🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line: land acquisition complete, 20 million m³ of earthworks finished
via Le Matin2 min read
One year after its launch by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the construction project for the new high-speed rail line connecting Kénitra to Marrakech is progressing significantly. The National Railways Office ONCF reports that land acquisition operations are complete, and nearly all rights-of-way have been cleared, accelerating on-site work. Civil engineering is advancing, with approximately 20 million m³ of earthworks completed and 15 viaducts under construction. Three covered trenches are also underway near Casablanca Airport, Zenata, and Aïn Atiq, totaling 1.5 km, alongside 92 launched rail and road bridges. Railway equipment procurement is on schedule, with 2.5 million tons of ballast, 800,000 tons of sleepers, over 100,000 tons of rails, and 220 track devices supplied. Track laying is in progress on several sections, and signaling systems are being prepared for deployment. The architectural concept for passenger stations is finalized, with a first phase launched in early 2026 and all stations expected to be underway by July 2026. This 430-kilometer line is part of a 96 billion dirham national railway program, with 53 billion dirhams allocated to the Kénitra-Marrakech line's infrastructure and equipment. The program also includes acquiring 168 trains for 29 billion dirhams and 14 billion dirhams for maintaining the existing network. The project mobilizes nearly 150 direct companies, two-thirds of which are national, contributing to Morocco's economic development and streng
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadMoroccan authorities have announced that starting April 27, 2026, Malian citizens will no longer require an Electronic Travel Authorization for Morocco AEVM. This decision, officially communicated by Rabat on April 23, follows discussions during Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita's visit to Bamako on April 10. The change means Malian travelers will only need a valid passport, adhering to standard entry conditions, and will no longer be subject to the prior online authorization previously required for some visa-exempt travelers. Malian authorities view this measure as a sign of renewed momentum in the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, expecting it to boost economic, commercial, and human exchanges. This development is part of a broader rapprochement between Rabat and Bamako, characterized by joint announcements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in areas such as mobility, training, and economic cooperation.
While global business bankruptcies are projected to rise, Morocco is experiencing a contrasting trend. After reaching a record 15,658 failures in 2024, the country saw a 2% decrease in 2025, bringing the total to 15,307 cases. Allianz Trade forecasts this improvement to continue, with 14,950 failures expected in 2026 and 14,300 in 2027. Despite this positive trajectory, the current level of business failures remains nearly 78% higher than the average observed between 2016 and 2019, prior to the pandemic.
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Morocco is one of the African economies least exposed to the repercussions of the Middle East conflict, according to a study by S&P Global Ratings. The country ranks 25th, the lowest exposure level, in a comparative table of all rated African sovereigns. This assessment is based on five equally weighted pillars: trade dependence on the Middle East, exposure to energy shocks, external vulnerability, available foreign exchange reserves, and public debt dynamics. Morocco's indicators are generally more moderate than those of several other African countries. The Kingdom imports 6.8% of its goods from the Middle East, below the African average of 11%, and directs only 1.1% of its exports to the region, compared to a continental average of 14%. Its net dependence on oil and gas trade with the Middle East is -5.8% of GDP, indicating limited direct exposure to the region's hydrocarbon flows. Fuel subsidies represent 1.4% of GDP. Its current account balance is -2.5% of GDP, with external financing needs corresponding to 89.1% of usable reserves and a net external debt of 13.8% of GDP, which are contained levels compared to other rated African sovereigns. Morocco has foreign exchange reserve coverage equivalent to 5.5 months of goods and services imports, above the continental average of about three months. It shows an annual inflation of 1.8%. Its net government debt is 64.1% of GDP, with an interest burden equivalent to 7.7% of public revenues, lower than the median observed in Afric