Latest from Morocco World
Morocco World
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Glovo Blames Technical Glitch for Divided Map, Renews Commitment to Morocco's Territorial Integrity
Rabat – Glovo Morocco released a statement today, attributing the recent display of a divided Moroccan map on its courier applications to a technical glitch. Emphasizing that its operation spans throughout the entire country, Glovo said that it is working in full respect of Morocco's territorial integrity. 'A technical issue, identified by our teams, occurred on the courier applications following a recent external update, which temporarily caused the incorrect display of the map of the Kingdom of Morocco,' the statement said. The company further stated that it intervened to fix the issue upon detection, noting that the issue was 'immediately addressed,' adding that the Moroccan map is now correctly displayed on the application. Pledging openness and respect for dialogue policy with the courier community, Glovo Morocco said it held several discussion sessions with hundreds of couriers in Casablanca, presenting proposals aimed at improving the couriers' experience. 'Additional complementary measures are currently being rolled out,' the company pledged, noting that this is aimed at enhancing day-to-day work in direct response to customers' feedback. It also pledged efforts to strengthen exchange platforms with couriers to better take into account the diversity of their feedback, conveying commitment to co-developing sustainable solutions with relevant stakeholders. While the company reaffirms its position on the country's territorial integrity, Glovo's statement did not include an apology for customers. The statement followed protests launched by Glovo riders, who took to the streets of Casablanca earlier this week to protest deteriorating conditions and to denounce the distorted, incomplete depiction of Morocco's Sahara region on the company's app. Protesters condemned Glovo for displaying a map that excludes Morocco's southern provinces, labeling the region as merely 'Western Sahara'. Protesters also conveyed their anger over what they report to be unfair treatment of the couriers – specifically bringing to alarm that they are responsible for all expenses — including motorcycles, fuel, insurance, and equipment, with earnings they argue barely cover basic living costs. Sovereignty at the center Both domestically and on the international stage, Morocco consistently and clearly emphasizes that its sovereignty over the Sahara is non-negotiable, serving as the primary lens through which it views its relationship with partners and nations. The Moroccan government has been reiterating this position in diplomatic engagements, economic partnership, as well as foreign policy decisions. Ambiguous stances from several countries regarding Morocco's territorial integrity have been met with firm responses from Morocco's government, which has not hesitated to take bold steps when its sovereignty over its southern provinces was questioned. In 2021, Rabat froze ties with Germany in response to Berlin's unclear stance and a rift that lasted for months until Germany eventually endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a good basis for resolving the conflict. Similarly, tensions with Spain reached a historic low in April 2021, when Morocco recalled its ambassador after the Spanish government allowed Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to enter the country for medical treatment. What followed was a period of one of the most dramatic diplomatic crises in their history – tensions which only began to ease when Madrid aligned with Morocco's position in 2022, endorsing the autonomy plan as the most serious and credible political solution to end the dispute. In 2024, France also brought an end to years of diplomatic chill by officially recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces. Now, Rabat and Paris ties are hitting their stride, with robust cooperation on various levels. Tags: glovoGlovo in Morocco
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
How Much Would AlQadsiah Pay Mateo Retegui?
Saudi club AlQadsiah pulled off a major signing on Monday evening when they landed Italian striker Mateo Retegui, in one of the biggest deals in the club's history. The 26-year-old joined Atalanta BC in 2024 and finished last season as Serie A's top scorer with 25 goals. Over his career, he has made 241 appearances, scoring 84 goals and providing 20 assists across all competitions. Memories captured, and the journey begins ❤️🎥#AlQadsiah | #ReteguiQadsawi — AlQadsiah Saudi Club (@AlQadsiahEN) July 21, 2025 According to Transfermarkt, Retegui was valued at €45 million, but AlQadsiah paid a reported €68 million to secure his signature. Reports suggest the Saudi club made a tempting offer of €20 million per season – nine times up from €2.2 million per year at Atalanta. The striker has signed a four-year deal running until the summer of 2029, potentially earning him €80 million. The move is seen as a major deal for both Al-Qadisiyah and Retegui, though fans' reactions were divided. One fan commented: 'He's a flop, honestly not worth €60 million.' Another replied: 'Top scorer in Serie A – the toughest defensive league in the world – and you're calling him a flop?' A third added: 'Honestly, a great choice. A huge signing and a masterstroke – Retegui is a deadly striker, young and a natural goal-scorer. Congrats to Al-Qadisiyah! A top-class striker, he is way better than Aubameyang. He walks with confidence – like a king.' Tags: AlQadsiahReteguiSaudi league
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Trump's Africa Advisor Massad Boulos to Make Key Morocco Visit
Marrakech – Massad Boulos, special advisor to US President Donald Trump for Africa, will reportedly embark on a diplomatic tour of the Maghreb region within the next few days with Morocco as a central destination, according to The Geopolitical Desk media platform. High-level diplomatic sources revealed that this visit forms part of a broader US initiative to redefine its engagement in North Africa and the Sahel. The diplomatic mission prioritizes conflict resolution and promotes a 'commerce rather than aid' doctrine as Washington repositions its strategy on the African continent. The upcoming tour will focus on high-level consultations designed to establish the groundwork for future peace initiatives. This follows several months of sustained but discreet diplomatic contacts with key regional political actors, according to the sources. Boulos has previously distinguished himself as a special envoy in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, where his diplomatic efforts helped unblock previously stalled negotiations. He now faces more complex political challenges in Libya and Sudan. This initiative builds on momentum from a recent White House meeting with five African heads of state, during which President Trump declared that his administration would spearhead peace efforts in Libya and Sudan, marking a clear break from previous approaches. The Moroccan leg of the tour is considered particularly important. According to anonymous diplomatic sources, the selection of Morocco as an anchor point demonstrates a willingness to engage partners considered pivotal in regional balances. Morocco, whose diplomatic position has strengthened in recent years, is viewed in Washington as a partner capable of supporting regional dialogue. This confidence stems from the extensive US-Moroccan security exchanges and Rabat's active participation in multilateral forums such as the African Union (AU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Boulos tossed a match, then raced to grab water In April, Boulos ignited a diplomatic firestorm with a series of ill-conceived statements that momentarily threatened to undermine Morocco's territorial sovereignty. During his interview with Al-Hadath channel, Boulos erroneously claimed that President Trump's December 10, 2020 proclamation 'was not absolute, but left the door open for a solution that satisfies all parties' – a catastrophic mischaracterization that directly contradicted established US policy. Even more provocatively, Boulos parroted the discredited Algerian regime's narrative by referencing '200,000 Sahrawi refugees living in Algeria still waiting for a definitive solution' – an inflated figure that lacks any credible verification and serves only to legitimize Algeria's obstruction of UN-mandated census efforts. These statements represented a dangerous deviation from the official position outlined in the State Department's declaration following the April 8 meeting between Secretary Marco Rubio and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita – a statement that unequivocally reaffirmed Washington's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty. Recognizing the geopolitical damage of his misstatements, Boulos executed a rapid about-face. Within hours, he published a post on his X account reasserting the US administration's unwavering support for Morocco's territorial integrity. This was followed by an expeditious phone interview with Medi 1 TV less than 24 hours after the Al-Hadath debacle, where he forcefully clarified that the Trump administration considers Morocco's autonomy proposal the only legitimate framework for resolving the artificial dispute. Political analysts noted that Boulos's initial remarks bore the unmistakable imprint of Algeria's increasingly desperate propaganda machine – a failing narrative designed to falsely portray Algeria as a neutral observer rather than the primary architect and sustainer of the moribund separatist movement. His uncritical repetition of the 200,000 refugee figure particularly alarmed regional experts, as it lent undeserved credibility to Algeria's systematic exploitation of the humanitarian situation. This figure stands in stark contrast to Morocco's assessment that the actual population does not exceed 60,000 individuals – many of whom have no genuine connection to the Moroccan Sahara, according to historical CIA intelligence reports. Algeria's decades-long refusal to permit a proper census of the Tindouf camps reveals its fundamental insecurity about the demographic reality that would undermine its carefully constructed geopolitical fiction. The regime continues to weaponize inflated population figures to maximize international aid – much of which is systematically misappropriated according to the European Anti-Fraud Office's damning 2015 report. The swift intervention following Boulos's missteps demonstrates the Trump administration's firm commitment to a definitive resolution based on Morocco's Autonomy Plan – not as a negotiating starting point but as the ultimate geopolitical endgame that will finally dismantle Algeria's anachronistic regional destabilization project. This decisive correction signals Washington's growing recognition that Algeria – not its proxy organization – constitutes the true obstacle to regional stability and integration. For Algiers, this represents an unprecedented diplomatic challenge: never before has it confronted a US administration so determined to bring this manufactured dispute to a conclusion that fully safeguards Morocco's legitimate sovereignty over its southern provinces. The Trump administration is expected to present a new draft resolution on Western Sahara to UN Security Council members by late October – a text that will likely further isolate the increasingly marginalized separatist position and accelerate the international community's embrace of Morocco's sovereignty. As Washington considers a diplomatic return to the region, the success of Boulos's Maghreb tour in generating major momentum in these long-paralyzed peace processes will be decisive.
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Raja Club Athletic Name New Sporting Director
Raja Club Athletic has officially announced the appointment of Sebastian Sommacal as the club's new sporting director on July 21, to modernise and restructure its sporting operations. Sommacal is one of the leading figures in sports management, with over 20 years of extensive experience. He has worked closely with international players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé, and Jonathan Gradit. He began his career at French club Bordeaux and has also worked in Africa, notably with Tunisian clubs Étoile du Sahel and Club Sportif Bizertin. The announcement comes just as Raja begins pre-season training. The club's leadership is counting on Sommacal to spearhead a broader restructuring process affecting both the technical and administrative arms of the organisation, as outlined by president Jawad Ziyet. Despite the optimism, reactions on social media were mixed. One user wrote: 'All support to the club's management. Let's ease up on the criticism, be patient, and let people do their jobs.' Another fan said: 'Just keep going and stay focused on your work. What matters to us is seeing Raja as a great club. We're not concerned with names, selection methods, or the process — what truly matters is achieving positive results. As Raja loyalists, we'll continue playing our part in supporting this proud and historic institution.' However, criticism was also directed at the choice. One supporter said: 'What does the sporting director have to do with youth development? His main role is to manage the first team, oversee transfers while maintaining financial balance, and rely on a solid network of agents and contacts.' Tags: botola proRaja Club Athletic
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Adam Aznou on Everton's Radar
Everton FC are reportedly interested in Moroccan left-back Adam Aznou to bolster their defensive side following the recent departure of Veteran Ashley Young. According to The Athletic, the Toffees are showing serious interest in Aznou due to the lack of options at left-back, with Vitalii Mykolenko currently the only senior player available in that position. Aznou, 19, had played in Barcelona's academy (La Masia) alongside youth stars including Lamine Yamal, before moving to Germany in 2022 and joining Bayern Munich academy at the age of 16. The left-back switched his international allegiance to the Moroccan national team in 2024 after previously representing Spain at U16 and U17 levels. He made his professional debut for Bayern Munich in 2024 in a Bundesliga match against Union Berlin, before leaving on a six-month loan spell to Real Valladolid, where he made 13 appearances last season A potential move to the Premier League could grant the young star more playing time in a competitive league in the hopes he will get a call-up for the national team during the Africa Cup of Nations hosted on home soil in December. Tags: adam aznouBayern MunichEverton
