馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Raja and WAC prepare for 132nd derby amid contrasting team fortunes and fan ban
via Le Matin2 min read
Moroccan football fans will focus on the 132nd derby between Raja and WAC at Complexe Mohammed V this Saturday. The match will be played behind closed doors due to disciplinary sanctions following incidents at Raja's last game against AS FAR in Rabat. This decision will significantly impact the atmosphere, as the derby is known for its vibrant crowd. Raja enters the match confidently after a 2-0 victory over MAS, placing them alone at the top of the league with 39 points. However, Raja faces concerns over player injuries, with Adam Ennafati uncertain to play due to a thigh injury. In contrast, Wydad is experiencing a turbulent period, marked by the resignation of their president, Hicham A茂t Menna, despite a recent win against CODM. Sportingly, Wydad, currently in fourth place, will be without key player Guilherme Ferreira, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament rupture. Beyond the derby, other crucial matches in the 20th round include Maghreb de F猫s, now in second place with 38 points, visiting Union Touarga. AS FAR, in third, travels to Agadir to play Hassania HUSA. The bottom of the table also features high-stakes matches, such as Ittihad de Tanger against Difa芒 Hassani d'El Jadida, critical for avoiding relegation. RS Berkane will play CODM in Mekn猫s, aiming to solidify its top-five position. OC Safi needs a strong performance against Fath Union Sports, and US Yacoub El Mansour will face Kawkab de Marrakech, both fighting for survival.
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.
Morocco is ranked 72nd out of 120 countries in the "Energy Transition Index 2026" report by the World Economic Forum, with a score of 54.5 out of 100. This places the country below the global average score of 57.3. The index evaluates the overall performance of energy systems and their capacity for a sustainable transition, considering factors beyond just clean energy production, such as robust networks, stable regulatory frameworks, sufficient funding, supply security, and skilled personnel. The index uses 44 indicators across two main areas: current energy system performance 60% of the score, which includes energy access, cost, supply security, and environmental sustainability; and transition readiness 40% of the score, which assesses regulatory frameworks, political commitment, infrastructure, financing, innovation, training, and human capital. Morocco scored 58.4 for current performance but only 48.6 for transition readiness, indicating a need to strengthen the foundations for accelerating its transition. Within Africa, Morocco is 5th among the countries covered by the index, behind Namibia, Tunisia, Gabon, and South Africa. Globally, Sweden leads the ranking for the third consecutive year, followed by Finland and Denmark. The report also notes a global slowdown in energy transition in 2026, with the average global score increasing by only 0.03%, and transition readiness declining for the first time in over a decade. This slowdown is attributed to geopolitical tensions, f
The Executive Bureau of the Democratic Confederation of Labor CDT met on June 17 in Casablanca and announced a national protest march for Sunday, June 28, in Casablanca. This decision marks a new phase of union action, driven by concerns over the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, and increasing social tensions. The CDT criticizes the government for imposing the burden of the crisis on employees and the working class, and for managing social dialogue through "imposition and manipulation" rather than through institutional mechanisms that could lead to concerted solutions. The union asserts that the government has failed to address workers' "just and legitimate" demands and has undermined the prospect of a new social landscape based on equity, dignity, and social and territorial justice. The CDT aims to pressure for the implementation of existing agreements, improved living conditions for workers, an end to attacks on union freedoms, and the initiation of a comprehensive dialogue with representative organizations, particularly regarding the proposed law on the right to strike. The march seeks a general increase in wages and pensions, protection of incomes against inflation, adherence to previous social commitments, and the defense of union freedoms and the right to strike. The CDT also calls for safeguarding pension benefits and creating employment opportunities for young people. The union urges the government to fulfill its political and social responsibilities
Must ReadThe ongoing debate in Brussels regarding the future of the European automotive industry directly impacts Morocco. While seemingly an internal EU discussion aimed at protecting its manufacturers and value chains from China's rise, Morocco is central to this reordering. Its geographical proximity to Europe, integration into Renault and Stellantis production chains, and Chinese investments in batteries and electric components expose it to European decisions. Adil Zaidi, president of the Automotive Federation of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises CGEM, views this not as an immediate threat but as a shift from "happy globalization" to a "globalization of resilience," driven by successive crises. Europe's new strategy focuses on shortening supply chains and strengthening industrial autonomy, which has elevated Morocco's importance as a reliable, close production platform. Zaidi emphasizes that Morocco is no longer just a subcontracting hub but a recognized industrial platform with an installed capacity of over 900,000 vehicles, aiming for one million units soon. He argues that Morocco acts as an industrial buffer for Europe, offering competitive production costs that support European factories. This complementarity explains why major European manufacturers like Renault and Stellantis advocate for less rigid local content rules, proposing a 70% European content threshold, leaving 30% for partner countries like Morocco. Morocco seeks recognition of its local content as