馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco's trade deficit worsens to 127 billion dirhams by April 2026
via Le Matin3 min read
Morocco's trade deficit increased to 127 billion dirhams by the end of April 2026, an 18.4% rise from 107 billion dirhams recorded a year prior, according to the Exchange Office. This deterioration is reflected in the import coverage rate by exports, which fell from 59.1% to 57.1%, indicating that export growth is not keeping pace with the acceleration in international purchases. Imports reached 295 billion dirhams, a 12.7% increase, driven by finished equipment products, which saw a 21.8% jump. Purchases of aircraft and other aerial or spatial vehicles rose by 3.110 billion dirhams, utility cars by 1.767 billion, and aircraft parts by 1.558 billion. Finished consumer products also contributed to this trend, with imports up 15.2%, notably for parts and components for passenger cars +3.463 billion dirhams, passenger cars +2.685 billion, and medicines +665 million. Raw product imports increased by 48.8%, mainly due to higher purchases of crude and unrefined sulfur +6.681 billion dirhams and scrap metal, waste, and other ores +398 million, though crude or refined olive oil imports decreased by 396 million dirhams. The energy bill also rose by 12%, adding 4.48 billion dirhams, primarily from increased supplies of gas-oils and fuel-oils +4.14 billion dirhams and petroleum oils and lubricants +1.43 billion. Exports grew at a more moderate pace, reaching 168 billion dirhams by April 2026, an 8.7% increase. The automotive industry was a key driver, with exports up 18.6%, contributing
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.
The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.
Meryem Belhoussine's research, based on testimonies from over 80 former Moroccan female parliamentarians, highlights the persistent exclusion of women from political governance. She identifies financial and sociocultural obstacles, such as limited resources for campaigns and gender stereotypes within parties, as well as "invisible resistances" like psychological violence and unfulfilled promises. Many women wait 30 to 35 years in activism before reaching parliament, revealing systemic dysfunctions. While quotas have significantly increased women's presence in parliament, they haven't transformed party operations, which remain opaque and influenced by informal networks. Quotas have often led to women being elected through reserved lists rather than competitive local constituencies, and are sometimes seen as political rent rather than merit-based promotion. Belhoussine notes that Moroccan political parties, despite constitutional reforms and legal requirements for female representation in leadership, often only partially adhere to these obligations without developing genuine strategies for promoting female leadership. She argues that the main challenge is no longer just getting women into institutions, but ensuring they have equal conditions, career prospects, and evaluation criteria as men. For the upcoming September 23, 2026 legislative elections, Belhoussine emphasizes that parties must invest in women in truly competitive constituencies. She advocates for democratizing the
Must ReadThe 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements across strategic sectors. These agreements demonstrate the commitment of both nations to deepen their strategic partnership through structured projects. The meeting, held in Rabat, signifies a new phase in the cooperation between Morocco and France.