🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Omar Hilale forges strategic partnership between UN Peacebuilding Commission and World Bank
via Le Matin3 min read
Omar Hilale, speaking at the third edition of a dialogue following previous sessions in Washington, emphasized that peace is not merely the foundation but a prerequisite for sustainable development. He noted that over half of the world's extremely poor populations reside in fragile, conflict, or violent contexts, urging the World Bank Board to maintain focus on these areas and commending the 21st replenishment of the International Development Association IDA for its emphasis on prevention and resilience. Hilale highlighted significant progress in Bangui, including security consolidation, expanded state authority, and commitment to transitional justice, advocating for increased World Bank support. He outlined four priority areas for UN-World Bank cooperation in the Central African Republic: mobilizing increased funding for community reintegration, supporting security and justice reforms, assisting the Central African approach to the World Bank's Prevention and Resilience Allocation PRA, and strengthening the quadripartite monitoring framework involving the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Union. Hilale also announced the inaugural UN Peacebuilding Week in New York from June 22-26, themed "Partnership for Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact," and invited World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to attend, stressing that his presence would underscore the centrality of the UN-World Bank partnership in international peace and development. The subsequent interactiv
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Must ReadRecent cyberattacks in Morocco highlight a concerning rise in cybercrime, with incidents targeting institutions like CNOPS and OFPPT revealing increasing data vulnerability. This surge in attacks is accompanied by a proliferation of scams, particularly through fraudulent SMS messages. Professor Youssef Bentaleb, president of the Moroccan Center for Polytechnic Research and Innovation and director of Espace Maroc Cyberconfiance, has warned about the strategic risks posed by this vulnerability, advocating for a national response based on local solutions and robust digital sovereignty.
Must ReadAgriculture ministers from Morocco, Portugal, France, and Côte d'Ivoire have initiated discussions at the 18th International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM in Meknes. The event, taking place on April 21, 2026, marks the official start of debates among the participating nations.
Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, announced that the first phase of Morocco's National High and Very High Speed Broadband Development Plan has been completed. This phase covered over 10,690 out of 10,740 zones with 2G, 3G, and 4G telecommunication services. The second phase of the plan has been launched, aiming to cover and improve services for 2,000 new rural areas by 2026. These areas were identified through a participatory approach involving local authorities, parliamentarians, and local elected officials. Satellite technologies VSAT are being used in areas difficult to serve by terrestrial networks, with each customer eligible for 2,500 dirhams in financial support per subscription, for up to 4,000 beneficiaries annually. Additionally, 5G has been launched in over 50 cities, serving approximately 7 million subscribers. Operators have committed to investments exceeding 80 billion dirhams by 2035 to expand this service, aiming to cover 45% of the population by 2026 and 85% by 2030. Efforts are also underway to implement the national fiber optic plan, which seeks to equip 5.6 million homes by 2030 by strengthening infrastructure sharing among operators and mandating fiber optic equipment in new subdivisions and infrastructure.
Mr. Toufiq announced that 34,000 individuals will benefit from the Hajj for the 1447H season. In response to an oral question in the House of Representatives regarding "improving Hajj services and ensuring optimal organization of this operation," posed by the Authenticity and Modernity group, Mr. Toufiq stated that the cost of Hajj under the official organization has been set at 63,121 dirhams, a decrease of 3,000 dirhams compared to the previous year. Measures taken include strengthening coordination with various departments, institutions, and bodies that are members of the Royal Commission in charge of the pilgrimage, each within its area of competence. These measures also include organizing training and supervision sessions for pilgrims, intensifying awareness programs through national media and in mosques, and developing guidance manuals covering the different stages of Hajj. He also highlighted the establishment of lists of supervisors and escorts, with one supervisor for every 49 pilgrims, as well as the development of a pilgrim transportation program according to a precise schedule. Pilgrims will also have a digital card containing all necessary information throughout the Hajj period. Regarding coordination with the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Toufiq noted that a protocol was concluded for this purpose on the sidelines of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition. He remarked that Saudi authorities awarded the Moroccan mission a distinction l