Category: Politics

Rabat - The House of Councillors will hold on Thursday a plenary session in order to examine the progress report on government action. This session, which is being held in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph of Article 101 of the Constitution, is scheduled to start at 3:00 pm, the upper house said in a press release. Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, presented on April 24 a progress report on government action before both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat - Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, received, Tuesday in Rabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. This visit, which is part of the fraternal relations between HM King Mohammed VI and His brother HM Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Sovereign of Bahrain, reaffirms the distinguished ties between the two countries, marked by active and sustained solidarity, constant coordination and ongoing consultation. It also takes place as part of the preparations for the 33rd Arab summit scheduled for May 14 to 16 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat - The Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH) stated on Monday that the section dedicated to Morocco in the 2023 Amnesty International (AI) report, published last April 24th, constitutes further evidence of this organization's systematic targeting and persistence in pursuing campaigns against the Kingdom. In a statement, the DIDH emphasizes that these campaigns rely on selective approaches in presenting data, choosing cases, and in the way they present the issues, arbitrarily drawing erroneous conclusions based on false narratives and unfounded allegations. The DIDH accuses AI of deceitfully advancing allegations of "intolerance towards freedom of expression" based on selected cases, either judged or under trial, without acknowledging that this approach violates the rule of law and the principle of equality. It also accuses AI of perpetuating impunity, protecting individuals involved in public law crimes, and denying victims their right to justice. According to the DIDH, AI's approach con tradicts fundamental human rights principles consistently proclaimed by international mechanisms. By using cases outside the period covered by the report to serve its own agenda, AI has compromised its credibility and professionalism necessary to evaluate the human rights situation worldwide, the statement continues. The delegation also criticized AI's deliberate misclassification of certain cases as torture, while some involve extradition procedures under international judicial cooperation, and others lack evidence to be categorized as torture. AI's manipulation through biased and arbitrary classification of allegations for provocative purposes is part of its approach of manipulation, instrumentalization, and exploitation to serve particular interests, the statement adds. It insists that AI should conduct thorough research and investigations to verify the accuracy of torture allegations before including them in the report, especially since none of these cases have been complained about or reported to comp etent authorities. The DIDH observes that AI chose to ignore all the clarifications provided by Moroccan authorities to various UN human rights mechanisms regarding the events in the Nador-Melilla region, which have been published on the official websites of these mechanisms. These explanations include detailed accounts of what happened and the measures taken by the Kingdom in line with human rights, justice, and the rule of law requirements, including research findings and investigations into the matter. The organization's reliance on events concerning the Nador-Melilla region without considering UN documents indicates a bias, notes the same source, adding that some data in the report contradict UN documents. The report's authors seem to serve agendas hostile to Morocco's territorial integrity by trying to exploit the visit of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Moroccan Sahara to spread fabricated information based on narratives from Morocco's adversaries without verifying their accuracy, e specially regarding alleged dispersals of peaceful gatherings and restrictions on associations, asserts the DIDH. It emphasizes that the envoy's visit proceeded under normal conditions, with Moroccan authorities ensuring its success. The reality on the ground confirms that peaceful gatherings and the right to form associations are guaranteed by the Constitution and laws to all citizens across different regions of the Kingdom without discrimination. Moreover, the Interministerial Delegation noted that the report's authors deliberately omitted mentioning the systematic and grave human rights violations in the Tindouf camps, despite successive international reports indicating cases worthy of investigation, thus demonstrating the organization's blatant bias and interference in the responsibilities of the Security Council regarding the MINURSO mandate. For all these reasons, the Interministerial Delegation expressed outright rejection of the unfounded allegations and biased positions contained in the aforementi oned report concerning Morocco, reiterating its willingness to engage constructively and positively with serious and credible international organizations' reports by providing all necessary clarifications and data to contribute to objective and realistic assessments of the human rights situation in the Kingdom. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) says it plans to partner with the University of Abuja to expand its academic programmes. Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General, NILDS, said this at the orientation programme for the 2024 NILDS/University of Benin (UNIBEN) post graduate students in Abuja on Monday. 'This will showcase NILDS as indeed the citadel of learning, character moulding and intellectualism,' he said. Represented by a consultant of the institute, Dr Kabir Ahmed, Sulaiman said that the orientation was to acquaint the students with the rules and regulations guiding the operation of the institute. He said that the institute placed great premium on high moral and ethical standards saying that there was no short-cut to success and students must always play by the rules. Sulaiman said that the institute would soon commence a Masters Degree Programme in Governace in collaboration with some renowned educational institutions. 'I am pleased to inform you all that a s part of our efforts in ensuring that we strengthen our post graduate programmes, a master's degree programme in Governance will soon commence in the Institute. 'This is a collaborative tripartite agreement between the NILDS, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN). 'Also, the Open Distance Learning (ODL) Programme in professional certificate courses in diverse areas will soon commence. 'I am equally pleased to inform you all that there is also a collaboration between NILDS and the Federal University Lokoja for doctoral programmes in Election and Party Politics, Parliamentary Administration, Legislative Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Leadership and Strategic Studies, and Social Works,' he said. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Banjul - Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, held a series of talks on Saturday in Banjul, The Gambia, on the sidelines of the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference. Bourita held talks with Azerbaijan's top diplomat, Jeyhun Bairamov, Trkiye's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, his counterpart from Sudan, Hussein Awad Ali, as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré. These talks provided an opportunity to review relations between the Kingdom and these countries, and to examine issues of common interest. The Moroccan minister also held talks with the Vice-Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Moussa Al-Koni, and the Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, Dina Yahia. Bourita also met on Saturday with Salem Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), with whom he signed an Anne x to Amend the Headquarters Agreement between this Organization and the Government of Morocco. This is the first amendment to the agreement, 36 years after it was signed in 1988, under which the Kingdom of Morocco grants ISESCO and its staff a set of privileges. On Thursday and Friday in the Gambian capital, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates held talks with several of his counterparts taking part in the Islamic Summit, which wraps up Sunday. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Banjul - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, commended the African Atlantic Initiative launched by HM King Mohammed VI for the benefit of the Sahel states. In a statement to the press following his meeting on Saturday in Banjul with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, Traoré said that Burkina Faso, 'a landlocked country', welcomed this Royal Initiative enabling Sahel countries to have access to the Atlantic Ocean. Burkina Faso's top diplomat said that his country is 'interested in more ways than one' by this Royal Initiative, underlining that its "technical contours are currently being further revealed," and which concern not only physical access, but also other types of facilities that landlocked countries need "for their economies to perform well." This Initiative is perfectly in tune with the integration policies being implemented at West African level, but also within the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, added the Burkinabe Minister. While hailing the Initiative, the Minister said that his country's experts 'will be ready', noting that a consolidation meeting would soon be held to 'try to define the contours' of the Initiative. The talks between the Moroccan Minister and his Burkinabe counterpart focused on strengthening bilateral relations, as well as on subjects of common interest and the situation in the sub-region, among others. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, was attended by Ambassador Mohamed Methqal, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation. During his stay in the Gambian capital, Bourita held a series of meetings with several of his counterparts and officials taking part in the Islamic Summit which opened on Saturday in the Gambian capital. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse