Morocco at the heart of the African struggle for narrative reappropriation and sovereignty
via Le Matin6 min read
The first Pan-African Media Forum, FOPAME, was held in Bamako, Mali, after a five-week postponement due to a terrorist attack on April 25, 2026. Morocco was the only country designated as the guest of honor. Salif Sanogo, President of the FOPAME Organizing Committee, emphasized the historical role of Africans as guardians of their own narratives, referencing the Kurukan Fuga Charter of 1236 and Timbuktu's Sankore University built in 1324. Bandiougou Dante, General Coordinator of FOPAME and President of the Mali Press House, opened the forum by honoring Mohamed Hamid Cissé, the forum's scientific committee president, who passed away on April 9. Dante also called for the release of journalist Youssouf Sissoko, the only Malian journalist imprisoned for his work. Major General Abdoulaye Maïga, the Malian Prime Minister, delivered a politically charged opening speech, identifying three forms of terrorism facing Sahel states: armed, economic, and media terrorism. He advocated for a 21st-century pan-Africanism that is media, digital, and informational, and debunked "misconceptions" about Mali's transition, asserting its clear direction, broad African support, and the defensive nature of the Alliance of Sahel States. Professor Martin Faye's inaugural conference, "African Media in the Digital Age: Independence, Innovation, and Narrative Sovereignty," provided a conceptual framework. He discussed the end of the media's monopoly on information, the economic vulnerability of African medi
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadA new study, "The Family Business in Morocco in Figures," conducted by the Institute of Family Business of Morocco IEF-Maroc with support from the International Finance Corporation IFC, reveals that 92.9% of active businesses in Morocco are family-owned. These enterprises employ approximately 6.3 million people, representing 65% of the private sector workforce, and contribute 60.5% to the national added value. The study, presented at a conference in Casablanca, highlighted the critical role of family businesses while also exposing a major challenge: only one in twenty family businesses survives beyond two intergenerational transfers. This fragility is evident in governance structures, with three-quarters of family businesses managed exclusively by family members, and a third having a board composed solely of relatives. Kacem Bennani-Smires, President of IEF-Maroc, emphasized the importance of preparing for succession to preserve family legacies and national heritage. Cheick-Oumar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, echoed this sentiment, stating that failed transmissions erase a part of family and Moroccan history. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, urged family business leaders to embrace technological advancement and international expansion to create new value. The conference also saw the signing of an agreement between IEF-Maroc and Maroc PME to deploy a specific support mechanism for family business succession, marking a fir
MEDI1TV has received authorization to establish, operate, and broadcast its programs in Mali. This agreement, made with the High Authority of Communication of Mali, aims to promote information about African realities and developments, aligning with the cooperative relations between Morocco and Mali. The channel, which already has a presence in Mali through Radio Méditerranée Internationale Medi 1 broadcasting in Bamako, plans to expand its footprint in the Malian audiovisual landscape. MEDI1TV intends to strengthen cooperation with Malian audiovisual stakeholders through expertise sharing, training, and innovation, particularly in the digital sector. The channel also affirmed its commitment to operating within Malian regulatory frameworks and upholding journalistic ethics and rigor.
Nazim Samadov, a diplomat, described the May 2025 visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa to Azerbaijan as a significant moment for strengthening cultural ties. Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat, was invited by Her Excellency Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. During her visit, Princess Lalla Hasnaa visited the Alley of Martyrs, the Alley of Honor, the International Carpet Festival in Baku, and inaugurated the digital exhibition "The Art of Rabat Carpet" at the National Carpet Museum of Azerbaijan. Samadov noted that this visit not only consolidated bilateral relations but also opened new avenues for cooperation in cultural heritage preservation and youth education. The rapprochement between the two countries is attributed to shared Muslim identity, territorial sovereignty, stability, and development, with diplomatic relations established on August 28, 1992. Both nations have mutually supported each other in international organizations. Recent years have seen accelerated cooperation driven by a common strategic vision for economic diversification, energy transition, South-South cooperation, and effective multilateralism. Over 40 agreements have been concluded, including a visa exemption agreement signed in 2024, effective since August 2024. Key areas of cooperation include political and diplomatic coordination, economic
Rachid Houari, Director General of Africa Morocco Link AML, highlighted the significance of the recent First Maritime Conferences for Morocco's maritime sector. He noted that these conferences, a first of their kind for the sector, underscore a growing awareness of its strategic importance and have laid out promising directions for national operators. AML, as one of the few Moroccan shipowners with a significant presence in the Strait of Gibraltar, contributes to nearly 30% of Moroccan-flagged traffic on this route. Houari emphasized the immense potential for growth, as the national fleet currently accounts for only 3% to 4% of the total maritime traffic that could be handled by Moroccan operators. He stressed the need for concrete measures and support mechanisms to enable Moroccan companies to invest, develop, and enhance their competitiveness. AML maintains ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Transport to strengthen Morocco's presence in maritime transport, including the development and re-establishment of strategic routes. A recent example is the re-launch of the Nador-Almeria maritime link, which had not been operated by a Moroccan company for nearly a decade. This project, supported by competent authorities, demonstrates the essential cooperation between public and private sectors. AML aims to continue this dynamic, exploring new routes and strengthening existing ones to increase the presence of Moroccan shipowners and reinforce national maritime sovereignty. Rega