馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco calls for prompt implementation and full respect of the US-Iran agreement
via Le Matin3 min read
Morocco has called for the prompt implementation and full respect of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, this agreement is crucial for consolidating the ceasefire and ensuring lasting freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Kingdom of Morocco also thanked the mediators for their efforts in facilitating this progress and expressed hope that the agreement will contribute to resolving other outstanding issues in accordance with international law. US President Donald Trump had previously announced that an agreement with Iran was "finalized" and that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened.
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.
As Morocco approaches its 2026 legislative elections, economist Kamal Zine emphasizes the need for political parties to present clear, quantified economic programs, moving beyond general slogans. He states that the primary challenge for the 2026 elections will be voter participation, especially among young people, which can only be achieved through concrete proposals with precise objectives, realistic timelines, and identified funding. Zine highlights that Moroccans now expect detailed programs demonstrating both promises and implementation strategies. He also advises political parties to integrate alternative scenarios into their proposals, considering international uncertainties like inflation, geopolitical tensions, energy price fluctuations, and global economic slowdowns. Zine believes the fundamental goal for Morocco in the coming years is to achieve emerging economy status by 2035, as outlined in the new development model NMD. He argues that the NMD needs updating, citing the unachieved annual growth target of 6-7% despite massive public investment. He questions why investment efforts are not yielding expected growth results. Zine notes that the Moroccan economy is still heavily reliant on public investment, contrary to the NMD's vision for 2035 where two-thirds of investment should come from the private sector. He advocates for a progressive debt reduction strategy to preserve national sovereignty, clarifying that this does not mean ceasing borrowing, as Morocco mainta
Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF and Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, discussed Morocco's development vision, particularly concerning the 2030 World Cup and rumors about his political future. Lekjaa addressed concerns that 2030 World Cup investments might exacerbate disparities between major cities and less developed regions, rejecting the idea of a "two-speed Morocco." He highlighted existing structural investments in remote areas, such as the expressway connecting Agadir, La芒youne, and Dakhla, and projects in the Oriental region and Sa茂dia. While acknowledging territorial disparities, Lekjaa stated that studies for programs to reduce these gaps are complete, and work will begin in various regions, including those less developed. He views the 2030 World Cup as a catalyst for territorial upgrading, promising that by 2030, these regions will also show significant transformation. Regarding rumors positioning him as a potential "World Cup head of government," Lekjaa stated he had "no knowledge of this subject" and responded to questions about personal ambition by saying, "The invisible is known only to God, and it is in Him that we place our trust."
The Casablanca Stock Exchange experienced a significant rebound at the start of the week, following the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil trade. US President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that an agreement had been "finalized," leading to a positive market reaction to the prospect of a gradual normalization of energy flows in the region. The benchmark MASI index closed up 4.46% at 18,753 points, with a total volume of 537 million dirhams. This increase allowed the index to recover almost all of its year-to-date losses, which are now at -0.49%. The trading session was largely favorable to buyers, with 55 stocks ending higher, 10 lower, and 4 unchanged. The rebound affected several major capitalizations. Managem recorded one of the session's strongest gains, rising 10% to 14,998 dirhams on a volume of 60 million dirhams. Marsa Maroc also contributed to the market's rebound, attracting 57 million dirhams and closing up 6.63% at 869 dirhams. In the banking sector, Attijariwafa bank saw 50 million dirhams in trades and gained 3.68% to 705 dirhams. Maroc Telecom traded 37 million dirhams and ended the session up 2.30% at 93.5 dirhams. This rebound follows a period of high volatility in Casablanca, particularly due to Middle East tensions and their impact on raw materials, energy, and mining stocks. While the agreement announcement temporarily restored confidence, investors