on the media campaign aimed at spreading awareness among Moroccans about the high cost of certain products in the country. According to Mounib, people behind the campaign are “young people, who have a great political conscience and know what is happening in the country” and are looking forward to shifting the monopoly exercised by some companies.

Nabila Mounib

Mounib’s message followed statements by public officials, including Nabil Benabdellah, former Minister of Housing and Urban Policy and Secretary General of the Party of Progress and Socialism; and Nizar Baraka, President of the Social Economic and Environmental Council, former Minister of Economy and Finance, and head of the Istiqlal Party.

Both officials voiced their support for the campaign, describing it as a call for change.

Benabdellah also linked the campaign with the Jerada, Al Hoceima, and Zagora protests, which erupted in Morocco in 2016, 2017, and 2018, calling on the government to meet social demands of citizens.

Baraka has also commented on the campaign, calling on the government to listen to the message conveyed by the boycott, rather than looking for the people behind the campaign.

“The important thing is not to know who is behind the campaign, but rather to understand the message conveyed.”

Although the effected brands have not responded officially, it is reported by Moroccan newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, that Afriquia gas, owned by Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (and Forbes’s richest man in Morocco) Aziz Akhannouch, has lost MAD 15 million since the launch of the boycott on April 21.

According to the newspaper, the Afriquia gas stations, typically found alongside Marjane and Acima supermarkets across the country, lost between 25 and 45 percent of its daily revenue. In Nador, Afriquia gas station lost 47 percent of revenue, while in Casablanca, the company lost 39 percent.

On a much smaller scale it is interesting to note that grass roots support is growing. Small local shops are no longer stocking Centrale products and most people in the Fez Medina are aware of and support the boycott. According to Fatima Zahra, (26), the problem is an unjustified hike in prices just before Ramadan. "Nobody I know will buy from these big companies and hopefully they will listen to the people.

Morocco World News spoke to shoppers, shopkeepers, and grocery store workers alike to hear their thoughts on ongoing boycott.

Pointing to a row of Sidi Ali bottles, one Rabat shopkeeper stated: “This is all I have left of Sidi Ali bottles and they will remain here untouched…Everyone is boycotting and so am I,” he added. “We are all with the people.”

Another shopkeeper, was eager to discuss the subject:

“I’m boycotting the three of them [Sidi Ali, Centrale Laitière, Afriquia]. As you can see, there is not a bottle of Sidi Ali or Centrale Laitère in here…Yes, I have a car and I stopped frequenting Afriquia gas stations,” he said. “Now I can assure you that in just a few weeks time, 90 percent of Moroccans will have started to do the same.”

One woman walking with bags of groceries told MWN, “It’s because we remained silent for so long–they took advantage of us.”

Many guesthouse owners are offering alternative milk and bottled water to their guests and explaining the reason.

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Morocco's 20 Dirham Stamp Withdrawn

Anyone who has done business with the Moroccan bureaucracy has, for years, had to buy a 20 dirham stamp. At times these were difficult to find, and not on sale in the office a person was dealing with. Now, the Directorate General of Taxes has withdrawn the paper stamps, saying they are no longer needed for the completion of administrative formalities

It has finished the use of the famous 20 dirham stamp required for the accomplishment of certain administrative procedures.

In a statement issued this weekend, the Directorate General of Taxes announced that the stamps of 20 dirhams in paper form have been withdrawn from the sale in accordance with the new provisions introduced by the Finance Act 2018.

"Also, this mobile stamp is no longer required for the completion of administrative formalities," says the release of the DGI. Nevertheless, certain documents and documents remain subject to the payment of the duty of 20 dirhams, in the form of a stamp visa from the revenue of the DGI or by way of an electronic declaration.

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Small Girls Hurt in Fez House Collapse

The inhabitants of the woke up today to a tragedy next to their houses where an apartment building in the El Bourniat district of Bendabab in Fez collapsed on Sunday, January 21st

The family of four occupying the building included two little girls who were found in in serious condition and transported to the Hassan 2 hospital.

The prefectural services rushed on site and established a security perimeter around the collapsed building. They also proceeded to the evacuation of nearby houses pending the completion of architectural report, in the coming days to determine the causes of this tragedy and take security measures that are necessary to avoid the repetition of such an event.

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Rumours of Butane Price Increase Cause Concern

The main topic of discussion on the streets and in the cafes of the Fez Medina today was not the new year, but rather the price of bottled butane gas, which is said to be subject to a major price increase

The rumour on the street is that the price of a 12 kilogram refill will rise from around 40 Moroccan Dirhams to 120. This massive price increase is said to take place in the new year. If true, it is not good news for struggling Moroccan families who use butane for heating and cooking.

The overwhelming reaction has been a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Moroccan people won't stand for this," says Oumima (19), a Fez university student.

Morocco is a major importer of butane as its population uses more than two million mt per year - most of it in 12 kilogram bottles at present costing 42 dirhams - and almost all of it imported.

That was already the case before Samir's Mohammedia refinery, Morocco's only refinery, stopped production a couple of years ago.

While rumours rumbled over a possible price spike of gas cylinders, Lahcen Daoudi, the minister responsible for general affairs and governance, officially denies any increase, saying the information circulating on this subject is "unfounded".

The minister assured in a statement to saying  that "the government will continue to subsidise butane gas, sugar and flour through the compensation system, in order to protect the purchasing power of citizens."

The minister also described as "rumours" this information whose authors aim "to create a feeling of panic among citizens and social tension, and disrupt the action of the government."

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How Many Foreigners Live in Morocco?

According to an article in the Huffington Post, more than 84,000 foreigners reside in Morocco, or about 0.25% of the Moroccan population. The article quoted a note from Morocco's High Commissioner for Planning (HCP), published Monday, December 18, on the occasion of International Migrants Day

Based on the 2014 general census of population and housing, these figures should be revised upwards following the two massive migrant regularisation operations that occurred in 2014 and 2016.

According to the HCP, the foreign population in Morocco has increased significantly compared to 2004. More than 32,500 foreigners have settled in the Moroccan territory, an overall increase of 63.3% in ten years. In all, out of 33.8 million inhabitants, the number of foreigners residing in Morocco has reached 84,001 inhabitants, or a proportion of 0.25% of the total Moroccan population.

The majority of foreigners residing in Morocco come from African countries (41.6%) - 64.5% from sub-Saharan countries and 31.9% from the Maghreb - and from European countries (40%). Among the most represented nationalities, the French are in the lead (25.4%), followed by Senegalese (7.2%), Algerians (6.8%) and Syrians (6.2%).

15.2% of foreigners come from Asian countries (82.8% from the Middle East) and 3.2% from other continents, the majority (76.9%) from American countries.

Most foreigners (more than 95%) live in urban areas, and almost two-thirds of foreigners are concentrated in six major cities in Morocco: Casablanca (28.6%) and Rabat (14.8%). ), Marrakech (8%), Tangier-Assilah (6.1%), Agadir-Ida-Ou-Tanane (4.4%) and Fez (4.2% or 3509).

A rather elderly and literate population

Foreigners residing in Morocco are, for a little more than half of them, married. There are slightly more men (56.5%) than women (43.5%). The foreign population is relatively older than the Moroccan population, notes the HCP. Thus, 17.8% are under 15 years against 28.2% for the Moroccan population. 66.5% are between 15 and 59 years old (compared to 62.4% of Moroccans) and 15.7% are 60 and over (compared to 9.4%).

Foreigners have a fairly high level of literacy: 95.1% of them are literate, 84% of foreigners aged 15 and over have at least secondary level, and 51% have the higher level. Nevertheless, not everyone works: 41.3% are employed, 52% are inactive, and 6.4% are unemployed. More than half of the employed are employed in the private sector, just over 20% are self-employed, and 11.6% are employers.

Nearly one out of two households with at least one foreigner is mixed. 73.1% of the heads of these households are of foreign nationality, against 26.9% of Moroccan nationality. The average household size is 3.2 people. Finally, more than one in three foreign households own their homes. Foreigners live for the majority (47.8%) in apartments, 25.1% in modern Moroccan houses, and 20.3% in villas.

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Moroccan News Briefs #138

Morocco Sends A Message to Trump

Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ( DFAIT) has expressed its deep concern and strong condemnation of the US decision to recognise Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel and to transfer its embassy to this holy city.

Such an initiative is in flagrant contradiction with international legality and more particularly with the two resolutions 2253 and 2254 of 1967 of the United Nations General Assembly, as well as with the conventions concluded and the agreements between the two parties, Palestinian and Israel, the ministry said in a statement. 

Morocco, whose HM King Mohammed VI chairs the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), insists on the need to preserve the historical, legal and political status of Al-Quds and calls upon the United Nations, including the permanent members of the Security Council, to fully assume their responsibilities in order to avoid anything that might undermine that status or undermine international efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, has sent a message to the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The translation is as follows:

I am pleased to address you today as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 States representing more than one billion citizens.
I would like to express to Your Excellency my deep personal concern and the great concern felt by the Arab and Muslim States and peoples, following the recurrent information on the intention of your administration to recognize Al-Quds as the capital of Israel and to transfer the embassy of the United States.
As you are aware, Excellency, the extreme importance of the city of Al-Quds not only for the parties to the conflict, but also for the faithful of the three celestial religions.
Due to its unique religious specificities, its age-old historical identity and its great political symbolism, the city of Al-Quds must remain a land of cohabitation and a symbol of coexistence and tolerance for all.
Since your inauguration, you have demonstrated a strong will and determination to restart the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and have taken promising steps in this direction, having enjoyed the continued support of the international community, including including the Kingdom of Morocco.
The current step is likely to negatively impact the prospects of a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, knowing that the United States of America is one of the main sponsors of the peace process and enjoys the confidence of all parties.
In accordance with relevant international resolutions, including particularly Security Council resolutions, Al-Quds is at the heart of final status issues, which requires maintaining its legal status and avoiding anything that is likely to undermining its current political status.
Excellency, Mr. President,
The Middle East lives in the midst of deep crises, continuous tension and peril that need to avoid anything that may exacerbate the feelings of frustration and disappointment that are the bedrock of extremism and terrorism. to undermine precarious stability in the region and to diminish the hope that fruitful talks will be able to materialise the international community's vision of a two-state solution.
The Kingdom of Morocco, constantly striving for a just and comprehensive peace in the region in accordance with the principles of legality and the international resolutions related thereto, does not doubt the insight of the vision of your respectable administration, nor of your personal commitment peace and stability in the region and your firm determination to facilitate the relaunch of the peace process and avoid anything that may hinder or even stop it.

U.S. Mission in Morocco Issues Security Message for U.S. Citizens

The recent announcement that the United States recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and plans to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem may spark protests, some of which have the potential to become violent. U. S Mission Morocco reminds U.S. citizens of the need for caution and awareness of personal security.

Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news for updates. Maintain a high-level of vigilance, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security and follow instructions of local authorities. Avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.

Taxi Strike in Fez

A showdown continues between taxi drivers and the authorities of the city of Fez. On strike since yesterday, the drivers of the red taxis have paralysed the traffic for the second successive day. They demand a responsible dialogue with the local authorities. They decided to ban traffic in Allal Benabdallah Avenue. This created a great inconvenience for the motorists and the inhabitants of the avenue.

For their part, taxi drivers are demanding a immediate fight against illegal transport.

A total of nearly 500 taxi drivers have joined the struggle and announced an indefinite strike.

A Plan to Plant 800,000 Trees

As part of the fight against desertification and soil erosion, a partnership agreement has been signed between the High Commissioner for Water and Forests and Rotary Club for the planting of 800,000 trees nationwide.

On Tuesday, the High Commission for Water and Forests and the Fight Against Desertification (HCEFLCD) and the Rotary Clubs of Morocco signed a partnership agreement for the planting of 800,000 trees at the national level.

Under this agreement, the HCEFLCD undertakes to ensure the supply of seedlings for the benefit of the Rotary Clubs, (10,000 trees in 2017 and 790,000 in 2018), to guarantee the technical supervision and monitoring of the plantation and to provide technical support for environmental education programs.

As for the Rotary Club, it is obliged to define through the Rotary Clubs of the Kingdom and in collaboration with the Regional Offices of the High Commission, the places of plantations and to communicate to the HCEFLCD the program of afforestation by region and by province.

Rotary will also take care of all the work and expenses related to the planting work (soil preparation, planting, watering and maintenance during the planting season) including the transportation of the seedlings from the nursery to the planting sites.

Rotary in Morocco has about fifty clubs present in all regions of the kingdom, which sponsor and carry out every year dozens of humanitarian actions. Morocco enjoys a great reputation within Rotary International, since Morocco had the privilege of organising the first summit of African Rotarians from 27 to 29 March 2018 in Marrakech, under the High patronage of HM King Mohammed VI.

The official launch of the planting operation is scheduled for 6 December at the Bir Lahmar perimeter (Maamora Forest, rural commune Ameur).

Morocco - Crime and Security Update

Security: Police resolved more than 92% of cases until September

The number of persons brought before the courts has reached 402,384

The rate of crimes affecting the sense of security has dropped significantly over the last 4 years and Morocco has emerged as one of the safest countries in the world and the crime rate in its various forms in Morocco is one of the lowest in the world, with only 21 cases for every 1,000 citizens per year.

The Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior, Noureddine Boutayeb, who was responding to a question in the House of Representatives on the security situation in Morocco, said that this rate has generally stabilised over the past three years. He added that the rate of crimes that affect the feeling of security has dropped significantly over the last 4 years. "The national security services have resolved in 2017, until September, some 378,974 out of the 420,664 cases registered, a rate of 92.33%, one of the best at the international level, " he said and announced that the number of people brought before the courts has reached 402,384.

The Minister referred to the record of the fight against the networks of illegal immigration, drug trafficking and cross-border organised crime. The Kingdom, because of its strategic geographical position, is more and more confronted with this kind of crime. Data provided by the number two Ministry of the Interior report more than 50,000 attempted smuggling to Europe failed. According to the same source, the security services dismantled 73 criminal networks engaged in human trafficking, adding that convincing results have been achieved in the fight against drugs with the seizure, during this year, of more 71 tons of chira and more than 2 and a half tons of cocaine.

Mr. Boutayeb highlighted the excellent results achieved jointly by the security and territorial services through the "provincial security units". Those who work under the supervision of walis and governors illustrate, according to the same source, "the efforts made to strengthen the feeling of security among citizens and their confidence in the security approach adopted".

Security Capacity Development: A Priority

The Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior has said that the consolidation of the security situation is the subject of the constant high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which ensures that the Kingdom remains at the top of stable countries, noting that the government puts the development of security capabilities, human and material, at the heart of its program and spares no effort to achieve it.

The Ministry of the Interior and the security services make this subject a priority through the adoption of a precise security strategy and multi-dimensional action plans constantly updated to meet the needs and requirements of the field, the evolution of crime and changes in the regional and international situation.

It is through this strategy that the Moroccan experience has achieved positive results that have helped to support the Kingdom's development and make it a reference in terms of stability and security and a model in the way of dealing with terrorist threats, said the minister delegate.

The Moroccan experience as an international model

Morocco's strategy in its fight against drug trafficking was widely discussed in Moscow on Monday at the international conference "Parliamentarians Against Drugs" held in the Duma (lower house of the Russian Parliament).

Representatives of the Moroccan delegation have indicated that Morocco has ratified three UN conventions on the fight against drug trafficking, highlighting the efforts of the Kingdom at the regional and international levels with the key to the dismantling of many networks of drug traffickers. narcotics.

The same source also added the emphasis of the vigilance of the Moroccan authorities at the borders to prevent the trafficking of psychotropic drugs and all other drugs, noting that Morocco does not only rely on the security approach but also promotes a process social and awareness-raising, especially for young people, the first victims of these prohibited substances.

Cold Weather Continues

Here are the weather forecasts for the day of Thursday, December 7, 2017 and the following night, prepared by the National Meteorological Directorate:

- Cold weather on landforms and plateaus and generally cool on the rest of the country.

- Stable weather with clear to slightly cloudy sky over the whole country.

- Night and morning frost on the reliefs and plateaus.

- Moderate to fairly strong east sector wind over southern and Tangier provinces and east to east variable to elsewhere.

- Minimum temperatures in the order of -07 to -01 ° C on the eastern hills and plateaus, from 00 to 05 ° C on the north of the Oriental, the plateaux of phosphates and Oulmes, the South east, the Saiss and the interior of Gharb and Chaouia, from 04 to 09 ° C on the Atlantic plains north and center, Doukkala, Abda, Chiadma, Tensift and Souss and 10 to 15 ° C on the Tangerois and the south of the country.

- Maximum temperatures of the order of 07 to 12 ° C on the reliefs and the Eastern highlands, from 12 to 17 ° C on the North of the Oriental, the South-East and on the Mediterranean coast, from 17 to 22 ° C on the Saiss, Gharb, Doukkala, Abda, Tadla, Rhamna, Tensift Souss and northern southern provinces and 23-28 ° C in the extreme south of the country.

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Upcoming Administrative Reforms

Ask almost any Moroccan what it is that annoys them most about their country and most will reply, "the bureaucracy". Having copies of documents validated is often a time consuming event. However, the government has announced that it is about to change.

The government says that the forthcoming introduction of a new decree will give the power to every public administration to legalise and verify the authenticity of the documentation the spot. The measure, they say, aims to spare citizens from the obstacles associated with the present cumbersome administrative procedure.

Minister for the Reform of the Administration and Public Service, Mr. Mohammed Benabdelkader, has envisaged a number major reforms including the suppression of the requirement of legalisation of signatures and certified copies in the offices of local authorities. This measure will not negate the powers of local and regional authorities to provide this service.

The current procedure requires citizens to visit different legalisation units. Now, each administration will appoint a head of department who will entrust officials with certifying the veracity of the signatures. These officials will be responsible for verifying the authenticity of any document by affixing tan authentication stamp.

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Moroccan News Briefs #137

Morocco Does the Right Thing By Qatar

According to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, King Mohammed VI has ordered that food be sent to Qatar. Morocco joins Turkey, Oman and Iran in assisting Qatar avoid the Saudi led blockade.

Morocco's decision is “in line with the teachings of our religion especially during the month of Ramadan where requites solidarity between Muslim people,” explained the communiqué. The King’s order to send goods to Qatar followed Morocco’s offer on Sunday to mediate between Qatar and other Gulf countries, which severed ties with Doha last week.

The Ministry stressed that the decision to send food “had nothing to do with the political aspects of the current crisis between Qatar and other sister states,” noting that Morocco’s position vis-à-vis the issue had been fully detailed in a communiqué on Sunday.

Morocco joins Turkey, Oman and Iran in assisting Qatar

Sunday’s communiqué stated that because there are “strong personal ties of sincere fraternity and mutual consideration between King Mohammed VI […] and His brother Kings and Emirs of the Gulf countries, the Kingdom of Morocco has been careful not to pay into public statements and hasty statements which only reinforce discord and deepen differences.”

It added that the Kingdom of Morocco is “ready to offer its good offices with a view to promote a frank and comprehensive dialogue on the basis of no-interference in internal affairs and the fight against religious extremism.”

Morocco’s commitment to end the crisis between the Gulf crisis highlights the strong ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the countries of the region. Relations between Morocco and Qatar have witnessed a steady improvement in recent years. This improvement was reflected in the number of investments Qatar has launched in Morocco.

The latest investment was announced last February when the Qatari government announced its decision to invest $150 million in building a dam project in the province of Guelmim in southern Morocco. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

As recently as March 26, 2017, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, welcomed the then Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Salaheddine Mezouar, who delivered to him a verbal message from King Mohammed VI.

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and the Qatar Blockade

Morocco’s flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, said that it will maintain its five weekly flights to Doha although it cancelled flights transiting through Doha Airport to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

In this context, Royal Air Maroc explained in a statement that “it will continue serving its customers connection flights in Doha in partnership with Qatar Airways with the exception of four countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt.”

The Moroccan airline requested its customers who bought tickets to the four cancelled destinations to contact the company’s call centre to get further information.

Morocco opted for neutrality in the Gulf crisis involving Qatar. So far 7 Arab countries severed ties with Doha-Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Yemen and Mauritania- over accusations of supporting terrorism and sidelining with Iran.

“Morocco is closely following the unfolding of events in the Gulf countries and the Moroccan diplomacy, known for restraint and wisdom, is in contact with all countries to understand what happened,” Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita told the local press.

Despite geographic distance, Morocco maintains strong ties with GCC countries, notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In April 2016, a GCC-Morocco summit stressed the importance of the strategic partnership binding the two parties.

Eid Al Fitr

Moroccans can expect to welcome Eid Al Fitr on Monday, June 26, breaking the fast on the 30th day of Ramadan. according to the astrological predictions of Rabat Society of Astronomy.

The president of Rabat’s Society of Astronomy, Abdel-Hafiz Bani, says that its astronomers are expecting the date of Eid al-Fitr to be on the sunset of the twenty-ninth day of the Hijri month.

France 24 Banned in Morocco?

According to some sources Moroccan authorities have prohibited the activities of the media channel France 24 in Morocco.

The ban would have been formulated verbally on Sunday, by the Ministry of Communication to the company that produces the broadcasts of the channel in Morocco.

The reason: the Moroccan authorities point the finger "a partial and non-objective coverage of the events of the Rif, the dissemination of unverified information".

Meanwhile, the channel's management has still not received official confirmation of the ban, which comes just 24 hours before the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, scheduled for 14 and 15 June in Rabat.

Meanwhile, in the Rif

Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit made a “surprise” visit to Al Hoceima on Monday for the second time in a month.

Laftit has been accompanied by a ministerial delegation comprising of Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water, Abdelkader Aamara, his Secretary of State, Charafat Afilal and the General Director of the National Office of Water and Electricity, Ali Fassi Fihri.

On his visit, Laftit will meet with the president of the regional council for Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Ilyas El Omari, and the region’s Wali, Mohamed Yaakoubi.

An unnamed source stated that officials are expected to be informed on the development of projects in the region, especially those regarding sustainable development, like the Menarat Al-Mutawasat project in the Al Hoceima area.

Charafat Afilal visited the region with the General Director of the National Office of Drinking Water in order to propose a solution to the city’s water shortages, which are particularly rife during summer.

Laftit’s visit comes a day after thousands took part in a mass march in Rabat in solidarity with Rif protesters.

Protesters in downtown Rabat on Sunday

The October 2016 death of fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri, who was fatally crushed to death in a trash compactor, sparked eight months of protests in the Al Houceima in northern Morocco. These demonstrations have intensified in recent weeks due to the arrest of the movement’s leader Nasser Zafzafi and detention of at least 85 other activists.

In a bid to halt these demonstrations and respond to the socioeconomic demands of protesters, the Moroccan government announced on May 23 a plan to invest MAD 10 billion in the region.

French President to Visit

French President Emmanuel Macron will pay an official visit to Morocco on June 14-15, the Elysée announced.

The visit to Morocco will be the first for the French President to the Maghreb after his election last May. This first visit to Morocco and to the Maghreb by President Macron, who will be accompanied by his wife Brigitte, “will strengthen the relations and the ties between our two countries”, the Elysée added.

The visit will add momentum to the excellent partnership between Morocco and France. During his stay in Morocco, the French President will hold talks with King Mohammed VI on issues of mutual concern, notably the situation in the Maghreb, the Sahel and the Middle East.

President Macron will also meet the Head of Government and the Speakers of the two chambers of the Parliament.

The French President is expected to give a press conference on June 15 at the end of his visit to Morocco.

The fact that President Macron chose Morocco for his first trip in the region mirrors the excellent political, economic, and cultural ties binding the two countries and evidences the continuity marking French-Moroccan partnership.

It also fulfills some of the electoral promises made by Emmanuel Macron who ambitions to foster further his country’s relations with the Maghreb and with Africa that he described in an interview during his presidential campaign as “the continent of the future”, which witnessed “unprecedented transformation” and “steady growth since 2000”. And precisely, in Morocco, seen in France as a showcase of successful Africa, President Macron and his team would not find it difficult to find partners for economic initiatives in West Africa or political initiatives in the Sahel region.

Mirroring the excellence of political relations between the two countries, bilateral economic ties have also been bolstered in recent years. In 2015, 17% of France’s foreign direct investments, i.e. €484 million of the total net foreign direct investment were received by Morocco, mainly in industry.

With some 750 subsidiaries of French companies, Morocco is the leading destination of French investment on the African continent.

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Large Fire in Fez

More than 120 small market shops in the Ain Nokbi district of Fes were destroyed in a fire on Monday evening. According to official reports there were no casualties

It took more than four hours to control the fire whose causes have not yet been determined, the source said.

Emergency responders deployed about 140 firemen, four tank trucks and two pump-vans, to control the fire that began around 16:30 near a residential area.

An investigation was opened to determine the exact circumstances of the fire.

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The View From Fez - 4 Million Visitors!

On Monday, March the 20th, 2017, The View From Fez reached a milestone of 4 million visitors!

Since our first story back on October 24th 2005 The View From Fez has posted more than 5,200 stories about Fez and Morocco. Over that time we have had contributions from many talented photographers, writers, artists and journalists - to them: our thanks!

While our stories are read in over 100 countries, the top 10 contains only one surprise - the growing interest from Russia. Also growing in importance, though not yet in the top 10, is China, which provides a growing number of visitors.

Since we started analysing our numbers with Google Analytics, our 4 million visitors have contributed to more than 5,524,159 page views and around 30% are regular visitors. For those who enjoy statistics, 30% of our visitors are aged between 25 and 24, with 45% being female and 55% male.

All our posts are searchable, which has resulted in some pages being particularly popular. Top among them are: Moroccan Recipes (125,000 visits), Beginners Guide to Moroccan Carpets ( 116,000 visits) and Basic Facts about Morocco (66,000 visits).

One of the great pleasures of working on the blog is the interaction with local artisans and artists as well as having become a Media Partner with the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music as well as the Fes Festival of Amazigh Culture.

We would like to thank our sponsors who, year after year, have allowed The View From Fez to contribute to our local community through such things as paying for surgery for a young female burns victim, the Girls Home in Ziat and the Medina Children's Library. In addition we were able to take the Hamadcha Sufi Brotherhood to Australia for two major Festivals; Woodford and the Sydney Festival in 2015.

The Hamadcha performing in Australia

The View From Fez would not be possible without the hard work of photo-journalist, Suzanna Clarke, who not only contributes to the blog but also assists in answering the floods of emails!

Finally, a big thank you to our readers and our local community here in Fez.

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ALERT ~ Possible Pharmacy Strike Across Morocco

If you are in Morocco and depend on getting medication from a pharmacist, then stock up today as there is likely to be a nationwide pharmacy strike on Tuesday March 7th

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Moroccan Newspapers in English, French and Arabic

Newspapers in Morocco are primarily published in Arabic and French, and to a lesser extent in Amazigh (Berber), English, and Spanish.  Africa Liberal, a Spanish daily, was the first paper published in the country and was launched in 1820, followed by El Eco de Tetuán founded in 1860  also in Spanish. Al Maghrib was the first Arabic newspaper of the country and was established in 1886.  

The government of Morocco owns many key media outlets, including Moroccan radio and television, and the Moroccan press agency, Maghreb Arab Press.

Moroccans have access to approximately 2,000 domestic and foreign publications. Many of the major dailies and weeklies can now be accessed on their own Web sites. Morocco has 27 AM radio stations, 25 FM radio stations, 6 shortwave stations, and 11 television stations including the channels of the public SNRT, the mixed-ownership (half public-half private) 2M TV and the privately owned Medi 1 TV.

In 1999, the number of French language newspapers distributed in the country was 130,000 while it was 62,000 in 1981. As of 2013, 71% of the papers were published in Arabic and 27% in French.

Actualités Maroc (Oujda) [In Arabic]
Ahdath Maghribiya (Casablanca)
Al-Alam
Aljamaa
Aljarida24 (Casablanca)
Al Khabar (Marrakech)
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Morocco's Eid Al Istiqulal (Independence Day)

November 18th in Morocco is known as Eid Al Istiqulal (Independence Day), and honours the return of King Mohammed V to Morocco from exile in Madagascar. On this day the king proclaimed the freedom of Morocco from France and Spain who had colonised the country for 44 years

On November 18, 1956 Morocco gained its independence from France in what became known as the Revolution of the King and the People. France had claimed Morocco as a French protectorate since 1912.

In 1944, Moroccan nationalists formed an independence party seeking an end to colonialism, and became known as the Istiqlals. In response, the French government arrested all the leaders of the group. Following riots in Casablanca in 1952, Istiqlal was banned. King Mohammad V was exiled to Madagascar, and Ben Aarafa took over, but he was not well-liked by Moroccans.

King Mohammad V returns to Morocco 

Nationalists and supporters of King Mohammad V, angered by the French decision, began revolting on the streets in the form of an armed movement. This forced the French government to bring back King Mohammad V. The return of the king culminated into Morocco’s independence.

On November 18, 1955, King Mohammad V returned to Morocco and negotiated for his country’s freedom through reforms that would transform it into a constitutional monarchy. In 1956, France officially relinquished its protectorate and Morocco gained its independence.

The View From Fez congratulates Morocco on Eid Al Istiqulal

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Beyond Bizarre - An Attempt to Ban Reading Newspapers in Public

News that the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Editors (FMEJ) have called for the banning the free reading of newspapers in public spaces has been greeted with a mixture of derision and disbelief

What worries this very small group of editors is the fact that Moroccans share their newspapers. The FMEJ had previously presented a report to Mustapha El Khalfi, Morocco’s Minister of Communication, on the print media in Morocco. The media “has lost approximately $150 million per year due to the population’s access to newspapers that are left behind in public places,” the report said.

Even more astonishing than the Kafkaesque idea of banning reading a discarded newspaper in a coffee shop, is the fact that the Minister appears to have taken this surreal suggestion seriously. After a meeting with the FMEJ on May 24 the Ministry decided to ban the free reading of newspapers in public spaces.

“Newspaper editors are undergoing a crisis and we need to limit the damage. According to the FMEJ report, each newspaper copy is read by an average of five people,” Minister El Khalfi said in an interview with Huffington Post Maghreb.

Moroccans were gobsmacked and reaction on social media has been universally condemning of the idea. Many focused on the impossibility of enforcement.

"Will this mean creating a special uniformed Newspaper Police to arrest, detain 'illegal' readers and seize the offending newspapers - perhaps to be burned in the public square?"

Bringing a dose of reality to the debate the international auditing company KPMG reports that, “readers of written press constitute merely 1 percent of the Moroccan population.” This translates to no more than roughly 330,000 Moroccans out of a total population of about 33 million.

KPMG also explained that the problem is rooted in “various socio-economical factors including Morocco’s low literacy rate and the low and ineffective distribution of newspapers.”

According to a report carried by Morocco World News, the editors are asking for more money for carrying government advertising and for inclusion in negotiations scheduled with Google and Facebook concerning the alleged unfair position of the Moroccan online press in terms of online advertisements.

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Moroccan News Briefs #136

A round up of the latest news from around Morocco and links to all Fes Festival concert previews

Electrifying Rural Morocco

Masdar , Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, has installed 50 percent of the solar home systems as part of an innovative project to electrify rural Morocco. The installation of 9,000 out of 17,670 systems across 940 villages comes only a year after the partnership agreement was signed between Masdar and Morocco's Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau Potable (ONEE).

The project is expected to be fully completed by the second half of this year. All of the 290-watt solar home systems are designed, supplied and installed under a project that is being executed by the Masdar Special Projects team. Along with other local initiatives, the full installation will result in 99 percent of rural Morocco having energy access by the end of 2017.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, the Chief Executive Officer of Masdar , commented: "The Kingdom of Morocco is a mature market for utility-scale renewables, but the country has also made exceptional progress in electrifying rural areas. The UAE and Masdar are pleased that our partnership with ONEE is realising one of the largest and most innovative solar home installation projects, which is having a transformative impact on hard-to-reach communities throughout the country. This project advances the Global Goal of delivering sustainable energy for all, and is another remarkable achievement for Morocco as it prepares to host COP22 at the end of this year."

The solar home systems are bringing energy access to those rural areas that still lack access to the national grid. Each of the installed systems consists of 290-watt solar panels and batteries with sufficient storage capacity for three days, thus ensuring uninterrupted power supply. In addition, the systems include energy-efficient appliances such as LED lamps and a 165 litre refrigerator.

Director of Masdar Special Projects Khaled Ballaith said: "The uniqueness of our Special Projects unit lies in the team's ability to deliver customised renewable energy solutions to remote, rural communities, often under challenging conditions. The systems we designed for rural Morocco are adapted to the particular geography, and various technical elements, such as the mounting frames and three-day storage capacity, help the systems function even under snowfall."

The Ongoing VOIP War

The three main Moroccan telecom operators Maroc Telecom, Meditel and Inwi colluded in early January 2016 to ban “Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services of 3G and 4G mobile subscribers (Abisourour, 2016). This move dismayed their 44 million customers of one of the fastest growing markets in their region; in early 2015, Morocco’s mobile market approached 135% penetration (BuddComm, no date), which inevitably caught the attention of foreign investors in the telecom market.

Writing for the Diplo Internet Governance Community website, Hanane Boujemi says that not only does the recent decision to ban VOIP in Morocco limit the free flow of communication exchange, but it also affects consumer trust in the domestic telecom operators. Knowing the limited purchase capacity of the Moroccan consumer as minimum wage stands at USD288 (The Economist 2014), VOIP services catered for low-income households to communicate with their families abroad and locally. Over 4 million Moroccan immigrants (Al Andaloussi, 2014) rely on these services to maintain ties with their home country and it is now almost impossible for them to maintain regular contact since the cost of calls from and towards Morocco are still exorbitant.

Morocco’s digital natives made the Internet their platform to protest against this decision. Several Facebook campaign pages were created to condemn hindering. Consumers’ freedoms. Critics and rights groups slammed the absence of “rights approach” by the Moroccan government, which reinforces inherent rights such as access to information, freedom of expression, network neutrality and free flow of information. In reality, do consumer rights even matter in Morocco?

However, this is a struggle that the consumers may well win. In the last couple of months savvy users have turned to VPN (Virtual Private Networks) and found a safe way around the bans.

Moroccans have taken to using VPNs to avoid VOIP bans

Improving Tour Guides Services

A law in Morocco was implemented in February to improve the quality of the services provided by tour guides. Law 05-12 is also designed to regulate tour guide services and allow professionals in the business to benefit from better recognition in the travel and tourism industry of the kingdom.

That law aims to raise skill, training, and access for the profession . The law regulates diploma requirements, and is helping to structure requirements and activities for tour guides.

Special diplomas will be required for guides showing tourists around national parks and heritage areas. A special licenses will be issued for this. The Ministry of Tourism will soon announce the graduation of the first 20 specialty guides with such a license.

Guides to be trained in security, first aid and foreign languages

In October 2015, the Ministry of Tourism launched a pilot training program for city guides. Training was conducted at the International Higher Institute of Tangier. This job specific two year training program, will assure guides graduating are highly qualified.

Along with the initial training, the Ministry of Tourism will launch a training program for more than 2,800 authorised guides . This training program is now a mandatory requirement necessary for the renewal of licenses.

Such a mandatory education program will upgrade and strengthen the knowledge and skills of licensed guides in order to meet the expectations of international travellers. Tourists are increasingly demanding in terms of quality and safety .

The Ministry of Tourism will also conduct a professional examination for candidates with experience in this field and with certain skills. In order to pass such an exam subjects guides must be trained in security, first aid, accompanying techniques, and foreign languages.

These new regulations will assure visitors to Morocco and travel agents or tour operators selling Morocco, they are in good hands when hiring licensed local guides.

Police Bust Baby Trafficking Network

According to a story published this week in the Moroccan daily Assabah, the Moroccan authorities successfully busted a network operating between Morocco and France that specialised in infant trafficking.

According to the news source, the network is headed by a Moroccan woman who resides in France.

The investigation found that the woman was using intermediaries to contact poor pregnant women, to whom the head of the network offered huge sums of money to purchase the infants. The intermediaries received between 10000 dirhams to 20000 dirhams for every transaction ($1000 to $2000 dollars).

On the foreign market boys fetched higher prices than girls. Whereas in Morocco baby girls are much sought after due to their potential usefulness in domestic service.

The Moroccan authorities are currently investigating with the busted network to unveil more information about this case, Assabah said.

Currency Forgers Nabbed

The judicial police in Salé have arrested counterfeit currency specialists.

The daily newspaper, Al Akhbar reports that during the operation the police seized a high performance scanner. used to make 50, 100 and 200 dirham notes in very large quantities.

The counterfeiters had manufactured large sums that quickly ended up in the weekly souks (markets) on the periphery of  Salé and Temara.

One of the accused is reported to be an habitual criminal who had previously been convicted for manufacturing and trafficking of counterfeit notes. The duo will appear on Thursday before the public prosecutor in the district court of Salé.


Renault to Invest 10 Billion in Morocco

French carmaker Renault and component suppliers will invest 10 billion dirhams ($1.04 billion) in Morocco to build an "industry ecosystem", the country's industry minister said on Friday.
Renault's ecosystem and its new plants will raise Renault's local sourcing of components to 65 percent from 32 percent and are projected to generate 20 billion dirhams in revenues.

Renault already has two car plants in the kingdom. - a modern plant in Tangier producing cars and body pressings for export and another, older assembly plant in Casablanca.

The director of the company's Africa, Middle East and India region, Bernard Cambier, declined to give details but said that at least 15 component makers are committed to investing in the project.

Renault's Tangier car factory, the biggest in North Africa, required initial investment of 600 million euros ($683.70 million) and is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles in the coming years.

Morocco expects auto industry exports to reach 100 billion dirhams a year by 2020 as a result of PSA Peugeot Citroen's decision last year to build a 557 million euro factory in the country, slated to produce 200,000 vehicles a year.

The kingdom has attracted a number of big auto and aerospace investors in recent years, including Delphi, Bombardier and Eaton Corp.

Unlike many countries in the region, Morocco has managed to avoid a big drop in foreign investments in the wake of the global financial crisis and the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, partly by marketing itself as an export base for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Also in automotive news came the confirmation that Ford is moving into Morocco.

"Ford will start producing thirty new vehicle models by 2020 in African countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana and Kenya," said Jim Benintende, President Ford for the Middle East and Africa in a statement reported by Bloomberg.

When the American brand had announced the establishment in Morocco of a representative office, several rumours began circulating about the installation of a factory.

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