Wadie El Mouden

Morocco’s sharp decline in the unemployment rate—from 13% at the end of 2025 to 9.5% in the second quarter of 2026—does not reflect a surge in job creation. Instead, it is primarily the result of a methodological overhaul introduced by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), which has adopted a new generation of labor market surveys.

Fuel prices rose again across Morocco on Monday, with all major distributors increasing both diesel and gasoline prices by one dirham per liter. The move put an end to several days of speculation fueled by media reports suggesting prices could jump by as much as two to three dirhams.

After nearly two months of strike action that brought courts across Morocco to a standstill, Casablanca’s Bar Association is facing growing criticism over its decision to grant lawyers a one-off payment of MAD 4,000—an amount many say falls well below the support provided in other cities.

Several Royal Air Maroc (RAM) routes to Central Africa, suspended since May 24, 2026, due to a sharp increase in jet fuel prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, are gradually resuming. Morocco’s national carrier has restarted operations on some routes while keeping others suspended until the end of August.

In his Throne Day address, King Mohammed VI highlighted the economic transformation underway in Morocco, driven by a long-term royal vision. From the automotive and aerospace industries to renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric batteries, and the agri-food and pharmaceutical sectors, the Kingdom continues to integrate into strategic global value chains while strengthening the foundations of its economic sovereignty.

Production of the hybrid version of Europe’s best-selling car will begin at Renault’s Moroccan plants in September, marking another milestone in the country’s shift toward automotive electrification.

Families of those buried in Granada’s Muslim cemetery are being urged to act ahead of a major policy change set to take effect in 2027. A planned annual maintenance fee could affect burial rights, raising concerns among relatives—particularly those living outside Spain—who may be unaware of the new requirements.

A strongly worded social media post by a senior official at Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) threatening to recommend the suspension of Royal Air Maroc’s operations has drawn attention not only for its criticism of the Moroccan airline, but also for its unexpected reference to Air Algérie as an alternative. A new analysis by the Moroccan think tank Institut Géopolitique Horizons examines the regulatory dispute and the broader geopolitical questions raised by that choice.

Three weeks after the troubled handover of Casablanca’s waste collection services from former operator Averda to Arma, local authorities have stepped up oversight meetings in an effort to restore normal operations. While service disruptions persist and corrective measures remain underway, Wali Mohamed Mhidia has taken a firmer stance, urging the company, headed by Youssef Ahizoune, to fulfil its contractual obligations.