Morocco

Dictionary: Mo·roc·co (mə-rŏk'ō)

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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.

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5min Related Video: Morocco

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Holocaust: Morocco

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Country in North Africa governed by France from 1912--1956; a small part of the country was ruled by Spain. On the eve of World War II, about 200,000 Jews lived in Morocco, most in the French-held part. During the 1930s, both French right-wing and Arab Muslim groups in Morocco began anti-Jewish propaganda campaigns that led to violent clashes between them and the Jews. In spite of that, however, many Jewish Refugees fled to Morocco after the war broke out in September 1939.

After Germany occupied northern France and a pro-German regime was established in southern France, at Vichy, most of the French administration in Morocco declared allegiance to the Vichy government. By October 1940, they instituted the same anti-Jewish laws (Statut Des Juifs) that were being enacted in France, but adapted them for the special circumstances in Morocco. Unlike in Europe, Jews in Morocco were defined as such by religion, so as not to offend the Muslim majority by targeting Jews who had converted to Islam. Also, the Vichy anti-Jewish decrees mainly affected Jews in urban areas.

In 1941 many Jewish refugees fled occupied France for Morocco. At the same time, the French administration in Morocco established over 30 Forced Labor and detention camps, where Jews were sent to work in an insufferable climate for more than 10 hours per day. The largest Moroccan forced labor camp was Djelfa, which contained 700--1,000 prisoners, many of whom were those same refugees who had come to Morocco seeking a safe haven.

The United States army liberated Morocco on November 11, 1942. Technically, the Jews in Morocco were free, but it was several months until all anti-Jewish decrees were cancelled and prisoners interned in camps were actually let out. Furthermore, French right-wing groups and some Muslims once again organized violence against the Jews. Even the police persecuted the newly-"liberated" Jews; tens of Jews were randomly arrested in the streets and given heavy punishments. This type of cruel treatment lasted for many months. (For more on Vichy, see also France.)

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Morocco

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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

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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

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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

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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. The visit of the Spanish king to Ceuta and Mellila in 2007 soured Moroccan-Spanish relations.

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).

Mideast & N. Africa Encyclopedia: Morocco

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This entry consists of the following articles:

— MOROCCO: OVERVIEW, MOROCCO: CONSTITUTION, MOROCCO: POLITICAL PARTIES IN

Geography: Morocco

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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

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The international dialing code for Morocco is: 212

Maps: Morocco

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Local Time: Morocco

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It is 6:17 PM, November 8, in Morocco.

Currency: Morocco

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Moroccan Dirham

Statistics: Morocco

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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. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

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)
Total renewable water resources:	29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):	total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:	strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Population:	34,859,364 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 30% (male 5,333,396/female 5,131,886) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 11,261,139/female 11,305,792) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 781,089/female 1,046,062) (2009 est.)
Median age:	total: 25 years male: 24.5 years female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:	1.479% (2009 est.)
Birth rate:	20.96 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:	5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:	-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Urbanization:	urban population: 56% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 36.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 71.8 years male: 69.42 years female: 74.3 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:	2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:	0.1% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:	21,000 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:	fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
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)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):	total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2005)
Education expenditures:	NA

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 also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region which falls entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:	2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:	Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution:	10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996 note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral legislature
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 MOHAMMED 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: 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 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); 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 - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
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 [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [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 [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]
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, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert P. JACKSON 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 - overview:	Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rose to 5.3% in 2008, with the economy recovering from a drought in 2007 that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. 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. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):	$137.3 billion (2008 est.) $129.7 billion (2007) $125.7 billion (2006) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):	$90.47 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:	5.9% (2008 est.) 3.2% (2007 est.) 7.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):	$4,000 (2008 est.) $3,800 (2007 est.) $3,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:	agriculture: 14.7% industry: 38.9% services: 46.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:	11.5 million (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:	agriculture: 44.6% industry: 19.8% services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:	10% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:	15% (2007 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.)
Investment (gross fixed):	31.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $26.09 billion expenditures: $28.41 billion (2008 est.)
Fiscal year:	calendar year
Public debt:	60.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):	4.6% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:	3.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:	NA
Stock of money:	$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:	$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:	$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:	$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)
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:	5.8% (2008 est.)
Electricity - production:	21.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:	19.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:	0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:	1.998 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source:	fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:	3,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:	179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:	24,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:	192,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:	836,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:	60 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:	60 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:	0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:	0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:	1.557 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:	-$1.667 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:	$16.14 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:	clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Exports - partners:	Spain 21.2%, France 19%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.6%, India 4.2% (2007)
Imports:	$34.44 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:	crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:	France 16.1%, Spain 13.6%, China 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, Germany 5.9%, US 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:	$27.29 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:	$21.11 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:	$35.36 billion (2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:	$582 million (2008 est.)
Currency (code):	Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:	MAD
Exchange rates:	Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 7.526 (2008 est.), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004)

Telephones - main lines in use:	2.394 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:	20.029 million (2007)
Telephone system:	general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 60 per 100 persons in 2007 domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:	AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:	6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:	35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:	3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:	.ma
Internet hosts:	275,889 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):	8 (2000)
Internet users:	7.3 million (2007)

Airports:	60 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 31 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:	total: 29 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 9 (2008)
Heliports:	1 (2007)
Pipelines:	gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2008)
Railways:	total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:	total: 57,625 km paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)
Merchant marine:	total: 35 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:	Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Military branches:	Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)
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 16-49: 9,152,580 females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:	males age 16-49: 7,779,589 females age 16-49: 7,881,024 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:	male: 356,014 female: 343,520 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:	5% of GDP (2003 est.)

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

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Holiday Menus

I.
Cashew bisteeya (pie made with phyllo dough)
Couscous with fennel
Mhalbi (custard)
Fresh seasonal fruit and dates
Mint tea
II.
Assortment of salads
Tajine of potatoes, peas, and artichoke hearts
Couscous
Dates stuffed with almond paste
Fresh seasonal fruit
Mint tea

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).

The Dream Encyclopedia: Morocco

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Dreams are valued highly by the Moroccans of northwest Africa. They are most often regarded as indicators of the future, in that they can foretell it or indicate an action that should be taken. Moroccans have a rich, living tradition of dream interpretation, although they have not elaborated a particularly consistent dream theory, nor have they developed complex dream related rituals. Moroccan dream interpretation and dream classification reflect the various influences of daily experience, folk Islam, classical Islam-popular and orthodox beliefs, attitudes, and doctrines. These diverse and sometimes competing elements affect the Moroccan view of dreams-everything from beliefs in the evil eye, to the Islamic ideal of the good man, to djinn (the spirits-good and bad-who oversee daily social interactions).

Moroccans, like many other people, believe that dreams result from the wandering of the soul during sleep, whereas daydreams occur when the soul leaves the body but stays close to it. The wandering soul witnesses real events that happen elsewhere in space and time. These dream events are thought to be related to the dreamer's future, most often in a symbolic way. Moroccans classify dreams as being either truthful, divinely inspired dreams or deceitful dreams coming from the Devil and other sources. Truthful dreams are associated with safety, and deceitful dreams are associated with harm shaped by the evil intentions of spirits and ill-intended people.

In order to achieve a good interpretation of dreams, it is very common to share them, as well as to rely on external dream specialists. In Morocco, not all dreams are trusted, any more than all people are trusted. The only dreams that can be trusted are God-sent, although it is difficult to distinguish them from the Satan-sent. However, Moroccans are not particularly concerned with internal (in the dream itself) criteria by which false dreams can be distinguished from true ones. Rather, they are generally more concerned with the condition of the dreamer himself as a determinant of the truth or falsehood of a dream.

Truthful, God-sent dreams are considered to have a spiritual origin, whereas deceitful dreams are regarded as expressions of psychological realities and everyday experiences. Another type of dream, not to be confused with bad dreams, is visitation dreams, which involve the appearance of saints and other spiritual beings. They usually serve to resolve conflicts that may not be clearly articulated by the dreamer by providing a point of primary orientation for the resolution process.

Wikipedia: Morocco

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For other uses, see Morocco (disambiguation).

Kingdom of Morocco

المملكة المغربية
al-Mamlaka al-Maġribiyya


Flag	Coat of arms

Motto: "Allāh, al Waṭan, al Malik" (transliteration)
"God, Nation, King"

Anthem: "Hymne Chérifien"

The striped area on the map shows the Western Sahara, most of which is de facto administered by Morocco as its "Southern Provinces". Its sovereignty is currently in dispute

Capital

Rabat
34°02′N 6°51′W / 34.033°N 6.85°W

Largest city

Casablanca

Official languages Arabic^[1]

Second language

French

Ethnic groups Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%^[2]

Demonym

Moroccan

Government

Constitutional monarchy

- King Mohammed VI

- Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi

Unification 1554

- Unified by Saadi dynasty 1554

- Alaouite dynasty (present) 1666

- Independence from France March 2, 1956

- Independence from Spain April 7, 1956

Area

- Total 446,550 km² (57th)
172,414 sq mi

- Water (%) 250km² (0,056%)

Population

- 2009 estimate 31,993,000^[3] (37th)

- 2004 census 29,680,069^[3]

- Density 71.6/km² (122nd)
185.5/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate

- Total $137.126 billion^[4]

- Per capita $4,362^[4]

GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate

- Total $88.879 billion^[4]

- Per capita $2,827^[4]

HDI (2007) ▲ 0.654 (medium) (130th)

Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Time zone WET (UTC+0)

- Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)

Drives on the right

*All data excludes the Western Sahara, much of which is under Moroccan de facto administrative control.

¹ French is widely used in official government texts, and by the business community, though neither instance is 'official.' Moroccan Arabic, an Arabic vernacular, is the most common native language. Amazigh or Berber languages are also widely spoken.

Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco,^[5] is a country located in North Africa with a population of nearly 32 million and an area just under 447,000 square kilometres (173,000 sq mi). Its capital is Rabat, and its largest city is Casablanca. Morocco has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with three small Spanish enclaves, Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera), and Mauritania to the south via its Western Saharan territories.^[6]

Several dialects of Arabic and Berber are spoken in Morocco. However, this linguistic diversity doesn't affect the ethnic situation as the population is largely homogenous.

Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not currently a member of the African Union and it has shown no interest in joining, due to other African nations recognizing Western Sahara as a sovereign state. However, it is a member of the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, Francophonie, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue group, and Group of 77. It is also a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

Name

The full Arabic name al-Mamlaka al-Maġribiyya translates to "The Western Kingdom". Al-Maġrib (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).^[7]

The Latinized name "Morocco" originates from medieval Latin "Morroch", which referred to the name of the former Almoravid and Almohad capital, Marrakech.^[8] The Persians straightforwardly call it "Marrakech" while the Turks call it "Fas" which comes from the ancient Idrisid and Marinid capital, Fès.

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 present-day Morocco has been inhabited since Neolithic times (at least since 8000 BC, as attested by signs of the Capsian culture), a period when the Maghreb was less arid than it is today. In Mesolithic ages the geography of Morocco resembled to a savanna more than the present day arid landscape.^[9] In the classical period, Morocco was known as Mauretania, although this should not be confused with the modern-day country of Mauritania. Modern DNA analysis (see link) has confirmed that various populations have contributed to the present-day gene pool of Morocco in addition to the main ethnic group which is the Amazighs/Berbers. Those other various populations are Arabs, Iberians, Phoenicians, Sephardic Jews and sub-Saharan Africans.

Roman and pre-Roman Morocco

A Roman mosaic in Volubilis.

North Africa and Morocco were slowly drawn into the wider emerging Mediterranean world by Phoenician trading colonies and settlements in the early Classical period. Major early substantial settlements of the Phoenicians were at Chellah, Lixus and Mogador,^[10] with Mogador being a Phoenician colony as early as the early 6th century BC.^[11] The arrival of Phoenicians heralded a long engagement with the wider Mediterranean, as this strategic region formed part of the Roman Empire, as Mauretania Tingitana. In the fifth century, as the Roman Empire declined, the region fell to the Vandals, Visigoths, and then Byzantine Greeks in rapid succession. During this time, however, the high mountains of most of modern Morocco remained unsubdued, and stayed in the hands of their Berber inhabitants. Christianity was introduced in the second century and gained converts in the towns and among slaves and Berber farmers.

Islamic Morocco

By the seventh century, Islamic expansion was at its greatest. In 670 AD, the first Islamic conquest of the North African coastal plain took place under Uqba ibn Nafi, a general serving under the Umayyads of Damascus.

The Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, High Atlas. Built by the Berbers from the 14th century onwards, a Kasbah was a single family stronghold (as opposed to a Ksar: a fortified tribal village).

Arabs brought their customs, culture, and Islam, to which most of the Berbers converted, forming states and kingdoms such as the Kingdom of Nekor and Barghawata, sometimes after long-running series of civil wars. Under Idris ibn Abdallah who founded the Idrisid Dynasty, the country soon cut ties and broke away from the control of the distant Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad and the Umayyad rule in Al-Andalus. The Idrisids established Fes as their capital and Morocco became a centre of learning and a major regional power.

After the reign of the Idrisids, Arab settlers lost political control in the region of Morocco. After adopting Islam, Berber dynasties formed governments and reigned over the country. Morocco would reach its height under these Berber dynasties that replaced the Arab Idrisids after the 11th century.^[12] The Almoravids, the Almohads, then the Marinid and finally the Saadi dynasties would see Morocco rule most of Northwest Africa, as well as large sections of Islamic Iberia, or Al-Andalus. Following the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula, large numbers of Muslims and Jews fled to Morocco.^[13]

The Sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco, by Eugène Delacroix.

After the Saadi, the Arab Alaouite Dynasty eventually gained control. Morocco was facing aggression from Spain and the Ottoman Empire that was sweeping westward. The Alaouites succeeded in stabilizing their position, and while the kingdom was smaller than previous ones in the region, it remained quite wealthy. In 1684, they annexed Tangier. The organization of the kingdom developed under Ismail Ibn Sharif (1672–1727), who, against the opposition of local tribes began to create a unified state.^[14]

Morocco was the first nation to recognize the fledgling United States as an independent nation in 1777.^[15] In the beginning of the American Revolution, American merchant ships were subject to attack by the Barbary Pirates while sailing the Atlantic Ocean. On December 20, 1777, Morocco's Sultan Mohammed III declared that the American merchant ships would be under the protection of the sultanate and could thus enjoy safe passage. The Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship stands as the U.S.'s oldest non-broken friendship treaty.^[16]^[17]

In the 20th century, under the leadership of Abd el-Krim, the Riffian Berbers struggled against Spanish rule.

European influence

Main articles: Portuguese Empire, French colonial empire, and Spanish Morocco

Successful Portuguese efforts to invade and control the Atlantic coast in the fifteenth century did not profoundly affect the Mediterranean heart of Morocco. After the Napoleonic Wars, Egypt and the North African maghreb became increasingly ungovernable from Istanbul, the resort of pirates under local beys, and as Europe industrialized, an increasingly prized potential for colonization. The Maghreb had far greater proven wealth than the unknown rest of Africa and a location of strategic importance affecting the exit from the Mediterranean. For the first time, Morocco became a state of some interest in itself to the European Powers. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830.^[18] Recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's sphere of influence in Morocco provoked a reaction from the German Empire; the crisis of June 1905 was resolved at the Algeciras Conference, Spain in 1906, which formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. A second Moroccan crisis provoked by Berlin, increased tensions between European powers. The Treaty of Fez (signed on March 30, 1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern Saharan zones on November 27 that year.^[19]

Many Moroccan soldiers (Goumieres) served in the French army in both World War I and World War II, and in the Spanish Nationalist Army in the Spanish Civil War and after (Regulares).

Resistance

Casablanca in 1950s

Nationalist political parties, which subsequently arose under the French protectorate, based their arguments for Moroccan independence on such World War II declarations as the Atlantic Charter (a joint U.S.-British statement that set forth, among other things, the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live). A manifesto of the Istiqlal Party (Independence party in English) in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for independence. That party subsequently provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement.

France's exile of Sultan Mohammed V in 1953 to Madagascar and his replacement by the unpopular Mohammed Ben Aarafa, whose reign was perceived as illegitimate, sparked active opposition to the French and Spanish protectorates. In August 1953, Ahmed Belbachir Haskouri, the right-hand man of the caliph of Spanish Morocco declared Sultan Mohammed V as the legitimate sultan of Morocco in its entirety in the grand mosque in Tetuan. The most notable violence occurred in Oujda where Moroccans attacked French and other European residents in the streets. Operations by the newly created "Jaish al-tahrir" (Liberation Army), were launched on October 1, 1955. Jaish al-tahrir was created by "Comité de Libération du Maghreb Arabe" (Arab Maghreb Liberation Committee) in Cairo, Egypt to constitute a resistance movement against occupation. Its goal was the return of King Mohammed V and the liberation of Algeria and Tunisia as well. France allowed Mohammed V to return in 1955, and the negotiations that led to Moroccan independence began the following year.^[20]

All those events helped increase the degree of solidarity between the people and the newly returned king. For this reason, the revolution that Morocco knew was called "Taourat al-malik wa shaab" (The revolution of the King and the People) and it is celebrated every August 20.

Contemporary Morocco

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat

On November 18, 2006, Morocco celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. Morocco recovered its political independence from France on March 2, 1956, and on April 7, France officially relinquished its protectorate. Through agreements with Spain in 1956 and 1958, Moroccan control over certain Spanish-ruled areas was restored, though attempts to claim other Spanish colonial possessions through military action were less successful. The internationalized city of Tangier was reintegrated with the signing of the Tangier Protocol on October 29, 1956 (see Tangier Crisis). Hassan II became King of Morocco on March 3, 1961. His early years of rule would be marked by political unrest. The Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south was reintegrated to the country in 1969. Morocco annexed the Western Sahara during the 1970s after demanding its reintegration from Spain since independence, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. (See History of Western Sahara.)^[21]

Political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Morocco was granted Major non-NATO ally status by the United States in June 2004 and has signed free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union.

Further information: Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)

Politics

The current King of Morocco, Mohammed VI

Main article: Politics of Morocco

Morocco is a de jure constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco, with vast executive powers, can dissolve government and deploy the military, among other prerogatives. Opposition political parties are legal, and several have been formed in recent years. Politics of Morocco take place in a framework of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Morocco is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives of Morocco and the Assembly of Councillors. The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary.

The constitution grants the king extensive powers; he is both the secular political leader and the "Commander of the Faithful" as a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. He presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the Prime Minister following legislative elections, and on recommendations from the latter, appoints the members of the government. While the constitution theoretically allows the king to terminate the tenure of any minister, and after consultation with the heads of the higher and lower Assemblies, to dissolve the Parliament, suspend the constitution, call for new elections, or rule by decree, the only time this happened was in 1965. The King is formally the chief of the military. Upon the death of his father Mohammed V, King Hassan II succeeded to the throne in 1961. He ruled Morocco for the next 38 years, until he died in 1999. His son, King Mohammed VI, assumed the throne in July 1999.

Following the March 1998 elections, a coalition government headed by opposition socialist leader Abderrahmane Youssoufi and composed largely of ministers drawn from opposition parties, was formed. Prime Minister Youssoufi's government is the first government drawn primarily from opposition parties in decades, and also represents the first opportunity for a coalition of socialist, left-of-center, and nationalist parties to be included in the government until October 2002. It was also the first time in the modern political history of the Arab world that the opposition assumed power following an election. The current government is headed by Abbas El Fassi.

Legislative branch

The legislature's building, in Rabat.

Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of two chambers. The Assembly of Representatives of Morocco (Majlis al-Nuwab/Assemblée des Répresentants) has 325 members elected for a five year term, 295 elected in multi-seat constituencies and 30 in national lists consisting only of women. The Assembly of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustasharin) has 270 members, elected for a nine year term, elected by local councils (162 seats), professional chambers (91 seats) and wage-earners (27 seats). The Parliament's powers, though limited, were expanded under the 1992 and 1996 constitutional revisions and include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions. The lower chamber of Parliament may dissolve the government through a vote of no confidence.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Morocco. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Morocco.

e • d **Summary of the 7 September 2007 Assembly of Representatives of Morocco election results**
Parties	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Independence Party (Hizb al-Istiqlal/Parti d'Independence) *	494,256	10.7	52	+4
Justice and Development Party (Parti de la Justice et du Développement)	503,396	10.9	46	+4
Popular Movement (Mouvement Populaire) *	426,849	9.3	41	+14
National Rally of Independents (Rassemblement National des Indépendents) *	447,244	9.7	39	–4
Socialist Union of Popular Forces (Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires) *	408,945	8.9	38	–12
Constitutional Union (Union Constitutionelle)	335,116	7.3	27	+11
Party of Progress and Socialism (Parti du Progrès et du Socialisme) *	248,103	5.4	17	+6
PND–Al Ahd Union (Union PND–Al Ahd) × Joint list × National Democratic Party (Parti National-Démocrate) × Covenant Party (Parti Al Ahd)	253,816 139,688 56,176 57,952	5.5 3.0 1.2 1.3	14 8 3 3	–3
Front of Democratic Forces (Front des Forces Démocratiques)	207,982	4.5	9	–3
Democratic and Social Movement (Mouvement Démocratique et Social)	168,960	3.7	9	+2
PADS–CNI–PSU Union (Union PADS–CNI–PSU) × Joint list × National Congress Party (Parti du Congrès National Ittihadi) × Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party (Parti de l'Avant-garde Démocratique Socialiste) × United Socialist Party (Parti socialiste unifié)	148,011 98,202 25,695 3,761 20,353	3.2 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.4	6 5 1 — —	+5
Labour Party (Parti Travailliste)	140,224	3.0	5	+5
Environment and Development Party (Parti de l'Environnement et du Développement)	131,524	2.9	5	+3
Party of Renewal and Equity (Parti de Renouveau et de l'Équité)	83,516	1.8	4	+4
Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste)	67,786	1.5	2	+2
Moroccan Union for Democracy (Union Marocaine pour la Démocratie)	76,795	1.7	2	+2
Citizens' Forces (Forces Citoyennes)	31,207	0.7	1	–1
Alliance of Liberties (Alliance des Libertés)	34,801	0.8	1	–3
Citizenship and Development Initiative (Initiative Citoyenneté et Développement)	50,278	1.1	1	+1
Party of Renaissance and Virtue (Parti de la Renaissance et de la Vertu)	36,781	0.8	1	+1
Reform and Development Party (Parti de la Réforme et du Développement)	47,141	1.0	0	–3
Moroccan Liberal Party (Parti Marocain Libéral)	46,526	1.0	0	–3
Democratic Independence Party (Parti Démocratique et de l'Indépendance)	31,105	0.7	0	–2
Action Party (Parti de l'Action)	24,384	0.5	0	±0
Social Centre Party (Parti du Centre Social)	22,826	0.5	0	±0
Party of Hope (Parti de l'Espoir)	16,376	0.4	0	±0
Party of al-Badil al-Hadari (Parti d'al-Badil al-Hadari)	15,600	0.3	0	±0
Democratic Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste Démocratique)	10,973	0.2	0	–6
Renaissance Party (Parti Annahda)	10,156	0.2	0	±0
Party of Liberty and Social Justice (Parti de la Liberté et de la Justice Sociale)	5,452	0.1	0	±0
Others		1.7	5	+5
Total (turnout 37%)			325
Source: MAP
* Members of the outgoing coalition government

Judicial branch

The highest court in the judicial structure is the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the King. The Youssoufi government continued to implement a reform program to develop greater judicial independence and impartiality. Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions; the regions are administered by the Walis and governors appointed by the King.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Morocco

As part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were created. It is the primary administrative division of Morocco : Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulmane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Greater Casablanca, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate

Morocco is divided also into 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*: Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tangier, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara

International organization affiliations

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Affiliations

Organization	Dates
United Nations	since November 12, 1956
Arab League	since October 1, 1958
International Olympic Committee	since 1959
Organisation of African Unity	co-founder May 25, 1963; withdrew November 12, 1984
Group of 77	since June 15, 1964
Organisation of the Islamic Conference	since September 22, 1969
World Trade Organization	since January 1, 1995
Mediterranean Dialogue group	since February 1995
Major non-NATO ally of the United States	since January 19, 2004

Bilateral and multilateral agreements

Regions and prefectures

Different versions of maps of Morocco

Main articles: Regions of Morocco and Prefectures and provinces of Morocco

Morocco is divided into 16 regions,^[22] and subdivided into 62 prefectures and provinces.^[23]

As part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature, sixteen new regions were created. These regions are:

Western Sahara status

Because of the conflict over Western Sahara, the status of both regions of "Saguia el-Hamra" and "Río de Oro" is disputed.

The government of Morocco has suggested that a self-governing entity, through the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), should govern the territory with some degree of autonomy for Western Sahara. The project was presented to the United Nations Security Council in mid-April 2007. The stalemating of the Moroccan proposal options has led the UN in the recent "Report of the UN Secretary-General" to ask the parties to enter into direct and unconditional negotiations to reach a mutually accepted political solution.^[24] The autonomy is rejected by the group Polisario which fought against the Spanish colonial rule and now for the Western Sahara decolonization with the name of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

On September 29 2009, the Ministry of the Interior, decided to the close the office of the daily newspaper, Ahkbar al-Yom, in Casablanca.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Morocco

High Atlas mountains

High Atlas, Boumalne du Dades.

Rif mountains

Bin el Ouidane river, Beni-Mellal

The geography of Morocco spans from the Atlantic Ocean, to mountainous areas, to the Sahara (desert). Morocco is a Northern African country, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and the annexed Western Sahara.

A large part of Morocco is mountainous. The Atlas Mountains are located mainly in the center and the south of the country. The Rif Mountains are located in the north of the country. Both ranges are mainly inhabited by the Berber people. At 172,402 sq mi (446,519 km²), Morocco is the fifty-seventh largest country in the world (after Uzbekistan). Algeria borders Morocco to the east and southeast though the border between the two countries has been closed since 1994. There are also four Spanish enclaves on the Mediterranean coast: Ceuta, Melilla, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Peñón de Alhucemas, and the Chafarinas islands, as well as the disputed islet Perejil. Off the Atlantic coast the Canary Islands belong to Spain, whereas Madeira to the north is Portuguese. To the north, Morocco is bordered by and controls part of the Strait of Gibraltar, giving it power over the waterways in and out of the Mediterranean sea. The Rif mountains occupy the region bordering the Mediterranean from the north-west to the north-east. The Atlas Mountains run down the backbone of the country, from the south west to the north east. Most of the south east portion of the country is in the Sahara Desert and as such is generally sparsely populated and unproductive economically. Most of the population lives to the north of these mountains, while to the south is the desert. To the south, lies the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975 (see Green March).^[6] Morocco claims that the Western Sahara is part of its territory and refers to that as its Southern Provinces.

Morocco's capital city is Rabat; its largest city is its main port, Casablanca.

Other cities include Agadir, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Mohammadia, Oujda, Ouarzazat, Safi, Salè, Tangier and Tétouan.

Morocco is represented in the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 geographical encoding standard by the symbol MA.^[25] This code was used as the basis for Morocco's internet domain, .ma.^[25]

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean, which becomes more extreme towards the interior regions where it is mountainous. The terrain is such that the coastal plains are rich and accordingly, they comprise the backbone for agriculture. Forests cover about 12% of the land while arable land accounts for 18%. 5% is irrigated.

In mountainous areas (like the Atlas range) temperatures often drop below zero and mountain peaks remain snow-capped throughout most of the year. Northern Morocco gets very wet and rainy during the winter, whereas in the south, at the edge of the Sahara, it gets bitterly dry and cold. In Marrakech the average temperature in summer is 38°C (100°F). In winter, its around 21°C (70°F).

The average annual temperatures of Morocco's major cities are as follows: Rabat, 22°C (71°F); Casablanca, 20°C (69°F); Marrakesh, 22°C (71°F); Fez, 20°C (66°F); Meknes, 21°C (68°F); and, Tangier, 20°C (66°F).^[26]

Wildlife

Barbary Macaque

Morocco is known for its wildlife biodiversity. Birds represent the most important fauna.^[27]^{[dead link]} The avifauna of Morocco includes a total of 454 species, of which five have been introduced by humans, and 156 are rare or accidental.^[28]

Further information: List of birds of Morocco List of mammals of Morocco Flora of Morocco List of the Butterflies of Morocco

Economy

Main article: Economy of Morocco

Tangier city center

Morocco's economy is considered a relatively liberal economy governed by the law of supply and demand. Since 1993, the country has followed a policy of privatization of certain economic sectors which used to be in the hands of the government.^[29]

Government reforms and steady yearly growth in the region of 4-5% from 2000 to 2007, including 4.9% year-on-year growth in 2003-2007 helped the Moroccan economy to become much more robust compared to a few years ago. Economic growth is far more diversified, with new service and industrial poles, like Casablanca and Tangier, developing. The agriculture sector is being rehabilitated, which in combination with good rainfalls led to a growth of over 20% in 2009.

The services sector accounts for just over half of GDP and industry, made up of mining, construction and manufacturing, is an additional quarter. The sectors who recorded the highest growth are the tourism, telecoms and textile sectors. Morocco , however, still depends to an inordinate degree on agriculture. The sector accounts for only around 14% of GDP but employs 40-45% of the Moroccan population. With a semi-arid climate, it is difficult to assure good rainfall and Morocco’s GDP varies depending on the weather. Fiscal prudence has allowed for consolidation, with both the budget deficit and debt falling as a percentage of GDP.

Casablanca Twin Center

The economic system of the country presents several facets. It is characterized by a large opening towards the outside world. France remains the primary trade partner (supplier and customer) of Morocco. France is also the primary creditor and foreign investor in Morocco. In the Arab world, Morocco has the second-largest non-oil GDP, behind Egypt, as of 2005.

Since the early 1980s the Moroccan government has pursued an economic program toward accelerating real economy growth with the support of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The country's currency, the dirham, is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and state enterprises are being privatized.

The major resources of the Moroccan economy are agriculture, phosphates, and tourism. Sales of fish and seafood are important as well. Industry and mining contribute about one-third of the annual GDP. Morocco is the world's third-largest producer of phosphates (after the United States and China), and the price fluctuations of phosphates on the international market greatly influence Morocco's economy. Tourism and workers' remittances have played a critical role since independence. The production of textiles and clothing is part of a growing manufacturing sector that accounted for approximately 34% of total exports in 2002, employing 40% of the industrial workforce. The government wishes to increase textile and clothing exports from $1.27 billion in 2001 to $3.29 billion in 2010.

The high cost of imports, especially of petroleum imports, is a major problem. Another chronic problem is unreliable rainfall, which produces drought or sudden floods; in 1995, the country's worst drought in 30 years forced Morocco to import grain and adversely affected the economy. Another drought occurred in 1997, and one in 1999–2000. Reduced incomes due to drought caused GDP to fall by 7.6% in 1995, by 2.3% in 1997, and by 1.5% in 1999. During the years between drought, good rains brought bumper crops to market. Good rainfall in 2001 led to a 5% GDP growth rate. Morocco suffers both from unemployment (9.6% in 2008), and a large external debt estimated at around $20 billion, or half of GDP in 2002.^[30]

Among the various free trade agreements that Morocco has ratified with its principal economic partners, are The Euro-Mediterranean free trade area agreement with the European Union with the objective of integrating the European Free Trade Association at the horizons of 2012; the Agadir Agreement, signed with Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia, within the framework of the installation of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area; the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement with United States which came into force in January 1, 2006, and lately the agreement of free exchange with Turkey.(See Economy of Morocco)

Demographics

Ethnolinguistic groups in Morocco as of 1973.

Main article: Demographics of Morocco

Morocco is the third most populous Arab country, after Egypt and Sudan.^[31] Most Moroccans practice Sunni Islam and are of Berber, Arab or mixed Arab-Berber stock. Berbers comprise about 60% of the Moroccan population.^[32] There is no significant genetic difference between Arabic-speaking and Berber-speaking Moroccans. Thus, it is likely that Arabization was mainly a cultural process without significant genetic replacement.^[33] However, according to the European Journal of Human Genetics, North-Western Africans were genetically closer to Iberians and to other Europeans than to Sub-Saharan Africans.^[34]

Pre-1956 Tangier had a highly heterogeneous population that included 40,000 Muslims, 30,000 Europeans and 15,000 Jews.^[35]

Morocco has been inhabited by Berbers for at least the last 5000 years. The Arabs conquered the territory that would become Morocco in the 7th and 11th centuries, at the time under the rule of various late Byzantine Roman leaders and indigenous Berber and Romano-Berber principalities, laying the foundation for the emergence of an Arab-Berber culture. A sizeable portion of the population is identified as Haratin and Gnawa (or Gnaoua), black or mixed race. Morocco's Jewish minority (265,000 in 1948) has decreased significantly and numbers about 5,500 (See History of the Jews in Morocco).^[36] Most of the 100,000 foreign residents are French or Spanish, largely colonists' descendants primarily professionals working for European multinationals. Prior to independence, Morocco was home to half a million Europeans,^[37] mainly Spanish and French settlers (colons).

Recent studies make clear no significant genetic differences exist between Arabic and non-Arabic speaking populations, highlighting that in common with most of the Arab World, Arabization was mainly via acculturation of indigenous populations over time.^[33] According to the European Journal of Human Genetics, Moroccans from North-Western Africa were genetically closer to Iberians than to Sub-Saharan Africans of Bantu ethnicity.^[38]

The largest concentration of Moroccans outside Morocco is in France, which has reportedly over one million Moroccans. There are also large Moroccan communities in Spain (about 700,000 Moroccans),^[39] the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Canada.^[40]

Languages

Main article: Languages of Morocco

Morocco's official language is Modern Standard Arabic. The country's distinctive Arabic dialect is called Moroccan Arabic. Approximately 12 million (40% of the population), mostly in rural areas, speak Berber – which exists in Morocco in three different dialects (Tarifit, Tashelhiyt, and Tamazight) – either as a first language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dialect.^[41] French, which remains Morocco's unofficial second language, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics. It also is widely used in education and government. About 20,000 Moroccans in the northern part of the country speak Spanish as a second language in parallel with Tarifit. English, while still far behind French and Spanish in terms of number of speakers, is rapidly becoming the second foreign language of choice among educated youth (after French). As a result of national education reforms entering into force in late 2002, English will be taught in all public schools from the fourth year on. French however, will remain the second foreign language because of Morocco's close economic and social links with other French-speaking countries and especially France.

Most people live west of the Atlas Mountains, a range that insulates the country from the Sahara Desert. Casablanca is the center of commerce and industry and the leading port; Rabat is the seat of government; Tangier is the gateway to Morocco from Spain and also a major port; Fes is the cultural and religious center; and Marrakech is a major tourist center.

There is a European expatriate population of 100,000, mainly of French or Spanish descent; many are teachers or technicians and more and more retirees, especially in Marrakech.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Morocco

A view of King Hassan II Mosque

Morocco is an ethnically diverse country with a rich culture and civilization. Through Moroccan history, Morocco hosted many people coming from East (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs), South (Sub-Saharan Africans) and North (Romans, Vandals, Andalusians (including Moors and Jews). All those civilizations have had an impact on the social structure of Morocco. It conceived various forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism, and Christianity to Islam.

The production of Moroccan literature has continued to grow and diversify. To the traditional genres—poetry, essays, and historiography—have been added forms inspired by Middle Eastern and Western literary models. French is often used in publishing research in the social and natural sciences, and in the fields of literature and literary studies, works are published in both Arabic and French. Moroccan writers, such as Mohammed Choukri, Driss Chraïbi, Abdallah Laroui, Abdelfattah Kilito, and Fatima Mernissi, publish their works in both French and English. Expatriate writers such as Pierre Loti, William S. Burroughs, and Paul Bowles have drawn attention to Moroccan writers as well as to the country itself.

Since independence a veritable blossoming has taken place in painting and sculpture, popular music, amateur theatre, and filmmaking. The Moroccan National Theatre (founded 1956) offers regular productions of Moroccan and French dramatic works. Art and music festivals take place throughout the country during the summer months, among them the World Sacred Music Festival at Fès.

Moroccan music, influenced by Arab, Amazigh, African, and Andalusian traditions, makes use of a number of traditional instruments, such as the flute (nāy), shawm (ghaita), zither (qanūn), and various short necked lutes (including the ʿūd and gimbrī). These are often backed by explosive percussion on the darbūkka (terra-cotta drum). Among the most popular traditional Moroccan artists internationally are the Master Musicians of Jajouka, an all-male guild trained from childhood, and Hassan Hakmoun, a master of gnāwa trance music, a popular spiritual style that traces its roots to sub-Saharan Africa. Younger Moroccans enjoy raï, a style of plain-speaking Algerian music that incorporates traditional sounds with those of Western rock, Jamaican reggae, and Egyptian and Moroccan popular music.

Each region possesses its own specificities, thus contributing to the national culture and to the legacy of civilization. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its diverse legacy and the preservation of its cultural heritage.

Culturally speaking, Morocco has always been successful in combining its Berber, Jewish and Arabic cultural heritage with external influences such as the French and the Spanish and, during the last decades, the Anglo-American lifestyles.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Morocco

Spices at the central market in Agadir

Moroccan cuisine has long been considered as one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is a result of the centuries-long interaction of Morocco with the outside world. The cuisine of Morocco is a mix of Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Portuguese, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisines. The cuisine of Morocco has been influenced by the native Berber cuisine, the Arabic Andalusian cuisine brought by the Moriscos when they left Spain, the Turkish cuisine from the Turks and the Middle Eastern cuisines brought by the Arabs, as well as Jewish cuisine.

Spices are used extensively in Moroccan food. While spices have been imported to Morocco for thousands of years, many ingredients, like saffron from Tiliouine, mint and olives from Meknes, and oranges and lemons from Fez, are home-grown. Chicken is the most widely eaten meat in Morocco. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is beef; lamb is preferred, but is relatively expensive. Couscous is the most famous Moroccan dish along with pastilla, tajine, and harira. The most popular drink is green tea with mint. The tea is accompanied with hard sugar cones or lumps.

Literature

Main article: Literature of Morocco

Moroccan literature is written in Arabic, Berber and French. It also contains literature produced in Al-Andalus. Under the Almohad dynasty Morocco experienced a period of prosperity and brilliance of learning. The Almohad built the Marrakech Koutoubia Mosque, which accommodated no fewer than 25,000 people, but was also famed for its books, manuscripts, libraries and book shops, which gave it its name; the first book bazaar in history. The Almohad Caliph Abu Yakub had a great love for collecting books. He founded a great library, which was eventually carried to the Casbah and turned into a public library.

Modern Moroccan literature began in the 1930s. Two main factors gave Morocco a pulse toward witnessing the birth of a modern literature. Morocco, as a French and Spanish protectorate left Moroccan intellectuals the opportunity to exchange and to produce literary works freely enjoying the contact of other Arabic literature and Europe.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Morocco was a refuge and artistic centre and attracted writers as Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams and William S. Burroughs. Moroccan literature flourished with novelists such as Mohamed Zafzaf and Mohamed Choukri, who wrote in Arabic, and Driss Chraïbi and Tahar Ben Jelloun who wrote in French. Other important Moroccan authors include, Abdellatif Laabi,Abdelkarim Ghellab, Fouad Laroui, Mohammed Berrada and Leila Abouzeid. It should be noted also, that orature (oral literature) is an integral part of Moroccan culture, be it in Moroccan Arabic or Amazigh.

Ethnic groups and languages

Jewish Wedding in Morocco by Eugène Delacroix, Louvre, Paris

Morocco is considered by some as an Arab-Berber country. Others insist on the Berber-African identity of Morocco. About 42% acknowledge a Berber identity, though many more have Berber ancestry. Berbers are also by language but also by traditional customs and culture - such as the distinctive music and dances. Berber language (Also called Tamazight) is now more or less officially recognized in Morocco. Classical Arabic remains the only official language of Morocco and is used in limited socio-economic and cultural activities and written newspapers but it is never spoken between Moroccans. The most common spoken variety of Arabic in Morocco, Moroccan Arabic, has also been significantly influenced by Berber languages.

Linguistically, Berber belongs to the Afro-Asiatic group, and has many accents or variants. The three main accents used in Morocco are Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit (Also called Thamazight by its speakers). Collectively, those Berber languages they are known as "Chelha" in Moroccan Arabic and as "Barbaria" in Classical Arabic used in the Middle East. The terms "Barbar" and "Chelha" are considered by most Berber activists as extremely offending and humiliating. They prefer the word Amazigh.

Tachelhit (sometimes known as "soussia" or "chelha") is spoken in south-west Morocco, in an area between Sidi Ifni in the south, Agadir in the north and Marrakech and the Draa/Sous valleys in the east. Tamazight is spoken in the Middle Atlas, between Taza, Khemisset, Azilal and Errachidia. Tarifit is spoken in the Rif area of northern Morocco in towns like Nador, Al Hoceima, Ajdir, Tangier and Taourirt, Larache and Taza.

For more detailed information on this subject see: Berber languages.

Berbers willingly embraced Islam, though their non-Arab ethnic and linguistic purity has remained. Hundreds of Amazigh (Berber) associations were created in the last few years. Newsstands and bookstores in all the major cities are filled with new Amazigh magazines and other publications that provide articles about the Amazigh culture and art. The state owned TV station RTM (now TVM) has started broadcasting a daily 10-minute long news bulletin in the 3 Berber accents since the mid 90's. Berber activists are repeatedly demanding a 50% share of broadcasting time in standardized Amazigh language on all 5 state owned satellite channels TVM, 2M, 3, 4 and Laayoune TV. The state still refuses or ignores these demands.

Music

Main article: Music of Morocco

Moroccan music is predominantly of Arab origins. There also exist other varieties of Berber folk music. Andalusian and other imported influences have had a major effect on the country's musical character. Rock-influenced chabbi bands are widespread, as is trance music with historical origins in Muslim music.

Morocco is home to Andalusian classical music that is found throughout North Africa. It probably evolved under the Moors in Cordoba, and the Persian-born musician Ziryab is usually credited with its invention.

Chaabi (popular) is a music consisting of numerous varieties which are descended from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting.

Popular Western forms of music are becoming increasingly popular in Morocco, such as fusion, rock, country, metal and particularly hip hop.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Morocco

The railway network of Morocco consists of 1907 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge and 1003 km electrified with 3 kV DC. There are connections to Algeria, and consecutively Tunisia, but since the '90 the connections are closed. The Gibraltar Tunnel is a rail tunnel link proposed between Tangier, Morocco and Spain under the Strait of Gibraltar to be in operation in 2025.

There are plans for high-speed lines: Work by ONCF could begin in 2007 from Marrakech to Tangier in the north via Marrakesh to Agadir in the south, and from Casablanca on the Atlantic to Oujda on the Algerian border. If the plans are approved, the 1,500 kilometres of track may take until 2030 to complete at a cost of around 25 billion dirhams ($3.37 billion). Casablanca to Marrakesh could be cut to 1 hour and 20 minutes from over three hours, and from the capital Rabat to Tangier to 1 hour and 30 minutes from 4 hours and 30 minutes.

There are around 56986 kilometres of roads (national, regional and provincial) in Morocco.^[42] In addition to 610,5 kilometre of highways.^[43]

Military

Main article: Military of Morocco

Moroccan Navy Floreal class frigate

Military service lasts for 18 months in Morocco, and the country’s reserve obligation lasts until age 50. The country’s military consists of the Royal Armed Forces—this includes the army (the largest branch) and a small navy and air force—the National Police Force, the Royal Gendarmerie (mainly responsible for rural security), and the Auxiliary Forces. Internal security is generally effective, and acts of political violence are rare (one exception, a terrorist bombing in May 2003 in Casablanca, killed scores). The UN maintains a small observer force in Western Sahara, where a large number of Morocco’s troops are stationed. The Saharawi group Polisario maintains an active militia of an estimated 5,000 fighters in Western Sahara and has engaged in intermittent warfare with Moroccan forces since the 1980s.

The military of Morocco is composed of the following main divisions:

Royal Armed Forces

Education

Education in Morocco is free and compulsory through primary school (age 15). Nevertheless, many children – particularly girls in rural areas – still do not attend school. The country's illiteracy rate has been stuck at around 50% for some years, but reaches as high as 90% among girls in rural regions. On September 2006, UNESCO awarded Morocco amongst other countries; Cuba, Pakistan, Rajasthan (India) and Turkey the "UNESCO 2006 Literacy Prize".^[44]

Morocco has about 230,000 students enrolled in fourteen public universities. The Mohammed V University in Rabat and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (a public university) are highly regarded. Al-Akhawayn, founded in 1993 by King Hassan II and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, is an English-language American-style university comprising about 1,000 students. The University of Al Karaouine, in Fez, is considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world and has been a center of learning for more than 1,000 years.

Morocco allocates approximately one-fifth of its budget to education. Much of this is spent on building schools to accommodate the rapidly growing population. Education is mandatory for children between the ages of 7 and 13 years. In urban areas the majority of children in this age group attend school, though on a national scale the level of participation drops significantly. About three-fourths of school-age males attend school, but only about half of school-age girls; these proportions drop markedly in rural areas. Slightly more than half of the children go on to secondary education, including trade and technical schools. Of these, few seek higher education. Poor school attendance, particularly in rural areas, has meant a low rate of literacy, which is about two-fifths of the population.

Universities

Morocco has more than four dozen universities, institutes of higher learning, and polytechnics dispersed at urban centres throughout the country. Its leading institutions include Muḥammad V University in Rabat, the country’s largest university, with branches in Casablanca and Fès; the Hassan II Agriculture and Veterinary Institute in Rabat, which conducts leading social science research in addition to its agricultural specialties; and Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, the first English-language university in North Africa,^{[citation needed]} inaugurated in 1995 with contributions from Saudi Arabia and the United States.

List of universities in Morocco

Main article: List of universities in Morocco

Abdelmalek Essaâdi University , Tétouan - Tanger
Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane
Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech
Chouaib Doukkali University , El Jadida
Hassan II Ain Chok University , Casablanca
Hassan II Mohammedia University , Mohammedia
Hassan Premier University , Settat
Ibn Tofail University , Kenitra
Ibnou Zohr University , Agadir
Institute of Management and Business Technology (IMBT) in Rabat
Mohamed Premier University , Oujda
Mohammed V University, Rabat
Mohammed V University at Agdal, Rabat
Mohammed V University at Souissi, Rabat
Moulay Ismail University , Meknès
Sidi Mohamed Benabdellah University , Fez
University of Al Karaouine, Fes
Université Moulay Slimane (formerly called Cadi Ayyad University until late 2007), Beni Mellal
Université salwan ,Nador

Sport

Main article: Sport in Morocco

Spectator sports in Morocco traditionally centred on the art of horsemanship until European sports—football (soccer), polo, swimming, and tennis—were introduced at the end of the 19th century. Football is the country’s premier sport, popular among the urban youth in particular, and in 1970 Morocco became the first African country to play in World Cup competition. At the 1984 Olympic Games, two Moroccans won gold medals in track and field events, one of whom—Nawal El Moutawakel in the 400 metre hurdles—was the first woman from an Arab or Islamic country to win an Olympic gold medal. Tennis and golf have also become popular. Several Moroccan professional players have competed in international competition, and the country fielded its first Davis Cup team in 1999.

As of 2007, Moroccan society participated in many sports, including handball, football, golf, tennis, basketball, and athletics. Hicham El Guerrouj, a retired middle distance runner for Morocco, won 2 gold medals for Morocco at the Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

International rankings

The 2002 Reporters Without Borders' worldwide press freedom index ranked Morocco 119th out of 167 countries.
The Economist''s worldwide quality-of-life index 2005PDF (67.1 KiB) ranked Morocco 65th out of 111 countries.

Notes and references

^ Moroccan Constitution, 1996 (published 1996-09-13), http://www.pogar.org/publications/other/constitutions/mrc-constitution-96-e.pdf, retrieved 2008-12-23 , "An Islamic and fully sovereign state whose official language is Arabic, the Kingdom of Morocco constitutes a part of the Great Arab Maghreb."
^ "Ethnic groups". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
^ ^a ^b Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (.PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Morocco". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=686&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=43&pr.y=3. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
^ Conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco - Conventional short form: Morocco - Local long form: al-Mamlakah al-Maġribiyya - Local short form: al-Maġrib - CIA World Factbook
^ ^a ^b Pending resolution of the Western Sahara conflict.
^ Yahya, Dahiru (1981). Morocco in the Sixteenth Century. Longman. pp. 18.
^ "Regions of Morocco". statoids.com. http://www.statoids.com/uma.html. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
^ D. Rubella, Environmentalism and Pi Paleolithic economies in the Maghreb (ca. 20,000 to 5000 B.P.), in, J.D. Clark & S.A. Brandt (eds.), From Hunters to Farmers: The Causes and Consequences of Food Production in Africa, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 41-56
^ C. Michael Hogan, Mogador: Promontory Fort, The Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham
^ Sabatino Moscati, The Phoenicians, Tauris, ISBN 1850435332
^ The Maghrib under the Almoravids and the Almohads, Encyclopædia Britannica.
^ "Morocco - History". Encyclopædia Britannica.
^ "Morocco (Page 8 of 9)". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2009.
^ "Cohen Renews U.S.-Morocco Ties" (mil). U.S. Department of Defense. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=41811. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
^ Roberts, Priscilla H. and Richard S. Roberts, Thomas Barclay (1728-1793: Consul in France, Diplomat in Barbary, Lehigh University Press, 2008, pp. 206-223.
^ "Milestones of American Diplomacy, Interesting Historical Notes, and Department of State History". U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/perfrpt/2002/html/18995.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
^ Pennell, C.R. (2000). Morocco since 1830: A History. New York, New York University Press, pg. 40.
^ * Furlong, Charles Wellington (September 1911). "The French Conquest Of Morocco: The Real Meaning Of The International Trouble". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XXII: 14988-14999.
^ "Morocco (Page 9 of 9)". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2009
^ "Morocco". Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
^ Regions of Morocco, statoids.com
^ Regions of Morocco, statoids.com
^ "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (April 13, 2007)" (ped). UN Security Council. http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/299/28/PDF/N0729928.pdf?OpenElement. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
^ ^a ^b "English country names and code elements". International Organization for Standardization. 2008-05-15. http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/english_country_names_and_code_elements.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
^ http://maroc.costasur.com/en/climate.html
^ "Profile on Morocco". African Conservation Foundation. http://www.africanconservation.org/moroccoprofile.html. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
^ Bergier, P., & Thévenot, M. (2006). Liste des oiseaux du Maroc / The List of the Birds of Morocco. Go-South Bull. 3: 51-83. Available online.
^ Leonard, Thomas M.. Encyclopedia of the Developing World. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1085. ISBN 0-4159-7663-4.
^ http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Morocco-ECONOMY.html
^ The CIA Fact book
^ Berbers: The Proud Raiders. BBC World Service.
^ ^a ^b Genetic structure of north-west Africa revealed by STR analysisPDF (108 KiB)
^ European Journal of Human Genetics (2000) 8, 360–366
^ "Tangier(s)". Jewish Virtual Library.
^ The Jews of Morocco. Jewish Virtual Library.
^ History of Morocco, Historyworld.net
^ European Journal of Human Genetics (2000) 8, 360–366
^ "Población extranjera por sexo, país de nacionalidad y edad (hasta 85 y más).", Avance del Padrón a 1 de enero de 2009. Datos provisionales, Spain: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, 2009, http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do?path=/t20/e245/p04/provi/l0/&file=00000010.PX&type=pcaxis&L=0, retrieved 2009-06-13
^ Morocco: From Emigration Country to Africa's Migration Passage to Europe. Hein de Haas. Radboud University Nijmegen.
^ Berber (people) Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006
^ http://www.mtpnet.gov.ma/NR/rdonlyres/F213CFBA-C26A-48AC-A023-E6042E96CB39/1209/Routes_en_chiffres_2005.pdf
^ http://www.mtpnet.gov.ma/NR/rdonlyres/F7ACD182-AFAC-4F38-A8C1-A2438E8FAC3C/1210/Autoroutes_en_chiffres_2005.pdf
^ "2006 UNESCO Literacy Prize winners announced". UNESCO.org. http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=33384&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

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Government

Kingdom of Morocco (official portal)
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General information

Morocco from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Morocco entry at The World Factbook
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Morocco timeline from Worldstatesmen
Morocco at the Open Directory Project
Wikimedia Atlas of Morocco

News media

Maghreb Arabe Presse government news agency

Tourism

Morocco
Morocco travel guide from Wikitravel

Links to related articles

v • d • e Morocco topics

History	Idrisid dynasty · Maghrawa · Almoravid dynasty · Almohad dynasty · Marinid dynasty · Kingdom of Fez · Saadi dynasty · Anglo-Moroccan alliance · Republic of Bou Regreg · Alaouite dynasty · Treaty of Fez · French Morocco · Spanish Morocco · Sand War · 1970s · 1990s · 2000s

Politics	Kings · Prime Minister · National flag · Coat of arms · Western Sahara · Greater Morocco · Foreign relations

Economy	Investment · Tourism · Trade · Tangier · Companies · Bank Al-Maghrib

Geography	Regions · Provinces · Cities · Geography of Western Sahara

Culture	Literature · Media · Music · National football team · National rugby team

Military	Military history · Army · Navy · Air Force · Gendarmerie

Demographics	Cities · Moroccan Arabic · Languages of Morocco · Demographics of Western Sahara · Berber languages

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Territories

Morocco	Western Sahara¹

Spain	Ceuta², Melilla²

¹The disputed territory of Western Sahara is mostly occupied and administered by Morocco; the Polisario Front claims the territory in militating for the establishment an independent republic, and exercises limited control over rump border territories. ²Spanish exclaves.

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Morocco

Contents

Name

History

Berber Morocco

Roman and pre-Roman Morocco

Islamic Morocco

European influence

Resistance

Contemporary Morocco

Politics

Legislative branch

Political parties and elections

Judicial branch

Administrative divisions

International organization affiliations

Affiliations

Bilateral and multilateral agreements

Regions and prefectures

Western Sahara status

Geography

Climate

Wildlife

Economy

Demographics

Languages

Culture

Cuisine

Literature

Ethnic groups and languages

Music

Transport

Military

Education

Universities

List of universities in Morocco

Sport

International rankings

See also

Notes and references

External links