Latest Morocco news headlines

• Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Chairs Award Ceremony of King Mohammed VI Grand Prix in Show Jumping

  Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan chaired the award ceremony of King Mohammed VI Show Jumping Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon at the Mohammed VI Exhibition Park in El Jadida. This prestigious event is the flagship competition of the national equestrian calendar, organized as part of the final of the 15th

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• Moroccan Craftsmanship Honored at the 17th El Jadida Horse Show

  The 17th Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida, held Octo 13-18, is celebrating Morocco’s equestrian traditions while recognizing the artisans whose skill keeps the country’s traditional crafts alive. Maison de l’Artisan marked the occasion with awards for the best traditional saddle,

  North Africa Post
• Spain braces for more floods after woman dies near Barcelona

  Spain braced for the worst of a powerful Mediterranean storm predicted to intensify on Monday after it submerged streets, disrupted transport and claimed the life of a woman outside Barcelona. Weather agency AEMET issued the highest red alert in the eastern region of Valencia and the holiday island

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• Sahara deadlock raises pressure on UN, but tougher enforcement seen as premature

  UN envoy Staffan de Mistura’s warning that Sahara negotiations have reached a deadlock has intensified debate over whether the Security Council should strengthen its diplomatic pressure or consider more forceful measures, as it prepares to decide the future of its mission in the territory. During cl

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• Morocco urges World Bank to unlock more private investment for developing countries

  Morocco has called on the World Bank to expand financial guarantees, reduce investment risks and improve access to financing for small businesses, arguing that developing economies need greater access to private capital to support growth and job creation. Speaking on behalf of eight countries at the

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• King Relieves Madiha Khayr of Governmental Position at request of Head of Government

  King Mohammed VI received a request from the Head of Government to relieve Madiha Khayr of her duties as Minister Delegate in Charge of Professional Training and Qualification, the Royal Office announced Sunday in a statement. The King has approved this request, in accordance with the provisions of

  North Africa Post
• Macron says nothing justifies 'unbridled' violence in France protests

  French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said “nothing justifies” the “unbridled” violence seen in nationwide protests over the rising cost of living and other grievances this weekend. “Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said in an address to the nati

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• Morocco government breaks silence on Madiha Khayr’s dismissal

  Morocco’s new government said Sunday that its decision to seek the dismissal of Madiha Khayr, just two days after her appointment, followed a joint political and institutional assessment by coalition partners after personal medical and judicial information concerning the minister circulated publicly

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• Morocco's Doaa Choukri Claims U21 Bronze at World Karate Championships

  Morocco’s Doaa Choukri won the bronze medal in the women’s under-61 kg U21 category at the World Karate Championships for cadets, juniors and U21 athletes, held from October 14 to 18 in Bielsko-Biała, southern Poland. Choukri secured third place on Sunday with a 6-2 victory over Belarusian Yana Konn

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• 'Like we had a war': France counts cost of violent protests

  France was reeling on Sunday from widespread damage caused in violent protests the day before that saw 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched and widespread looting. “It’s like we had a war,” a 78-year-old resident in central Paris, Mehmet Ozeden, told AFP amid burnt s

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• Moroccan courts approved over 10,600 underage marriage requests in 2024 despite 17% decline

  Moroccan courts approved 10,691 requests for underage marriage in 2024, despite a 17% decline in applications, according to figures from the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ). The courts received 16,755 applications, down from 20,192 in 2023, while approvals fell from 12,629 to 10,691. The figu

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• Morocco becomes Spain’s largest petroleum export market as diesel imports jump 94%

  Morocco became Spain’s largest market for petroleum product exports in August 2026, as diesel shipments to the Kingdom surged 94% in a single month, according to data from Spain’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves Corporation (CORES). Diesel deliveries rose from 83,000 tonnes in July to 161,000 tonnes in

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• Madiha Khayr’s brief cabinet tenure ends amid controversy over 2004 document

  Madiha Khayr’s appointment to Morocco’s new government lasted just two days, ending Sunday amid a growing controversy over a purported medical document dating back to 2004 and allegations surrounding an earlier judicial investigation. King Mohammed VI approved a request from Head of Government Fatim

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• Morocco’s current account deficit doubles to MAD 42 billion despite record tourism revenues

  Morocco’s current account deficit more than doubled to MAD 42 billion in 2025, despite record tourism revenues, rising remittances and a sharp increase in foreign investment, according to the Exchange Office’s annual balance of payments report published October 15. The deficit reached 2.4% of GDP, c

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• King Mohammed VI approves dismissal of newly appointed vocational training minister

  King Mohammed VI has approved a request submitted by the Head of Government to relieve Madiha Khayr, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, Preschool Education, Vocational Training and Qualification, responsible for Vocational Training and Qualification, of her duties, according to

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• US Army to test up to 15 counter-drone systems in Morocco during African Lion 2027

  The US Army plans to test up to 15 counter-drone technologies in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco, in 2027, using the African Lion military exercises to assess new systems designed to protect command posts and deployed troops from unmanned aircraft. The initiative, announced Friday by the US Army Southern

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• Morocco announces venues, referees for November AFCON qualifiers against Niger

  Morocco will face Niger twice in November in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, according to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The Atlas Lions will host Niger on November 13 at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m.

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• Morocco issues orange weather alert for thunderstorms across several provinces

  Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology has issued an updated orange-level weather alert warning of heavy thunderstorms, hail and strong wind gusts across several provinces on Sunday and Monday. Rainfall of 30 to 50 millimeters is forecast in Errachidia, Tinghir, Al Haouz, Boulemane, Midelt, Za

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• Morocco’s trade deficit hits record MAD 352 billion as imports outpace exports

  Morocco’s merchandise trade deficit widened 15.5% to a record MAD 352.3 billion in 2025, as imports of cars, industrial equipment and raw materials grew significantly faster than exports, despite a decline in the country’s energy bill. The deficit increased by MAD 47.4 billion from MAD 304.9 billion

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• Czech president says he paid €18,750 for private flights during Morocco holiday

  Czech President Petr Pavel said he paid €18,750 out of his own pocket for private flights during a holiday in Morocco, following controversy over his decision to briefly return home to vote in local elections before flying back to the Kingdom. In a statement published Friday, October 16, Pavel said

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• US Army to test counter-drone technologies in Morocco in 2027

  The US Army plans to hold its first technology acceleration event in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco, in spring 2027, focusing on countering small drones and protecting command centers and tactical systems. According to a US Army statement, the initiative will bring together the US Army Southern European

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• Thunderstorms, gusty winds expected on weekend in several Moroccan provinces

  Thunderstorms with a risk of hail and gusty winds are expected on Saturday and Sunday in several Moroccan provinces, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM). These thunderstorms (20-30 mm) are forecast for Saturday from 3:40 p.m. to midnight in the provinces of Al-Hoceima, Chichaou

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• Akhannouch thanks King as he concludes five-year tenure as Morocco’s Head of Government

  Outgoing Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch marked the end of his five-year tenure on Saturday with a message of gratitude to King Mohammed VI, highlighting what he described as his government’s achievements and pledging that his team had worked with dedication to serve the country and meet Moroccan

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• From opposition to Government: Morocco’s new Employment Minister faces a test of his own convictions

  From classrooms in southeastern Morocco to the leadership of the Socialist parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, and from trade union and human rights activism in the Draa oases to the Ministry of Employment and Social Dialogue, Abderrahim Chahid has built a political career far from

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• Morocco U-17 women thrash New Zealand 4-0 in World Cup opener

  Morocco’s under-17 women’s national team opened their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over New Zealand on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora. The Group A match was part of the tournament hosted by Morocco from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8, 2026. The Atlas

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• Moroccan investigators question seven doctors in alleged fake traffic accident scheme

  An investigating judge at the Court of First Instance in El Jadida has questioned seven doctors as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged scheme involving staged traffic accidents to obtain financial compensation, according to Moroccan weekly newspaper Al Ousboue Assahafi. The doctors, inc

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• Morocco joins countries giving artificial intelligence a Ministerial portfolio

  Morocco has placed artificial intelligence at the center of a ministerial portfolio for the first time, appointing Ahmed Rahhou to lead the newly named Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation and Administrative Reform. The move places the kingdom among a small group of countries

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• Around 550,000 people took part in France cost-of-living protests: interior minister

  More than half a million people took part in French protests against dwindling purchasing power on Saturday, a minister said, adding there were 110,000 in the capital. Police arrested around 400 people, most of whom were adults, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters, after vandalism “

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• King Chairs Ministers’ Council Devoted to Draft Finance Bill that Places Support to Purchasing Power at Top of 2027 Agenda

  King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired a ministerial council on Saturday at the Royal Palace in Rabat. The meeting was devoted to discussing and approving the broad guidelines of the 2027 Finance Bill, which includes measures to support purchasing power, increase dir

  North Africa Post
• Morocco launches 11 dam construction tenders worth more than MAD 339 million

  Morocco’s Water Infrastructure Directorate has launched 11 tenders for dam construction projects across eight provinces, with a combined estimated cost exceeding MAD 339 million, as the kingdom continues to develop its water infrastructure. Public procurement data reviewed by Hespress shows that the

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