Politics

Moroccan lawmakers plan to review ties with European Parliament

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2023

Moroccan lawmakers are pushing for a review on the country ties European Parliaments as they voted unanimously on its diplomatic relations.

Morocco’s parliament met in the capital Rabat for a joint session and accused the West of meddling after a resolution that urged the kingdom to respect press freedom.

The meeting was in response to the non-binding European text adopted on Thursday.

The parliament in a statement after their session, called the European resolution “an unacceptable attack against the sovereignty, dignity and independence of judicial institutions in the kingdom.”

They said it had “seriously harmed the fundamental trust” between them.

As a result, Morocco’s Parliament “decided to reconsider its relations with the European Parliament and submit them for an overall evaluation,” said Rachid Talbi Alami, speaker of the House of Representatives. He gave no further details.

President of the National Rally of Independents, the biggest party in Morocco’s ruling coalition, Mohammed Ghiat, “Their decisions are not going to intimidate us, and we are not going to change our path and approach.”

European lawmakers in Strasbourg had urged Morocco to “respect freedom of expression and media freedom” and to “guarantee imprisoned journalists… a fair trial.”

Ahmed Touizi, of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, said “Behind the scenes of this decision hides a country which we had thought of as a friend and a solid partner, but the smell of gas has made it lose it.”

Touizi, whose party belongs to the majority coalition, was referring to warming ties between Paris and Algeria, Morocco’s neighbour and rival — and a major exporter of gas to European nations.

Another of member the Istiqlal Party, Abdelmajid Fassi Fihri, “Morocco has had enough of double standards.”

Morocco has long relationship with Europe, 64% of Morocco’s exports went to the EU, and 51% of Morocco’s imports came from the EU. Morocco is the EU’s biggest trade partner among the Southern Neighbourhood countries, with 25% of total EU trade in goods with the region.

Related Topics:European Parliament Featured Moroccan lawmakers

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

3 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

3 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.