Harmattan AI to produce next-generation autonomous systems in Morocco
via Le Matin1 min read
Harmattan AI has announced a strategic partnership to develop the production of autonomous defense systems in Morocco, focusing on artificial intelligence research and national defense skill development. This agreement with the Royal Armed Forces aims to support Morocco in deploying next-generation autonomous air defense capabilities starting in 2026. The partnership aligns with Morocco's goal of establishing a sovereign and technologically advanced defense industrial base. Harmattan AI's contribution will involve three main areas: establishing production capabilities in Morocco for autonomous defense systems, creating a national research and development center for AI in defense, and fostering partnerships with Moroccan higher education institutions and research bodies. Mouad M'Ghari, CEO and co-founder of Harmattan AI, stated that this collaboration demonstrates the company's ability to assist nations in developing their own defense industrial bases, highlighting Morocco's strategic choice for autonomy and technological sovereignty.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadA recent report indicates that nearly 40,000 severe violations were committed against children worldwide in 2025. These violations directly affected 24,174 children, with 3,176 experiencing multiple violations simultaneously. The report highlights various abuses including killings, mutilations, recruitment and use of children, abductions, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. Killings 6,266 and mutilations 7,958 were the most frequently verified violations, with a 34% increase in child killings compared to 2024. Additionally, 5,129 children were abducted, often for recruitment purposes, and 1,667 were detained due to their real or perceived association with conflict parties. Girls constituted one-third of all victims. The report attributes this rise to the increased use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the growing integration of artificial intelligence in targeting processes. Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, stated that 2025 was "one of the darkest chapters for child protection" since the monitoring mechanism began. She emphasized that children affected by armed conflicts should be considered victims and called for international political and financial support for the reintegration of all children released from armed forces and groups.
On June 23, 1998, Morocco's national team, led by coach Henri Michel, secured a decisive 3-0 victory against Scotland in their final group stage match of the World Cup in France. Salaheddine Bassir scored two goals, with Abdeljalil Hadda adding another. Despite this impressive win, which saw the team display intensity, realism, and pride, Morocco was ultimately eliminated from the tournament. Qualification for the round of 16 seemed within reach, but Norway's late victory over Brazil in the other group match dashed Morocco's hopes. The Moroccan squad featured notable players such as Mustapha Chadili, Noureddine Naybet, Abdeslam Ouaddou, Youssef Chippo, Mustapha Hadji, and Abdeljalil Hadda. This generation is remembered as one of the most iconic in Moroccan football history. Looking ahead to 2026, the Atlas Lions approach the World Cup with a different status, having gained respect and high expectations following their historic performance in Qatar, including a draw against Brazil in the first match.
Must ReadAfrican experts in artificial intelligence, governance, and media, participating in a session with the Policy Center for the New South PCNS, have warned that deepfakes are increasingly eroding collective trust by making it difficult to distinguish between real and fabricated images, videos, and voices. Mohamed Benabid, a practice professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University UM6P, noted that the shift is not just technological but also societal and epistemological, leading to a crisis where only 40% of the global population trusts information. Imad Hashtagi, Program Officer at PCNS, highlighted that deepfakes create an environment where even genuine evidence becomes questionable, fostering a "liar's dividend" where authentic content can be dismissed as fake. Karen Oakley, an electoral process specialist, emphasized that this poses a significant challenge for democracies, as viral rumors or falsified videos can undermine electoral integrity. The number of deepfakes has increased sixteenfold in two years, with a new one generated every two minutes, extending beyond politics to sophisticated financial fraud, such as a British company reportedly losing $25 million from an AI-simulated video conference. Experts also noted that current detection tools struggle to keep pace with generative AI advancements, and compression on social media erases technical clues. The African continent is particularly vulnerable, as most deepfake detection systems are trained on Western databases and