🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco faces critical shortage of forensic doctors, parliamentary report reveals
via Le Matin5 min read
Morocco currently has only 28 forensic doctors nationwide, an insufficient number to meet the demands of the justice system and medico-legal expertise, according to a report by a parliamentary commission. This shortage is highlighted as having significant consequences for the functioning of criminal justice and the protection of fundamental rights in the country.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadGroups of desert locusts are increasing in southern Morocco, raising concerns about the potential formation of small swarms in the coming weeks. Teams are mobilized from Guelmim to Merzouga, including Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Agadir, Foum El Hassan, Foum Zguid, and Errachidia, to contain their progression. According to the FAO, these groups consist of immature winged locusts that developed from larval bands observed in June. Their maturation could lead to the formation of small swarms before a possible migration towards Mauritania and the summer breeding grounds in the Sahel. Morocco is currently conducting the majority of anti-locust operations in the western region, demonstrating the scale of efforts to control detected outbreaks. Morocco continues extensive prospecting and anti-locust operations. The latest bulletin from the FAO's Desert Locust Information Service DLIS reported that 87,363 hectares were treated in June, covering almost all affected areas in the western region, compared to 1,070 hectares in Algeria and 68 hectares in Mauritania. These interventions significantly reduced larval populations, with only a few pockets remaining by the end of June. However, the organization emphasizes that treatments and surveillance must continue in the coming weeks to prevent the formation of new swarms. This resurgence is primarily due to favorable climatic conditions in recent months, including spring and June rains, which have sustained abundant vegetation in several southern Morocc
Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water ONEE – Electricity Branch, has initiated geotechnical studies for the "Oued Lakraa – Médiouna" high-voltage direct current HVDC link. This 1,440-kilometer connection, designed for a 3-gigawatt capacity, will link the southern regions to the economic heart of the Kingdom. The studies, managed by ONEE's Directorate of DC Links and International Interconnections, are divided into two phases. The first phase, lasting one month, focuses on the two conversion stations at Oued Lakraa and Médiouna, each spanning approximately 18 hectares. The second phase, lasting four months, covers the transmission corridor itself, split into three sections: Oued Lakraa – Tan-Tan 550 km, Tan-Tan – Marrakech 576 km, and Marrakech – Médiouna 312 km. These investigations will involve soil surveys, including a minimum of ten soundings per conversion station and at least one sounding every five kilometers along the line, to determine geotechnical parameters such as cohesion, internal friction angle, and bulk density. The aim is to identify potential risks like settlement, landslides, scouring, or erosion, and to provide recommendations for future foundation designs. The project requires an experienced technical team, including a geotechnical engineer with at least five years of experience in high-voltage overhead line geotechnical studies and a technical manager with at least three years of experience. This link is crucial for strengthening ele
Jaida has achieved 4.7 billion dirhams in cumulative funding for microfinance in Morocco since its inception in 2007, benefiting nearly two million individuals through 82 operations. The institution has financed seven microcredit associations across all regions of the Kingdom and Tamwil El Fellah, a specialized financing company for small-scale agriculture. Agriculture accounts for 41% of Jaida's funding, followed by commerce at 36%, other sectors at 17%, and crafts at 6%. Notably, 55% of the income-generating activities funded are in rural areas, and 31% are led by women, highlighting Jaida's inclusive approach. The institution has also raised 3 billion dirhams from impact investors and established numerous public and private partnerships. For 2025 alone, Jaida reported outstanding loans of 686 million dirhams and an annual production of 310 million dirhams. In September 2025, Bank Al-Maghrib granted Jaida a new accreditation, expanding its scope to include financing for the social and solidarity economy SSE. This allows Jaida to support aggregators, national and regional funds, and cooperatives, in addition to microfinance institutions. This new direction aligns with the New Development Model and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, focusing on themes like gender, rural development, youth, and the green economy. Jaida is developing a new range of products and technical assistance for SSE actors, with pilot projects expected to launch in 2026 to refine its intervention