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Middle East and North Africa
Morocco |
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Last reviewed: 21 May 2008 |
Country information
Area: Total: 446,550 sq km (Land: 446,300 sq km, Water: 250 sq km)
Population: 30.5 million (2006 est)
Capital City: Rabat
People: Arab-Berber (99.1%), other (0.7%), Jewish (0.2%)
Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government and diplomacy
Religion(s): Muslim (98.7%), Christian (1.1%), Jewish (0.2%)
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DM) = 100 centimes
Major political parties: Istiqlal (nationalist), Parti de la Justice et du developpement (PJD) (moderate Islamist), Rassemblement National des Independents (RNI) (business), Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires (USFP) (socialist), Mouvement Populaire (MP) (traditional/Berber)
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: King Mohammed VI
Prime Minister/Premier: Mr Abbas El Fassi
Foreign Minister:Mr Taieb Fassi Fihri
Membership of international groups/organisations:
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA), Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT - associate), African Development Bank (AfDB), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), Arab League (AL), Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICC), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO - pending member), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Intelsat), International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of American States and the Community of Andean Nations (OAS - observer), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WtoO), World Trade Organisation (WTO).
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
Morocco's economy is mixed. Approximately 45% of the population are employed in agricultural production, which represents 15% of GDP. Recent economic reforms have encouraged the growth of a small, modern manufacturing sector, strongly oriented to the EU market, and have helped the development of tourism. There is a large public sector – public sector wages account for 13% of GDP. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco’s youth, and raising living standards.
GDP: US$58 billion (2006 est)
GDP per capita: $4,600 (2006 est)*
GDP Growth: 8.1% (2006 est)
Inflation: 2.3% (September 2007)
Major Industries: Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction and tourism.
Major trading partners: Spain, France, US and UK
Exchange rate:£1=14.35 dirham (May 2008), $1=7.4 dirham (May 2008)
Source: IMF/World Bank except * CIA World Fact Book
HISTORY
Morocco has a history as an independent nation state stretching back to the 9th century interrupted only by the brief interlude of the Protectorate (1912-1956) when the country was divided into French and Spanish zones. Morocco, unlike her North African neighbours, was never part of the Turkish Empire. To the south, Morocco claims and has occupied the territory of the Western (formally Spanish) Sahara. This claim forms a major rallying point in domestic politics.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The EU is Morocco's main Western partner. The US granted Morocco major non-Nato ally status in June 2004.
Moroccan and Algerian relations are strained over the question of Western Sahara (see below). The border between the two countries has been closed since 1994. Rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has hampered regional political and economic integration and the effectiveness of the Arab Maghreb Union, which was founded in 1989 and comprises Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. Morocco is not a member of the African Union (AU) because the latter has given membership to Western Sahara as an independent state.
Morocco signed an Association Agreement with the EU in March 2000 and was one of the first wave of countries to agree a European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan with the EU in December 2004. Under the auspices of these arrangements, Morocco and the EU participate in regular dialogue about a range of issues including economic reform, democracy and human rights. A new EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement was approved by the EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council in May 2006 and came into force in February 2007.
Morocco is a leading player in the EuroMed (or Barcelona) process, whose goal is a Free Trade Area by the year 2010. Britain and Morocco have co-sponsored the EuroMed Register of Agreements, and co-hosted a successful seminar on the social consequences of economic reform in Marrakech on 20-21 May 2004. In April Morocco hosted the first Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Tourism in the city of Fes. In 2006 the Moroccans hosted the EU-Africa Migration and Development conference, followed up by a further meeting in March this year.
Morocco signed the Agadir Agreement with Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt on 25 February 2004. Due to delays in ratification, the Agreement, which provides for free trade between the four countries, only came into force in March 2007. Bilateral Free Trade Agreements with the US and Turkey came into force in January 2006.
The former Monarch, King Hassan II consistently used his influence in support of Arab moderates in the Arab/Israel dispute. King Mohammed VI chairs meetings of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Al Quds Committee. Morocco and Israel had liaison offices in each other's countries until October 2000 when they were closed after an increase in tension in the Middle East. Until the 1960s, as many as 60,000 Jews lived in Morocco, and Jews of Moroccan origin constitute a significant part of Israel's population: approximately 700,000 Israelis are of Moroccan origin.
WESTERN SAHARA
Frente Polisario (Polisario Front), which leads the independence movement for Western Sahara, and is based in Tindouf in southern Algeria.
Since Spain's withdrawal in 1976, Western Sahara has been a disputed territory. Initially Morocco and Mauritania moved in, and since 1979, when Mauritania renounced its territorial claims, Morocco has occupied the territory apart from an eastern strip controlled by the Polisario. The UK - in common with most other countries - regards the sovereignty of Western Sahara as undetermined pending United Nations (UN) efforts to find a solution.
James Baker, the former US Secretary of State, was the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy until his resignation in June 2004. Mr Baker's final proposal, a ‘Peace Plan' that involved a period of autonomy followed by a referendum, was acceptable to the Polisario, but not to Morocco. On 26 July 2005 the UN Secretary-General appointed Peter van Walsum as his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara. His role is to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Mr van Walsum has the UK's full support.
Morocco presented a proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara within Morocco to the UN Secretary-General on 11 April 2007. The Polisario presented their own proposal to the UN Secretary-General on 10 April.
UN Security Council Resolution 1754 (30 April 2007) called for the parties to enter into negotiations without preconditions. Four rounds of negotiations under the auspices of the UN were held in Manhasset, New York, in June and August 2007, and January and March this year. Peter Van Walsum chaired the negotiations.
UN Security Council Resolution 1813 was adopted on 30 April. It called on the parties to continue to show political will to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations.
Both sides have imperfect records on human rights. May 2005 saw pro-independence demonstrations in Western Sahara suppressed by the authorities. Reports circulated that Saharawi detainees had been mistreated whilst in custody. A number were tried and convicted though many were later pardoned by King Mohammed VI.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visited the region in June 2006.
On 17 August 2005 the Polisario released 404 Moroccan Prisoners of War, some of whom had been held for up to 20 years.
MOROCCO'S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
UK/Morocco relations are good. The UK and Morocco share many common interests and a desire to combat shared threats such as illegal migration and counter-terrorism. Morocco has played a solid role in support of the Middle East Peace Process and a number of UN peace keeping operations.
In February 2006, King Mohammed VI and the then Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, decided to establish a UK-Morocco “Ministerial Dialogue Forum” to discuss political, educational and cultural, and economic and trade relations between the two countries. Within this framework, FCO Minister of State Dr Kim Howells and the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister, Taib Fassi Fihri discussed political and cultural relations in Rabat on 6 June 2006, and again in London on 18 July 2007. Dr Howells visited Morocco again in April this year and co-chaired the third political round of the Dialogue with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister Latifa Akherbach. The then Minister for Trade Ian McCartney and Mr Fassi Fihri discussed trade and economic relations in London on 21 June 2006, and Lord Jones, Minister for Trade, visited Morocco in January to co-chair with Mr Fassi Fihri the second trade and economic round of the Dialogue.
Tony McNulty, Home Office Minister of State, visited Morocco 13-14 February and met with a range of Moroccan Ministers and officials.
HRH The Duke of York visited Morocco in November 2007 in his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
Diplomatic Representation
We have full diplomatic relations with Morocco. Morocco is represented in London by His Excellency Mr Mohammed Belmahi. The UK’s Ambassdor to Morocco is Mr Charles Gray.
Aid
There is no UK bilateral aid programme for Morocco, although we contribute a significant proportion of the European Union's development assistance.
Recent Visits
Inward
- Ahmed Chami, Minister for Industry, Trade and New Technology, in May 2008
- Taieb Fassi Fihri, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, in February and July 2007, and March, June and September 2006
- Chakib Benmoussa, Interior Minister, and Fouad El Himma, Minister delegate for the Interior, February 2007
- Ahmed Toufiq, Minister for Habous and Islamic Affairs, February 2007
- Nabil Benabdullah Minister of Communication, October and December 2005
- Mohammed Boutaleb, Minister of Energy and Mining, June and March 2005
- Mohammed Benaissa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, March 2005 and June 2004
- Prime Minister Driss Jettou, November 2004
- Andre Azoulay, King's Counsellor, May 2004
- Al Mustapha Sahel, Minister of Interior, April 2004
- Abdelwahed Radi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, March 2004
Outward
- Dr Kim Howells, FCO Minister of State responsible for UK relations with North Africa, April 2008, June 2006 and July 2005.
- Tony McNulty, Home Office Minister of State, February 2008
- Lord Jones, Minister for Trade, January 2008
- HRH The Duke of York, UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, November 2007 and March 2004
- Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, February 2006
- Elliot Morley, Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment, March 2005
- The Foreign Affairs Committee, February 2005
- Baroness Symons, then FCO Minister of State responsible for UK relations with North Africa, January 2005, May 2004 and September 2003
- The Rt Hon Paul Boateng MP, then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, December 2004
- Dr Denis MacShane, FCO Minister of State, December 2004
- The Rt Hon Adam Ingram, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, May 2004
- Mike O'Brien, then FCO Minister of State responsible for Trade and Investment, visited Morocco on February 2004
GEOGRAPHY
(32 00 N, 5 00 W)
The Kingdom of Morocco is on the north-west corner of Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT WITH THE UK
UK exports in 2006 were worth £290 million, while imports from Morocco totalled £380 million over the same period. Please refer to the UKTI web site for further information.
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Morocco
POLITICS
Morocco's political system is evolving from a strongly centralised monarchy to a parliamentary system. The King retains much of the executive power, but the Parliament and most of the government are democratically elected.
Elections
Parliamentary elections for the lower house of Parliament (the House of Representatives) were held on 7 September 2007. The elections were deemed free and fair by international observers, but turnout was lower than expected at 37%. No party achieved an overall majority, but the centre-right Istiqlal party won 52 seats and its leader, Abbas El Fassi, was appointed Prime Minster. A coalition government was formed on 14 October, which includes seven women.
Elections for the upper house of Parliament (the House of Advisers) were held on 8 September 2006. One third of the seats, 90 out of 272, were contested through an electoral college system. The successful candidates were elected for nine-year terms. The governing coalition of the four main parties lost five seats but have a majority of 169. Local elections were held on 12 September 2003. Turnout was 54%, and elections were generally considered to be free and fair. The Socialist and Nationalist parties, and the Berber/rural coalition, won the bulk of seats.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Morocco has improved its human rights record in recent years. In 1993, Morocco ratified UN Conventions on torture, on discrimination against women and on child rights. In November 1993, Morocco’s first ever Minister for Human Rights was appointed.
In 2004 the Moroccan Human Rights Advisory Council (CCDH), set up the “Instance Equity and Reconciliation” (IER) to examine human rights violations in Morocco between 1956-1999. It reported to the King in December 2005. The IER report catalogued a number of human rights abuses, and identified over 9,000 people as eligible for compensation. It also made a number of recommendations to ensure that past abuses do not recur, including constitutional reforms and steps to end a culture of impunity in the Security Forces. The CCDH has been tasked to oversee the implementation of these recommendations. In March 2006 the government introduced specific anti-torture penal law.
On 25 January 2004, the government adopted a new Family Law which supports women's equality and grants them new rights e.g. equal divorce rights; right to be joint head of household etc.
There is a relatively free press. However, criticism of Islam, the monarchy or Morocco's presence in the Western Sahara is not tolerated.
Morocco's record in Western Sahara has improved in recent years, but more needs to be done to provide equality of opportunity for the people of the territory. Within Morocco itself, as well as in Western Sahara, in recent years marches and sit-ins have been broken up by police. Pro-independence demonstrations are a flash point for potentially violent confrontation.
For further information about human rights in Morocco, please refer to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights.
