Morocco

05 July 2022; MEMO: Morocco has filed a lawsuit against a Spanish journalist for his reporting of the Moroccan government and intelligence services using the advanced Israeli Pegasus spyware against him and others.

03 July 2022; MEMO: Israeli military observers will participate in a military exercise in Morocco later this week, according to the country's defense ministry on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports.

A ministry statement said the participation in the "African Lion 2022" exercise in Morocco is "an additional step in strengthening security relations between the countries."

This is the first time Israel participates in an international military drill in the North African country.

RABAT, June 25 (Reuters) - Dozens of people were pictured lying by a Moroccan border fence, some bleeding and many apparently lifeless, in video purporting to show the aftermath of a mass crossing of migrants into a Spanish enclave on Friday in which at least 18 died.

Moroccan authorities said the disaster occurred after migrants attempted to storm a fence into the Melilla enclave, with some dying in a crush after what authorities called a stampede, and others falling from a fence. [nL1N2YB0KQ

22 June 2022; MEMO: The Israeli Minister of Interior, Ayelet Shaked confirmed Tuesday her country's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

This came in a press statement she made after her talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, which was published by the Maghreb Arabe Press.

"Israel confirms its support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara," Shaked said.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Morocco and the US kicked off the annual African Lion military exercises on Monday, which will last until the end of the month.

The exercises include 7,500 personnel from ten nations, among them Brazil, France and Britain. Observers from NATO will also be present, and for the first time, officials from Israel.

The military manoeuvres kicked off in Agadir and will also take place in Kenitra, Tan Tan, Taoudant and Mahbes.

21 May 2022; MEMO: The Moroccan government announced on Thursday that the country's wheat stock is sufficient for another four months.

This came in a speech by the spokesperson of the Moroccan government Mustapha Baitas during a press conference after a Council of Ministers meeting.

On 7 April, the Moroccan government shared that the country's wheat stock was enough to cover its needs for five months.

17 May 2022; MEMO: At midnight today, Morocco and Spain reopened their land borders in the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, after they were closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the diplomatic crisis in relations between the two countries.

Agence France-Presse said that the iron gates of the border crossing between Ceuta and Fnideq opened at about 22:00 GMT, and dozens of cars crossed them towards the Spanish side.

FNIDEQ (Morocco), May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco and Spain have reopened the land borders between the north African country and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, two years after they were shut due to Covid restrictions and a major diplomatic row.

The enclaves on the Mediterranean coast in northern Morocco have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.

The gates opened shortly after 11:00 pm local time on Monday night, letting dozens of cars and queues of pedestrians pass in both directions.

RABAT, May 10 (NNN-MAP) – Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry yesterday, in Rabat, on bolstering bilateral relations, economic and trade exchange.

Speaking to the press, following the meeting, Bourita expressed Morocco’s condolences to the Egyptian victims of the deadly attack in Sinai, a day earlier, and reiterated the kingdom’s full support for all measures taken by Egypt, to preserve its security and stability.

RABAT, May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 44 migrants and refugees drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Morocco’s disputed region of Western Sahara, migrant aid agency Caminando Fronteras has said.

Twelve others survived the tragedy that happened on Sunday when the boat sunk off the coast of Cape Boujdour, the agency’s Helena Maleno tweeted. The survivors were arrested, Maleno wrote.

The bodies of seven victims were brought back to shore but the others could not be retrieved, she said.