Latest news with #Moroccan-French
Morocco World
11 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Sahara: French Senate Affirms Support for Moroccan Sovereignty in Rabat Talks
Doha – French Senator Christian Cambon reaffirmed his country's firm support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces during a meeting on Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The visit marked a continuation of high-level exchanges between the two nations, following French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco in October 2024. Cambon, who heads the France-Morocco friendship group in the Senate, led a delegation described as 'important' and 'diverse,' with members from different political backgrounds. He stressed the 'longstanding' and 'fruitful' dialogue between the two countries, noting the group's 'unwavering support' for Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. 'The 2024–2025 period was marked by many positive developments,' Cambon said after the meeting. He pointed to Macron's visit as a milestone where France declared its support for Morocco's territorial integrity. Cambon said the delegation's visit aimed to contribute to writing 'a new chapter' in Moroccan-French relations, as envisioned by King Mohammed VI and President Macron. He also called for the reactivation of the Morocco-France interparliamentary forum, last held in Paris in December 2019, to boost bilateral cooperation on legislative affairs. The French lawmaker cited several areas of joint interest, including the expansion of Morocco's high-speed rail line, the construction of Africa's largest seawater desalination plant near Rabat, and the agreement between Royal Air Maroc and Airbus to expand the national airline's fleet. On renewable energy, Cambon framed Morocco's experience and model as 'inspiring,' saying both countries can cooperate on shaping a joint vision for Africa's energy future. His statements come just months after a high-profile visit by French Senate President Gérard Larcher, who in February became one of the highest-ranking French officials to visit Laayoune. Speaking after a morning meeting with Bourita in Rabat, Larcher said Paris' position on the Sahara is 'non-discutable' and made clear that the French-Moroccan relationship is built on 'a deep history and friendship.' Later that evening in the southern Moroccan city, he labeled Morocco's southern provinces as 'a success model for the entire Sahelo-Saharan zone.' He credited the French Senate with pushing for clarity on the issue since 2007 and asserted that support for Morocco's autonomy plan is now 'acquired.' For him, France's new perspective on the Western Sahara dispute and the evolution of the French position is 'an obvious fact, a primary truth.' 'This obvious fact has undergone a long maturation process,' he said. 'France's support is not the result of a governmental policy—it is the position of all institutions of the Republic.' He described Morocco's development efforts in Laâyoune as remarkable, pointing to infrastructure, social investments, and sustainable development projects. He also expressed France's willingness to share its experience in decentralization and strengthen cooperation at the local level. Algeria reacted with anger to Larcher's visit. Days after his trip, Algeria's Council of the Nation, the country's upper house of parliament, announced it was suspending ties with the French Senate. The Algerian government had already condemned France's July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty and recalled its ambassador in protest. Algeria also criticized the February visit by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati to Laayoune and Dakhla—another first for a high-level French government official. Tags: French Senate Morocco visitMorocco France RelationsWestern sahara
FACT
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Everything we know about BRED Abu Dhabi 2025
The region's first neo-culture festival returns this weekend. Leave it to BRED Abu Dhabi to outdo itself year after year. Once again, the region's ultimate neo-culture festival is joining forces with Hypebeast and is set to return to Yas Island from 23 to 27 April 2025. If you're wondering what neo-culture is, it's all about the intermingling of separate cultures to create a new one. The event brings together basketball showdowns, curated art, global fashion brands, interactive experiences, live graffiti, skating, street food and performances by grime and hip-hop artists. Artists BRED is known for bringing big-name acts to the capital, and this year is no different. The celebrations will kick off on Thursday, 24 April, with Lebanese pop artist Dana Hourani, whose hit single InshAllah Kheir was the region's song of the summer in 2023 and will no doubt be a highlight of the night. Lebanese indie band Adonis and Egyptian rock band Cairokee will also headline the opening night. On Friday, 25 April, the spotlight shifts to Moroccan-French artist Nayra and UK rap heavyweight Nines, who will join legendary hip-hop icon Nas for an unmissable night. A defining figure in the UK rap scene, Nines has built a loyal following with his introspective storytelling and sharp lyricism and the platinum-certified hits like Clout and I See You Shining. Emerging from New York in the early 90s, Nas is celebrated for his intricate lyrics and vivid storytelling on the tracks N.Y. State of Mind and The World Is Yours, and If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) featuring Lauryn Hill, which has been lauded as one of the greatest rap songs of all time. The energy continues on Saturday, 26 April with Odeal, a genre-defying artist whose sound merges Afro, Alté and R&B influences on standout tracks including Be Easy, More Life and Toxic. He will be joined by PARTYNEXTDOOR, the first artist signed to Drake's OVO Sound label. Known for the hits Come and See Me, Nokia and Recognize, PARTYNEXTDOOR recently released a collaborative album with Drake titled $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. On Sunday, 27 April, Egyptian rap sensation Ilmond takes over, bringing his hard-hitting and deeply introspective bars that resonate with real-life struggles and triumphs. Egyptian rap powerhouses Afroto and Marwan Moussa will share the stage, blending infectious beats, razor-sharp flows, and undeniable stage chemistry to bring BRED Abu Dhabi 2025 to a thrilling close. Exhibitions At this year's festival, attendees can immerse themselves in an artistic journey celebrating culture, identity, and creativity. Street art icon Futura will headline the visual arts programme with a rare appearance and book signing for Futura: The Artist's Monograph, giving fans a chance to connect with one of the genre's most influential figures. Joining the roster are standout creatives including LA-based visual disruptor Marwan Shahin, Lebanese illustrator Joelle Jabbour, Armenian-Syrian artist Stephany, and Emirati designer Shamma Bu Hazza, each unveiling exclusive artworks crafted just for the festival. Fashion Fashionistas can expect independent and homegrown fashion and lifestyle brands that champion cutting-edge practices, underlining their dedication to the community. From high-end drops to vintage gems, limited-edition merch, and bold brand collabs, the event brings together global style heavyweights and local legends. Highlighted brands include French menswear label Pieces Uniques, Amsterdam's cult-favourite Daily Paper, Istanbul's popular urban brand Les Benjamins, and Precious Trust—a Dubai-born label blending Western aesthetics with regional roots. Also in the spotlight is 5ivepillars, known for weaving Islamic culture and Eastern art into contemporary design. Global sportswear giants are out in full force too, with adidas, ASICS, New Balance, Timberland and Umbro, showcasing everything from performance gear to street-style essentials. Flying the flag for homegrown creativity, SER and Mesmari (Abu Dhabi), Basement (Sharjah), and Wyld x Jeeski (Dubai) bring fresh energy and local flavour. Food BRED Abu Dhabi 2025 is bringing more homegrown F&B brands to the festival. Guests can explore a variety of delicious dishes from well-known vendors such as Palestinian kaak from Kaak Al Quds, flame-kissed meats from Mattar, terrific tacos from Lila Taqueria, comfort-driven bites from Lento, and Mediterranean soul food from Polline. Elsewhere, get your hands on soulful Moroccan flavours at Choukran or sink your teeth into the smash-hit burgers from Gotham Burger Social Club. Famed for their signature Oklahoma-style creation straight out of New York, pizza lovers won't want to miss L'Industrie Pizzeria. Adding to the energy, Anghami teams up with Fred's Coffee Party and Discosan for a block party, complete with special DJ sets to keep the vibes high and the good times rolling. Sports Witness the world's top NBA 2K League players in action live at a dedicated gaming zone. Engage in the Dribble Challenge, test your vertical jump, and shoot hoops on NBA 2K or in person, with exclusive prizes up for grabs. Basketball enthusiasts aged 14 to 17 can join free skills clinics and compete in all-star games and competitions, culminating in a showcase of the region's emerging talents in a MENA All-Star Game. BRED – named after the idiom 'born and bred' – is designed to celebrate the region's urban scene. Tickets for BRED Abu Dhabi 2025 are available via the official BRED website. General admission tickets start at AED 245, while Golden Circle tickets are priced at AED 545. We'll see you there. GO: Visit for more information. .
Ya Biladi
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco–France : Royal Moroccan Navy to oversee nautical chart production
Following royal directives, Abdeltif Loudyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, presided over the signing ceremony of a Cooperation Agreement on Hydrography, Oceanography, and Marine Cartography with the French Ministry of Defense on Thursday at the administration's headquarters. The ceremony was attended by the Rear Admiral and Inspector of the Royal Navy, along with other senior officials of the Royal Armed Forces, in the presence of the French Ambassador to Rabat, Christophe Lecourtier. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation led by General Engineer Laurent Kerleguer, Director of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy (SHOM), according to a statement from the National Defense Administration. This agreement is part of efforts to strengthen Moroccan-French military technical cooperation in the fields of hydrography, oceanography, and marine cartography. It aims to enhance the expertise of the Moroccan Royal Navy in these areas and formalize the transfer of responsibility for producing and disseminating all marine charts covering waters under Moroccan jurisdiction. Through this agreement, both parties reaffirm their shared commitment to cooperation based on the exchange of expertise and the mutual strengthening of technical and operational capabilities—particularly in marine cartography, which plays a vital role in ensuring maritime safety.
Ya Biladi
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Morocco and France strengthen cultural ties : Ministers meet in Paris ahead of Book Festival
On Wednesday evening in Paris, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, met with his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, to discuss ways to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Culture and attended by Morocco's ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitail, aimed to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation between Morocco and France following the signing of several bilateral agreements. The two ministers also reviewed the progress of joint projects, emphasizing the importance of accelerating them in light of the positive momentum in Moroccan-French relations, driven by the renewed strategic partnership between King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a reception hosted at the French Ministry of Culture's salons in honor of Morocco, the guest of honor at the Paris Book Festival (April 11-13).
Ya Biladi
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
HRW urges Macron to pressure Morocco to end «repression of activists and journalists»
«Moroccan authorities should urgently end their intensifying repression of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders solely for exercising their right to free speech», urged Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) on Thursday. In a statement published by HRW, the two NGOs referred to the conviction of Moroccan activist Fouad Abdelmoumni, who was sentenced by a Casablanca court on March 3 to prison and fined over a Facebook post about French-Moroccan relations. Abdelmoumni was sentenced in absentia to six months in prison and fined 2,000 dirhams for a Facebook post criticizing Moroccan-French relations during Macron's state visit. Abdelmoumni, a member of the Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa Advisory Committee, stated that he would appeal the conviction. «Macron should press the King of Morocco, his ally, to end these repressive tactics and release all those detained for peaceful speech», said Balkees Jarrah, acting Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. «Dragging yet another Moroccan activist into court and sentencing him to prison merely for expressing an opinion about relations between Morocco and another country shows just how outrageous this crackdown on free speech is», Jarrah argued. Abdelmoumni was accused of «insulting public authorities, spreading false allegations, and reporting a fictitious crime he knew did not occur». A petition signed by nearly 300 activists and human rights advocates called on Moroccan authorities to annul Abdelmoumni's sentence and «release all political prisoners held in Morocco and other Maghreb countries». Abdelmoumni, who serves as the coordinator of the Moroccan Association in Support of Political Prisoners, told HRW that he has been «targeted for years, including through digital surveillance, invasions of privacy, and repeated harassment by media linked to Moroccan security services».
