Morocco Opens Honorary Consulate in Florianópolis, Southern Brazil
Morocco opened an honorary consulate in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, marking on Tuesday a new step in strengthening bilateral ties between Rabat and Brasilia.
This new consular presence reflects the strong dynamic of Morocco-Brazil ties and aims aims to further strengthen relations with Santa Catarina, a state known for its strengths in technology, innovation, logistics, industry, and tourism, Morocco's embassy in Brasilia notes in a press release.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by HM the King's Ambassador to Brazil, Nabil Adghoghi, and attended by the Vice-Governor of Santa Catarina, Marilisa Boehm, the Mayor of Florianópolis, Topázio Neto, in addition to several local authorities and media figures.
On this occasion, newly appointed Honorary Consul Wilfredo Gomes expressed his deep gratitude for the Kingdom's trust and pledged to promote Morocco's interests with both state authorities and the local business community.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Jorginho Mello during the inauguration, Boehm expressed pride in hosting Morocco's consulate and affirmed Santa Catarina's commitment to strengthening economic ties with Moroccan partners.
For his part, Adghoghi highlighted Morocco's ongoing economic transformation under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, in the lead-up to the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.
He notably mentioned the roadmap being implemented in airport, air, and rail infrastructure, as well as the massive investment programs by several global tourism brands in Morocco — all representing opportunities for Brazilian economic operators and investors to establish themselves in Morocco.
The ceremony concluded with a sumptuous Moroccan lunch organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, showcasing a refined array of national culinary art.
MAP: 07 mai 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches Repartition Process for Women Held in Syria
Moroccan authorities have reportedly initiated an administrative process requiring families to complete repatriation forms for their relatives held in northeastern Syrian camps. These include the infamous Al-Roj and Al-Hol camps, which are under Kurdish control and currently host around 8,000 people from 55 different countries—mostly families of former ISIS fighters. Currently, at least 476 Moroccans remain stranded in Syria, including 103 women and 285 children. This long-neglected issue is resurfacing in the wake of a major diplomatic shift between Morocco and Syria following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December. This development offers long-awaited hope for women and children who have been trapped in these camps under dire humanitarian conditions. Families and human rights advocates have lamented Moroccan authorities for years of inaction with many calling for a phased repatriation process that prioritizes the most vulnerable. While some activists urged for a security-focused, case-by-case assessment—citing concerns about extremist affiliations—others argued that women and children should be approached differently, recognizing that many were coerced or manipulated into joining ISIS or living in exile. Signs of deepening Morocco-Syria normalization The renewed ties between Morocco and Syria have been marked by significant diplomatic gestures, including the closure of the Polisario Front's office in Damascus and King Mohammed VI's decision to reopen Morocco's embassy there after nearly 13 years. The embassy's reopening was officially announced in May, signaling a major foreign policy realignment. Mohammed VI conveyed the decision in a letter to Syria's interim President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which was read by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. The letter reaffirmed Morocco's solidarity with Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, while expressing support for the Syrian people's aspirations for freedom, security and stability. This diplomatic thaw has brought renewed attention to unresolved humanitarian concerns—chief among them, the repatriation of Moroccan nationals held in Syrian camps and prisons. According to a report by the Tetouan-based North Observatory of Human Rights, 38% of Moroccan jihadists who joined ISIS in 2015 were women. The report also emphasized how ISIS often targeted Moroccan women with emotionally manipulative messages, aiming to recruit them alongside their husbands and children, seizing the strategic role women have played in persuading entire families to join the group.
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Spain Arrests Two Tindouf-Origin Sahrawis on Terrorism Charges
Rabat – Spanish police in the Basque Country arrested two young Sahrawis originally from the Tindouf camps on Wednesday in the Álava region. The individuals are facing charges of 'collaboration with jihadist organizations' and 'glorification of terrorism,' according to converging reports. Both suspects appeared on Friday before a judge at Spain's National Court in Madrid, which specializes in terrorism-related cases. Following the hearing, the magistrate ordered one of the suspects to remain in custody while releasing the second under judicial supervision with conditions. Notably, most Spanish media outlets reporting on the case—particularly those in the Basque region—did not mention the origins of the suspects. According to a Moroccan source cited by multiple converging reports, one of the arrested individuals is reportedly closely connected to Khatri Addouh, the Polisario Front's new ambassador to Algeria. The same source indicated that Polisario representatives in Spain have been pressuring media outlets not to reveal that the suspects are linked to the Tindouf camps. The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the possible radicalization within the camps. In recent months, various American think tanks and political figures have called for the U.S. government to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, in Spain, a heated debate continues within the ruling coalition over a proposal to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born during the Spanish colonial occupation of Western Sahara. Originally proposed by the far-left party Sumar—seen as a political move against the ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)—, the initiative has sparked division. PSOE has opposed recognizing identity documents issued by the Polisario and has resisted simplifying naturalization procedures for Sahrawis. Despite PSOE's opposition, the proposal was passed in parliament thanks to support from other parties, further fueling tensions within Spain's governing alliance. Tags: Algeria and polisariospain polisarioTindouf
Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Morocco World
Euromed University of Fez Ranks First in Morocco
Rabat – Euromed University of Fez (UEMF) has been ranked first in Morocco and second in Africa in the 2025 edition of the Round University Ranking (RUR). The University was ranked 353rd globally out of 1,100 universities evaluated in the ranking. The ranking is based on data provided by Thomson Reuters and evaluates institutions across several indicators, including teaching quality, research output, scientific impact, and international collaboration. UEMF 's national position places it ahead of Mohammed V University in Rabat (ranked 719th globally) and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech (ranked 1082nd globally). On the continental level, it is surpassed only by the University of Cape Town in South Africa. RUR 2025 – Moroccan Universities: Euromed University of Fez – 353rd worldwide (Score: 66.367) Mohammed V University of Rabat – 719th (Score: 48.772) Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech – 1082nd (Score: 29.591) Read also: Euromed University of Fez to Build Morocco's First 'Smart' University Hospital The RUR results reflect a broader trend of Moroccan universities gaining increased visibility in global academic rankings. In addition to its position in the 2025 Round University Ranking, Euromed University of Fez (UEMF) has been featured in several recent international classifications. In the 2024 UI GreenMetric ranking, it was ranked first nationally and placed among the top 10 universities in Africa. According to U-Multirank, UEMF achieved first place globally in overall performance and ranked within the top 25 for student mobility. In Stanford University's 2024 ranking, four professors from UEMF were recognized among the top 2% of researchers worldwide. Furthermore, in the 2024 Times Higher Education ranking focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the university was listed second in Morocco and included among the top 600 institutions worldwide. The university has also been recognized by the Zairi International Awards and the Triple E Awards, and four of its faculty members were listed among the top 2% most cited researchers globally, according to Stanford University's rankings. These rankings and distinctions reflect UEMF's positioning within the academic landscape at both national and international levels. Tags: EuromedEuroMed University of FezWorld University Rankings
