Morocco and Mauritania have not been in good terms since the first term of the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. This is confirmed through the fact that the neighboring country has not appointed an ambassador in Rabat since the retirement of Mohamed Ould Mouaouia in 2012. With the announcement of the opening of a new border crossing between Algeria and Mauritania, what impact would this have on the Guergarate crisis and the Sahara conflict ? Answers to these questions are provided
Controversy erupted last week in Tangier after an Israeli singer, who is also a reserve militant at the Israeli air force, was invited to Tanjazz festival. Anti-normalization with Israel groups and activists were angered by the step, and a few days later, they targeted the Istiqlal political party. The same groups remained silent during festivals like Hiloula of Rabbi Haim Pinto in Essaouira.
Morocco is scheduled to represent on Thursday 21st of September the recommendation which were officially accepted and refused at the 36th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Kingdom’s rejected recommendations, however, have been commented on today by Al Karama Foundation which could not hide its disappointment.
Algeria was forced to find another member to defend its positions at the African Union Commission after the departure of its president Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The president of the Peace and Security Council, Smail Chergui, is expected to assume the role previously played by the South African official. In fact he met last night with Horst Kohler, the new UN personal envoy to Western Sahara.
After attending the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) organized by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Morocco will have to present the recommendations that it has taken into consideration. According to a report issued by the ministry in charge of the matter, Morocco has mainly rejected recommendations related to the prosecution of journalists, freedom of belief and homosexuality.
Morocco is committed to play the role of a decisive actor in the stabilization of the Sahel region. This is confirmed by the proposal set by the Kingdom to train the Sahel G5 force to combat the threat of jihadist organizations operating in the region.
Horst Köhler, the newly-appointed UN Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, officially took office on the 8th of September and has already met with senior UN officials, the UN said in a statement on Sunday. A tour in the region is also planned for October of the current year. What are the reasons behind this first visit ? The answers are provided by Abdelfettah El Fatihi, a political expert and analyst on the matters of Western Sahara and Africa, in an interview with Yabiladi.
During the Universal Periodic Review organized; in May, by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Mustapha Ramid swept aside all calls for parity and individual freedoms. On September 21st, he will head to Geneva to plead once again the Moroccan case. Nevertheless, in only four months, the kingdom added spots to its file.
After publishing two videos in which she affirms her support for the Iraqi Kurdistan Independence and calls for the death of Arabs, Malika Mezzane was arrested on Sunday in Rabat by the judicial police. The Amazigh poet and activist, held currently in custody, will be brought before the King’s prosecutor.
Morocco and the United States of America have been in good terms since the signing of the famous Marrakech Treaty on 1786 under the reign of Sultan Mohammed III. The Kingdom has been one of the first North African countries that ensured strong diplomatic ties with the newly formed nation. The two countries managed to strengthen their links after the death of the Alaouite Sultan.