Maghreb

Articles

• France Tightens Policy on Deporting Radicalized Maghreb Nationals
  16 November 2020, by Jérôme

  Some officials from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria who would rub up against the refusal to take back their undocumented migrants, would be pricked by the sanctions of France. This is the decision of this country which makes the expulsion of Maghreb nationals on the S list a priority.
  As part of its strategy to fight terrorism and radicalization, France is determined to expel several dozen "radicalized" Maghrebians to their countries of origin. An option that requires the agreement of the (…)

• Royal Air Maroc Under Fire: Travel Agencies Demand Refunds for Canceled Flights
  27 November 2020, by Bladi.net

  These agencies, which have sold the cancelled flights, are now overwhelmed by this situation that has been going on for 8 months, reports Air Journal. After having used all the means at their disposal, they plead for an intervention of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). They wish that the institution acts like the Federal Aviation Authority (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, LBA) in Germany, which has fined 21 airlines that refuse to refund their cancelled flights, contrary to European (…)

• Morocco’s Passport Ranks 79th Globally, Remains 2nd Strongest in Maghreb
  16 February 2021, by Sylvanus

  The Moroccan passport ranks 79th in the annual ranking of the most powerful passports in the world, thus maintaining its position as the second most powerful passport in the Maghreb.
  According to this ranking by the British firm Henley & Partners, the Moroccan passport occupies the 79th place out of 110 in the world, thus offering Moroccans the possibility to travel to 64 destinations without a visa.
  In the Maghreb, the kingdom’s passport ranks second behind the Tunisian passport (…)

• ESJ Paris Launches First Arabic Online Journalism Program in Morocco
  25 March 2021, by Ginette

  The École Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris (ESJ) has decided to open its first journalism and communication "SSJC" training program remotely in Arabic. A decision that takes into account "the central position of Morocco both for Africa and the Arab world", and especially because "Morocco has all the technological resources for this type of online training".
  In the 1920s, Mohamed Belhassan Ouazzani was the first Moroccan journalist to graduate from this great school. The idea of starting (…)

• Snapchat Launches 60 New Shows for Ramadan Viewers in Middle East and North Africa
  16 April 2021, by Jonas

  Some 60 new shows have been launched by Snapchat with its partners to allow consumers to access, on their mobile phones and at their convenience, new content specially adapted to the holy month of Ramadan.
  These new shows are organized in partnership with broadcasters, digital publishers and creators from the Middle East and North Africa region.
  "People are spending more time on social and communication platforms these days, and are increasingly engaged in mobile content. A large number (…)

• Morocco Leads Maghreb in Support for Arab-Israeli Normalization, Survey Finds
  9 June 2021, by Sylvanus

  In total, 41% and 46% of Moroccans say they are in favor respectively of the agreements to normalize diplomatic relations between four Arab countries including Morocco and Israel, and of the Biden administration. This is revealed by an Arab barometer survey conducted in the MENA region.
  Between March and April 2021, Morocco is the only Maghreb country in favor of normalization between Israel and four Arab countries, the Arab barometer survey indicates. The survey results show that "the (…)

• Negotiations to Resume for Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline Contract Renewal
  21 June 2021, by Sylvanus

  The future of the operating contract for the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline that connects Algeria and Spain by crossing Moroccan territory is far from being mortgaged. Negotiations for its renewal will resume next July.
  While the operating contract for the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline is due to expire next November after 25 years of activity, some Algerian and Spanish media have announced the suspension of the negotiations leading to its renewal. This decision would follow the commissioning a (…)

• Moroccan Passport Ranks 135th Globally, 2nd in Maghreb Amid COVID Travel Restrictions
  9 August 2021, by Sylvanus

  Despite the health crisis related to Covid-19, the Moroccan passport has maintained its position as the second most powerful passport in the Maghreb. It ranks 135th in the annual ranking of the most powerful passports in the world.
  According to the ranking of the British firm Henley & Partners, the Moroccan passport ranks 135th out of 198 worldwide, thus offering Moroccans the possibility of traveling to 23 destinations without a visa. In the Maghreb, the kingdom’s passport ranks (…)

• Algeria-Morocco Tensions Threaten Future of Key European Gas Pipeline
  22 August 2021, by Sylvanus

  The tension prevailing between Morocco and Algeria could lead to the end of the concession of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) linking the neighboring country to Spain. While the kingdom has stated its position on its renewal, Algeria is slow to do so. Its position could be unfavorable.
  "Morocco’s willingness to maintain this export route has been clearly and consistently affirmed at all levels for more than three years," said Amina Benkhadra, Director General of the National Office (…)

• Algeria Halts Gas Pipeline Through Morocco, Commits to Spain’s Supply via Medgaz
  27 August 2021, by Sylvanus

  Algeria, which has severed its relations with Morocco, has opted to end the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline. During a meeting with Spanish ambassador Fernando Moran at the headquarters of his ministerial department, Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab reiterated his country’s "total commitment" to "cover all of Spain’s natural gas supplies through Medgaz".
  Algeria, which announced the severing of its diplomatic relations with the kingdom last Tuesday, has decided to abandon (…)