The book fair named El Basri’s novel, “Al Hayat min Douni” (Life Without Me), the winner at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 31 in Sharjah, the cultural capital of the UAE. El Basri won AED 150,000 (about MAD 390,000). As a winner of the major prize, she can also expect an increase in book sales and international recognition.

Sharjah’s book fair is one of the largest in the world and the most prestigious in the Arab world. The fair which started on October 31, will remain open until November 10 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

According to Archy news nety, the 37th Sharjah International Book Fair will include “1,800 cultural, artistic and entertainment events by 472 guests from around the world. It has more than 1874 publishers from 77 countries and offers 1.6 million titles, including 80,000 new titles.”

In the prestigious celebration of the written word, the award for the best Arabic novel encourages the richness of the Arabic Language and valuing the Arabic novel.

The exhibition is one of the most paramount cultural events in the Middle East and North Africa region. The fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (ALC), will welcome a plethora of intellectuals, poets, and novelists gathering to discuss varied topics on the literary scene in the MENA region.

Some of the prominent names taking part in the intriguing panel discussions are the International Prize for Arabic Fiction winner, Ibrahim Nasrallah; the Sheikh Zayed Book Award winner, Khalil Sweileh; and the world’s best-known Arabophone woman novelist, Ahlam Mosteghanemi.

The Sharjah International Book Fair plays fundamental role in promoting literacy, education, and the love of reading in the MENA region.

The post Morocco’s Aicha El Basri Wins Best Arab Novel Award appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – On Thursday, AFP reported that the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in response to the Security Council’s Resolution 2440 on Western Sahara, adopted Wednesday.

The resolution has, for the first time, included Algeria, calling on the country to “work constructively” with the personal envoy for Western Sahara to find an agreed upon and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.

Algeria says in its statement that it “took note” of the Security Council resolution renewing MINURSO’s mandate for six months.

In an attempt to deny responsibility in the conflict, Algeria’s ministry wrote that the Security Council “again calls upon the two parties to the conflict, which it has clearly identified, namely Morocco and the Polisario Front, to resume direct negotiations without preconditions and in good faith.”

Algeria’s statement, however, ignored the resolution paragraph calls on Algeria to show commitment to the UN-led political process.

The resolution also expects all parties—the main and neighboring countries to the conflict—to come to round-table talks in Geneva December 5-6.

The round-table was an initiative proposed by the UN Personal Envoy, Horst Kohler.

Resolution 2440 mentioned Kohler’s invitations, saying that it “notes that invitations to an initial roundtable meeting in Geneva on 5 and 6 December 2018 were sent on 28 September 2018, welcomes that Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania have responded positively, and encourages them to work constructively with the Personal Envoy, in the spirit of compromise, throughout the duration of this process to ensure a successful outcome.”

Although Algeria accepted Kohler’s invitation, the country considers itself an “observer party.”

In its statement, Algeria further reiterated that it “remains convinced that only a direct, frank and fair negotiation between Morocco and the Polisario is likely to lead to a definitive solution.”

The statement backs similar positions voiced by Algerian officials, including Algeria’s Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.

Morocco, however, firmly believes Algeria plays an important role in continuing the conflict.

The post Algeria Continues to Deny Responsibility in Western Sahara Conflict appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – On Thursday, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita commented on the resolution in Rabat.

The first point that Morocco considers as a “diplomatic achievement” in the latest resolution was the Security Council’s decision to pave the way towards including Algeria as part of the UN-led political process.

On Wednesday, the resolution called on all parties, both the neighboring and main parties to the conflict, to “work constructively| to find a solution to the 42-year-old conflict over the region.

According to Bourita, the resolution has preserved Morocco’s achievements from previous resolutions: the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, the serious and credible nature of Morocco’s efforts, and the call for the registration of refugees.

In September, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, invited Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front to participate in round-table talks.

Algeria, however, has long claimed it is an observer and not a party to the conflict, as opposed to Morocco and Polisario.

On Wednesday, the resolution noted that it “expresses its full support for the intention of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to initiate a renewed negotiations process before the end of 2018; notes that invitations to an initial roundtable meeting in Geneva on 5 and 6 December 2018 were sent on 28 September 2018, welcomes that Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania have responded positively, and encourages them to work constructively with the Personal Envoy, in the spirit of compromise, throughout the duration of this process to ensure a successful outcome.”

In the paragraph, the Security Council used language that, according to analysts, carries significant political weight because it mentions Algeria and Mauritania on equal footing with Morocco and Polisario.

Despite the resolution’s invitation to Algeria to show commitment and willingness to contribute to the UN-led political process, Bouteflika’s regime still believes that the conflict should be solved between Morocco and Polisario only.

On Thursday, Algeria issued a statement saying it took note of the new resolution.Repeating its traditional line, Algeria said that the Security Council “again calls upon the two parties to the conflict, which it has clearly identified, namely Morocco and the Polisario Front, to resume direct negotiations without preconditions and in good faith.”

In response, Bourita said that the resolution encourages the participants in the round-table meeting, , to “participate without preconditions and in good faith.”

He added that the resolution shows a “significant evolution in the process.” He also said that Algeria is “indeed, urged to fully commit itself throughout the process, in accordance with its political, historical and legal responsibility in the dispute.”

The Moroccan government also approves the Security Council’s position on the region’s status quo. Bourita recalled that the resolution included two new paragraphs calling Polisario out.

The Polisario Front has long claimed Bir Lahlou and Tifariti as “liberated zones.” However, the resolution dismissed Polisario’s claims, calling on the front to “fully adhere to its commitments to the Personal Envoy with respect to Bir Lahlou, Tifariti, and the buffer strip at Guerguerat,” reads the second part of operative paragraph 6 of the resolution.

Resolution 2440 also invites the parties to “respect their relevant obligations and assurances, and refrain from any actions that could undermine UN-facilitated negotiations or further destabilize the situation in the Western Sahara.”

The post Bourita: UNSC Resolution Urges Algeria to Fully Commit to UN Process appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Safaa El Halouti

Rabat – After the end of the ideological war between communism and liberalism, democracy became the successful model of governance, state organization, and economic development. Not only did it present a political formula for the modern state, it also offered an order that regulated international relations post-World War II.

Democracy has gained supremacy for decades with waves of democratization taking place all over the world. While the Middle East was not able to be part of this democratization process, the 2011 Arab Spring came as a shock, delivering the message that the Arab people care about democracy and do want it as their system of governance.

Clinton spoke of the “habit” aspect of democracy because the US is in the midst of campaigns for midterm elections November 6. Democrats especially are trying to encourage voters to vote by getting them out of a desperate and hopeless mood. The majority of people affiliated to the Democratic party and sympathizers have despaired since the election of Donald Trump.

Democrats risk losing midterm elections—and maybe another presidential election—if they continue in the state of hopelessness. Calling “democracy” a habit that needs to be practiced again and again, Clinton calls for people not to abandon the process.

Just because one particular election brought about results Democrats did not expect, does not mean they should abandon democracy. The state of hopelessness on the left regarding the democratic model is not exclusive to the United States. And as a model of democratic rule, what happens in the United States greatly affects the international order.

The right wing has recently gained territory in many countries, some of which were in the habit of “democratic consolidation.” Of course, democracy is not only about votes and elections. Although elections are an important part, they are only one level out of many others.

The system of liberal values upon which democracy and democratic rule stands is the foundational reference behind the strength and endurance of the democratic model in the West. That is why the left wing worries about the rise of the far right, generally, and of the Trump administration, specifically.

Although the right wing was brought to office by the democratic practice of free and fair elections, I do not believe they share the liberal values at the foundation of democratic practices. At other times, the right presents and executes policy orientations against democratic and liberal practices.

When Clinton calls democracy a “habit,” she emphasizes the need for the practice to keep rotating because it has within itself the mechanics to survive and overturn results she perceives as counterproductive.

Democracy, as a form of government, does not necessarily elect the best and fittest; it elects whoever will not be contended by other parties. That is why the mechanism has within itself the option to choose candidates to positions of power, give them time to execute their policies, and then retests them in another election round. Incumbents either get another confidence vote or are removed and replaced.

From this perspective, it is vital not only to maintain the habit, but to make sure that the process itself serves its purposes. Considering that democracy does not elect the fittest, voting act as a civic duty “fixes the bugs” of the democratic system.

Democrats are campaigning hard now in the United States to win the upcoming midterms. It seems that their number one talking point is that the political power needs to be reversed and the president needs to be impeached because he does not represent what democracy is about, what the American people are about, or the founding idea of the United States.

How is this similar to what Morocco is currently experiencing as a country whose democratic history is very “fragile” and “recent.” Over half a century since independence, some important liberal practices have taken root: A multiparty system, a regime with strong popular legitimacy, and the equity and reconciliation commission.

Yet, Morocco can only trace the first transparent elections to 2011, after constitutional reforms came as an answer to the Arab Spring. Seven years later, Moroccans are again losing confidence in political institutions, in the elite they elected, and in the process as a whole.

Reforms have proved to be harder to implement than anticipated. After all, you cannot transform overnight a state system that has been in place for over 50 years.

Corruption, coercion, lack of enthusiasm for not-necessarily-popular “severe” reforms, and, of course, the efforts of the previously privileged are causes of failure. In the eyes of the people, the first and second freely elected governments are not operating as transformative forces and solving education, health, and employment problems.

It is not that the government is not implementing its governmental agenda with guidance from King Mohammed VI and focusing on those three important social aspects. It is just not enough for those who have put so much hope in the electoral process and dangerously started believing that the whole process is in vain.

When Clinton said that democracy is a habit that needs to be practiced over and over again, she is referring to the established democracy back in her country, in a way to urge her side not to give up and to go vote in the elections November 6.

While democracy is not a habit in Morocco, it is a process. It too, needs to be practiced over and over again because it has within itself the mechanism to solve political problems civilly.

The challenge today for the left wing in the United States is to vote massively so that the Democrats can get power over both houses of Congress. In Morocco, the challenge is to not give up on the process of consolidation. Massive political engagement is needed so that the elite can somewhat “comfortably” introduce policy and make the laws. But it is also needed to reach a stage of democratic consolidation.

Whether as a habit or a process, there is no alternative to Moroccans being able to choose who gets to decide on their lives.

The post Democracy: A Habit in the US, a Process in Morocco appeared first on Morocco World News.

The Russian fighter’s October 6 victory over Conor McGregor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 229 made headlines globally. Afterwards, several heads of state have warmly congratulated Nurmagomedov in person, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Diab Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

In an interview with TMZ Sports on Wednesday, Abdelaziz stated that Khabib will “probably meet King Mohammed VI next week.”

The manager mentioned the possibility of a rematch with McGregor in exchange for a large sum of money.

“Maybe for a whole bunch of money … maybe we give a rematch to the guy that was just killed.”

He added that Nurmagomedov has plans in Africa to help people and fund the digging of wells and school building.

Abdelaziz requested at least $50 million to get Nurmagomedov into a cage or boxing ring.

Because the UFC 229 fight was held in Las Vegas, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Nurmagomedov and has withheld his $2 million UFC 229 prize pending a full investigation into a post-match incident between Nurmagomedov and McGregor.

After the match, Nurmagomedov jumped into McGregor’s team’s area and started fighting them. He said he was reacting to McGregor’s insults of Nurmagomedov’s Muslim religion and family at press meetings before the match.

Nurmagomedov’s future with the UFC is uncertain. The organization withdrew Nurmagomedov’s training partner, Zubaira Tukhukov, from a match with McGregor’s training partner, Artem Lobov. The fight was scheduled for late October, but Tukhukov was involved in the Las Vegas fight and even punched McGregor, according to MMAFighting.

Nurmagomedov has denounced the UFC’s decision and threatened to leave the organization.

Will a Nurmagomedov-Mayweather boxing match happen?

A few days after Nurmagomedov’s victory over McGregor, the Russian fighter called out the undefeated American boxer, Floyd Mayweather, to a boxing match.

There has not been an official statement that the match will take place.

However, UFC President Dana White insisted on a match under mixed martial arts rules, not another boxing match like the one between Mayweather and McGregor last year.

“We went over there, we boxed him and if he wants to do it again, he’s gotta come fight in the UFC,” White said to ESPN.

“I don’t think it’s very realistic at all but I didn’t think the boxing match was either and it happened so we’ll see,” he added.

The post King Mohammed VI to Receive Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – Since August, Moroccan and international news outlets have been reporting on a possible visit from  Macron to Morocco.

The French president is set to chair the launching of Morocco’s LGV first high-speed train.

Quoting an anonymous source, Moroccan news outlet Hespress reported that Macron might also visit Morocco again in early 2019.

Morocco’s high-speed train project entered the pre-operation phase in June, and the project was set to be complete towards the end of the year.

During his visit to Morocco, Macron is also expected to discuss a range of common interests with King Mohammed VI.

Hespress’ source denied any tension between France and Morocco, because of the postponement of the visit of French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Morocco.

According to the source, the postponement was due to Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita accompanying King Mohammed VI to the UAE at the time.

In September, Moroccan media reported that Le Drian would visit Morocco on September 10.

However, Le Drian and Bourita did not meet until Wednesday in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, west of Paris.

During the meeting, Le Drian pointed out Morocco’s role in combating terror threats posed by returning fighters from Syrian-Iraqi conflict zones.

He said that the Moroccan-French security cooperation “is essential to respond to the threat posed by the return of foreign fighters from the Syrian-Iraqi” conflict zones.

In June, the two countries joined Belgium and Spain in creating a joint anti-terror front to “materialize,” “upgrade,” and “harmonize” their efforts regarding intelligence, field interventions, and deradicalization.

The two officials also discussed efforts to tackle migratory pressures in both countries.

Le Drian said that Morocco and France must respond to the issue in “a spirit of firmness, responsibility and humanity.”

An important ally to Morocco, France remains the foremost foreign investor to its African counterpart. There has recently been a marked increase in Morocco’s exports to France, rising by 20 percent in 2016 alone, according to the French government.

The post King Mohammed VI, Macron to Launch High Speed Train Mid-November appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- Belarbi, who studies at a public primary school in Morocco’s port city of Essaouira, ranked first among seven Moroccan children who also won awards in the same competition. Children from 30 countries competed for prizes October 27-28.

The competition asks contestants to solve 170 problems in 7 minutes. Belarbi solved 160 problems in 7 minutes, the highest score in the competition.

In an interview with the press, the young girl expressed her joy upon receiving the award.

“I am very happy that I reached this level, and it’s all thanks to my teacher Youness,” she said with a smile.

Read Also: Mariam Amjoun, 9-Year-Old Moroccan, Wins Dubai’s Arab Reading Challenge

“I advise children to believe in themselves, and advise parents to encourage and support their children to accomplish their goals,” she told news outlet Soltana.

Commenting on 9-year-old Moroccan Mariam Amjoun’s winning of the UAE’s Arab Reading Challenge this week, Belarbi said: “You did very well and you were confident, may God protect you.”

The Moroccan winners at the arithmetic competition were: Belarbi, who won first place in “Level 1” of the competition; Adam El Hawas, a middle school student who won first place in “Level 4;” and Kenza Ghounimi, a highschooler who took second place in “Level 4.”

The other four Moroccan contestants, all from Essaouira, also scored high in the competition and received awards.

Mariam Amjoun won the 2018 Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, outperforming 10.5 million participants from 40 countries.

Read Also: King Mohammed VI Congratulates Moroccan Kid Who Won Reading Challenge in Dubai

Amjoun won AED 500,000 (nearly MAD 1.3 million) in prize money. She will use it for her university education and for her family for encouraging her to read, reported Gulf News.

The award ceremony was held at the Dubai Opera House today, October 30. Amjoun has read 200 books despite her young age.

Amjoun and Belarbi have become the “pride” of Morocco.

In a phone call, King Mohammed VI congratulated Amjoun upon her winning. Amjoun said in a video that he asked her about her “experience in the competition and the challenges.”

The post 8-Year-Old Moroccan Wins Turkey Arithmetic Competition appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – Last week, just two days before Morocco was set to end Daylight Saving Time (GMT+1), the government announced it would be staying on GMT+1 year-round.

The move prompted mass confusion from Moroccans who woke up Sunday wondering just exactly what time it was. Many blamed cell phone carriers for not adjusting to the new decree and making an erroneous time change.

Cell service provider Inwi told Morocco World News that the company “is not responsible for changing the clock time. This is a problem coming from the phones which are programmed automatically.”

The government council adopted Draft Decree 2.18.855 last Friday, adding 60 minutes to the standard time in Morocco year-round. Critics said the government announced the change with little prior warning, failing to give mobile systems enough time to adapt.

The post Apple Pushes out Update to Adjust Moroccan Time Zone appeared first on Morocco World News.

Mauritania’s president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz received Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, on Friday, in Nouakchott. Bourita was carrying a personal message from King Mohammed VI.

In a statement to the press at the end of the meeting, Bourita said that he had “the honor to be received by the President of the Republic as an envoy of King Mohammed VI, carrying a message from His Majesty to His Excellency the President concerning the bilateral relations and the regional situation.”

Bourita, who is on a one-day visit to Mauritania, added that the two heads of state have a “common desire to push these relations to the level they deserve, given the strong ties between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.”

In this regard, he highlighted the common will shown by King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian president of the Republic to promote these relations and raise them to the expected level, given the strong ties between the two countries.

He also noted that “significant changes will take place in the future as part of the dynamic sought by the King and the president of the Republic”.

Bourita said that, at the audience, “the Mauritanian president presented the situation in the region, based on his experience and the leading role Mauritania plays in the region.”

The visit comes in the wake of the adoption by the Security Council of Resolution 2440 on Western Sahara on Wednesday.

The resolutions welcomes  that Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania have responded positively” to participate in the Geneva round-table on 5-6 december, and “encourages them to work constructively with the Personal Envoy, in the spirit of compromise, throughout the duration of this process to ensure a successful outcome.”

The post Morocco’s FM Carries Personal Message from King Mohammed VI to Mauritania’s President appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- Rabat, too has had its share of floods and traffic disruption. Photos and videos of the two cities, especially from Casablanca’s Ain Diab neighborhood, have been circulating on social media.

On Tuesday, the floods impeded traffic in the center of Casablanca and stopped the city’s trams from operating from afternoon to night. Moroccans took to social media to share videos of flooded streets, complaining about the overflowing streets and “poor infrastructure.”

The Casablanca-Settat region and many others across the country are experiencing a cold snap and rainfalls early in the season.

Since Sunday, October 28, temperatures dropped drastically in Morocco, leading to the first snowfall of 30 centimeters in the Atlas Mountain cities of Ifrane and Midelt and the villages of Imouzzer, El Hajeb, and Boulemane.

Severe floods hit several regions of Morocco in late September in Rhamna and Al Haouz, Sidi Ifni, Meknes, and Guelmim, causing up to five deaths.

The floods also caused extensive property damage and agricultural casualties, from flooded houses to drowned livestock and blocked roads.

Read Also: Casablanca Trams Begin Running Again After Floods Caused Delays

In the past year, the Moroccan National Motorway Company (ADM) has carried out several investment projects worth a total of MAD 600 million. The projects mainly tried to modernize infrastructure and electronic tolls.

In April, the company pledged a MAD 3.4 billion investment to widen the Casablanca-Berrechid road and other future projects.

The post Heavy Rain Causes More Flooding in Casablanca and Rabat appeared first on Morocco World News.

The measure is due to the large numbers of migrants arriving in Morocco and wishing to complete an undocumented journey to Europe.

The Moroccan foreign ministry will now require all African travelers, except Tunisians and Algerians, to fill out an online form on the ministry’s website to get a permit, Reuters wrote.

The measure will impact countries that currently have visa-free access to Morocco: Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire.

According to a documentReuters saw from the Moroccan embassy in Mali, the move aims to help Moroccan authorities identify incoming travelers and “facilitate passenger traffic.”

According to a document issued by Royal Air Maroc, the new regulation came into force Thursday, November 1, for citizens of Congo, Guinea, and Mali.

Morocco may be adopting the move as an alternative to the European Union’s proposal to build reception centers in Morocco to process migrants’ asylum applications. Morocco has rejected the proposal.

An estimated 40,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from Morocco since January.

The post Morocco Adds Entry Permit Requirement for African Countries appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- The AP reported Friday that four Balkan countries have announced that they will make a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

The heads of state from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Serbia made the announcement at a regional meeting on the Black Sea.

Morocco announced it would submit another bid to host the World Cup immediately after the North African country lost its chance to host the 2026 World Cup to a North American joint bid in June.

Moroccan officials have not yet revealed whether the country will submit a joint bid or another solo bid.

Speculations ran wild this summer about a potential joint bid between Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.

In September, however, Portuguese news outlet A Bola reported that Portugal is not planning to bid for the World Cup with Spain.

“Morocco will bid to host the World Cup in 2030—there is no doubt about that. But we have not yet decided on the co-hosts. The decision will be politically discussed,” said Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa.

After Morocco said it would bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Algeria and Tunisia expressed their interest in a joint Maghreb bid.

A joint bid might increase Morocco’s chance to host the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told the press after the end of the 2026 World Cup bidding process that he prefers joint bids.

Several other countries have shown interest in bidding to host the global tournament, including England and a joint bid from South America: Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.

In August, Cameroonian presidential candidate Joshua Osih said that he would nominate his country along with two sub-Saharan African countries to jointly host the 2030 World Cup if he wins the presidential election.

Osih, however,  was defeated by his competitor, incumbent Paul Biya, who was re-elected on October 22.

The post Morocco Now Has Balkan Competitors for 2030 World Cup Bid appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- Foreign minister Nasser Bourita said in a meeting with the press on Thursday that the initiative is an “important step forward.”

The hotline will allow Moroccans to track the processing of passports and other files. According to Bourita, the toll-free number will make Moroccans living abroad less dependent on visiting Moroccan consulates.

Bourita added that the project is the result of four years of preparations. He expects that it will increase transparency and the “adoption of  unified criteria for transactions and administrative documents.”

Read Also: Morocco Adds Entry Permit Requirement for African Countries

Bourita said that there will be a call center available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. providing services in seven languages. The languages will include “national dialects” and “other languages.”

Morocco’s Minister Delegate in charge of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs) Abdelkrim Benatiq noted in July that there are 5 million MREs.

Benatiq’s ministry is working to implement programs to consolidate ties between MREs and Morocco.

These programs, according to the official, are part of the national strategy to preserve the Moroccan identity of MREs. It is also designed to protect their rights and to promote interest in Morocco’s development.

According to Benatiq, Moroccan expats “represent a model of coexistence and respect for each other’s beliefs.”

In May, Morocco’s exchange regulator said that remittances from Moroccans living abroad hit $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2018. The number represented an increase of 13.4 percent from the same period in 2017.

The post Morocco Launches Toll-Free Number for Moroccans Overseas appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- A laureate from the Mohammadia School of Engineers in Rabat—where he was first in his class in 1982—and the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris, Mounir has been the BCP general director since October 2011.

He also assures the management of Upline Group and BP Shore Group, subsidies of BCP.

Mounir started his professional career in 1982 as an engineer within the OCP Group. He led OCP’s information systems activities from 1987 to 1997.

Throughout his time there, Mounir played a central role in all the major development projects of OCP’s mining and industrial branches. He also contributed to major changes in OCP’s financial management and the upgrading of their human capital development policies.

Read Also: Morocco Launches Toll-Free Number for Moroccans Overseas

Mounir’s career within BCP began in 1997. He began to climb the leadership ladder, occupying various senior positions in information systems and risk management. Mounir was appointed to be general-director in 2011.

Mounir has been very active alongside current economy minister Mohamed Benchaaboun to expand the BCP Group abroad and diversify its activities with specialized subsidiaries in para-banking and services.

Mounir also founded and is president of the Association of Information Systems Users in Morocco (AUSIM).

The newly-appointed CEO will take over from Mohamed Benchaaboun, who King Mohammed VI appointed to be minister of economy and finance on August 21.

Benchaaboun chaired Mounir’s nomination ceremony at BCP’s headquarters in Rabat. BCP’s board of directors and the executive committee of Credit Populaire du Maroc also attended.

The post Profile: Who is Banque Populaire’s New CEO Mohamed Karim Mounir? appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – The 9-year-old prodigy Mariam Amjoun is “a source of pride for Morocco and for  the Moroccan schools,” the minister said Friday.

Amjoun’s dedication to reading at the international contest of the “Challenge of Arabic reading” will allow Moroccans to “regain confidence in the education system,” said Amzazi.

Amjoun returned to Morocco Friday from Abu Dhabi.

The young bookworm won an MAD 1.3 million in prize money. She outperformed 10.5 million participants from 40 countries.

Read also: Mariam Amjoun, 9-Year-Old Moroccan, Wins Dubai’s Arab Reading Challenge 

Amzazi also hoped that the next reading contest will have other young Moroccan participants who will represent Morocco with dignity and honor, Maghreb Arab Press reported.

During the ceremony, Amjoun said she was “very happy to win the prestigious Arabic reading contest.” She said her parents, both teachers, mainly deserve the merit award she received.

King Mohammed VI also phoned Amjoun to congratulate her for winning the prize in Dubai.

Amjoun said King Mohammed VI asked her about her “experience in the competition and the challenges” she faces in prestigious reading competitions.

Read also: King Mohammed VI Congratulates Moroccan Kid Who Won Reading Challenge in Dubai 

Despite her young age, Amjoun said that she has read 200 books and participated in the challenge with 60 books.

She advised Arab children to read “because reading is the ‘lighthouse of civilization.’”

The Dubai  competition “is the largest-ever Arab literacy initiative encouraging students to read as many books as possible, over 50, in one academic year,” wrote Gulf News.

The number of children participating this year increased by 26 percent since 2017, from 7.4 million to 10.5 million participants from 44 countries.

Sheikh Mohammad launched the the Arab Reading Challenge in 2015. The challenge aims to “establish a culture of reading among the new Arab generations across the globe,” and enhance “the importance of knowledge in shaping their future as well as the future of their communities and countries.”

The post Amzazi: Mariam Amjoun is ‘A Source of Pride for Moroccan Schools’ appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- Cloudy, overcast weather is expected in Morocco’s northern region. Low clouds with a few drops of rain and fog are forecast in Saiss, the Oriental region, and the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, slow to moderate wind will sweep the southern and southeastern regions.

The temperature lows are between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius in the eastern highlands; 6 and 11 degrees Celsius in the Oriental, the interior and southeastern regions; 11 and 16 degrees Celsius in the Mediterranean, Saiss, Souss, Tangier, and central coasts; and 16 and 21 degrees Celsius in the southern provinces.

Read Also: In Photos: Morocco’s Snowfall in October

The temperature highs will be between 11 and 16 degrees Celsius in the Oriental and the reliefs; 16 and 21 degrees Celsius in Saiss, the Mediterranean, Tangier, and the north Atlantic coasts, 21 and 26 degrees Celsius in the southeast, central, and southern regions; and 26 and 31 degrees Celsius in Souss and the southern provinces.

Stable to high sea levels are forecast on the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic coasts between Tangier and Kenitra.

The post Cloudy, Foggy Weekend Ahead in Morocco appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Mohamed Bella

There’s an old saying in Marrakech, “Once you get a taste of the Red City, you will never be the same again.” Marrakech will open its gates to mesmerize and indulge the senses of all tourists and wanderlusting travelers.

Day One

9 a.m. Most riads and hotels in Marrakech will include a full breakfast in your rate, but if yours does not, you can find good cafes on Avenue Mohammed V. All the cafés have a wide choice of breakfast menus. Try the crepes, croissants, coffee, orange juice, honey and jam, all served with freshly sliced caramelized fruit.

14 minute walk

10 a.m. After breakfasting like a king, start your day with a therapeutic spa and luxurious pampering with Moroccan black soap and argan oil, followed by mint tea honey almonds, and raisin biscuits to combat jet lag. An ideal option before heading out to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech is Heritage Spa in the Bab Doukkala neighborhood.

26 minute walk

12 noon. The best way to escape the midday heat is to visit the colorful and cool botanical garden, the Jardin Majorelle, created by landscape artist Jacques Majorelle and fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent. The garden is a masterpiece filled with refreshing greenery.

52 minute walk

2:30 p.m. Grab lunch at Cafe Clock in the Kasbah. Some tourists love walking around with a smoothie in their hand to get a better feel of the Red City, and to earn their lunchtime calories. For those wanting to rest their feet, this would be the perfect time to get a cab.

Whichever way you travel, embrace your inner food vulture and ask for a savory camel burger and a delicious falafel with creamy yoghurt. Vegetarians might enjoy goat cheese quiche, seven-vegetable couscous, or a vegetable stew.

6 minute walk

4 p.m. Tour the splendid architectural landmarks of Marrakech’s jigsaw: the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace (5 minute walk), and the largest mosque in Marrakech, the Koutoubia Mosque (14 minute walk). Non-Muslim visitors should be aware they cannot enter the mosque. If you are the type of tourist who only needs a quick glance at historic buildings, you may be able to squeeze in a visit to El Badii Palace as well.

11 minute walk

7 p.m. Make your way to Jemaa el-Fnaa, one of the city’s principal attractions and a treat for foodies. It is a magical square filled with a dizzying array of sounds and smells. Have a seat at one of the communal tables in the heart of the square and enjoy a feast of smoked meats and snail pepper soup.

Vegetarians need not despair: Head to Sahrawi’s, a famous food stall, for harira, a Moroccan vegetable soup, with dates and Moroccan chebakia, a sesame cookie soaked in honey.

Day Two

10 a.m. Start the morning by enjoying an authentic Moroccan breakfast to fuel you up for the day ahead. Then, invite yourself to a sweet freshly-squeezed orange juice at one of the famous fruit juice stalls in Jemaa el-Fnaa.

25 minute walk

10:30 a.m Immerse yourself in Marrakech’s ville nouvelle, a modern area that offers an alternative vibe to the traditional ancient medina. Gueliz is a stylish neighborhood brimming with restaurants, shopping centers, a cinema, big boulevards, cafes and contemporary art galleries such as Matisse Art Gallery, Les Atlassides, David Bloch Gallery, and Gallerie 127.

40 minute walk

12 noon Enjoy the enchanting Menara Garden at midday. The garden has a formal pool overlooked by a pavilion and surrounded by several orchards of palm trees, olive trees, and fruit trees.

36 minute walk

1:30 p.m After all that walking, you deserve a delicious lunch at Le Jardin Restaurant. Eat in the courtyard surrounded by magnificent towering palm trees as you enjoy a simmering roasted chicken tagine or Moroccan couscous (served daily here) with dates and harissa. Vegetarians can find several suitable options at Le Jardin Restaurant from soups to salads, and even a mixed vegetable tagine.

15 minute walk

3 p.m. Branch out into the labyrinthine medina. Follow your nose through Marrakech’s most alluring site as you wander from sections specializing in leather to those focusing on spices, wood, carpets, lanterns, metalwork, ceramics and everything in between.

4 p.m. On your tour of the medina, make sure to stop at the stunning Ben Youssef Madrasa before it closes at 5 p.m, Built in the 16th century as an Islamic school. The madrasa (school) is decorated with detailed delicate zellige and colorful mosaics.

25 minute walk

6 p.m. Dine at Taj’in Darna rooftop restaurant. Climb the winding stairs to the terrace at the top and order a tagine that will give you that full 360-degree experience of Moroccan flavors. Enjoy a knock-out serving of tagine with a wonderful view to enjoy the Marrakech sunset and explore the panoramic nightly carnival of Jemaa el-Fna square.

The post How to See Marrakech in Less than 2 Days appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- The documentary, which will premiere on November 17 at Rabat’s 23rd film festival at Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, may be just as its title suggests: A plea for the world to care for and not forget about its children with autism.

“Don’t Forget Me” depicts the challenges that Moroccan parents and their children with autism have to deal with in a society that is not yet equipped to handle autism.

In 28 minutes, the documentary will showcase the different facets of autism and the discrimination children experience, denying them the right to receive education at school like their peers without disabilities.

The short film, produced by American journalist Jackie Spinner and directed by Moroccan Rajae Bouardi, was inspired by Spinner’s two Moroccan-born adopted children with autism.

Souad Chelhani, whose twin boys are featured in the film, wanted to give her children a voice.

“We are their voices. We must show our children that it is wrong for society to be cruel and refuse to include them. They have a human right to exist, to live without prejudice. They have the right to go to school, ” Chelhani said.

Difficulty going to school

“Don’t Forget Me” follows the story of three families and their children on the autism spectrum. The documentary takes the viewer into the homes and schools of the children.

Momo, 11, goes to a public school with a classroom reserved for children with autism. But the classroom in the public school is not free. Momo’s education expenses weigh on his family, and the private association that runs the classroom “recruits families for the classroom based on their ability to pay.”

The second family is that of 7-year-old Hamza who also goes to a public school. Hamza’s family pays for an aide or “shadow,” who accompanies him to school. Hamza has a twin brother, Taha, but because the family cannot afford two aides, Taha stays at home.

The third family is Jackie Spinner’s with 5-year-olds Othmane and Samir, and 3-year-old Rafi.

Othmane goes to a private school on a scholarship. His family, like Hamza’s, pays for an aide who keeps him company at class. Othmane was born in the same hospital three days before Samir.

Spinner adopted her sons from an orphanage in Meknes when they were infants. The boys now live in the US. In 2017, Spinner came back to Morocco to make the documentary.

Columbia College Chicago and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting provided the initial funding for the documentary through grants. Moroccan filmmaker Hakim Belabbes and Chicago director Michael Rabiger advised the project.

“Don’t Forget Me” will feature in Arabic with English subtitles for US audiences and Tamazight (Berber) subtitles for a Moroccan audience.

Spinner touched on a spot-on truth in Morocco when it comes to autism.

“It’s sad to see how hard the parents of the Moroccan boys in the film work to find opportunities that I take for granted, including the right my sons have in America to go to school,” she stated.

Read Also: 8-Year-Old Moroccan Wins Turkey Arithmetic Competition

Morocco’s forgotten children

Myths and misinformation surrounding autism are still prevalent in Morocco. The lack of understanding of the condition makes it hard for people with autism to become active members of Moroccan society.

“People with autism are violent,” “People with autism are intellectually deranged,” “Children with autism are a result of bad parenting and can be cured.” The sentiments are some of the myths surrounding autism in Morocco, but perhaps the most dangerous of all is the belief that autism is, in itself, a myth.

Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a spectrum condition. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), autism is “a range of conditions characterised by some degree of impaired social behaviour, communication and language, and a narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and carried out repetitively.”

WHO estimates that 1 in 160 children worldwide have autism.

Morocco has no relevant official data for autism numbers.

Caring for children on the spectrum is demanding, especially those with severe autism. It is especially difficult when access to specialized healthcare services is inadequate.

In Morocco, healthcare focused on autism is nearly non-existent. Parents face unbearable obstacles and are left to deal with their autistic children alone.

Children with autism, without early intervention, make it even harder for their parents and for them to benefit from the most basic rights.

Morocco’s already ailing educational system, does not provide much scope for children to study freely. The children with autism sometimes find a small space in classrooms in public schools, like Hamza and Momo.

The lack of research or medical training specialized in autism is one of the biggest issues causing misconceptions and lack of awareness about autism in Morocco.

In contrast to people with autism being “violent,” as many perceive them to be, some children with autism are in fact the ones most vulnerable to violence.

One video which went viral in 2016 shocked viewers across the internet, depicting abusive treatment towards people with autism.

The video showed the president of the “Besma Association for Autistic People” beating his sister with autism in the Rabia al-Adawiyya school yard in Taroudant, near Agadir.

Autism therapist Imane Haddouch had said then, “The president’s behavior is criminal and he should be punished for his actions. His punishment will serve as an example to others who commit similar crimes that they too will be punished for carrying out such acts on autistic children who are unable to talk about the abuse they face.”

At the time, the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Education in Taroudant promised to deal with the offender severely.

Moroccans with autism can take hope and find support in the autism associations in Morocco, such as Collectif Autisme Maroc in Rabat or Association Sos Autisme of Casablanca. The associations aim to help families dealing with autism, no matter the obstacles.

The post ‘Don’t Forget Me’ Film Reminds Morocco of its Children with Autism appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat – Speaking to the French outlet Le Monde following the UN resolution to extend the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, Bourita spoke favorably of the international community’s newfound determination to commit all parties to the roundtable table.

The Moroccan minister, however, stressed that Rabat will not yield to any decision that would challenge its integrity.

“Some things are not negotiable for Morocco, namely any solution that would call into question the territorial integrity of the Kingdom or that would provide for a referendum option,” he said.

Of the negotiations to be held in early December in Geneva, Bourita offered an optimist reading. He suggested changes in strategies and diplomatic momentum, saying that he expects the Geneva meeting to be different than the previous—and mostly unsuccessful—attempts to broker a settlement between Rabat and Algiers-backed Polisario.

Algeria has long declined the status of full participants in the Western Sahara peace process. Horst Kohler, the UN special envoy for the Western Sahara dossier, has however convinced Algeria and Mauritania to join negotiations as stakeholders.

Speaking of Kohler’s unprecedented success in convincing Algeria and Mauritania to come to Geneva without preconditions,” Bourita said that he expects more pragmatism and readiness to compromise from all participants.

If the recently gained momentum is maintained, he explained, there will be less rhetoric and more steps towards conclusive actions to settle the decades-long diplomatic standoff in Western Sahara.

Prior to the UN resolution earlier this week, there were reports of a fervent debate between France and the US about the duration of the MINURSO mandate.

As penholder of the UN resolution on Western Sahara, Washington demanded that MINURSO’s mandate be extended by only six months, as opposed to the customary one-year extension. Washington’s move was motivated by a mounting desire to pressure all the conflicting parties into making necessary compromises, according to diplomatic sources.

France, on the other hand, was for the traditional one-year extension. In contrast to Washington’s move towards immediacy and efficiency, Paris called for caution and effectiveness. France stressed that it was important that MINURSO be granted the necessary time-frame to uphold the cease-fire, which is a necessary prelude to any future hope of political settlement

“False debate”

Asked whether Rabat had a particular take on the US-France divide on MINURSO, Bourita said that “the debate on the duration is a false debate.”

What matters, he explained, is the effectiveness of the monitoring and the political process, rather than the time it takes. “It is not the duration that is important, but the political process that is independent of the peacekeeping operation.”

In the same interview, Bourita also spoke of Morocco’s migration policy. While other countries—mainly in Europe—adopt a security approach towards migrants, Morocco has positioned itself as a true migrants-friendly country, the minster explained.

“From the outset, Morocco’s migration policy has been based on three pillars: solidarity, responsibility and international cooperation. [Morocco] has its own migration policy and intends to be faithful to it. We believe that transit countries should not be at the heart of policy. All countries of origin, transit and destination should assume their responsibilities.”

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