Snapshots

Morocco

Earthquake rescue operations Sept. 11, 2023, in the mountainous area of Tizi n-Test, Taroudant province, Morocco.

Economics

Politics

The quake will harm growth into 2024, potentially forcing the government out and slowing the country's fiscal consolidation.

The Moroccan Earthquake's Economic and Political Fallout

Assessments

Algeria

Tunisia

Low water levels are seen at the Sidi Salem Dam, Tunisia's largest embankment dam, on April 6, 2023. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Social Issues

Water and food shortages this summer will increase socioeconomic risks in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, along with the impetus for more sustainable agricultural practices. 

After a Dry Spring, Northwest Africa Braces for Disruptive Crop Failures

Israel

Libya

Palestinian Territories

Western Sahara

Energy

After decades of isolation, Algiers plans to use its energy wealth to engage with the world, but its lack of economic diversification will hamper this process.

Algeria Emerges From Isolation, but Its Economy and Foreign Policy Will Limit Change

Spain

People take part in a ''Free Sahara'' rally in Madrid, Spain, on March 30, 2022, in protest of the Spanish government's recent move to recognize Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara. 

Military & Security

Madrid’s support will further legitimize Rabat’s claimed control over the disputed territory, though it will also risk inciting more attacks by Algeria-backed militants.

Spain's New Stance on Western Sahara Brings Morocco-Algeria Tensions Back to a Boil

Security

Guidance

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Uruguay

China

Europe

Bahrain

United Arab Emirates

Pakistan

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: EU and Chinese Officials Talk Trade, Israel Hosts an Abraham Accords Summit

Ukraine

Russia

Sri Lanka

The PCK oil refinery, which is majority-owned by Russian energy company Rosneft, on March 21, 2022, in Schwedt, Germany.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Significant volatility in supply and prices will lead to more social unrest and force governments to extend aid packages to households and companies.

How the Ukraine Invasion Will Affect Oil Markets

The Ukraine Conflict

Media

Podcasts

Senior Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne breaks down the latest developments in the dispute over Western Sahara and what’s at stake.

Essential Geopolitics: What’s Behind Rising Algeria-Morocco Tensions

Morocco's Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) hold a post-election press conference in Rabat on Sept. 9, 2021.

Rebalancing Power in the Middle East

The ruling PJD's loss of 112 parliamentary seats reflects Moroccans’ economic frustrations, as well as the waning popularity of Islamist politics in the country.


Morocco’s Main Islamist Party Suffers a Crushing Electoral Defeat 

The Difficulties of North African Reform

A bulldozer passes by a hilltop manned by Moroccan soldiers in Western Sahara on Nov. 23, 2020.

If Rabat makes more controversial statements, tensions with Algiers could escalate to economic and/or military actions.

The Risks of Algeria and Morocco’s Latest Diplomatic Row Over Western Sahara

Middle East and North Africa

Spanish policemen stand next to migrants waiting to cross the border back to Morocco at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on May 20, 2021. 

Rabat’s leverage in its Western Sahara dispute with Madrid will increase this summer as the warmer weather enables more migrants to head north by land and sea. 

Morocco Weaponizes Migration Amid Tensions With Spain

Sudan

United States

A picture taken on Nov. 12, 2020, shows a view of ongoing construction work at a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of Jerusalem.

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Without Trump’s avid support, Israel’s normalization push in the Muslim world will likely shift away from full-scale diplomatic recognition to more specific, covert ties. 

The Fate of Israeli-Arab Normalization Under Biden

Israel's Survival Strategy

Vietnam

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks in the House Chamber during a reconvening of a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 7 takeover by right-wing protesters will remain in the spotlight even though his term will soon expire.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended Stratfor articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Fallout From the Capitol Siege, Possible Tariffs on Vietnam

COVID-19

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel formally recognized Western Sahara as Moroccan territory, France24 reported on July 17.

Israel, Morocco: Israel Recognizes Western Sahara as Part of Morocco

Austria

The energy ministries of Austria, Germany and Italy signed a joint letter supporting the designation of a hydrogen pipeline called the "SouthH2 Corridor" as a European Union Project of Common Interest, which would enable the project to receive public funds and fast-tracked permits, Reuters reported on May 9.

EU: Push for Hydrogen Pipeline Will Aid Bloc's Energy Transition

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is meeting Morocco's Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Rabat, Morocco, after which he is expected to announce an 800 million euro ($869 million) credit line for Spanish investments in Morocco and as many as 20 agreements to boost trade and investment, Reuters reported Feb. 2.

Spain, Morocco: Countries Strengthen Economic Ties Following Diplomatic Truce

Kenya

Kenyan President William Ruto revoked Kenya's diplomatic recognition of Western Sahara's Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which claims the right to self-determination and opposes Morocco's autonomy plan for the region, after meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, The East African reported Sept. 14.

Kenya, Morocco: Nairobi Supports Rabat's Western Sahara Plans

Morocco recalled its ambassador to Tunisia for consultations after Tunisia's President Kais Saied hosted Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Western Sahara independence movement Polisario Front and the self-declared Sahrawi Democratic Arab Republic, at a Japan-Africa investment conference in Tunis, France24 reported Aug. 27.

Tunisia, Morocco: Countries Recall Ambassadors Over Western Sahara Issue

The online social media campaign demanding that Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch resign continues to grow, Naharnet reported Aug. 4.

Morocco: Online Campaign Pushing Prime Minister to Resign Grows

U.N. envoy to Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura met with the Moroccan foreign ministry in Rabat, where both sides reiterated their commitment to the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara sovereignty, Morocco World News reported July 5.

Morocco: Rabat, U.N. Recommit to Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara

Egypt

Representatives from the foreign ministries of Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are meeting in Manama, Bahrain, for the first steering committee meeting of the Negev Summit, which is intended to address regional security and economic cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa, The Times of Isreal reported June 27.

MENA: Negev Summit Steering Committee Meets in Manama, Bahrain

Afghanistan

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Lithuania

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Barbados

Benin

Maldives

Malta

Belize

Botswana

Brunei Darussalam

India

Iran

North Macedonia

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Iraq

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Brazil

Burundi

Finland

Nepal

Cameroon

Canada

Georgia

Jordan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

Chile

Federated States of Micronesia

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Central African Republic

Colombia

Fiji

Latvia

Lebanon

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chad

Costa Rica

Indonesia

Comoros

Cuba

Czech Republic

Japan

A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Cote d'Ivoire

Denmark

Dominica

Kiribati

Moldova

Oman

Dominican Republic

Laos

Djibouti

Ecuador

Holy See (Vatican City)

Malaysia

Qatar

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Greece

Marshall Islands

Saudi Arabia

Eritrea

France

Grenada

Mongolia

Morocco sits on the northwestern coast of Africa.  To the west is the Atlantic Ocean; to the north is Europe and Spain; to the east and south is Algeria and the Sahara Desert.  It is divided between three distinct geographic regions: the temperate plains and hills of the northern coast, the mountains and deserts of its south and and southeast, and the coastal deserts of its south.  It is bisected by the Atlas Mountains, which shield the coastlines from the desert climate of the interior.    Most of Morocco’s population lives near the coastlines of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, where the climate allows for agriculture, and where trading posts thrived off trade to and from Europe.  But Morocco also has access to phosphate deposits, an important ingredient in the development of fertilizer.  But several of these mines are in the disputed Western Sahara, which has declared an unrecognized independence from Morocco.    Because it partially sits on the Mediterranean, Morocco is exposed to influence and attack from other, more powerful Mediterranean states, especially European ones.  The Roman Empire, Spain, and France all occupied Morocco for long periods of time.  Today, Morocco sees a threat from neighboring Algeria, whom it sees as a rival attempting to influence and control Moroccan affairs.    It seeks to maintain security along its desert borders, while defending against Algeria.  It also seeks to gain access to the prosperity of Europe, while avoiding being controlled by European powers.  It also must contend with a changing climate, as the Sahara Desert moves northward.  Balancing these imperatives is the geographic challenge of Morocco.

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SITUATION REPORTS

Israel, Morocco: Israel Recognizes Western Sahara as Part of Morocco

EU: Push for Hydrogen Pipeline Will Aid Bloc's Energy Transition

Spain, Morocco: Countries Strengthen Economic Ties Following Diplomatic Truce

Kenya, Morocco: Nairobi Supports Rabat's Western Sahara Plans

Tunisia, Morocco: Countries Recall Ambassadors Over Western Sahara Issue

Morocco: Online Campaign Pushing Prime Minister to Resign Grows

Morocco: Rabat, U.N. Recommit to Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara

MENA: Negev Summit Steering Committee Meets in Manama, Bahrain

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