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 »
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 »
Experience as heir to the throne When King Hassan II, born in 1929, of Morocco was formally enthroned on March 3, 1961, he had already gained extensive political and military experience. In 1943 he had attended the negotiations between his father Mohammed V and the Allies in Casablanca-Anfa; In 1953 he and his father went… Read More »
Independence Day: March 2, 1956 Head of state: King Mohammed VI (since 1999) Head of government: Saadeddine Al Othmani Political system: Constitutional hereditary monarchy Democracy Status Index (BTI): Rank 104 of 137 (2020) Corruption Index (CPI): Rank 80 of 180 (2019) Ibrahim Index of African Governance: Rank 15 of 54 (2018) Special features of the… Read More »
Modern times In 1659 the Alawids conquered Marrakech and drove out the last Saadians. In 1664 they defeat the Dila Brotherhood in northern Morocco and take control of most of what is now Morocco. From 1664 to 1672, the Sultan Moulay Raschid consolidated the rule of the Alawids. His successor Moulay Ismail tried from 1672… Read More »
According to businesscarriers, Morocco is called in Arabic “Al Maghrib” (“The Maghreb”) or “Al Mamlaka Al Maghribiya” (The Maghreb Kingdom, formerly also “the Sherif Kingdom”). The name “Morocco” is derived from the city of Marrakech. Morocco has been independent since 1956 and, according to the constitution, is a constitutional monarchy. Prehistory Traces of human life… Read More »
Morocco (Al-Mamlaka Al-Maghribiya) is the westernmost country in North Africa. It is separated from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar, borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Algeria to the east. The highest mountain is the Toubkal (4167m), the lowest point is Sebkha Tah, in the border area… Read More »
Berbers, Arabs, descendants of black slaves, Europeans: Morocco is a melting pot of civilizations. The rich, diverse human culture, landscapes and warm colors of Moroccan handicrafts fascinate millions of visitors year after year. Many international artists have been inspired by Morocco. Some travelers write rich blogs that can be used as a supplement to travel… Read More »