Morocco Roundup: Standoff with Israel, explosion, forest fires

Moroccan media react to Israeli PM's remarks

Israeli PM Netanyahu caused controversy by holding a map showing the disputed Western Sahara as an independent state, instead of part of Morocco, an interview. This sparked a backlash in Moroccan media and prompted an apology from Israel's foreign ministry. The incident has increased calls among the Moroccan public for a break in diplomatic ties with Israel, reports The New Arab.

Port improvement

Morocco is set to initiate a bidding process this upcoming summer for the construction of a floating LNG terminal at the Nador West Med port in the northeast, according to the country's energy ministry's oil and gas director, who announced on Friday, May 31. The ministry anticipates finalising the financial aspects by 2025, with the terminal's construction, activation, and commencement of commercial activities projected for 2026, as stated by Abdelghafour El Hadjaoui during a presentation reported by Reuters.

Joint exercise with USA military

Senior U.S. military leaders and their principal African partners observed closely as the Sahara Desert's terrain erupted with dust and fire from the impact of tank and artillery rounds. Their gaze followed the F-16 pilots as they executed precise formations overhead. Attentively, they absorbed briefings by Moroccan and American teams on the strategic establishment of beachheads to safeguard the Atlantic shore against any hypothetical assault. The Associated Press reported that this tactical drill was one of several undertaken during the African Lion exercises, the most extensive annual U.S.-led military drills in Africa, which wrapped up on Friday, May 31 in Morocco.

Explosion kills seven

A deadly explosion occurred on the bulk carrier Toro Rosso near the Port of Jorf Lasfar, off the coast of Morocco, killing 7 crew members and injuring a dozen others. The ship was chartered by a company based in Ethiopia and was carrying phosphate fertilisers. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and the port authorities have emphasised their strict safety protocols for handling dangerous cargo, reports Marine Insight.

Forest fires

Morocco is raising awareness of the risk of forest fires as summer approaches. The Sakina forest in Kenitra is popular for picnicking, but the increase in visitors increases the risk of fires. The National Agency for Water and Forestry promotes fire safety to park visitors, as Moroccan forests are extremely flammable during the summer, as reported by Africanews. The agency has managed to reduce the area affected by wildfires in 2023 by 70% compared to the previous year. It has allocated a budget of 153 million dirhams for the prevention and fight against forest fires in 2024. They have also expanded their fleet of specialised Canadair firefighting aircraft.