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Morocco

  (mə-rŏk'ō) pronunciation
Morocco
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Morocco
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A country of northwest Africa on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Inhabited from ancient times by Berbers, the region became a Roman province in the 1st century A.D. and was conquered by Arabs in the 7th century. The country was later united (11th–13th century) under Berber-Muslim dynasties. The French established a protectorate over most of the region in 1912, and in 1956 Morocco achieved independence as a kingdom. Rabat is the capital and Casablanca the largest city. Population: 33,800,000.

Moroccan Mo·roc'can adj. & n.

 

 
 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Morocco

Country, North Africa. Area: 177,117 sq mi (458,730 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 31,478,000. Capital: Rabat. Arabized Berbers (Amazigh) are the country's largest ethnolinguistic group; there are French, Spanish, and Bedouin minorities. Languages: Arabic (official), Berber, French. Religion: Islam (official; mostly Sunni). Currency: dirham. Morocco is a mountainous country with an average elevation of 2,600 ft (800 m) above sea level. A mountain chain known as the Rif runs along the northern coast; the Atlas Mountains rise in the country's centre and include Mount Toubkal (13,665 ft [4,165 m]), Morocco's highest peak. The area is a zone of severe seismic activity, and earthquakes are frequent. Fertile lowlands support agriculture; major crops include barley, wheat, and sugar beets. Morocco is one of the world's largest suppliers of phosphate. Its industrial centre is Casablanca, the largest city. It is a constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses; its chief of state and head of government is the king, assisted by the prime minister. The Berbers entered Morocco near the end of the 2nd millennium BC. Phoenicians established trading posts along the Mediterranean coast during the 12th century BC, and Carthage had settlements along the Atlantic coast in the 5th century BC. After the fall of Carthage, the region's leaders became loyal allies of Rome, and in AD 42 it was annexed by the Romans as part of the province of Mauretania. It was invaded by Muslims in the 7th century. The Almoravid dynasty conquered it and the Muslim areas of Spain in the mid-11th century; the Almohad dynasty overthrew the Almoravids in the 12th century and in turn were conquered by the Marinid dynasty in the 13th century. After the fall of the Marinids in the mid-15th century, the Sa'di dynasty ruled for a century, beginning c. 1550. Attacks by Barbary Coast pirates compelled Europeans to enter the area; the French fought Morocco over the boundary with Algeria, Europeans obtained trading rights in 1856, and the Spanish seized part of Moroccan territory in 1859. Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 until its independence in 1956. In the 1970s it reasserted claim to the Spanish Sahara (see Western Sahara), and in 1976 Spanish troops withdrew from the region, leaving behind the Algerian-supported Saharan guerrillas of the Polisario movement. Relations with Mauritania and Algeria deteriorated, and fighting over the region continued. Attempts at mediation have been made by the international community.

For more information on Morocco, visit Britannica.com.

 
French Literature Companion: Morocco

As is true of all overseas francophone areas, except perhaps Quebec and Haiti, the most significant era of French-language literary production in Morocco began shortly after World War II. The intellectuals of the French colonies and protectorates, having witnessed the humiliation of France in 1940 and having made many sacrifices fighting for the Allied forces, were reluctant to resume the subordinate socio-political status they knew before the war. In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia a literary flowering occurred in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Modern Moroccan literature in French offers a rich and varied corpus of writing, encompassing, as it does, the Arab, the Berber, and the Judaeo-Maghrebian experiences which, while sharing common traits, yet maintain their unique cultural essences.

The first Moroccan writer of the post-war period to attract critical attention was Ahmed Sefrioui, author of a collection of stories Le Chapelet d'ambre (1949) and a novel La Boîte à merveilles (1954). Many of the Maghrebian stories and novels of the 1950s were, like these, ‘ethnographic’ narratives describing local customs and conflicts and published in France for the edification and pleasure of a French readership. The poet, novelist, and essayist Mohammed Aziz Lahbabi also began publishing in the late 1940s, and many of his francophone works, including translations from the work of Arabic-language poets (e.g. Douleurs rythmées, 1974), have been published in the Arab world, where he is particularly admired.

Le Passé simple (1954) by Driss Chraibi conformed to the formula of the ethnographic novel, but also had great influence on developing Moroccan writers. It addresses many of the fundamental questions with which Moroccan and other Maghrebian writers are concerned, such as the bicultural dilemma of the young European-educated intellectual; the generation gap, aggravated by the cultural chasm between the traditionally authoritative father and the Europeanized son, and the special role women, especially mothers, play in the lives of young Moroccan males. Chraibi, who later moved to France, altered his style and wrote a series of novels in which he analyses the history and civilization of Morocco.

In the mid-1960s there was a major renewal in Moroccan literature, paralleled by similar phenomena in Algeria and Tunisia, a revolt against earlier models, bolstered, no doubt, by the political upheaval in France in May 1968. This renewal was signalled by the activism of the group of writers who founded and/or were affiliated with the journal Souffes, launched in 1966 by Abdellatif Laâbi. This poet's work, at first experimental (e.g. the poetic novel L'Œil et la nuit, 1969), soon became politically militant. He has written moving accounts in both prose and poetry of his and other activists' ordeals in prison.

Major novelists who emerged as part of the renewal include Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine, Abdelkebir Khatibi, and Tahar Ben Jelloun. If Chraibi is the doyen of Moroccan writers, these three might also compete for that title on the basis of the length of their careers or the reputations they have achieved. The writing of Khaïr-Eddine has been described as vituperation, vociferation, and spleen-venting. He established his reputation with his novel Agadir (1967), and went on to publish such vitriolic, surrealistic poems and prose works as Soleil arachnide (1969), Moi l'aigre (1970), Le Déterreur (1973), Ce Maroc! (1975), and Une odeur de mantéque (1976).

Khatibi's brilliant first novel, La Mémoire tatouée (1971), introduced Postmodern techniques to Moroccan literature; if Khaïr-Eddine embodied and renewed an age-old Arabic literary tradition of spontaneous dream, errancy, eroticism, and violence, Khatibi analyses the various strata of being and language as they interact in the bilingual writer. His novels and essays are almost indistinguishable, for he is generally preoccupied by the task of defining consciousness in a process reminiscent of that practised by Valéry's Monsieur Teste. His other major works explore the interaction of the Maghrebian writer's native and acquired tongues, language in the broadest semiotic sense, and such codes as those of urban space and the human emotional intercourse which he labels aimance.

Tahar Ben Jelloun established his reputation with a novel, Harrouda (1973), and powerful evocative poems like those of Les Amandiers sont morts de leurs blessures (1976). His graduate studies and case work as a social psychologist dealing with the trauma of impotence among Maghrebian immigrant workers in France had a great impact on his work. In recent years, half a dozen absorbing, brilliantly crafted novels, including La Nuit sacrée (1987, Prix Goncourt), have established Ben Jelloun as a major writer.

A new generation of novelists, led by Abdelhak Serhane, has obvious roots in the Moroccan literary tradition. Serhane's principal works, Messaouda (1983) and Les Enfants des rues étroites (1986), based on his early years in Azrou, are brutally naturalistic even as they experiment with interwoven discourses and symbolism. Omar Berrada's L'Encensoir (1987) crams into fewer than 150 pages almost all of the clichés of the Moroccan novel, clichés which he manipulates with considerable humour. Another novelist who shows promise is Leïla Houari.

Poetry and theatre are not the strongest genres in Moroccan literature. Critics have made the remark that, despite appearances, poetry has thrived in Moroccan literature, but in the prose. Indeed, much of the best poetry is by the well-known novelists (e.g. Khaïr-Eddine, Ben Jelloun) or is found in the novels themselves (e.g. these writers plus Khatibi and the later Chraïbi).

As for poets per se, we should mention—in addition to Khaïr-Eddine, Khatibi, Ben Jelloun, Lahbabi, and Laâbi—Mostafa Nissaboury (b. 1943) and Mohamed Loakira (b. 1945). Nissaboury, a co-founder of Souffes, has published little, but his book-length poem La Mille et deuxième Nuit (1975) was very influential, restating in the modern context the importance to Moroccan literature of Les Mille et une Nuits. Loakira has based some of his complex poetic discourse on the street songs, children's chants, and proverbs of his native Marrakesh (Marrakech, 1975) and has sometimes shaped his poetic cadences to the rhythms of Afro-Arab Gnawi music (Semblable à la soif, 1986). Other poets worthy of mention include Mohamed Alaoui Belrhiti (b. 1951), Abdallah Bensmaïn (b. 1948), Abdallah Bounfour (b. 1946), Rachida Madani (b. 1951), and Zaghloul Morsy (b. 1953).

[Eric Sellin]

Bibliography

  • J. Déjeux, Litterature maghrébine d'expression française (3rd edn., 1980)
  • M. Gontard, Violence du texte (1981); Revue CELFAN Review (‘Moroccan literature’), 2:3 (1983)
  • L. Mouzouni, Le Roman marocain de langue française (1987)
 
Spotlight: Morocco

From our Archives: Today's Highlights, March 2, 2006

Morocco gained its independence from France fifty years ago today. The Berbers first inhabited the region, and Arabs conquered the country. In the late 19th century, Spain and France became more interested in the area of Morocco and, in 1912, the Treaty of Fez made Morocco a protectorate of France. Casablanca is the country's largest city and its economic capital; Rabat is the political capital.
 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Morocco
(mərŏk'ō) , officially Kingdom of Morocco, kingdom (2005 est. pop. 32,726,000), 171,834 sq mi (445,050 sq km), NW Africa. Morocco is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea (N), the Atlantic Ocean (W), Western Sahara (S), and Algeria (S and E). Ifni, formerly a Spanish-held enclave on the Atlantic coast, was ceded to Morocco in 1969. Two cities, Ceuta and Melilla, and several small islands off the Mediterranean coast remain part of metropolitan Spain; at various times in history Moroccans have sought, through force or diplomacy, to gain control of these enclaves. Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara although sovereignty remains unresolved. Rabat is the capital and Casablanca the most populous city.

Land and People

Central Morocco consists largely of the Atlas Mts., which rise to 13,671 ft (4,167 m) in Jebel Toubkal in the southwest and which dominate most of the country. In the south lie the sandy wastes of the Sahara desert. In the north is a fertile coastal plain. The population of Morocco is concentrated in the coastal region and the mountains, where rainfall is most plentiful. In parts of the Rif Mts. in the northeast some 40 in. (102 cm) of rain fall each year. There are no important rivers in the country, but dams on several coastal streams are used for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The vast majority of Moroccans are Muslims of Arab-Berber ancestry. There are also small Christian and Jewish minorities. Arabic is the official language, but French (often used in business and government), and several Berber dialects are also spoken. More than half of all Moroccans live in urban areas.

Economy

Agriculture employs about 40% of Morocco's workforce, which suffers from a high (as much as 20% locally) unemployment rate. In the rainy sections of the northeast, barley, wheat, and other cereals can be raised without irrigation. On the Atlantic coast, where there are extensive plains, olives, citrus fruits, and wine grapes are grown, largely with water supplied by artesian wells. Morocco also produces a significant amount of illicit hashish, much of which is shipped to Western Europe. Livestock are raised and forests yield cork, cabinet wood, and building materials. Part of the maritime population fishes for its livelihood. Agadir, Essaouira, El Jadida, and Larache are among the important fishing harbors.

Casablanca is by far the largest port and an important industrial center. Significant industries include textile and leather goods manufacturing, food processing, and oil refining. In the northern foothills of the Atlas Mts. there are large mineral deposits; phosphates are the most important, but iron ore, silver, zinc, copper, lead, manganese, barytine, gold, and coal (the only sizable coal deposits in North Africa) are also found. Marrakech, Meknès, and Fès are the most important centers in the mineral trade. A few oases in southern Morocco, notably Tafilalt, are all that relieve the desert wastes. Tourism also is important economically, as are cash remittances from Moroccans working in France.

Morocco's coastal areas and the mineral-producing interior are linked by an expanding road and rail network, and port facilities are being further developed. The main exports are clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, and vegetables. The chief imports are crude petroleum, textiles, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas, electricity, and plastics. France, Spain, and Italy are the leading trade partners.

Government

A constitutional monarchy, Morocco is governed under the constitution of 1972 as amended. The king, who is the head of state, holds effective power and appoints the prime minister, who is the head of government. The bicameral Parliament consists of the 270-seat Chamber of Counselors, whose members are elected by indirect vote for nine-year terms, and the 325-seat Chamber of Representatives, whose members are elected by popular vote for five-year terms. Administratively, the country is divided into 15 regions.

History

Early History to the Nineteenth Century

Berbers inhabited Morocco at the end of the 2d millennium B.C. In Roman times Morocco was roughly coextensive with the province of Mauretania Tingitania. In the 3d cent. A.D. four bishoprics were created in the province. Jewish colonies were also established during Roman rule. The Vandals were the earliest (5th cent.) of barbarian peoples to take the area as the Roman Empire declined.

The Arabs first swept into Morocco c.685, bringing with them Islam. Christianity was all but extirpated, but the Jewish colonies by and large retained their religion. Many Moroccans served in the Arab forces that invaded Spain in the early 8th cent. Later, Berber-Arab conflict fragmented the region.

Morocco became an independent state in 788 under the royal line founded by Idris I. After 900 the country again broke into small tribal states. Warfare between the Fatimids of Tunisia and the Umayyads of Spain for control of the region intensified the already-existing political anarchy, which ended only when the Almoravids overran (c.1062) Morocco and established a kingdom stretching from Spain to Senegal. The Almohads, who succeeded (c.1174) the Almoravids, at first ruled both Morocco and Spain, but the Merinid dynasty (1259–1550), after some triumphs, was limited to Morocco. Rarely, however, was the country completely unified, and conflict between Arabs and Berbers was incessant.

Spain and Portugal, after expelling the Moors (i.e., persons from Morocco) from the Iberian Peninsula, attacked the Moroccan coast. Beginning with the capture of Ceuta in 1415, Portugal took all the chief ports except Melilla and Larache, both of which fell to Spain. The Christian threat stimulated the growth of resistance under religious leaders, one of whom established (1554) the Saadian, or first Sherifian, dynasty. At the battle of Ksar el Kebir (1578) the Saadian king decisively defeated Portugal. The present ruling dynasty, the Alawite, or second Sherifian, dynasty, came to power in 1660 and recaptured many European-held strongholds. Morocco, like the other Barbary States, was, from the 17th to the 19th cent., a base for pirates preying upon the Mediterranean trade.

Colonial Struggles

In the 19th cent. the strategic importance and economic potential of Morocco excited the interest of the European powers. France, after beginning war with Algeria, defeated (1844) Sultan Abd ar-Rahman, who had aided the Algerians. Spain invaded in 1860. In 1880 the major European nations and the United States decided at the Madrid Conference to preserve the territorial integrity of Morocco and to maintain equal trade opportunities for all.

Political and commercial rivalries soon disrupted this cordial arrangement and brought on several international crises. France sought to gain Spanish and British support against the opposition of Germany. Thus, in 1904, France concluded a secret treaty with Spain to partition Morocco and secretly agreed with Great Britain (the Entente Cordiale) not to oppose British aims in Egypt in exchange for a free hand in Morocco. In 1905, after France had asked the sultan of Morocco for a protectorate, Germany moved quickly: Emperor William II visited Tangier and declared support for Morocco's integrity. At German insistence the Algeciras Conference (Jan.–Mar., 1906) was called to consider the Moroccan question. The principles of the Madrid Conference were readopted and German investments were assured protection, but French and Spanish interests were given marked recognition by the decision to allow France to patrol the border with Algeria and to allow France and Spain to police Morocco.

Under the claim of effecting pacification, the French steadily annexed territory. In 1908 friction arose at Casablanca, under French occupation, when the German consul gave refuge to deserters from the French Foreign Legion. This dispute was settled by the Hague Tribunal. Shortly afterward in a coup Abd al-Aziz IV was unseated and his brother, Abd al-Hafid, installed on the throne. He had difficulty maintaining order and received help from France and Spain, especially in a revolt that broke out in 1911. In this situation the appearance of the German warship Panther at Agadir on July 1, 1911, was interpreted by the French as a threat of war and speeded a final adjustment of imperial rivalries.

On Nov. 4, 1911, Germany agreed to a French protectorate in Morocco in exchange for the cession of French territory in equatorial Africa. Finally, at Fès (Mar. 30, 1912), the sultan agreed to a French protectorate, and on Nov. 27 a Franco-Spanish agreement divided Morocco into four administrative zones—French Morocco, nine-tenths of the country, a protectorate with Rabat as capital; a Spanish protectorate, which included Spanish Morocco, with its capital at Tétouan; a Southern Protectorate of Morocco, administered as part of the Spanish Sahara; and the international zone of Tangier. The French protectorate was placed under the rule of General Lyautey, who remained in office until 1925.

The Struggle for Independence

A strong threat to European rule was posed (1921–26) by the revolt (the Rif War) of Abd el-Krim. In 1934 a group of young Moroccans presented a plan for reform, marking the beginning of the nationalist movement. In 1937 the French crushed a nationalist revolt. Francisco Franco's successful revolt against the republican government of Spain began in Spanish Morocco in 1936.

During World War II, French Morocco remained officially loyal to the Vichy government after the fall of France in 1940. On Nov. 8, 1942, Allied forces landed at all the major cities of Morocco and Algeria; on Nov. 11, all resistance ended (see North Africa, campaigns in). In Jan., 1943, Allied leaders met at Casablanca. During the war an independence party, the Istiqlal, was formed. After the war the nationalist movement gained strength and received the active support of the sultan, Sidi Muhammad, who demanded a unitary state and the departure of the French and Spanish. Vast numbers of Jews emigrated to the newly formed state of Israel in the early 1950s, although a small number remained.

Faced with growing nationalist agitation, the French outlawed (1952) the Istiqlal and in Aug., 1953, deposed and exiled Sidi Muhammad. These measures proved ineffective, and under the pressure of rebellion in Algeria and disorders in Morocco, the French were compelled (1955) to restore Sidi Muhammad. In Mar., 1956, France relinquished its rights in Morocco; in April the Spanish surrendered their protectorate; in October Tangier was given to Morocco by international agreement. Spain ceded the Southern Protectorate in 1958.

Modern Morocco

The sultan became (1957) King Muhammad V (Sidi Muhammad) and soon embarked on a foreign policy of “positive neutrality,” which included support for the Muslim rebels in Algeria. After the king's death (Feb., 1961), his son Hassan II ascended the throne. He soon enacted a new constitution that established a bicameral parliament. Border hostilities with Algeria in 1963 cost both sides many lives; final agreement on the border was reached in 1970.

In June, 1965, following a political crisis that threatened to undermine the monarchy, King Hassan declared a state of emergency and took over both executive and legislative powers. The country returned to a modified form of parliamentary democracy in 1970, with a revised constitution that strengthened the king's authority. Opposition groups, later called the National Front, rejected the constitution and boycotted legislative elections. An attempt on Hassan's life by military leaders took place on July 10, 1971. Hassan announced a new constitution in Feb., 1972, which lessened the king's powers. In August another assassination attempt took place, when the airplane carrying King Hassan was strafed on its way back from France. The king continued to rule in isolation and maintained relative order through a policy of suppression.

In 1974, Morocco pressed its claim to sovereignty over Spanish Sahara, and in Nov., 1975, Hassan lead the “Green March” of over 300,000 unarmed Moroccans to the disputed region. In 1976, Spain relinquished control of the area, ceding it to Morocco and Mauritania as Western Sahara. However, the Polisario Front, a group of Western Saharan guerrillas with Algerian and Libyan backing, fought for independence for the territory. Morocco took over Mauritania's portion of Western Sahara in 1979 and continued to battle the Polisario throughout the 1980s. In 1983, when Morocco experienced political and economic troubles, Hassan canceled legislative elections.

Normalization of relations between Morocco and Algeria in 1988 cut off Algerian support for the rebels, and in 1991 the Polisario and Morocco agreed to a cease-fire. A UN-sponsored referendum to decide the territory's permanent status was ordered for the early 1990s. Disputes regarding who would be permitted to vote delayed any referendum into the 21st cent., during which time the region was integrated administratively into Morocco. Constitutional amendments in 1996 established a bicameral legislature, and elections the following year led to the first government (1998) in which opposition parties were dominant.

King Hassan died in 1999 and was succeeded by his son Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed, as Muhammad VI. Initially extremely popular, the new king revealed himself to be a strong advocate of social change and economic improvement, but the monarchy nonetheless remained the unquestioned center of power in the country. In July, 2002, Morocco occupied an uninhabited islet off Ceuta that is claimed by Spain, drawing international attention to the disputed Spanish enclaves along Morocco's Mediterranean coast. After Spanish forces removed the Moroccans, both sides agreed to leave the islet unoccupied. The Moroccan elections of 2002 and 2007 returned the governing coalition to power, though the Socialist Union of People's Forces was supplanted as the dominant party by the conservative Independence party in 2007.

Bibliography

See S. Bernard, The Franco-Moroccan Conflict, 1953–1956 (1968); R. F. Nyrop et al., Area Handbook for Morocco (1972); R. Le Tourneau, The Modern History of Morocco (1973); W. Spencer, Historical Dictionary of Morocco (1980); E. DeAmicis, Morocco (1984); A. M. Findlay et al., ed., Morocco (1984); D. Porch, The Conquest of Morocco (1986).

 
Geography: Morocco

Kingdom in northwestern Africa with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; it is bordered by Algeria to the east and the western Sahara to the south. Its largest city is Casablanca, and its capital is Rabat.

 
Dialing Code: Morocco
Morocco

The international dialing code for Morocco is:   212


 
Maps: Morocco

 
Local Time: Morocco

Local Time: Jul 7, 11:30 AM

 
Currency: Morocco
Moroccan Dirham


 
Statistics: Morocco
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Introduction

Background:In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Lower house elections were last held in September 2002, while upper house elections were last held in September 2006.

Geography

Location:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:1,835 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:14,450 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

Population:33,757,175 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (male 5,339,730/female 5,140,482)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 10,750,240/female 10,815,470)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 740,686/female 970,567) (2007 est.)
Median age:total: 24.3 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 24.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:1.528% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:21.64 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.994 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.763 male(s)/female
total population: 0.994 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 38.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 42.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.22 years
male: 68.88 years
female: 73.67 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.62 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2007)
Nationality:noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)

Government

Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution:10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (election moved to 2007); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PJD 10.9%, PI 10.7%, RNI 9.7%, MP 9.3%, USFP 8.9%, UC 7.3%, Al Ahd 5.5%, PPS 5.4%, FFD 4.5%, MDS 3.7%, other 24.1%; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 41, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, Al Ahd 14, FFD 9, MDS 9, other 31
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI [Abbas el FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine El OTHMANI]; Labor Party [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER]; Popular Movement Union or UMP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Economy

Economy - overview:Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises. However, GDP growth rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a strong second harvest. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US, which entered into force in January 2006, and sold government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$152.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$58.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 37%
services: 45.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force:10.86 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 40%
industry: 15%
services: 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.7% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:19% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $16.45 billion
expenditures: $18.98 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:67.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:21.37 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:20.67 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:802 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:170,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:21,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:186,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:100 million bbl (1 January 2006)
Current account balance:$229 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables
Exports - partners:France 21.1%, Spain 20.2%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.6%, India 4% (2006)
Imports:$20.96 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:France 17.6%, Spain 13.5%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, China 6.9%, Italy 6.4%, Germany 6% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$20.79 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$16.63 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $651.8 million (2005)
Currency (code):Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Exchange rates:Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year

Transportation

Airports:60 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 27
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2007)
Heliports:1 (2007)
Pipelines:gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:total: 57,493 km
paved: 32,716 km (includes 507 km of expressways)
unpaved: 24,777 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 344,445 GRT/252,341 DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 14 (France 13, Germany 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Military

Military branches:Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 7,908,864
females age 18-49: 7,882,879 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 6,484,787
females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 353,377
females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

 
Local Cuisine: Morocco

Recipes

Chicken Tajine with Almonds and Prunes
Moroccan Mint Tea
Mescouta (Moroccan Date Cookies)
Bisteeya
Harira
Fried Baby Carrots
Chickpea, Feta, and Olive Salad
Moroccan "String of Doughnuts"
Mhalbi
Sweet Grated Carrot Salad

Geographic Setting and Environment

Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa. Morocco is slightly larger in area than California, and its territory has three different regions. The northern coast along the Mediterranean Sea is made up of fertile land that rises to elevations of about 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). The Atlas Mountains run between the Atlantic coast in the southwest to the Mediterranean Sea in the northeast. Finally, the semiarid area in the south and east known as the Western Sahara connects Morocco with the vast African Sahara Desert.

Morocco faces a problem with desertification. Desertification is the process where fertile land becomes barren and desert-like. Desertification may be caused by forces of nature, such as lack of rainfall or drought. Humans contribute to desertification when they clear away all the trees or allow their livestock to graze too much so that they eat away all plants. These practices leave no plants to hold the soil in place, so wind and rain can carry away the fertile topsoil. Morocco also has a problem with water pollution from oil spills, poor sewage treatment practices, and the use of strong pesticides.

In the northwest, agriculture in Morocco thrives. Except in years when there is severe drought, Moroccan farmers are able to supply the country with enough food.

History and Food

Nomads called Berbers were the first inhabitants of Morocco over two thousand years ago. They used local ingredients, such as olives, figs, and dates, to prepare lamb and poultry stews. Over time, traders and conquering nations introduced new food customs. Among them were the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. However, the strongest influence on native cooking was the Arab invasion in the seventh century A.D.

The Arabs brought with them new breads and other foods made from grains. They introduced spices including cinnamon, ginger, saffron, cumin, and caraway. They also introduced sweet-and-sour cooking, which they had learned from the Persians. Moors from Andalusia in southern Spain also influenced Moroccan cooking. The pastilla, or bisteeya, a popular pigeon pie in Morocco, was originally a Moorish dish. In modern times, the French and the British made contributions to Moroccan cuisine.

Foods of the Moroccans

Morocco, unlike most other African countries, produces all the food it needs to feed its people. Its many home-grown fruits and vegetables include oranges, melons, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and potatoes. Five more native products that are especially important in Moroccan cooking are lemons, olives, figs, dates, and almonds. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the country is rich in fish and seafood. Beef is not plentiful, so meals are usually built around lamb or poultry.

Flat, round Moroccan bread is eaten at every meal. The Moroccan national dish is the tajine, a lamb or poultry stew. Other common ingredients may include almonds, hard-boiled eggs, prunes, lemons, tomatoes, and other vegetables. The tajine, like other Moroccan dishes, is known for its distinctive flavoring, which comes from spices including saffron, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, and ground red pepper. The tajine's name is taken from the distinctive earthenware dish with a cone-shaped top in which it is cooked and served. Another Moroccan dietary staple is couscous, made from fine grains of a wheat product called semolina. It is served many different ways, with vegetables, meat, or seafood.

Sweets play a very important role in the Moroccan diet. Every household has a supply of homemade sweet desserts made from almonds, honey, and other ingredients. Mint tea is served with every meal in Morocco. It is sweetened while it is still in the pot.

See Chicken Tajine with Almonds and Prunes recipe.

See Moroccan Mint Tea recipe.

Food for Religious and Holiday Celebrations

Muslim dietary restrictions prohibit the consumption of pork and alcohol. During the holy season of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during the day, a thick soup called harira is served at night. A bowl of harira, which is made with beans and lamb, is served with fresh dates. It is served both at home and in cafes. For the holiday Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, a holiday feast is prepared. A popular dish at this feast is bisteeya, made with pigeon meat wrapped in pastry dough. More than 100 layers of pastry dough may be used.

The Muslim feast day of Eid el Kebir takes place seventy days after Ramadan. For this holiday, a sheep is roasted on a spit and served whole at the table. Each person cuts off a piece and dips it into a dish of cumin. Rich date bars called mescouta are a popular dessert at many festive occasions.

See Mescouta (Date Cookies) recipe.

See Bisteeya recipe.

See Harira recipe.

See Fried Baby Carrots recipe.

Mealtime Customs

Moroccans eat their meals at low round tables, sitting on cushions on the floor. They eat with their hands instead of silverware, using the thumb and first two fingers of their right hands. They also use pieces of bread to soak up sauces and carry food to the mouth. Small warmed, damp towels are passed around before the meal to make sure everyone's hands are clean. Most meals consist of a single main dish, often a stew, a couscous dish, or a hearty soup. It is served with bread, salad, cold vegetables, and couscous or rice on the side. A typical breakfast might include beyssara (dried fava beans stewed with cumin and paprika), beghrir (pancakes), and bread. Two breakfast favorites that may sound exotic to Westerners are lambs' heads and calves' feet.

Although Moroccans love sweets, they are usually saved for special occasions. With everyday meals, the most common dessert is fresh fruit.

The sweetened mint tea that comes with every meal is served a special way. It is brewed in a silver teapot and served in small glasses. When the tea is poured, the pot is held high above the glasses to let air mix with the tea. Tea is served not only at home but also in public places. In stores, merchants often offer tea to their customers.

Morocco is famous for the wide range of delicious foods sold by its many street vendors. These include soup, shish kebab, roasted chickpeas, and salads. Both full meals and light snacks are sold. A favorite purchase is sugared doughnuts tied together on a string to carry home.

See Chickpea, Feta, and Olive Salad recipe.

See Moroccan "String of Doughnuts" recipe.

See Mhalbi recipe.

See Sweet Grated Carrot Salad recipe.

Politics, Economics, and Nutrition

According to a report by the World Bank, about 5 percent of the total population of Morocco are undernourished, and 58 percent of the total population have access to adequate sanitation (clean, sanitary toilet facilities). Some Moroccan children do not receive adequate nutrition. Ten percent of children under five are underweight for their age, while 24 percent are short for their age. Both of these statistics reflect poor nutrition for the youngest children in Morocco.

Further Study

Books

Davidson, Alan. The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Helou, Anissa. Café Morocco. Chicago: Contemporary Books. 1999.

Mackley, Lesley. The Book of North African Cooking. New York: HP Books, 1998.

Morse, Kitty. North Africa: The Vegetarian Table. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1996.

Seward, Pat. Cultures of the World: Morocco. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1995.

Walden, Hilaire. North African Cooking. Edison, N.J.: Chartwell, 1995.

Webb, Lois Sinaiko. Holidays of the World Cookbook for Students. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1995.

Web Sites

Epicurious. [Online] Available http://epicurious.com (accessed February 7, 2001).

Happy Menu. [Online] Available http://209.95.106.181/happymenu/moroccan/ (accessed February 12, 2001).

Moroccan Gateway. [Online] Available http://www.al-bab.com/maroc/maroc.htm (accessed February 12, 2001).

SOAR (online recipe archive). [Online] Available http://soar.berkeley.edu (accessed February 7, 2001).


 
Wikipedia: Morocco
المملكة المغربية
Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiyya
Tagldit n Lmeghrib
Royaume du Maroc
Kingdom of Morocco
Flag of Morocco Coat of arms of Morocco
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
"Allāh, al Waţan, al Malik"  (transliteration)
"God, Nation, King"
Anthem
Hymne Chérifien
Location of Morocco
The striped area on the map shows Western Sahara, most of which is de facto administered by Morocco as its "Southern Provinces". Its sovereignty, however, is currently in dispute.
Capital Rabat
34°02′N, 6°51′W
Largest city Casablanca
Official languages de jure:   Arabic[1]
additional de facto:  French1
Demonym Moroccan
Government Constitutional monarchy
 -  King Mohammed VI
 -  Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi
Independence
 -  from France March 2 1956 
 -  from Spain April 7 1956 
Area
 -  Total  km² (57th)
 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 250km²
Population
 -  2007 estimate 33,757,175 (37th)
 -  Density 70/km² (122nd)
 /sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
 -  Total $152.5 billion (54th)
 -  Per capita $4,600 (109th)
HDI (2004) Green_Arrow_Up_Darker.svg 0.640 (medium) (123rd)
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Time zone UTC (UTC+0)
Internet TLD .ma
Calling code [[+212]]
*All data excludes Western Sahara, much of which is under Moroccan de facto administrative control.
1 French is equally used as an administrative language though not on an official basis. Moroccan Arabic, an Arabic vernacular is the most common native language. Amazigh is also widely spoken.

Morocco (Arabic: المغرب), officially the Kingdom of Morocco[2] (Arabic: المملكة المغربية), is a country in North Africa with a population of 33,241,259. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco has international borders with Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with two small Spanish autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla), and Mauritania to the south.[3]

Morocco is the only African country that is not currently a member of the African Union. However, it is a member of the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, the Francophonie, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue group, and Group of 77, and is a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

Name

The full Arabic name Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiya translates to "The Western Kingdom." Al-Maghrib (meaning "The West") is commonly used. For historical references, medieval Arab historians and geographers used to refer to Morocco as Al-Maghrib al Aqşá ("The Farthest West"), disambiguating it from neighboring historical regions called al-Maghrib al Awsat ("The Middle West", Algeria) and al-Maghrib al Adna ("The Nearest West", Tunisia).[4]

The Latinized name "Morocco" originates from medieval Latin "Morroch," which referred to the name of the former Almoravid and Almohad capital, Marrakech.[5] The Persians straightforwardly call it "Marrakech"[6] while the Turks call it "Fas" which comes from the ancient Idrisid and Marinid capital, Fès.[7]

The word "Marrakech" is presumably derived from the Berber word Mur-Akush meaning Land of God.

History

Main article: History of Morocco

Berber Morocco

The area of modern Morocco has been inhabited since Neolithic times, at least 8000 BC, as attested by signs of the Capsian culture, in a time when the Maghreb was less arid than it is today. Many theorists believe the "Amazigh" commonly referred to as Berber language probably arrived at roughly the same time as agriculture (see Berber), and was adopted by the existing population and the immigrants that brought it. Modern genetic analyses have confirmed that various populations have contributed to the present-day population, including (in addition to the main Berber and Arab groups) Jews and