Liberta Smart African Business

22/02/2026

MASSAD BOULOS: ALGERIA IS NOT AN OBSERVER, BUT A CENTRAL PARTY TO THE SAHARA DISPUTE
That clarity stands in open defiance of the Algerian military junta’s obsessive insistence – recycled yet again after Madrid – that it is a neutral bystander

BENI MELLAL – In his first media appearance following the Madrid talks, Massad Boulos, Special Adviser to US President Donald Trump for African and Middle Eastern affairs, did what he invariably does when he speaks on the file.Political leadership books

The American official dismantled – methodically and unequivocally – the long-standing Algerian fiction that it is merely an “observer” in the Western Sahara dispute. In doing so, he stripped away diplomatic camouflage, forced Algeria to confront the reality it has spent decades denying, and summoned the ruling regime back to the facts it has long tried to outrun.

Speaking to Deutsche Welle on February 14 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Boulos anchored his remarks in the binding authority of the United Nations, indicating that UN Security Council Resolution 2797 explicitly names Algeria as a party to the conflict.

“This is a very old conflict – more than fifty years – and therefore extremely complex,” Boulos said, stressing that the process remains “fully framed by the decisions of the Security Council and the UN-led track.” The formulation was deliberate and lethal to Algiers’ narrative, collapsing its observer myth and locking the Algerian state firmly into the architecture of responsibility it has long sought to evade.

That clarity detonates the Algerian regime’s most cherished lie and ritualized falsehood – rehearsed again after Madrid – that it is a neutral bystander. Boulos’ intervention renders the claim legally void and diplomatically obscene.

He described UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted in October, as “an important and historic decision,” precisely because it breaks with decades of strategic ambiguity by explicitly naming the parties involved.

The resolution, Boulos noted, “clearly identifies the parties concerned: Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania – each involved to different degrees.” There is no interpretive maneuvering left.

22/02/2026

BAHRAIN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR MOROCCO’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER WESTERN SAHARA
Bahrain also reiterated its support of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognized Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the sole framework for resolving the regional dispute.

RABAT – Bahrain has reiterated its steadfast support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and full sovereignty over its Sahara region.

The position was outlined in a joint statement issued following the sixth session of the Morocco-Bahrain High Joint Commission, held today in Laayoune. Bahrain also reiterated its support of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognized Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the sole framework for resolving the regional dispute.

Bahrain also confirmed its backing of the efforts led by the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy initiative. The aim is to achieve a definitive resolution that recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.

Also today, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
The meeting, co-chaired by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, offered a platform to review progress in the partnership and explore new areas for collaboration.

Bourita pointed to the deep fraternal ties between Morocco and Bahrain and emphasized Morocco’s determination to expand the partnership into additional fields.

Al Zayani described Morocco as his “second home” and stressed Bahrain’s interest in sustaining close coordination and dialogue to diversify cooperation. The session included discussions on regional and international developments, as well as Arab issues of mutual concern.

Several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed, covering visa exemptions for diplomatic and service passport holders, customs cooperation, agriculture, rural development, food security, and social protection.

The two countries celebrated the positive trajectory of their relations and expressed determination to elevate ties in line with the guidance of King Mohammed VI and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

06/02/2026

MOROCCO SHRINKS BUDGET DEFICIT TO 3.5% OF GDP, STRENGTHENS PUBLIC FINANCES

Morocco’s Finance ministry attributed the improvement to revenue growth outpacing expenditure, with total receipts rising by $5.82 billion.

Morocco closed 2025 with a budget deficit of MAD 60.5 billion ($6.66 billion), or 3.5% of GDP, meeting the target set by the 2025 Finance Law and improving by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2024, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.Budget balance software

The reduction in the deficit also contributed to a decline in the debt ratio, which fell to 67.2% of GDP.

The ministry attributed the improvement to revenue growth outpacing expenditure, with total receipts rising by MAD 52.9 billion ($5.82 billion) versus a MAD 51.9 billion ($5.71 billion) increase in spending, according to the Treasury’s report on fiscal resources and expenditures.

Net revenues, after accounting for reimbursements, exemptions, and tax refunds, reached MAD 424.1 billion ($46.7 billion), exceeding Finance Law projections by 7.3% and rising 14.2% compared to 2024.

Tax revenues accounted for over MAD 342 billion ($37.66 billion), a 14.7% increase, while non-tax revenues reached MAD 77.6 billion ($8.54 billion), up 13.6%.

Ordinary expenditures totaled MAD 348.7 billion ($38.4 billion) by the end of December, executing 98.5% of the planned budget and rising MAD 39.2 billion ($4.31 billion) from 2024.

The increase reflected higher spending on goods and services, which grew by 15.7%, and a 22.3% rise in debt interest payments.

Expenditure on subsidies, however, fell by 30%. The combination of revenue growth and controlled ordinary spending produced an ordinary surplus of MAD 75.5 billion ($8.31 billion), compared with MAD 61.8 billion ($6.80 billion) in the previous year.

Investment expenditures reached MAD 125.3 billion ($13.8 billion), an increase of MAD 7.8 billion ($860 million) from 2024, with a realization rate of 118.7% relative to Finance Law forecasts.

These results point to Morocco’s ability to balance growth in public spending with robust revenue performance, while also supporting fiscal stability and resilience amid ongoing economic challenges.

06/02/2026

01/02/2026

DPI INVESTS $50 MILLION IN EGYPTIAN RETAILER KAZYON FOR MOROCCO EXPANSION

Consumers stand to gain from sharper pricing and expanded availability, amid the rapid internationalization of Morocco’s retail sector.

Marrakech – London-based private equity firm Development Partners International (DPI) has committed an additional $50 million in follow-on funding to support Egyptian discount retail chain Kazyon’s expansion across the Middle East and North Africa, with particular focus on Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

DPI partner Jade Del Lero Moreau announced that the new capital injection will accelerate Kazyon’s growth in international markets. The investment follows DPI’s earlier major equity stake in the retailer and reflects continued confidence in Kazyon’s business model.

Since DPI’s initial investment, Kazyon has expanded to approximately 1,600 stores across three countries and built a workforce exceeding 11,000 employees.

Founded in 2014, the company has pursued strategic acquisitions, including a stake in Saudi discount retailer Al Dukan, and established operations in Morocco through local subsidiaries.

The latest funding will enable Kazyon to deepen its market reach while offering consumers everyday products at competitive prices. DPI stated the investment supports Kazyon’s scalable operational model and growing portfolio of private-label brands.

Kazyon entered the Moroccan market in October 2023 and already runs about 200 stores. The company now employs more than 2,300 Moroccan staff and operates using a “hard discount” or “maxi discount” model, featuring stores averaging 600 square meters with limited product ranges sold at below-average prices.

The discount retailer operates stores characterized by competitive pricing, accessibility, and quality products and services. This model has attracted growing numbers of Moroccan consumers seeking affordable essential goods.

In March 2025, IFC deepened its partnership with Kazyon Group through a $30 million loan to accelerate the expansion of Morocco’s discount grocery sector. The initiative aimed to strengthen food security, modernize retail value chains, and create over 3,000 direct jobs, with a strong focus on youth and women.

In October, Kazyon Morocco inaugurated its second logistics platform in Tangier, spanning 14,000 square meters. This facility complements the company’s initial distribution center in Mohammedia and created 342 direct jobs in northern Morocco, with additional indirect employment opportunities.

At the time, Mohamed Benmezouara, CEO of Kazyon Morocco, noted the company’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s growth and contributing to regional economic development.

Kazyon’s expansion rewrites the rules of Morocco’s retail sector. The company operates alongside Turkish discount chain BIM, intensifying competition in the hard discount segment.

The growing presence of international discount retailers such as Kazyon is breaking the long-standing duopoly of players like BIM and Label’Vie’s Supeco, fundamentally reshaping Morocco’s hard-discount retail landscape.

Traditional Moroccan corner shops (hanout), however, face increasing pressure from these modern discount retailers, which offer structured supply chains and competitive pricing.

01/02/2026

HOW MOROCCAN ENGINEER OUIJDANE QACAMI IS USING TECHNOLOGY TO „LISTEN” TO BUILDINGS

In 2004, an earthquake forced Ouijdane Qacami and her family to sleep in their car – years later, she is building tools to prevent that kind of fear from returning.

MOHAMMEDIA
When Ouijdane Qacami walks through a city today, she does not see buildings the way most people do. She looks at joints, cracks, and the traces left by years of stress and deferred maintenance.

“Where most people see façades or functions, I see structural behaviour and the history of stress, repairs, and maintenance,” she told Morocco World News (MWN) in an interview.

That way of seeing recently earned the Moroccan civil engineer France’s national Prix Pépite, one of the country’s most competitive awards for student entrepreneurship.

In late 2025, Qacami received the prize for Strucmedica, a startup she founded to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools for concrete structures.

The award, backed by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, placed her among 30 national laureates selected that year.

Qacami was educated in Morocco before pursuing advanced studies in structural engineering in France. She later completed a doctorate focused on the durability of concrete, alongside executive training at HEC Paris.

Her career, she explained during the interview, has alternated between applied research and industry, from field assignments to technical leadership and research projects. Those experiences, she said, exposed her to “the real limits of current inspection practices.”

Her approach to infrastructure is rooted partly in personal experience. Growing up in northern Morocco, earthquakes and floods were a reality.

Recalling the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake, Qacami said she remembered “sleeping in a car with my family during the 2004 earthquake, worried to return to our fragile apartment.” Experiencing loss firsthand, she added, “instilled in me a deep sense of pragmatism, resourcefulness, and collective responsibility.”

She also pointed to her early education in preparatory classes and at Mohammedi’s engineering school, which reinforced “rigour, discipline, and execution.”

Her involvement in associations and projects such as Enactus, the Solar Decathlon, and a sustainable civil engineering association she founded helped shape what she described as “a mindset of pragmatism, innovation, and leadership.”

Strucmedica emerged from years of observing how small, detectable degradations are often left unaddressed.

Qacami said she had repeatedly witnessed “structures where small, detectable degradations were left unaddressed until they became costly or dangerous,” including industrial halls, school buildings, and aging bridges. European bridges built after World War II, she noted, are a clear example, with many now at risk due to deferred inspections.

The company’s technology is often described as a “stethoscope for buildings,” a metaphor Qacami herself uses.

01/02/2026

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM GRANTS FINANCIAL AID TO 436 WOMEN’S COOPERATIVES

More than 7,900 people, with the majority of them women, are set to benefit from a regional initiative aimed at strengthening women-led cooperatives.

Agadir – Marrakech held on Wednesday a ceremony marked by the distribution of financial support to 436 cooperatives benefiting from the Women’s Qualification and Economic Empowerment Program in the Marrakech-Safi region. Financial software

Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Naima Ben Yahia, the Wali of the Marrakech-Safi region, Khatib El Hebil, the President of the Regional Council, Samir Goudar, and the Regional Coordinator of the Social Development Agency (ADS), Awatif Chafik all attended the ceremony. In addition to institutional partners and stakeholders in major social and economic initiatives.

The gathering provided an opportunity to review the program’s results across the region’s prefecture and provinces, as well as to assess its impact on the targeted beneficiaries.

The program is the implementation of a partnership between the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi, the Regional Council, and the Social Development Agency.

It supports 436 cooperatives operating across the prefecture and six provinces of the region. In total, the initiative benefits approximately 7,970 people, including 6,587 women, with an overall budget of nearly MAD 16 million.

Speaking at the event, Minister Naima Ben Yahia emphasized the strong commitment demonstrated by all partners, underscoring the program’s role in supporting women-led initiatives, promoting women’s access to entrepreneurship, and stimulating the local economy through income-generating projects with high added value.

She stressed that the program is aligned with the directives of King Mohammed VI, which “aimed at building the foundations of the social state through a participatory and inclusive approach, based on coordination and complementarity between governmental and territorial programs, thus guaranteeing efficiency and coherence in the implementation of public policies,” she said.

An example of effective cooperation between government departments and regional institutions

Ben Yahia highlighted the importance of such integrated programs tailored to regional specificities, with a focus on improving women’s employability, fostering entrepreneurship, and encouraging initiative at the local level.

31/01/2026

KING MOHAMMED VI ORDERS SWIFT ACTION TO MITIGATE IMPACT OF FLOODS IN KSAR EL KEBIR

RABAT – King Mohammed VI has issued high instructions for immediate intervention to mitigate the impact of the floods amid heavy rains and rising river levels in Ksar El Kebir.

On Friday, the National Monitoring Committee, responsible for managing and overseeing flood-related events, met on Friday at the Ministry of Interior headquarters. It commended the monarch’s instructions for the immediate intervention of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the deployment of significant human and logistical resources to support and assist populations in the affected areas.

During the meeting, institutions and services discussed the situation in Ksar El Kebir, which witnessed alarming flooding. Several videos show people being evacuated from affected and at-risk areas.

Heavy rainfall accumulated over 600 millimeters from September to January in Larache province, causing the Oued El Makhazine dam to reach full capacity.

During the meeting, authorities also reviewed the extent of the damages, focusing on coordinating interventions and measures to protect the population and ensure the safety of citizens and their property.

The meeting also discussed measures seeking to boost ongoing interventions and operational monitoring, through identification and tracking mechanisms, as well as deploying human resources and logical means.

Authorities also discussed the measures taken in place, which aim to limit the flooded areas and reduce potential impacts, while pledging continued monitoring and surveillance to ensure immediate intervention whenever necessary until weather conditions improve.

Officials also renewed appeals, urging all citizens, particularly those residing in the affected areas, to exercise utmost vigilance and cooperate with authorities to protect lives and property and ensure the safety of all people.

Minister of Equipment Nizar Barakar said during the meeting in Rabat that the committee is working in coordination with regional and provincial committees on the development of an atlas of areas at risk of flooding, as well as early-warning mechanisms for future risks.

The weather office published a new weather alert today, forecasting more rainfall.

Heavy rainfall is expected in the provinces of Larache, Al Hoceima, Taounate, Taza, and Chefchaouen starting today. The rainfall will continue until Saturday morning, with downpours producing 40 to 60 millimeters of rain.

29/01/2026

MOROCCO EXPANDS LOCAL EV PRODUCTION TO BOOST ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADOPTION IN 2026
Analysts forecast Morocco’s passenger EV sales to expand at an average annual rate of 36.2% through 2034, reaching 57,258 units.

RABAT – Morocco is poised for significant growth in its electric vehicle (EV) market over 2025 and 2026, driven by an influx of new models and a rapid expansion of local EV production, according to BMI, a FitchSolutions Company

Following strong market growth in 2024, industry analysts maintain an optimistic outlook for the country’s EV sector, as legacy automakers and local brands accelerate production to meet rising demand.

EV SALES SET TO SURGE

Passenger EV sales in Morocco are expected to grow by 80.4% in 2025, reaching 5,311 units and pushing the passenger EV pe*******on rate to 2.6%, up from 1.9% in 2024.

Growth is forecast to continue in 2026, with sales rising 36.3% to 7,237 units and a pe*******on rate of 3.4%. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are projected to account for 4,248 units, while plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are expected to reach 2,889 units.

The introduction of more affordable EVs from Mainland China, combined with the expansion of local production, is expected to support this growth.

Notably, Moroccan automaker Neo Motors unveiled the Dial-E in October 2025, the country’s first fully designed, developed, and assembled EV, with full production set to begin in January 2026.

Global players are also investing in Morocco. Tesla established a local subsidiary in June 2025 to handle import, distribution, and maintenance of its EVs, and plans to invest $2.8 million to set up local assembly in Kenitra, targeting an annual production capacity of 400,000 units.

Meanwhile, Renault has updated its investment plan to launch a new line of locally produced EVs, creating over 7,500 jobs and introducing an R&D center.

GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES, MARKET DYNAMICS

Morocco’s government has introduced several incentives to stimulate EV adoption, including total VAT exemption, reduced customs duties, EV purchase bonuses up to MAD100,000 for corporations, and lower insurance rates.

These measures, combined with competitive Chinese EV imports, are fueling rapid growth. In 2024, BEV sales surged 143% year-on-year to 1,125 units, while PHEV sales jumped 224% to 1,819 units, lifting passenger EV pe*******on from 0.7% in 2023 to 1.9% in 2024.

China-based BYD led the PHEV market in Morocco in 2024, capturing an estimated 32% share, while Dacia dominated the BEV segment with 40.2% of the market. Other entrants, including Zeekr in 2025, are further expanding consumer choice.

Local EV production remains nascent, with an estimated 40,000-50,000 units produced annually, including the Fiat Topolino, Opel Rocks, and Citroën Ami mini-EV. However, expansion plans by Renault, Neo Motors, and Tesla, along with a growing EV supply chain, are expected to drive long-term growth.

29/01/2026

SPAIN’S AIRTIFICIAL SECURES MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE CONTRACT IN MAROC
The company also secured contracts in ROMANIA for airbag inflator manufacturing systems and in THAILAND for automated automotive seating paint systems .

MARRAKECH – Spanish engineering and technology conglomerate Airtificial Group has secured a new automotive manufacturing contract in Morocco, according to an official announcement made on Tuesday, as part of the firm’s expanded international presence across three strategic markets.

The Madrid-based company signed agreements for intelligent production line design and manufacturing in Morocco, Thailand, and Romania, targeting Tier-1 clients and global automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

For Morocco’s automotive sector, Airtificial will develop advanced technology for steering and transmission systems at a plant operated by a well-known car manufacturer. The project will support two OEM automotive groups, one Euro-American and one Asian, focusing on next-generation vehicle model production.

The company will supply high-performance components, including Electric Power Steering (EPS) and Steer-by-Wire technology, essential for electric vehicles that enhance active safety systems. The robotic production line enables manufacturing cycle times under 30 seconds while ensuring output exceeding 105 units per hour.

The system incorporates process control technologies to guarantee full traceability, quality standards, and ergonomic working conditions for line operators. This automation technology targets production and assembly chains for electric and hybrid vehicles.

CEO Guillermo Fernández de Peñaranda stated that “these new contracts reinforce our international growth strategy and consolidate Airtificial’s position as a leading technology partner for the automotive industry in key markets known for their industrial competitiveness.”

The company also secured contracts in Romania for airbag inflator manufacturing systems. These projects span automotive safety and interior components.

Morocco’s automotive industry context supports this investment momentum. In 2025, the kingdom produced an estimated 1 million vehicles, maintaining its position as Africa’s largest vehicle manufacturer and approaching European production volumes.

23/01/2026

MOROCCAN BOND MARKET STABILIZES AMID CONTROLLED INFLATION, AMPLE LIQUIDITY

AGADIR – The Moroccan bond market maintained its steady recovery during the third quarter of 2025, benefiting from an economic environment characterized by controlled inflation and substantial liquidity, according to a recent analysis by Attijari Global Research (AGR).

AGR notes in its report that inflation averaged just around 1% over the first nine months of 2025, which has allowed Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) to keep its inflation forecasts for the year unchanged.

This stability has provided favorable conditions for bond market operations, helping to boost investor confidence while allowing the treasury to finance its operations efficiently.

At the same time, Morocco’s public finances present a mixed picture of stability and challenge. By September 2025, the ordinary balance – which measures the difference between the government’s recurring revenues, mainly taxes, and regular expenditures such as salaries and basic public services – stood at MAD 29 billion ($3.16 billion), indicating that the government’s day-to-day operations remain financially sound.

However, the overall budget deficit widened to MAD 52.8 billion ($5.76 billion), up from MAD 35.6 billion ($3.88 billion) a year earlier.

A deficit reflects the total gap between all government spending and revenues, including extraordinary or one-time expenditures such as major infrastructure projects or public investment programs.

AGR explains that this widening deficit is primarily due to spending growth outpacing revenue, despite strong tax collection and a reduction in the compensation burden.

The compensation reduction refers to lower government spending on subsidies for essential goods, which has partially offset the increase in other expenditures.

Despite this high deficit, Morocco has already covered nearly 93% of its projected 2025 financing needs, equivalent to MAD 71.7 billion ($7.82 billion) of the MAD 77.1 billion ($8.41 billion) required, with external borrowing remaining a central part of the financing strategy.

This approach, combined with controlled inflation, has contributed to high liquidity in the money market. Daily investments average MAD 15 billion ($1.64 billion), providing the treasury with a strong and flexible financial position.

The current market conditions have also influenced treasury debt management. The Moroccan government is gradually shifting its bond issuance strategy towards medium-term maturities, extending the portfolio duration and smoothing repayment schedules after the record maturities observed in 2023.

Overall, the combination of controlled inflation, abundant liquidity, and strategic debt management continues to support the Moroccan bond market, ensuring that the Treasury can meet financing needs while maintaining investor confidence and market resilience.