Questions and Answers What is “down under”? The Australians themselves say they live “down under”, that is, at the very bottom. What does that mean? If you look at the globe, you will see that from a European point of view, Australia lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, south of Papua New Guinea and… Read More »
The first inhabitants of Australia People have lived in Australia for 50,000 years: the Aborigines [ read: Aboridschinis]. But when exactly the settlement of Australia took place is still controversial today. Some assume a time ago 48,000 years ago, others speak of a settlement as early as 60,000 years ago. Probably the first inhabitants came… Read More »
Animals and Plants What is growing in Armenia? Armenia is a mountainous and rather dry country. In many areas it is quite barren. Only about 8 percent of the country’s area is covered by trees or bushes. The plants that grow here have adapted to the drought. Many have thorns. Artemisia plants such as wormwood… Read More »
Typical Azerbaijan Nouruz Nouruz is celebrated on March 20th or 21st. It is the New Year and Spring Festival. Nouruz literally means “New Day”. The origin of the festival is very old. It is also celebrated in other countries such as Iran. Customs include small fires in the days before Nouruz, which children jump over,… Read More »
Religious tolerance Most of the people in Jordan are Sunni Muslims, but there are also some Christians who are mostly Greek Orthodox, and sometimes Roman Catholic. In Jordan, Christians and Jews are treated with great respect and are specially protected, since Judaism and Christianity are seen as predecessor religions and therefore deserving protection. There are… Read More »
Morocco sees itself as a bridge between Europe and Africa. Due to its geostrategic location and its reform policy, Morocco is an important partner country of the EU and Germany. Important fields of action of German-Moroccan cooperation are renewable energies, water, sustainable economic development, environment and governance, as well as migration policy. Society Morocco is… Read More »
Currency: Moroccan dirham Exchange rate: MAD 10.73 per euro (December 2020) Time zone: UTC (current time in winter GMT + 1) Country code (Tel.): +212 Climate (Rabat): Damp and hot in summer, damp and cool in winter Holidays and celebrations According to physicscat, weekends in Morocco are Saturday and Sunday. Many modern shops are closed… Read More »
If you live in Rabat, you can use the Rabataccueil portal to find out more before you leave the country. The portal is in French, but appeals to an international, diverse user audience. The supply of food and all everyday necessities is very good in Morocco. Most locals buy groceries, small household items, textiles, shoes… Read More »
Where to live In Rabat, foreigners like to move to the following areas: Hassan, Les Orangers, Agdal, Souissi, Hay Riad. In Casablanca, Maarif, CIL, Oasis, Beausejour, Ain Diab and Anfa are preferred residential areas. The choice of where you live depends on many factors, including the time required. Due to the increasing amount of car… Read More »
Entry and residence COVID-19 (Corona Virus) Foreign nationals can currently only enter Morocco in exceptional cases. The Federal Foreign Office provides up-to- date information. Visa requirements German citizens need a passport for entry, which must be valid for at least six months. The identity card is not enough. The visa does not have to be… Read More »
Migration and flight Morocco, from emigration to transit and immigration country Morocco is a country of emigration, transit and immigration at the same time. Since independence in 1956, the state has focused politically primarily on the issue of emigration. Hundreds of thousands of Moroccans have gone to Europe to work since the 1960’s. Some of… Read More »
Diverse cultural heritage, dynamic young scene Thanks to European, Berber, African and Arab influences, Morocco’s culture is very diverse. Moroccan artists from the fields of music, theater, literature, poetry, painting and film are sometimes very successful internationally. King Mohammed VI is an important sponsor, especially of the fine arts. The royal family also supports various… Read More »
Alphabetized adults: Over 18 years: Approx. 70% (with 80% / 60%, UNESCO) Major religions: Islam (99%) Christianity (<0.1) Judaism Urban population: Approx. 65% Life expectancy (female / male): 77.2 / 74.6 years Gender Inequality Index (UNDP): Rank 118 of 162 (2018) Number of births: 2.5 / woman Child mortality (under five years old): 21.3 /… Read More »
“Take it easy, bro!” The New Zealanders see things as relaxed. “She’ll be alright” is the motto of the kiwis – as they call themselves. In the island nation at the other end of the world, immigrants from Europe and Asia live relaxed with the Maoris, the indigenous people of the green island. They share… Read More »
The Moroccan school system The Ministry of Education, Training, Research and Universities (ENSSUP) is politically responsible for schools and universities. The Moroccan government formulated the educational policy goals in the strategic plan 2015-2030. The key points of the plan are early childhood education, basic education, a quality offensive at all levels and close cooperation between… Read More »
Women’s Rights and Civil Society Since the mid-1980’s, more and more non-governmental organizations have emerged in Morocco that work for democracy and for equality between women and men. The best known of these NGOs emerged from the women’s groups of left parties. Over the decades, these former party groups have consistently gained their own feminist… Read More »
In terms of equality between girls and women, Morocco has some catching up to do in a global comparison. In the gender ranking of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Morocco regularly brings up the rear (currently 143rd out of 149). The legal discrimination against Moroccan girls and women as well as the low level… Read More »
Religious affiliation Almost the entire resident population is attributed to Islam. About 0.01 percent are Jewish (approx. 3000 people, estimate based on report by Della Pergola). Around 0.1 percent belong to Christian denominations. Most people describe themselves as practicing Muslims and as believers, although the way they practice varies widely. A small minority openly describe… Read More »
The challenge of multilingualism The languages of Morocco deserve a chapter of their own. Average Moroccan children today grow up speaking at least three languages: Arabic, French, Darija. An estimated 40% of Moroccans also grow up with one of the Berber languages as their mother tongue. In addition, there is Spanish in some regions. Morocco’s… Read More »
Domestic development efforts In his solemn royal speech on the 20th anniversary of the enthronement, King Mohammed VI. drew a critical balance sheet on July 29, 2019. Despite many achievements, for example in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energies, urban development and the fight against poverty, there are still people who have no access to… Read More »
Economic policy and development potential Morocco is on the way from an agricultural country to a service and industrial society, with industrialization encountering many obstacles. The palace and the financial and economic elites pursue a pragmatic line characterized by so-called neoliberalism, with a mix of free market economy, moderate regulation, strengthening of the domestic economy… Read More »
Agriculture, mining (phosphate ore), industry and tourism are the pillars of the Moroccan economy. The food and chemical industries are also important. The clothing industry is struggling with cheap competition from Asia. Unequal distribution of wealth, deficiencies in the education system and unemployment hamper development. Estimated GDP: US $ 118 billion (2020 estimate – GTAI)… Read More »
The Western Sahara Conflict Spain had been a colonial power in Western Sahara since the end of the 19th century. Morocco and the Sahrawis themselves opposed this, with different political goals. Since 1965, the UN has officially requested the decolonization of Western Sahara. In 1967 Spain announced a referendum on future sovereignty, but this was… Read More »
Think tanks The Moroccan government is advised on foreign policy by the Institut Marocain des Relations Internationales (IMRI) and the Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques (IRES). The IMRI holds an annual conference on geopolitical issues. International military cooperation Rabat has been a “Major Non-NATO Ally” since 2004. The country is an important partner of NATO… Read More »
Protests Social protests against exploitation, injustice and political arbitrariness have occurred again and again in Morocco since independence. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, student protests were stifled with massive violence, thousands of mostly young people were arrested and tortured. In the 1980’s the so-called “bread revolts” broke out. In 1991 the population protested on a… Read More »
2011 – The “February 20th” Movement At the beginning of 2011, under the influence of the so-called “Arab Spring” as well as the mass protests and upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt, the protest movement ” Mouvement 20 Février ” (movement February 20) formed. At the beginning of the movement there was an alliance of different… Read More »
Human rights Responsibilities and current trends On the state side, the CNDH (Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme) has been responsible for human rights issues since 2011. The human rights situation in Morocco had changed since King Mohammed VI came to power. first improved in 1999. Arbitrariness and torture have been pushed back; the cultural… Read More »
State and territorial order Political and legal basis of the current territorial and administrative order of Morocco the 2011 Constitution the 2015 Law on Local Authorities (collectivités territoriales, CT) and related organic laws the older Charte Communale (Al mithaq al-dschamaa’i) the 2018 national charter on devolution various laws on the financing of local authorities The… Read More »
Form of government According to the constitution of July 1, 2011, Morocco is a constitutional, democratic and social hereditary monarchy, with direct male succession and Islam as the state religion. Contrary to the basic democratic principle of the separation of powers, the king ultimately controls the executive, the judiciary and, in some cases, the legislative… Read More »
Challenges After taking power in 1999, Mohammed VI stood. very soon facing great challenges. On May 16, 2003, suicide bombers killed a total of 45 people in attacks on five Jewish, Spanish and Moroccan facilities in Casablanca. The assassins came from slums around the economic metropolis. Less than ten months later, on March 11, 2004,… Read More »