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Author: Dismas Otuke

  • Debutants Morocco trounce Colombia to qualify for 2nd round of FIFA Women’s World Cup

    Debutants Morocco trounce Colombia to qualify for 2nd round of FIFA Women’s World Cup

    Tournament debutants Morocco defeated Colombia by a solitary goal to advance to the round of 16 OF THE 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup  as Group H runners up to lock out group favourites Germany.

    The Atlas Lionesses who played with a tactical solid defense took the lead in the 4th minute of 1st half extra time through Anissa Lahmari via a rebound following Ghizlane Chebbak penalty which was saved by the Colombia shot stopper.

    Germany who direly needed a win against the already bundled out South Korea were forced to 1-1 draw in the other match sending the Germans out.

    Sofia Bouftini and Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

    Morocco finished 2nd with 6 behind Colombia -Las Cafeteras who topped the group on goal difference to become the 1st African nation to win two consecutive matches in the history of women’s World.

    Morocco will play tournament favourites France on 8th August in the last round of 16 fixture.

    The South Americans couldn’t find a leveller, meaning that Morocco – thanks in hand to Germany’s 1-1 draw with Korea Republic – advanced in second place behind Las Cafeteras.

  • Dominican Republic support the Kingdom of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara.

    Dominican Republic support the Kingdom of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara.

    The Dominican Republic has reaffirmed to the Kingdom of Morocco its support for sovereignity policy over the Morrocco-Sahara region.

    Dominican Minister of External Relations, Roberto Alvarez, wrote to King Mohammed VI of Morooco on behalf of Dominican Head of State Luis Abinader, to affirm the country’s position on the Moroccan Sahara issue.

    In support of Morocco and the strengthening of their diplomatic ties, the Dominican Republic announced plans to open its consulate in Dakhla city.⁰.

    The Dominican minister also informed his Moroccan counterpart of the planned state visit of President Luis Abinader in the North African country in order to further strengthen political, commercial, and cooperation ties” between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Dominican Republic”.

  • Morocco  keen on fostering relationship with neighbouring countries

    Morocco  keen on fostering relationship with neighbouring countries

    The kingdom of Morocco is keen to establish solid relations with sister nations and
    friendly countries, particularly its neighbors Algeria, which is key to both countries and regional development.

    Speaking on Saturday, when he led the country in marking his 24 years on the throne, King Mohammed VI reassured other African countries and Moroccan Citizens of his dedication to ensuring the restoration of the once strong ties between Morocco and Algeria, which will also see the reopening of the borders between the two sister Nations .

    The King said Moroccan-Algerian relations are stable, and he looks forward to seeing them improve. ” In this regard, I would like to tell the leaders and people of our sister nation, Algeria, that no evil will ever be done to them, nor will any harm ever come to them from Morocco.

    I want them to know that we attach special importance to the bonds of affection, friendship, exchange, and interaction between our peoples.” Affirmed King Mohammed VI

    The King also commended their senior men’s football team for their outstanding performance in last year’s FIFA World Cup, which triggered their ambition of staging the global showpiece jointly with Spain and Portugal in 2030.

    “Whenever the conditions are right, and each time they commit to seriousness and to the spirit of patriotism, Moroccan youth always
    manage to dazzle the world with great, unprecedented accomplishments, and the feat of our national football team in the last World Cup is a case in point. As acknowledged, both in Morocco and around the world, our sons provided some of the best illustrations of patriotism and unity, as well as family and community cohesion”.

    “That same spirit guided my decision to make a joint bid with our friends, Spain and Portugal, to host the 2030 World Cup Finals, which I hope will be an historic event at all levels”.

    Morocco’s candidacy brings together two continents: Africa and Europe.
    which unites the two shores of the Mediterranean”which unites the two shores of the Mediterranean,” concluded the King.

    The country brags of vast natural resources and tourist cites which  are key to its progressive development.

    King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne on July 23, 1999, upon the death of his father, King Hassan II.

  • Russia affirms its strong ties with Morocco in Russia-Africa summit

    Russia affirms its strong ties with Morocco in Russia-Africa summit

    Russia has irreversibly established the principle of participation limited to African countries recognized by the United Nations by formally inviting to its summit, for the second time in a row, the only African governments that receive official recognition on its part.

    Russia has reaffirmed its commitment of establishing a strong and long-term diplomatic relation with Morocco.

    Morocco was among the few African countries which attend the Africa Russia summit for a record 2nd year in row in which the United Nations recognized the Africa head of states who attended the summit as well as the Russian government for its pivotal role in supporting its African allies and partners.

    54 member states of the African Union were invited for the two day summit with others failing to turn up.

    Russian-African meeting, clearly and definitively established that only the 54 member states of the African Union recognized by the UN are members of this summit.

    In other words, firmness and intransigence on matters of principle is a choice that pays off. Several of Morocco’s partners have made this choice. Russia, which took the plunge in 2019, is now sticking to its commitments.
    Referring to issues relating to food security in Africa and around the world, Putin praised the “considerable measures taken by His Majesty the King” to ease global tensions over food products.

    Morocco was represented at the  summit, which was  attended by several African Heads of State and Government, by the government chief, Aziz Akhannouch, who reiterated Morocco’s “permanent attachment” to its relations with its various strategic partners.

    On this occasion, he noted that the distinguished diplomatic relations that Morocco has had with Russia since the 18th century have been considerably strengthened since the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Moscow in 2016.

    “During this visit, a deep strategic partnership was established, covering a wide range of areas of cooperation, including agriculture, energy, fisheries, science and technology, culture and higher education,” he recalled.

    The Moroccan delegation participating in the summit also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, as well as Moroccan Ambassador to Russia Lotfi Bouchaara.

  • Aquila East Africa admitted to Advertising Practioners Association

    Aquila East Africa admitted to Advertising Practioners Association

    Aquila East Africa has been admitted into the Advertising Practitioners Association (APA), Kenya’s premium advertising industry association.

    As the country’s custodian of advertising, the APA not only enforces advertising standards through adherence to a code of conduct, but it also promotes for professionalism among its members.

    It also aims to acknowledge the use of creative excellence in the way brands and enterprises communicate.

    Kester Shimonyo-CEO Aquila East Africa

    This is the latest achievement for Aquila East Africa, who obtained certification from the Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK) in 2022.

    The award-winning agency, which has over ten years of experience in strategic brand building and marketing communications, is now poised to compete for market share with other established agencies in the country.

    However, Aquila East Africa, like all other8 accredited agencies, has to go through APA’s stringent criteria procedure.

    Aquila East Africa Director Kester Shimonyo Muhanji believes the company, which has been dubbed a game changer, is now well positioned to deliver solutions that exceed expectations as a trusted partner for SMEs and large global companies in Africa.

    Shimonyo claims that the APA certification will help them design successful campaigns that match the individual demands of their clients in addition to brand development and product launches.

    “Aquila East Africa is now a game changer not only in Kenya, but also in East Africa and, eventually, throughout Africa.” This APA is a significant accomplishment for us.

    “As an MSK and APA-accredited advertising and marketing agency, we aim to make sure our clients look attractive and get the attention of their target audience.”asserted Shimonyo

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines support Morocco’s territorial integrity

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines support Morocco’s territorial integrity

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has reiterated its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, stating that the Kingdom’s autonomy proposal is “the unique solution” to finally put an end to the regional Sahara conflict.

    This stance was stated in a joint statement following discussions held in Rabat on Friday between Nasser Bourita, the minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation, and Moroccan expatriates, and Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who is currently in the Kingdom on a working visit.

    In this regard, Gonsalves praised Morocco’s dedication to the UN-sponsored political process and the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for the Sahara.

    Additionally, he commended UN initiatives as the only framework for establishing a practical, realistic, and long-lasting political resolution to the regional issue over the Sahara.

    According to the joint statement, Bourita updated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister on the most recent developments regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to the ongoing political process intended to find a fair and lasting resolution to this manufactured conflict.

    Gonsalves met with Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, while in Morocco.

  • UN Adopts Morocco-Presented Resolution Against Burning of Quran, Hate Speech

    UN Adopts Morocco-Presented Resolution Against Burning of Quran, Hate Speech

    A resolution brought out by Morocco denouncing the Quran’s burning as well as hate speech that targets religious symbols was overwhelmingly approved by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly.

    The resolution strongly condemns all acts of violence committed against persons based on their faith or beliefs and the burning of sacred books, emphasizing that such behavior is illegal under international law.

    Morocco is widely praised for being a regional and international pioneer in advancing peace, tolerance, and interreligious and intercultural communication, and for championing the causes of peace and tolerance.

    The resolution was presented and adopted at a time when worries about Islamophobia and the difficulties that Muslim communities encounter in Europe are growing, with the burning of the Quran in Sweden being the most recent occurrence.

    Many warned that such actions foster a climate of fear and animosity towards Muslims, drawing extensive attention to and criticism from the worldwide community in response to the incident.

    Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco’s permanent mission to the UN stressed during the resolution’s presentation to the General Assembly that it builds upon resolution 73/328, the first of its type against hate speech, which was enacted in 2019.

    Additionally, it advances resolution 75/309, which designated June 18 as an annual “International Day for Countering Hate Speech.”

    Hilale pointed out that by opposing hate speech, extremism, and all forms of racism, the new resolution is in line with the progressive, community-centered, and humanitarian attitude of King Mohammed VI.

    The monarch’s address during the 9th World Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which was held in Fez in November 2022, was recounted by the ambassador.
    The King remarked in his address, “Never has our culture been more exposed; never has cohabitation been so constantly threatened; seldom has the ‘Other’ been so connected with distrust or exploited to incite fear and foster hatred.

    He also raised grave worries about how populism and extremism are distorting “moderate discourse,” and how faiths are frequently misunderstood or vilified.

    The King expressed a vision of a society that promotes communication, comprehension, and solidarity among various communities by denouncing hate speech and any kind of violence directed at anyone because of their faith or beliefs.

    Hilale emphasized that the new resolution intends to reinforce the group’s commitment to promoting a nonviolent culture of peace for the welfare of mankind and future generations, in keeping with the King’s instructions.

    He emphasized that the resolution addresses hostile expressions that target a particular faith and race rather than attempting to stifle free speech.

  • Eastleigh house helps lament poor pay

    Eastleigh house helps lament poor pay

    A section of domestic workers in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi County have complained about increased cases of exploitation and poor payment from their employers amidst the high cost of commodities.

    Speaking in Nairobi, the women blamed some workers who are willing to work for low pay, which has made their efforts to fight for better pay difficult.

    “We work under difficult and strenuous conditions, which are worsened by poor payment; we are paid a paltry ksh 3,000 a month, which is not even equivalent to our work.

    You work long hours without food or rest, and you are not paid well.” Nancy Akoth

    Some of the women who work as casual laborers in East London are also complaining about other workers, including foreigners, who work for less pay, thereby hindering their bargains for better pay.

    If there’s a way the ministry of labor will set minimum wages for house helps, it will save us from these tough financial times, said Rhoda Imbati, a house help at Eastleigh.

    The workers called on the government to intervene and set standard minimum wages for domestic workers as a way of cushioning them against the high cost of living.

    The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHIA) has called on all house helps to report cases of exploitation and mistreatment.

    Responding to the distress call of the house helps, KUDHEHIA deputy secretary General Joan Cherono urged all those who are exploited and mistreated to report to local authorities.

    “We have received several cases of harassment and mistreatment of people, and most of them are in Eastligh, and what we are doing as a union is to create awareness on their rights to avoid falling victories. We have already won several court cases, and we are open to assisting more.” Said Cherono

  • Morocco will host the 2023 CAF Awards for the second year running

    Morocco will host the 2023 CAF Awards for the second year running

    Morocco has been selected to stage the 2023 CAF Awards on December 11th to celebrate the stars of African football for the second time in a row.

    The Morrocan Capital of Rabat staged last year’s edition, which saw Senegal forward Sadio Mane and Nigerian and Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala claim honors.

    The awards will recognize the standout performers from club and country over the past year, with the highlight being the crowning of the CAF African Player of the Year in both the men’s and women’s categories.

    Mane and Oshoala will face stiff competition from some of the continent’s brightest stars who have shone in the last 12 months.

    Other award categories this year include Interclub Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, and Goal of the Year.

    CAF will announce Morocco’s host city for the gala later.

  • Researchers condemn recruitment of children into military at Tindouf Camp in Algeria

    Researchers condemn recruitment of children into military at Tindouf Camp in Algeria

    The illegal systematic recruitment of children at the Tindouf camp in Algeria and the associated breaches of human rights have been condemned by the International Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Soldiers in Dakhla.

    According to the statement made by Director of CIRPES, Abdelkader Filali, the researchers demanded an immediate end to the illegal activity in their statement.

    “After seeing a parade of hundreds of children (boys and girls in military uniforms), we are still extremely worried about the systematic recruiting of children at the Tindouf camp in Algeria.

    Tindouf region in Algeria

    We have publicly conveyed our grave concern to the world community and hold Algeria morally and legally accountable for this egregious transgression of international humanitarian law on its territory.

    The rights of children to life, privacy, freedom of opinion, and peaceful assembly must be respected, safeguarded, and upheld by Algeria as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    In order to prevent the Polisario militia from putting pressure on parents, our center asks all human rights advocates, scholars, and journalists to act with moral courage and intellectual honesty”. Affirmed Abdelkader

    The International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers was established in Dakhla in 2022 and is dedicated to eradicating the use of child soldiers by educating people about their plight, the procedures involved in recruiting them, and the root causes that keep this scourge alive.