Morocco’s Ambassador to the UK has met his predecessor from over 400 years ago this week in Birmingham. During a visit to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham, diplomat Hakim Hajoui encountered the portrait of Moroccan Ambassador Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun. Anoun led an embassy to London in 1600 to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties between Britain and Morocco. During this historical visit, it is believed that Anoun inspired William
«Russia is assisting Morocco in seeking a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict», announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He emphasized that the issue «can only be resolved on the basis of mutual consent» during a press conference on Tuesday, January 14, which was dedicated to presenting the 2024 assessment of Russian diplomacy. Lavrov highlighted the strong ties between the two nations, stating, «Morocco is a friendly country. We have good projects.
Following the lead of Spain's socialist ministers, King Felipe VI has underscored the robust relationship between Spain and Morocco. «We will continue to advance our bilateral agenda with Morocco, a country with which we must pursue our collaboration in the spirit of friendship and cooperation governing our special neighborly relations», declared the monarch on Tuesday, January 14, during a speech at a gathering of Spanish ambassadors stationed abroad. King Felipe VI emphasized
Starting February 24, Maersk will reroute its ships on the U.S.-Middle East-India line to dock at Tangier Med port instead of Algeciras, a move that has stirred discontent in Spain. The Danish shipping giant has since sought to allay concerns. In a statement to an Iberian media outlet on January 14, Maersk cited «commercial reasons» for choosing Tangier, while reaffirming that Algeciras «remains a strategic priority». The company emphasized that the Andalusian port will
The Royal Armed Forces have detained several Algerian nationals who irregularly crossed the border into Morocco. «The arrest occurred on Sunday in the province of Assa-Zag», a Moroccan security source told Yabiladi. Following the arrest, the Algerians were transferred to the Royal Gendarmerie for further investigation. At this stage, authorities have not yet determined whether the individuals are civilians or military personnel, nor the reasons behind their unauthorized
Maersk, Denmark's premier shipping giant, has unveiled a strategic shift in its MECL service route, which connects the Middle East, India, and the United States. The company will now reroute its operations through Tanger Med in Morocco, replacing its previous stop at Algeciras in Spain. This decision means that vessels will make their return journey to the Middle East via Tanger Med, bypassing Algeciras on their westbound trips. According to Maersk, this adjustment is set to enhance transit
The reopening of customs at Ceuta and Melilla was the focal point of a joint press conference on Monday, featuring Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and his Indian counterpart. Spain and Morocco have targeted January 8 for the official reopening, though Albares admitted that «technical problems remain to be resolved before this objective can be achieved». Albares expressed surprise at certain remarks concerning the customs issue, noting that
After initial hesitation, the Polisario has attributed the fire at the headquarters of a Danish association to Morocco. Several Algerian media outlets have echoed this claim. Meanwhile, Danish police have launched an investigation into the incident.
After nearly two years on the run, 26-year-old French-Algerian Sahbi El Asraoui was arrested on Friday, January 10, in Marrakech. New details have emerged about his background and the charges that prompted his inclusion in Interpol's files. Born in Besançon in 1999, El Asraoui had been on the run since March 8, 2023, the day he absconded from his trial for attempted murder in Planoise, Doubs. Convicted in absentia to seven years in prison for severely injuring a man in
After images of Kurdish separatists allegedly hosted by the Polisario Front began circulating, Algeria sought to appease Turkey's anger, asserting that the claims were baseless.