The Green Revolution: Morocco Takes the Lead in Africa's Sustainable Mobility Future
Rabat – As the world is grappling with climate change and urbanization challenges, Morocco is keen to prove itself as an unexpected pioneer in sustainable and green mobility.
The North African country isn't only adapting to the green mobility transition but also positioning itself to lead it, with ambitious plans that could reshape the African continent's transportation landscape.
At the recent Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025 (GIES2025) in Casablanca, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour unveiled a bold vision that would place Morocco among an elite group of nations with complete electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capabilities.
No longer a distant goal, but an attainable unfolding reality. Morocco is set to join the top elite of just six countries worldwide capable of processing every aspect of EV production, from raw materials to finished vehicles.
Looking at it from the big picture, Morocco's approach is particularly noteworthy, as the country is building an end-to-end ecosystem, a distinction that could have far-reaching economic and environmental implications.
The secret to the North African country's strategic advantage? Its natural resources, particularly its phosphate and cobalt, which are crucial components in battery production.
Building on these resources and developing manufacturing capabilities for every battery component – from anodes to electrolytes – Morocco is aiming to establish a cornerwise integrated supply chain that could triple its exports by early 2030.
Morocco's sustainable outlooks, from manufacturing to mobility
But Morocco's sustainable mobility ambitions extend far beyond manufacturing. A revolutionary transformation is underway in the country's public transportation system, with plans to procure 7,000 electric buses.
This initiative, aptly clocked to coincide with the 2030 FIFA World Cup, reflects the country's drive to implement practical, sustainable mobility solutions.
Morocco has already made strides in such pioneering initiatives.
Casablanca's tramway system has become a model for sustainable urban transit in the African continent.
Having transported over 357 million passengers over the past decade, the system proves that clean public transport can be both efficient and popular.
The tramway's impact extends beyond mobility. The eco-friendly transport system has manifested into a catalyst for urban green regeneration in Casablanca. Over the past 10 years, Morocco's economic capital has planted over 2,200 trees, proving greener objectives being realized on-ground.
Meanwhile, Morocco's railway sector is equally ambitious. The National Railways Office (ONCF) has announced a substantial investment plan of nearly $939 million for 2025-2027, focusing on infrastructure modernization and new rolling stock acquisition.
This investment, coupled with plans for extending high-speed rail services and establishing regional express networks in major metropolitan areas, shows Morocco's commitment to comprehensive transport solutions.
The numbers tell a compelling story. ONCF's Al Boraq high-speed trains carried 5.2 million passengers in 2023, a 25% increase from the previous year. Overall railway ridership reached 53 million passengers, with projections targeting further growth.
These figures reflect not just statistical success but a fundamental shift in how Moroccans view and use public transportation – and with ONCF's green railway technologies, they can continue with a sound climate conscience.
Nearly all of Morocco's trains are operating using green energy, according to a recent announcement by the railway company.
In 2018, ONCF launched Al Boraq as the first fully electric high-speed railway system in Africa, aiming to shift away from carbon-intensive carbon alternatives and promote more eco-friendly rail transport.
The timing of these initiatives is crucial. As the world races to meet climate goals and African cities face growing mobility challenges, Morocco's model could provide a blueprint for sustainable development across the continent.
Climate change challenges
Morocco's approach to green and sustainable transportation comes at a time when the international community is scrambling to meet climate change targets, as the countdown clock of irreversible damage continues to tick.
The vision strongly reflects that environmental sustainability and economic growth aren't mutually exclusive, but are fundamentally mutually reinforcing.
As temperatures and tensions heat up, Morocco is determined to position itself as a major player in the fight against global warming and climate change-related challenges.
While the country's innovative sustainable mobility initiatives are transforming domestic transportation, they are simultaneously setting a powerful example of how countries can align development goals with climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the world stage, Morocco's commitment to climate action is not recent.
The country was one of the first nations to ratify the Paris Agreement and host COP22 in Marrakech and has consistently demonstrated leadership in climate policy.
The North African country is showing commitment to SDGs, including but not limited to the Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9). Morocco's revolutionary approach to green and sustainable mobility is in line with these goals.
Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025
Morocco's green achievements are no secret. Not only does the North African country continue to share its expertise at different continental and global functions, but hosts gatherings of leaders, innovators, and like-minded thinkers who are also eager to reduce humanity's footprint.
One of the most notable recent examples was Casaablanca's hosting of the inaugural edition of Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025, which provided an opportunity for Morocco to cement its green and sustainable mobility transition initiatives.
GIES2025 was a platform that brought industry leaders, government officials, and international experts to convene around the current challenges of green mobility and chart the path toward a sustainable transportation industry.
Over the course of the three-day summit, discussions took place surrounding key topics in green mobility and decarbonization of transport.
On the agenda was a strategic agora-style meeting on transport decarbonization, and a specialized workshop on skills transition for sustainable mobility, which focused on preparing businesses and talent for future challenges.
More than just passive talk, the event not only brought these innovative ideas in sustainable mobility transitions to the table, but also how to pay for their implementation.
Panelists also covered the logistics of this public transportation shift, including the changes to infrastructure and services across territories. One standout workshop was led by Ayvens automobile agency, which shared global insights on the transition to electric mobility thus providing an expanded vision of how to move to more eco-friendly transportation systems.
GIES2025 further cemented Morocco's position as an industrial hub and the central leader of Africa's green mobility transformation, an ambitious initiative to help fellow African countries in their journey towards a more sustainable transportation system.
Today, many parts of the world continue to turn their eyes away from the pressing responsibilities to combat the damaging effects of climate change, opting for quick fix, money-hungry fossil fuel solutions. In this heated climate, Morocco stands out not only as an unlikely leader but an emerging model, facing these challenges head-on.
Read also: Climate Impulse Celebrates First Anniversary with Major Advances in Green Aviation Tags: AfricaGreen Mobilitygreen transportMobilitymorocco's green mobility
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Morocco World
3 days ago
- Morocco World
Diplomacy: A New Bargaining Power Style
Rabat – It happens that viewers are mesmerized watching an epic scene that makes them whisper, smile, or feel outraged. A heated exchange between American President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 22, 2025, on the occasion of the latter's visit to Washington, can be included in this perspective. The visit of the South African head of state is highly anticipated as Pretoria is caught in the crossfire of the White House. Out of the blue, the American president gives the order to turn off the lights to broadcast images showing alleged persecutions of white farmers in South Africa. The American narrative about what is happening in South Africa is perceived in different ways by observers and experts in African affairs. Explanations are flying around. I'm going to mention a few of them for the purpose of getting the record straight. Some experts believe that the American president's behavior is an explicit response from the United States to the land expropriation law that the South African government adopted on January 23, 2025. This law directly targets white South African farmers who own 80% of the fertile lands. Elon Musk, of South African origin, would have pushed the new American administration to be merciless towards Pretoria. Other experts interpret the American president's behavior as a stigmatization of Pretoria's position towards Israel. Peoria initiated proceedings before the International Court of Justice, accusing Tel Aviv of genocide in the Gaza Strip in 2023. Moreover, a small handful of observers perceive the American president's attitude as a barely concealed grievance regarding South Africa's double-standard position within the BRICS and other international forums. Open-Air Diplomatic Bargaining Paradigm However, this paper aims at a different objective. It will assess what might be called the entrenchment of a new diplomatic style that President Donald Trump has been performing so far. This started during his first term in 2017-2021. A style that comes with a new diplomatic bargaining power that disregards the old diplomatic niceties. This style aims (and succeeds) to achieve the prospective results by playing on the nerves of the guest to the White House. Several heads of state and government have experienced the magnitude and electric atmosphere in the Oval Office. In the realm of smart diplomacy, the appropriate key is to achieve the desired objectives and to do so in a commendable manner. It is in this perspective that one should observe another style, more sober, more straightforward, and without any doublespeak. It is not given enough spotlight, but it achieves the targeted objectives: The style of King Mohammed VI of Morocco . This assumption is not about comparing between the two leaders in the academic sense of the term, but about reflecting on diplomatic styles that evolve according to the changes in the international system. In this case, these styles embody both adaptation and firmness, flexibility and determination. 'The style is the man,' This statement is particularly relevant in this case. Let's recall the main arguments to help understand the matter dealt with. It is worth reminding that, as mentioned earlier, what the South African President has endured is not the first in its kind. Observers recall the scene in whereby President Donald Trump presents to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on March 20, 2018, in front of cameras, large posters of the weapons sold to Saudi Arabia in 2017. He tries to persuade him to acquire more weapons. Far from the subtleties of a business deal for which the American President is known, the message is rather diplomatic and strategic. President Trump puts the conditions of the American security umbrella in favor of Saudi Arabia back on the table. This mechanism has been operational since the secret agreement in February 1945 between American President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud aboard the USS Quincy cruiser in the Suez Canal. According to unconfirmed reports, the United States would guarantee the military security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in exchange for the latter's commitment to ensure the energy security of the United States and its Western allies. The impeccably staged performance by President Donald Trump in 2018 relied on two vectors of state interdependence paradigm: vulnerability and sensitivity. At the time, the internal situation in Saudi Arabia is hectic, and the reforms introduced by the Saudi Crown Prince are shaking up the regional political, security, and diplomatic landscape. It goes without saying that the purpose of Donald Trump's diplomatic exercise is to place his interlocutors in an uncomfortable position, pushing them either to rise to the challenge or to let the storm pass. The psychological dimension is crucial, as the American President enjoys making unpredictability his Trojan horse. The same scenario is implemented during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025 to Washington. President Trump draws his guest's attention that he no longer has any cards to play for the sake of negotiating a better solution in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia ( H. Hami, L'Europe daltonienne et la phobie d'un Yalta 2, MEDIAS24, March 14, 2025) . The Ukrainian President tries to argue by challenging the American Vice President James Davis Vance who intervenes to support his President's argument during the meeting. In vain. What interpretation can we make of this new style of open-air negotiation? One: Setting the rules of the game and initiating a new timetable for the conduct of future negotiations. This is a technique aimed at turning the page on candid previous relationships to shake up the status quo and express the need to find different alternatives. Two: Prioritizing issues in asymmetrical relationships where the minor actor is summoned to reconsider his priorities and adapt them to those of the major actor. Otherwise, he is urged to look elsewhere while bearing the consequences of his choice. Three: Clarifying positions by bringing in the media, the involved parties, and the public as witnesses. The exercise is an eloquent demonstration of manipulation in broad daylight. It is indirectly accompanied by the demystification of the alleged charismatic image of certain leaders in the eyes of their own people. Four: Challenging media outlets known for their sensational scoops. They are caught off guard and, through unyielding reporters, seek to avoid being sidelined. The scene of the reporter asking President Trump a tricky question about the story of the Boeing 747-8i (an impressive version of the jumbo-jet) offered by Qatar, to defuse the chaotic situation in which the South African President finds himself, tells more about biased (and dichotomous) relationships between media and politicians. Sword of Damocles Hoovering President Trump doesn't back down and calls the reporter incompetent for trying to divert the audience's and the public's attention from the ordeal he is subjecting his South African guest to. He confirms that he has no problem accepting such an offer. For the record, two Boeing 747-200Bs have been in service for the American presidency since 1990. President Trump intends to replace them. Five: Delineating the scope of visits by foreign heads of state and government to the White House. Unless they prepare well and come with a clear agenda negotiated in advance and in the finest details, they are advised to stay at home. For those who want to see the American President pay visit to them in order to polish their image, they are requested to prepare their checks and pay up. No free rides and no closed eyes without consequences either. Six: Repeating protocol premediated mistakes. Here's a weapon that never misses its target. It destabilizes the guests and puts them at odds with their narratives about the excellence of bilateral relations and their promising prospects. The mistake is being corrected, but the sword of Damocles remains in the backdrop. One of the premeditated mistakes is the one involving flags or pennants. Displaying an old flag or mistaking it for that of another country with which the visiting head of state has a conflict is one of the diplomatic tricks that hits the mark. Besides the required destabilization of guests, it somehow poisons the atmosphere of official meetings and downsizes expected results. Similarly, the error on the geographical and political map is a strong signal regarding the host country's position in relation to a regional conflict in which the country of the head of state visiting is involved. Seven: Justifying a political and diplomatic decision that does not seem to have been well understood. This stance is aimed at the so-called traditional allied countries that are reluctant to admit that their privileged status is being challenged. A new breeze is in the air, favoring realism and pragmatism, and they have to get it or leave the stage. Most of the criteria mentioned above can be witnessed, to some extent, in the style of Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. One: The use of the media to convey messages is done through appropriate media. King Mohammed VI very seldom speaks directly to the media. He seems to prefer not to engage in the question-and-answer game, which can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary subtleties. Two: Clarity in ideas and mastery in responding to urgent questions. The King uses a top-notch instrument, rational, clear, and straightforward: speeches. They are concise and get straight to the point. In terms of foreign policy, the speeches are clear, and the targeted actors are identified. Three: The deep care given to timing and context. The King makes it a cornerstone of the message he intends to deliver. This is a coherent approach in line with the outlined priorities. Four: The delineation of the scope of future negotiations with partners and other countries interested in serious relationships with Morocco. National interest comes first. No concessions regarding sovereignty in its political, diplomatic, economic, and security dimensions are accepted or imposed. Five: The accuracy and relevance of the political and strategic vision. In this respect, two speeches and messages are worth mentioning. Diplomacy: Transparency Means Business First, the speech delivered on April 20, 2016, on the occasion of the Morocco-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. King Mohammed VI draws attention to the dangers facing the Arab world, particularly the attempts to change regimes and fragment Arab states. He warns against the new alliances aimed at creating conditions of disorder that threaten stability in the region and the viability of sovereign states. A year later, a coalition of five countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt) rises against Qatar. Once again, King Mohammed VI stands out with his mastery and vision, breaking the economic blockade imposed on this country by sending emergency food and medical aid in June 2017, as a sign of solidarity with the Qatari people. Morocco nonetheless maintains friendly relations with the members of the coalition, despite a brief cooling period that was quickly overtaken. Morocco hardly pays attention to the statements from certain circles in Doha who claim, ignoring the symbolism of the King's gesture, that their country receives no aid from anyone and that it would have paid for what it has received accordingly. Secondly, the speech in which King Mohammed VI draws the red lines beyond which Morocco cannot accept to promote its relations with both partners and adversaries. The royal speech of August 20, 2022, on the prism through which Morocco views its international environment, is a striking illustration of the King's diplomatic perception. This prism is assessed based on the position of friendly countries and other countries regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. Six: The promotion of the peaceful approach to resolving bilateral inter-state conflicts. King Mohammed VI emphasizes at least five dialogue techniques along with the rejection of belligerent means that Morocco's adversaries are fond of. One: The outstretched hand aimed at identifying the actors who have a grudge against Morocco. These are sovereign state actors, members of the United Nations Organization, eager for double talk and fervent adepts of bureaucratic jargon. Two: The invitation addressed to the international community to appreciate Morocco's goodwill in contrast to the bad faith of its adversaries, state actors in the Euro-Mediterranean and Arab-African spaces. Three: The distinction and complementarity between domestic and foreign policy choices. The link between the two (Linkage politics) is fluid. It is expressed in accordance with the current political and diplomatic swings without deviating from the fundamental principles governing the two arenas. Four: Pragmatism and adaptation. Both are part of the framework designed to neutralize opponents and maintain a line of contact through international bodies. Two striking examples. On one hand, the proposal of the Autonomy Plan in 2007 to resolve the issue of the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara. On the other hand, the return of Morocco to the African Union in 2017. Five: The junction between national and international priorities in the same speech subtly conveys the same message. It is up to the intranational and international actors to grasp it at its true value and interpret it appropriately. President Donald Trump's style, through the slogan 'America First,' which grates on the United States' rival nerves, allows him to break the iceberg of doubt among his allies and adversaries. During his recent tour of the Gulf region, he returned to Washington with promises of investments amounting to trillions of dollars. Enough to leave political and economic planners and military strategists disoriented, most of whom are still navigating the uncertainties of the Cold War or Third World literature. The style of King Mohammed VI is equally productive of positive results. Since the speech on August 20, 2022, the list of countries that publicly recognize Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces or endorse the autonomy plan proposed since 2007 has expanded. The latest endorsement to date is from the United Kingdom, on June 1, 2025. One could quibble over the terminology used or the choice of syntax, however, one thing is certain: now, three permanent member countries of the United Nations Security Council support Morocco. They are on the list of 117 countries around the world that adopt the same position: the resolution of the regional conflict over the Sahara cannot but within (and only in) the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. The various scenes reviewed above normally take place behind closed doors. They lead to legendary quarrels, some of which are recounted in the memoirs of heads of state or foreign ministers. They describe threats, intimidation, and diplomatic harsh cacophonic language. In short, diplomacy evolves at the pace of the changes in the structure of the international system and the processes that unfold within it. It goes without saying that all means intended for the implementation of foreign policy choices are equal as long as they are creative, preemptive, and reactive in serenity and calm. By the same token, it is worth noting that post-COVID diplomacy will be more surrealistic for some and more realistic for others. Nevertheless, as long as diplomacy works to clarify perceptions instead of stifling them, it will have achieved its objective. Negotiation between sovereign states is now in the spotlight, with styles that sometimes confuse observers. However, these styles do not resemble the classical model of l'État spectacle . Similarly, diplomacy no longer fits into the all-encompassing manipulation scheme. Although diplomacy still keeps the classic channels open for less urgent matters, it is more direct. It is now dealt with in the open, performing some sort of new bargaining power style . Tags: Africa diplomacyDonald Trump
Morocco World
3 days ago
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Morocco to Increase Electric Vehicle Production Capacity by 53% in 2025
Rabat – Morocco aims to build on its strengthened automotive approach to increase its electric vehicle production capacity by 53%. Morocco's Minister of Industry, Ryad Mezzour, announced the news on Tuesday, noting that the country's goal is to increase production to reach 107,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2025. The minister said that Morocco's automotive production stands at 700,000 vehicles. By the end of the year, Morocco is expected to produce one million vehicles. The automotive sector is a key industry for Morocco's economic growth. According to data from the Moroccan Ministry of Industry, the sector is Morocco's first exporting industry. Between 2014 and 2018, the sector created at least 116,000 jobs. Morocco is also the first automotive manufacturer in Africa. Data from 2019 shows that job integration from the sector reached over 220,000 opportunities, as well as the presence of 250 companies involved in the sector. 'Strategic sector in the national industrial policy, since the 2000s, the automotive industry has released a two-digit annual growth towards the creation of employment and export,' the ministry said. Several renowned foreign groups have established production facilities in Morocco, including Renault, Peugeot, Yazaki, and many others. Most recently, the Moroccan Exchange Office reported that the Moroccan automotive sector's exports totaled MAD 49 billion ( $5.4 billion) as of April. The number shows a slight decrease of MAD 3.67 billion ($399 million) or -7.0% year-on-year. Exports from the vehicle construction segment totaled MAD 17.84 billion ($1.9 billion), compared to MAD 22.884 billion a year earlier. Exports of exterior vehicle components reached MAD 1.172 billion, down from MAD 1.30 billion, showing a drop of MAD 121 million or -10.1%. As for interior vehicle components and seats, they increased in exports, rising to MAD 3.34 billion, or 10.3%. Automotive wiring exports also increased to reach MAD 18.93 billion, representing a 1.7% increase. Despite the boom, Morocco's automotive sector is facing challenges, including the EU's recent decision to impose countervailing duties on Morocco. In March, the European Commission released a statement announcing the news of imposing countervailing duties on imports of aluminum road wheels from Morocco. The commission claimed that this decision aims to shield EU producers and defend 16,600 jobs from 'unfair trading practices.' The decision came as Morocco continues to boost its global position in industrial sectors. Morocco responded to the commission's decision, noting that the Moroccan government was studying all possibilities to take 'any measures it deems appropriate to address these issues.' The government stressed that the partnership between Morocco and the EU is global, warning that this partnership 'cannot be subject to a selective logic or to tailored treatment.' 'It is necessary to find a solution to these problems,' the Moroccan government spokesperson said. Tags: AutomotiveAutomotive Ecosystems
Morocco World
3 days ago
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Royal Air Maroc Sets Sights on 200-Strong Fleet by 2037
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