Morocco - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

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Rabat

Morocco

April 24, 2026

Rabat 2:08 am

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Archaeologists at the entrance of the Contrebandiers (Smugglers) Cave, some 12 miles from the Moroccan capital, Rabat, Sept. 18, 2021.

Culture

Fossil discovery repositions Morocco at center of human evolution 800,000 years ago

Once overlooked, Morocco has emerged as a focal point of human prehistory, with new discoveries and a landmark report reshaping what we know about our species’ evolution.

An emergency vehicle drives through flood waters as residents are evacuated and relocated to other towns as preventive and emergency evacuations are carried out to move residents living near flood-prone areas following the weather alert and the rise in the water level of the Loukkos River, with flooding expected in the coming days, in Ksar El Kebir on Feb. 1, 2026.

Storm Leonardo displaces 140,000 as heavy floods hit northern Morocco

Heavy rains from the storm have flooded northern Morocco, prompting mass evacuations and straining emergency services.

From Egypt to Lebanon: What’s at stake for regional states on Trump’s visa ban list?

The State Department claimed that citizens from the affected countries are more likely to use social welfare services at a high rate.

A customer browses books at a bookshop in the Moroccan capital Rabat on August 9, 2018. On the main arteries of old Rabat, dozens of itinerant booksellers offer books in French, Arabic, and sometimes in English, up to ten times cheaper than their originals. Despite being prohibited, the pirated-books market is largely tolerated in cities across the North African kingdom. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

Morocco’s next generation of writers fights for a place on the shelf

A new book fair in Casablanca spotlights the country’s rising talent and the obstacles that still define Morocco’s fragmented publishing world.

Latest News

Morocco’s markets rise as World Cup spending fuels largest IPO in decades

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO - AUGUST 20: In this handout image from Populous, digital renderings of the proposed Stade Hassan II stadium in Morocco, projected to be the largest football stadium in the world with 115,000 capacity are depicted on August 20, 2024 in Casablanca, Morocco. The stadium design is by Populous and Oulalou + Choi (Photo by Populous via Handout/Getty Images)

Culture

World Cup: Iran fumes over LGBTQ+ themes as Jordan qualifies for first time

A fan waves a Pride flag before the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field, on June 3, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Spain, Morocco dismantle drone network flying hashish across border

The Civil Guard, in a joint operation with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie, has dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to smuggling hashish into Spain using drones, on Nov. 11, 2025.

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Survivors fill up water from a tanker truck in their earthquake-hit village of Ineghede on September 17, 2023. Over a week since a 6.8-magnitude quake devastated parts of central Morocco, many worry that the dire living conditions and poor hygiene spell new threats for the survivors. The disaster killed nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands more when it hit in Al-Haouz province. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco earthquake reconstruction to test government’s speed of execution

The speed and depth of Morocco's $11.7 billion reconstruction following the massive earthquake last month will have a huge impact on the economy and budget over the coming years.

Francisco Serrano

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Morocco's national flag is displayed during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Culture

Morocco to host 2030 World Cup as Saudi Arabia bids for 2034

The announcement follows historic performances by Morocco’s men's and women's squads at their most recent respective World Cups. Saudi Arabia had also sought to host the 2030 tournament following Qatar winning the rights to host in 2022.

Overturned cars lay among other debris caused by flash floods in Derna, eastern Libya, on Sept. 11, 2023.

Over 8,000 dead in Morocco earthquake, Libya floods

The two natural disasters in North Africa occurred within days of one another.

Morocco earthquake

Morocco earthquake damage could wipe out as much as 8% of GDP

The US Geological Survey warns of severe potential economic losses from the Morocco earthquake's "extensive damage."

A resident navigates through the rubble following a 6.8-magnitude quake in Marrakesh on September 9, 2023. A powerful earthquake that shook Morocco late September 8 killed more than 600 people, interior ministry figures showed, sending terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco earthquake: death toll passes 2,400, historic Marrakesh buildings damaged

Most of the casualties from the massive tremor were in an area south of Marrakesh.

A policeman watches as people cool off in the water at el-Kettani beach in the Bab el-Oued suburb, Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 15, 2020.

Two Moroccan-French tourists killed by Algerian coastguard

The tourists had strayed into Algerian waters. The incident could further inflame longstanding tensions between Morocco and Algeria.

Putin Tebboune

Analysis

Russia pushes North African trade area as Ukraine sanctions bite

Russia's influence across North Africa is varied, but regional countries could benefit from discounted Russian hydrocarbons, grain and fertilizer.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Morocco makes history, advances at Women’s World Cup

The Atlas Lionesses are the first team from the Arab World to play in the soccer tournament.

Valentina Cernoia of Italy competes for the ball with Fatima Gharbi of Morocco during the Women´s International Friendly match between Italy and Morocco at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 01, 2023 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Culture

Morocco chases history at FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia

The Moroccan women’s team is the first team from the Arab world to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their success follows a historic run by the Moroccan men’s team at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita poses for a photo.

Morocco king invites Israel’s Netanyahu for visit following Western Sahara recognition

Only two days after Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, King Mohammed VI invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit.

Israeli and Moroccan flags are pictured during an official ceremony in Israel's Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv, on September 13, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 17, 2023, 2:32 pm

Israel recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara

The move follows the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

Alstrom train

France’s Alstom to build second rail plant in Morocco

The company has previously made tramway vehicles in Rabat and Casablanca as well as high speed trains that operate between Casablanca and Tangier.