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

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City Name

Rabat

Morocco

October 16, 2026

Rabat 2:51 am

16°C

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Morocco's newly appointed head of government

Culture

Who is Fatima El Mansouri, Morocco’s first woman prime minister?

Her appointment marks the first time a woman has served as Morocco’s head of government and the second time a woman has held the position in the Arab world.

Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' aircraft

Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies

The move will mark the first time Morocco and Israel have exchanged ambassadors.

UDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Fueled by regional rivalries, Algeria severs diplomatic ties with UAE

Algiers accused Abu Dhabi of increasingly “provocative and hostile actions” after years of friction over Morocco, Western Sahara and competing regional interests.

Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, speaks to the media during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Press Conference at Mexico City Stadium on June 10, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Analysis

FIFA in turmoil: Middle East takes center stage as Infantino fights to stay in power

Amid the backlash to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's controversial investment plan, upcoming World Cup hosts Morocco and Saudi Arabia have starring roles in the drama.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Explainer

Estimated 60,000 migrants cross from Morocco into Spanish territory: What we know

Ceuta

Explainer

France-Morocco ties get an energy jolt as historic heatwaves pressure Europe

Director of European Affairs and Customs at La Poste Groupe Christelle Defaye-Geneste (L) and Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour (R) sign agreements between La Poste Groupe and Barid Al-Maghrib, alongside France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu (C-L) and his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, during a meeting in Rabat on July 16, 2026.

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Moroccan activists hold the poster of Hajar Raissouni, a journalist charged with fornication and abortion, during a protest outside the Rabat tribunal, Morocco September 9, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal - RC16585AAC30

Debate on individual freedom reopened in Morocco

The case of journalist Hajar Raissouni reopened the debate on individual freedoms in Morocco, and revived calls to annul the law chapters that criminalize them.

Palestinians seek Egypt’s support to join free trade pact

Palestinians are anxiously awaiting admittance to an Arab free trade agreement that should help reduce their economic dependence on Israel.

Young Moroccan activists rally for climate action

Morocco is already taking big steps to combat climate change, but young people want their country to do more, starting with addressing the local problems that limit public engagement.

Moroccan activists hold signs in solidarity with Hajar Raissouni, a journalist charged with fornication and abortion, during a protest outside the Rabat tribunal, Morocco September 9, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal - RC18C4FF30F0

Moroccan sex 'outlaws' protest criminalization of sex outside marriage

Following a Moroccan journalist's arrest for an alleged abortion and extramarital sex, thousands have signed an online petition to end the state's criminalization of sex outside marriage.

Moroccan king announces plan to promote social, economic equality

As Morocco's king marks 20 years on the throne, he's preparing a plan designed to aid the poor, largely through education.

A girl drinks water from a tap inside a refugee camp in Baghdad September 27, 2007. About 70 families lived in a refugee camp after they were displaced from their homes because of the sectarian violence, the Red Crescent organization said. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ) - GM1DWGBBQSAA

Geopolitics delay action while climate change threatens to parch Mideast

The Middle East and North Africa region faces serious water risks, but experts say the collective action needed to address the problem is still far off.

Moroccan medical students protest privatization of medical education

The government’s decision to privatize medical education has caused protests among medical students in public schools that have been ongoing since late March.

Morocco's been busy muzzling anti-regime voices this year

Morocco has stepped up its campaign against political and civil activists, raising concerns among local and international rights organizations.

Coding academy opens new opportunities for Moroccan youth

3W Academy Maroc aims at addressing youth unemployment in Morocco through accessible tech education.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia January 14, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS - RC1E4A498AC0

Saudis’ troubled ties in region threaten Trump's anti-Iran agenda

The Trump administration is tightening the screws on Iran, but Saudi Arabia, Iran's archnemesis, may not be of help drumming up support for the US policy given the state of its current relations in the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in Algiers, Algeria December 2, 2018. Picture taken December 2, 2018. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC11742D93D0

Nervous Riyadh anxious about Algiers

The Saudi Kingdom watches cautiously as Algerian protesters bring back the 2019 version of the Arab Spring to demand an open political system.

Eight years on, how is Morocco recovering from Arab Spring?

The popular protests demanding political reforms eight years ago in Morocco have turned into social movements.