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Country
Profile: Morocco
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French
King: King Mohammed VI
Prime Minister/Premier: Mr Abbas El Fassi
Agro-Industry Development
On the one hand, it creates a
vast potential with respect to the mix of
agricultural commodities and products which can
be produced and marketed in domestic and
external markets. On the other hand, the
diversity implies that there are no universal
solutions to agricultural development problems
across the continent. Consequently, programming
and implementing interventions in the sector
must be tailored to the particular conditions of
the different agro-ecological zones and to
prevailing socio-economic conditions of rural
households within individual countries.
Over the last three decades, increases in
agricultural output in Africa have come largely
through extending rain-fed crop cultivation,
particularly food crops, on to more and more
marginal soils and/or by reducing traditional
fallow periods in cropping cycles.
The
Kingdom
of
Morocco
is the
most
westerly
of the
North
African
countries
known
as the
Maghreb.
Strategically
situated
with
both
Atlantic
and
Mediterranean
coastlines,
but
with a
rugged
mountainous
interior,
it
stayed
independent
for
centuries
while
developing
a rich
culture
blended
from
Arab,
Berber,
European
and
African
influences.
Morocco was
a French
protectorate
from 1912 to
1956, when
Sultan
Mohammed
became king.
He was
succeeded in
1961 by his
son, Hassan
II, who
ruled for 38
years. He
played a
prominent
role in the
search for
peace in the
Middle East,
given the
large number
of Israelis
of Moroccan
origin, but
was
criticised
for
suppressing
domestic
opposition.
Marrakesh,
known
as
the
"red
city"
for
its
clay
walls
and
ramparts
A truth
commission
set up to
investigate
human rights
violations
during
Hassan's
reign has
confirmed
nearly
10,000
cases,
ranging from
death in
detention to
forced
exile.
After his
death in
1999 Hassan
was
succeeded by
his son, who
became King
Mohammed VI
and was seen
as a
moderniser.
There has
been some
economic and
social
liberalisation,
but the
monarch has
retained
sweeping
powers.
Morocco is
bidding for
membership
of the
European
Union, its
main trade
partner, but
there
appears to
be little
enthusiasm
for this
within the
bloc.
To the
south, the
status of
Western
Sahara
remains
unresolved.
Morocco
annexed the
territory in
1975 and a
guerrilla
war with
Algerian-backed
pro-independence
forces ended
in 1991. UN
efforts have
failed to
break the
political
deadlock.
To the
north, a
dispute with
Spain in
2002 over
the tiny
island of
Perejil
revived the
issue of the
sovereignty
of Melilla
and Ceuta.
The small
enclaves on
the
Mediterranean
coast are
surrounded
by Morocco
and have
been
administered
by Madrid
for
centuries.
Morocco has
been given
the status
of non-Nato
ally by
Washington,
which has
praised its
support for
the US-led
war on
terror.
After deadly
suicide
bombings in
Casablanca
in 2003,
Morocco
launched a
crackdown on
suspected
Islamic
militants.
Groomed for
"kingship",
as his late
father King
Hassan II
referred to
his
upbringing,
Mohammed VI
became
monarch in
1999.
King
Mohammed
VI
embarked
on
reforms
He initiated
political
and economic
changes and
an
investigation
into human
rights
abuses
during his
father's
rule.
The king
says the
fight
against
poverty is a
priority,
earning him
the name
"guardian of
the poor".
Economic
liberalisation
has
attracted
foreign
investment
and
officials
point to
better basic
services in
shanty towns
and rural
areas. But
some
non-government
groups say
little has
changed,
with poverty
still
widespread
and
unemployment
remaining
high.
A key reform
has been the
Mudawana, a
law which
grants more
rights to
women. The
king has
said it is
in line with
Koranic
principles,
but
religious
conservatives
have opposed
it.
Bomb attacks
in
Casablanca
in 2003
prompted the
enactment of
new
anti-terrorism
laws and a
reinvigorated
campaign
against
extremists.
But some
rights
groups say
the measures
have eroded
human
rights.
King
Mohammed
married
computer
engineer
Salma
Bennani in
2002. They
have a son,
Crown Prince
Moulay
Hassan, born
in 2003, and
a daughter,
Princess
Lalla
Khadija,
born in
2007.
Under the
constitution,
the king can
dissolve
parliament
and dismiss
or appoint
the prime
minister.
Abbas
El
Fassi
Prime
minister:
Abbas El
Fassi
Mr El Fassi,
leader of
the
conservative
Istiqlal
Party, took
office in
September
2007 after
his party
emerged as
the largest
in
parliamentary
elections.
Born in
1940, Mr El
Fassi has
served as a
minister and
diplomat
since 1977,
including a
stint as
ambassador
to France in
1990-1994.
He was
minister of
state in the
coalition
govermment
of his
predecessor,
Driss Jettou,
from
2002-2007.
His
government
also
includes the
Socialist
Union of
Popular
Forces, the
National
Rally of
Independents,
and the
Party of
Progress and
Socialism.
Morocco's
private
press is
free to
cover many
previously-taboo
issues,
including
social
problems.
Satellite
dishes
are
widely
used
in
Morocco
But this
freedom is
not
unbounded.
Paris-based
Reporters
Without
Borders,
while noting
"positive
changes",
has called
for an
overhaul of
press laws.
US-based
Human Rights
Watch says
the press
code
"provides an
arsenal of
repressive
tools".
Western
Sahara, the
monarchy and
corruption
are all
sensitive
topics and
self-censorship
is
commonplace.
Newspaper
readership
is limited
by low
literacy
levels, and
competition
for
advertising
is intense.
The
government
owns, or has
a stake in,
RTM and 2M,
Morocco's
main TV
networks. An
expansion of
private TV
and radio
services is
under way.
Broadcasters
are tamer in
their
coverage of
sensitive
topics than
the print
media.
Satellite
dishes are
widely used,
giving
access to a
range of
foreign TV
stations.
>> Mauritania
Agro-Industry Development
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