Africa Nominates Morocco's Amina Bouayach for GANHRI Presidency

Morocco World10-03-2025

Rabat – Today, the African Network of National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) officially nominated Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), for the presidency of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
The announcement came during NANHRI's General Assembly at the UN headquarters in Geneva, reaffirming Africa's confidence in Bouayach's leadership.
NANHRI had put forward her nomination in January, citing her experience as GANHRI's Secretary.
The network described her as a leader who has steered critical initiatives with strategic insight while championing human rights at the highest international levels.
'She has represented the alliance with distinction and led key operations with a firm commitment to human rights,' NANHRI said in its official statement.
Joseph Whittal, President of NANHRI and head of Ghana's human rights institution, said the African bloc stands firmly in support of Bouayach. 'We voted overwhelmingly in favor of her nomination,' he stated.
Gilbert Sebihogo, NANHRI's Executive Director, shared the same view. 'She has carried Africa's voice with integrity. We trust her to continue this work at the helm of GANHRI.'
Namizata Sangaré, President of Ivory Coast's national human rights institution, described the nomination as a natural step. 'Within NANHRI, we have no doubt she will serve GANHRI with excellence,' she said.
This strong endorsement reflects Africa's determination to play a leading role in global human rights efforts.
NANHRI considers Bouayach's nomination as an opportunity to consolidate the alliance's core values and amplify its voice around the world.
Moreover, Morocco has led multiple initiatives at the UN Human Rights Council over the years, consistently advocating for human rights and civil liberties in line with its constitution.
These efforts further strengthen the country's role as an influential voice in global discussions on human rights. Tags: Amina BouayachGANHRIhuman rightsmorocco human rightsMorocco's CNDH

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UK Government Rejects £25 Billion Xlinks Morocco-UK Renewable Energy Project

Morocco World

41 minutes ago

Morocco World

UK Government Rejects £25 Billion Xlinks Morocco-UK Renewable Energy Project

Marrakech – The British government has decided to reject the major renewable energy project that would have imported solar and wind power from Morocco to the United Kingdom. According to Sky News, Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband has chosen not to proceed with formal negotiations with Xlinks, a privately owned company seeking a 25-year price guarantee agreement. The £25 billion project, chaired by former Tesco chief executive Sir Dave Lewis, promised to deliver enough renewable energy to meet nearly 10% of the UK's electricity demand. The decision comes as a surprise to energy industry executives, as Xlinks had pledged to provide large quantities of power at approximately half the price of electricity generated by new nuclear power stations. A Whitehall insider indicated that the government's decision was partly motivated by a desire to focus on 'homegrown' energy supplies. This position was reinforced when Miliband stressed the government's 'pragmatic determination' to free itself from fossil fuel market fluctuations through local, clean, and less expensive energy that the country can control. Xlinks had been seeking to agree a 25-year contract for difference with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which would have guaranteed a price for the power generated by the project. The company was looking to secure its business model through this mechanism, also known as a 'compensatory gap contract,' particularly for financiers and funders. The project involved the construction of a 4,000-kilometer cable between Morocco and the Devon coast. It aimed to provide 3.6 gigawatts of clean, on-demand energy from solar, wind, and battery installations in Morocco to the UK, reducing the UK's carbon emissions by 10% and lowering wholesale electricity prices by 9.3%. Market-testing for the project's financing had been significantly oversubscribed, according to sources, with investors including Total, the French energy giant. The company had raised about £100 million in development funding so far. In an interview with Sky News in 2022, Sir Dave said Xlinks enjoyed low geopolitical risk because of Britain's centuries-old trading relationship with Morocco and the north African country's ambitions of growing the energy sector as a share of its exports. 'The Moroccan government has recognized that exporting green [energy] is a very important part of their economic plan going forward, so they have an export strategy,' he said at the time. 'The Sahara desert is probably one of the best places in the world to generate renewable energy from… so you have a very long period of generation. And if you're capturing that energy and adding some battery storage, you can generate energy to cover a little bit more than 20 hours a day, which makes it a fantastic partner for the UK.' Sir Dave had also noted that modern high-voltage cables meant energy could be transported 'over very long distances with very, very few losses.' He explained that the technology risks were relatively small, citing examples of much longer cable links being planned elsewhere in the world. 'The benefit here is that it's proven technology with a very committed reliable partner with a cost profile… that we will never [be able to] match in the UK,' he added. Earlier this year, Sir Dave told The Sunday Telegraph that Xlinks would switch its focus to another country if the UK government did not agree to support the project. The company is now expected to explore other commercial opportunities. In late May, Xlinks requested a pause in the procedure to obtain the Development Consent Order (DCO) while awaiting a response from the British department of energy security and net zero regarding the Contract for Difference. In its letter, Xlinks cited 'exceptional circumstances beyond control' and believed that a pause 'would allow the review process to proceed in the most efficient and rigorous manner possible, while ensuring that the DCO could then progress quickly.' It is worth noting that the Morocco-UK project was integrated into the UK's strategic energy vision in 2022 and recognized as a project of national importance in 2023. A ministerial statement confirming the decision to reject the project is expected later today. Tags: Morocco and UKrenewable energyXlinks project

Moroccan Human Rights Leader Amina Bouayach Drives Africa's Zero Torture Mission

Morocco World

21 hours ago

Morocco World

Moroccan Human Rights Leader Amina Bouayach Drives Africa's Zero Torture Mission

Rabat — Morocco's head of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) Amina Bouayach brings a bold vision to Cape Verde this week: an Africa completely free of torture. The leader of the African Network of National Preventive Mechanisms Against Torture, she guides representatives from 15 African nations in pursuit of this ambitious goal. 'Zero torture is not just a slogan — it's a practical goal we aim to achieve through prevention mechanisms, transparency, and responsible use of technology,' Bouayach said in her opening speech of the two-day conference in Praia. From Marrakech to around the continent Bouayach launched this continental effort in Marrakech in 2023, where African nations signed the foundational 'Marrakech Declaration.' Cape Town hosted the second conference in 2024, building institutional capacity. Now, Praia marks the third annual gathering, focusing specifically on 'Technology and Torture Prevention.' The network's permanent secretariat operates from Morocco under Bouayach's guidance, chosen by member states to coordinate continental anti-torture efforts. 'After the foundational Marrakech meeting and Cape Town's capacity-building focus, the Praia conference continues our institutional development toward an integrated African vision for torture prevention,' she explained. Technology meets human rights This year's conference breaks new ground by examining how digital tools can strengthen prevention efforts. Sessions will explore using technology during facility visits, report preparation, and capacity building for national mechanisms. Bouayach focused on the need for balance, saying: 'We must use technology responsibly,' pointing out concerns about data protection and individual privacy in human rights work. African solutions philosophy Bouayach's approach centers on homegrown solutions rather than imported models. 'Africa doesn't need to copy anyone — it needs to create its own solutions,' she said. 'Our initiative is African… from Africa for Africa's benefit… by African hands for all Africans.' The conference includes participants from Morocco, Cape Verde, Senegal, South Africa, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Tunisia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Nigeria. International organizations, including the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, are also participating. During the Cape Verde meeting, the network will adopt internal regulations, select an East Africa representative, and announce next year's host country. 'Organizing our conference this year is another step in our effort to contribute to building a more humane future for Africa together,' Bouayach concluded. Her leadership transforms the fight against torture from individual national efforts into a coordinated continental movement, positioning Africa to lead global human rights innovation through technology and cooperation. Tags: Amina Bouayachhuman rightsZero torture

Unemployment tops youth concerns in Morocco, with one-third considering migration [Survey]

Ya Biladi

a day ago

Ya Biladi

Unemployment tops youth concerns in Morocco, with one-third considering migration [Survey]

Pan-African research network Afrobarometer has released the results of a survey on the views and priorities of Moroccan youth, based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adult citizens conducted in February 2024. The sample allows for nationally valid results with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Afrobarometer, a non-partisan organization that has been conducting surveys on Africans' views and experiences with democracy, governance, and quality of life since 1999, highlighted that despite rising education levels, employment remains a major challenge for Moroccan youth. A large proportion of young people are not engaged in the labor market. Among respondents aged 18 to 35, the unemployment rate is 63%, with 21% actively seeking work, three times higher than the rate among 36- to 45-year-olds (7%). When asked about their preferred type of work, nearly half of Moroccan youth (47%) said they would like to start their own businesses, a figure slightly below the national average (50%). At the same time, many young Moroccans see public sector jobs as appealing. About one-third (31%) said they prefer public sector employment, a significantly higher share than among older adults. By contrast, only a small proportion of young people expressed a preference for working in the private sector (10%) or for non-governmental organizations (3%). Youth Priorities As with adults overall, youth identify unemployment as the most pressing issue facing the country. Seven in ten young people (70%) cite the lack of job opportunities among the top three problems the government should address. Although unemployment affects all age groups, it is a more urgent concern for youth, older adults list it as a top priority 15 to 23 percentage points less often. The rising cost of living ranks second, named by 47% of young respondents, compared to 52%–53% among older groups. More than four in ten young people (44%) consider drought a major issue, though it is even more pressing for older age groups (49%–63%). Fewer young respondents mention health (29%) and poverty (11%) as top concerns. Notably, young people are more likely than older adults to view education as a national priority, 44% of youth rank it among their top three concerns, compared to 30%–39% among older groups. Youth also express critical views of the government's performance in key areas. Fewer than half believe the government is doing «fairly well» or «very well» in improving basic health services (45%) or meeting educational needs (40%). Evaluations drop further when it comes to reducing poverty (28%) and creating jobs (20%). As for maintaining price stability, only 14% of young respondents positively rate the government's efforts, an even lower share than among older adults. Outlook and Migration Despite economic challenges, most Moroccans remain optimistic about the country's direction. Nearly three-quarters of youth (73%) believe Morocco is headed in the «right direction», a level of optimism shared by adults over 46. By contrast, only 59% of those aged 36 to 45 share that sentiment. Still, dissatisfaction with economic conditions and government performance is fueling growing interest in migration among youth. About 28% of young people say they have thought «a lot» about leaving the country, while 15% have thought about it «somewhat» and 21% «a little». Only 36% say they have never considered it. The desire to migrate decreases with age: only 9%, 7%, and 3% of successive older age groups say they've seriously considered migration. However, among youth, this desire has grown over time: the share of those who say they have thought «a lot» about migrating rose from 20% in 2017 to 28% in 2024,an increase of 8 percentage points. For most young people, economic reasons are the main driver. Among those who have considered migration to any degree, more than half (54%) cite the search for better job opportunities. Others mention the pursuit of better business opportunities (12%), continuing education (12%), escaping poverty (10%), or simply a desire to travel (4%).