France
Saharan Sand Cloud Turns Southeastern France Skies Orange
The southeast of France has been tinged with an orange hue since last Tuesday, with the arrival of a cloud of sand from the Moroccan Sahara .
Topic
Moroccan Sahara
Spain
Spanish Think Tank Warns Against Concessions on Ceuta and Melilla Sovereignty
The think tank Europa Ciudadana warns against the position of certain Spanish officials in favor of Morocco on the Spanish sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla.
France
Morocco-France Tensions: Former Royal Spokesman Urges Diplomatic Reset
Former royal palace spokesman Hassan Aourid spoke about the crisis between France and Morocco, calling on the two countries to strengthen their "historical" ties in mutual respect, while defending their sovereign interests.
Spain
Sahrawi Activist's Likely Election to Spanish Congress Raises Diplomatic Tensions with Morocco
The Sahrawi activist, Tesh Sidi, number three on the Sumar party list, is a candidate in the legislative elections and will likely be elected as a deputy, which leads the Spanish National Intelligence Center (CNI) to fear an intensification of the activities of the Moroccan intelligence services that were already closely monitoring her.
Spain
Spain's Sahara Policy in Flux as Elections Loom: Morocco Watches Closely
Spain’s foreign policy towards Morocco, particularly its position on the Sahara, could change after the July 23 elections. The kingdom is closely following these early elections, which could lead to a change of government with the arrival of the Popular Party (PP) at the Moncloa.
France
Morocco Accused of Influencing French Right's Campaign Against 1968 Immigration Agreement
The Algerian press sees, once again, Morocco behind the sudden campaign led by the French right against the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement on immigration.
Spain
Morocco Stalls Customs Deal, Reigniting Tensions with Spain over Ceuta and Melilla
Morocco and Spain normalized their diplomatic relations in April 2022 after Spain’s change of position on the Sahara. The two countries signed a joint declaration in Rabat containing the "new roadmap" of their relations. After a year of relative peace, new tensions are emerging, due to Morocco’s claims on Sebta and Melilla.
France
Former French UN Ambassador Accuses Morocco of Pressuring France over Western Sahara
France’s ambassador to the UN from 2014 to 2019, Gérard Araud believes that Morocco is putting pressure on France regarding the Sahara issue. According to the former official, France has long defended Morocco’s interests within the UN Security Council.
Spain
Morocco Expels Spanish Human Rights Lawyers from Western Sahara
The Moroccan authorities have expelled from the Sahara Lola Travieso and Inés Miranda, two Spanish lawyers who went to Laâyoune from the Canary Islands on a mission to observe and verify the respect of human rights of the Sahrawi population.
Morocco
Ancient "Green Sahara" Discovery Reveals Lush Past of North Africa
Researchers from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) and the Mohammed V University of Oujda, who have been conducting excavations in northern Morocco since 2006, have concluded that there was once a "green Sahara" conducive to human expansion.
Morocco
Israel and Morocco Strengthen Transport Ties, Sahara Stance Expected Soon
During a visit to Morocco, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev signed several agreements with her Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Abdeljalil, including on the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, the consolidation of maritime agreements, and the establishment of direct links between the ports of the two countries. Israel is also expected to pronounce itself on the Sahara very soon.
Spain
Algeria Eyes Spanish Election for Potential Diplomatic Reset
Algeria no longer wants to negotiate with the government of Pedro Sanchez. The Algerian authorities are waiting for the early legislative elections on July 23 in Spain to consider a resumption of relations, suspended since the change of position on the Sahara.