Morocco Roundup: Terrorists arrest, independence, earthquake
ISIS Terrorists arrested
A joint operation by the security services of Dakla and the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance led to the arrest of an extremist described to be a member of the terrorist group ISIS. A report by the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance indicated that the suspect aged 23 is a native of Al-Hajeb and has allegedly pledged allegiance to the emir of ISIS, Assabah.com reports. The report further indicated his active participation in an alleged terrorist scheme to disturb the safety and peace of the Kingdom of Morocco. The suspect will remain in custody to assist the Central Office for Judicial Research to assist in the investigation.
Independence Day
The Moroccan people celebrated their 68th independence anniversary on November 18 which marks a milestone in the country’s struggle for independence and unity with the throne. A post by the official handle of the kingdom read, “The Moroccan people commemorate, this 18th of November, 2023, the 68th anniversary of Independence Day, an occasion to commemorate the symbolism of a historic national epic and the great sacrifices in the defense of the country’s unity and sacred values.”
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Earthquake assessment
Japanese experts invited by the Moroccan government to assess the effectiveness and extent of damage to highway infrastructure following the Al Haouz earthquake say no substantive damage was done to the national highway infrastructure, local media Le Matin reports. “In continuation of the actions undertaken by ADM following the earthquake of September 8, the company welcomed experts from the Japanese company Hanshin Expressway, which has more than half a century of experience in the field of management and highway maintenance, for a post-earthquake inspection mission of the engineering structures of the Marrakech-Agadir highway,” the National motorway company of Morocco in a statement said. According to Le Matin, the two parties also engaged on the most recent technologies and anti-seismic devices applied to international highway infrastructures, with a specific focus on Japan, where the earthquake risk is among the highest globally.
Migrants surge
Approximately 5,000 individuals on November 13 made their way across the border from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, marking a record for a single day, according to reports by Spanish officials. This influx coincided with Morocco expressing dissatisfaction with Spain for providing medical treatment to a rebel leader, local media Aujourdhui La Maroc reported. Dozens of young migrants either swam or walked around the heavily fortified land border, while others utilized inflatable dinghies or swimming rings to traverse. The Spanish government also said that by November 14, the count of border crossings into Ceuta had reached around 6,000 people, with an estimated 1,500 believed to be teenagers.
Airport traffic
Morocco’s airport traffic between January to October 2023 hit a staggering 21 million passengers marking a significant boost compared to previous years. The statistics this year show a 31% increase concerning 2022 and a 3% growth rate from the numbers in 2019, L’economiste reports. The National Airports Office say that the growth recorded affects at least seven airports in the country, including Tetouan Airport, Essaouira, Tangier, Nador, Oujda, Fez and Agadir. The office says the growth continues to increase as compared to previous years.
