AGP Executive Report

Government Formation: King Mohammed VI met Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri to review the process, as Ahmed Touizi was elected speaker of the House of Representatives and lawmakers filled key leadership posts. Ceuta Tensions: Spain’s king reaffirmed Spanish sovereignty during a visit to Ceuta; Spanish media also reported Moroccan naval orders directing fishing boats into Spanish waters, while Madrid had played down earlier incursions. Economy & Infrastructure: Morocco plans to invest about $13 billion in railways by 2030. Growth is forecast to reach 4.7% in the fourth quarter, but unemployment remains a challenge. Rights & Technology: Human Rights Council chief Amina Bouayach urged stronger protections against AI-related harms. Rights groups condemned a crackdown on a pro-Sahrawi rally in Rabat. Sport: Morocco’s futsal team thrashed Zambia 7-0 to strengthen its bid for a fourth straight Africa Cup of Nations title. Culture: Fez has opened the Arab-Muslim world’s first publicly funded museum dedicated to Jewish culture. Gaza: Israel has yet to approve a planned base for international stabilization troops, including personnel from Morocco, delaying the first construction project backed by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

Parliament: Ahmed Touizi of the PAM was elected speaker of Morocco’s House of Representatives with 220 votes. The House is set to elect its bureau members and standing committee chairs, as the new political majority takes shape. Economy: Morocco’s economy grew 4.9% in 2025, with inflation at 0.8% and the budget deficit narrowing to 3.5% of GDP. The HCP forecasts 4.7% growth in the final quarter of 2026, while structural unemployment remains a concern. Health: The Health Ministry is investigating acute eye inflammation and vision damage among diabetic patients after injections at Tangier’s Mohammed VI University Hospital; samples have been collected for testing. Western Sahara: At the UN, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo backed Morocco’s autonomy plan as a basis for a lasting settlement, while Algeria again called for Sahrawi self-determination, underscoring the diplomatic divide. Spain ties: King Felipe VI’s visit to Ceuta, where he reaffirmed Spanish sovereignty, has revived tensions with Morocco amid the fallout from July’s migration crisis.

Ceuta Tensions: Spain’s King Felipe VI affirmed Spanish sovereignty during his first visit to Ceuta in 19 years, while also calling for good relations with Morocco after a major migrant crisis strained ties. Rabat Crackdown: Rights groups condemned arrests and reprisals at a rally in Rabat supporting Sahrawi prisoners on hunger strike. New Government: Morocco’s new four-party coalition is led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the country’s first female head of government; Ahmed Touizi was elected speaker of parliament and pledged stronger public engagement. Sahara Talks: Morocco’s UN ambassador backed the autonomy plan as a basis for negotiations, while UN discussions have reportedly considered powers, budgets and public consent under a possible framework. Economy and Sport: The IMF expects Morocco’s economy to grow 4.5% this year. The national futsal team opened its Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 4-0 win over Algeria. 2030 World Cup: Netflix will stream all matches in Spain and Andorra; Morocco is a co-host of the tournament.

Ceuta Tensions: Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta for the first time since 2007, following July’s mass migration surge. The trip is diplomatically sensitive: Morocco claims the territory, and the crisis has strained relations with Madrid. New Government: PAM has secured a four-party coalition with 207 seats, and its leader, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, is set to form Morocco’s next government. The PJD nominated Idriss Azami to challenge PAM candidate Ahmed Touizi in Tuesday’s parliamentary speaker vote. Futsal: Morocco opened its home Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 4-0 win over Algeria in Rabat, led by Youssef Jouad’s hat-trick. Economy and Investment: The IMF forecasts growth of 4.5% this year and 4.2% in 2027. A Chinese industrial group is moving a $117 million project to Tangier, while a 20-megawatt AI data centre is planned near Casablanca. Fez Heritage: A new museum in the historic Mellah traces more than 2,500 years of Moroccan Jewish life.

New Government: Morocco’s election-winning PAM has formed a four-party majority with Istiqlal, USFP and PPS, giving Prime Minister-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri’s bloc 207 of 395 parliamentary seats. El Mansouri will be the country’s first woman prime minister; cabinet talks are next. Spain Tensions: Pedro Sánchez acknowledged that Moroccan naval vessels entered Spanish waters near Ceuta during July’s mass migration crisis, calling the incidents isolated. The disclosure comes as Spain’s King Felipe VI visits the enclave, keeping relations with Rabat under close scrutiny. Investment and Industry: Gotion plans to begin commissioning equipment at its Kenitra battery gigafactory the week of October 20, with a first-phase investment of about $1.3 billion. Airbus is also preparing a proposed third Moroccan facility that would expand its industrial footprint and move local operations into more complex work. Futsal: Morocco opened its home African Cup of Nations campaign with a 4-0 win over Algeria, making a strong start in its bid for a fourth straight title.

Politics: Morocco’s House of Representatives is set to elect its speaker Tuesday, as the Party of Progress and Socialism says it will join Fatima Zahra El Mansouri’s incoming government. Digital Economy: A Rabat cybersecurity conference is bringing officials and experts together to discuss protecting critical systems, while Bank Al-Maghrib says tests show a digital dirham is technically feasible—not that a launch is imminent. Sahara Diplomacy: France wants Morocco’s autonomy plan to feature more prominently in a new UN resolution, as Security Council discussions approach. Security: Morocco and Israel are reportedly in advanced talks over a possible David’s Sling air-defence deal; separately, authorities arrested a 22-year-old in Tangier over a suspected ISIS-linked plot. Sport: The Futsal Africa Cup of Nations has opened in Rabat, with eight teams competing through October 21 as Morocco seeks a fourth straight title.

Morocco–Spain Relations: King Mohammed VI says the migration partnership with Madrid has reached its limits and calls for a new cooperation strategy, as Spain’s election campaign puts Ceuta at the centre of political debate. Spanish police cleared the last major migrant camp there ahead of King Felipe VI’s visit, moving hundreds of people to reception centres. Agriculture and Water: Reservoirs are more than twice as full as a year ago, raising hopes that farmers can expand cereal and legume planting this season. Futsal: Morocco begins its title defence at the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, opening against Algeria. Floods: Flash floods in southern Morocco have killed at least two people and swept away vehicles and roads.

Morocco–Spain Tensions: King Mohammed VI called the migration cooperation model with Spain outdated and urged a new approach based on mutual respect, saying Morocco’s partnerships are sovereign choices. The remarks came as Spanish police cleared Ceuta’s last major migrant camp before the king’s visit; some migrants allege they were mistreated. Sahara Diplomacy: Washington is weighing options for the UN mission in Western Sahara before its mandate expires on October 31, including renewal or changes to its role. Flood Emergency: Flash floods in southern Morocco killed at least two people and swept away roads and vehicles; three tourists were rescued near Zagora. Agriculture and Industry: Morocco and the US are exploring joint research on climate resilience, soil health and crop improvement. At the Marrakech Airshow, UAE entities also signed two agreements with Morocco’s defence administration.

Flood Emergency: Flash floods in southern Morocco have killed at least two people, swept away vehicles and damaged roads and infrastructure. Three tourists were rescued near Zagora as authorities warned drivers not to cross flooded waterways. Royal Agenda: King Mohammed VI urged a stronger focus on water, energy and food security, youth employment and regional development, calling for faster decentralisation and greater private investment. Government Formation: Coalition talks led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri remain unresolved, with negotiations turning to ministerial posts and a majority ahead of the Oct. 20 budget deadline. Defense Industry: UAE group EDGE signed deals to supply precision weapons and explore local production of small arms and aircraft engines. Forafric Global also plans to acquire Moroccan defense platform AL NASR, subject to approvals. Digital Economy: Morocco’s AI 2030 roadmap targets a MAD100 billion contribution to GDP, 50,000 jobs and training for 200,000 people by 2030. Security: Authorities arrested a 22-year-old in Tangier over an alleged ISIS-linked plot; investigators seized equipment and chemicals for examination.

Parliament and Policy: King Mohammed VI opened the new parliamentary session by urging faster regional devolution and putting youth, jobs and economic opportunity at the heart of public policy. He also called for a new framework with Spain, saying migration cooperation had reached its limits. Security: Police near Fez seized 4.1 tonnes of hashish, boats and marine engines and arrested three suspects in an investigation into an alleged trafficking network. AFCON Dispute: The Court of Arbitration for Sport is deliberating after hearing Senegal’s appeal over CAF’s decision to award Morocco the 2025 title; no ruling date has been set. Aerospace and Defence: The Marrakech Airshow highlighted Morocco’s growing aerospace ambitions, while the UAE’s EDGE agreed to supply precision-guided weapons for Moroccan drones. Sport: Morocco hosts the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations from October 12, seeking a fourth title. Weather: Thunderstorms and rain are forecast across several regions on Saturday.

Women’s Football: Morocco opened Eric Blahic’s tenure with a 3-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan in Rabat, coming from behind as Ibtissam Jraidi scored a second-half hat-trick. Royal Speech: King Mohammed VI told the new Parliament that delays in shifting powers and resources to the regions were “unacceptable,” and urged action on water, energy and food security. MPs say the speech will shape scrutiny of the incoming government. AFCON Dispute: The Court of Arbitration for Sport has heard Senegal’s appeal against CAF’s decision to strip it of the 2025 title and award Morocco a 3-0 win. A verdict is pending. Marrakech Airshow: Israel’s first official defense pavilion and arms-company delegation drew attention as Morocco deepens military ties with Israel; separate deals signal efforts to expand local defense manufacturing. Energy Exploration: Morocco’s ONHYM and Viridien agreed to develop subsurface data and analytics for the country’s onshore and offshore basins, aiming to attract exploration investment. Weather Alert: Authorities urged caution in Tinghir, where moderate flood risks are forecast, and warned residents to avoid riverbeds and flooded roads.

Politics: Morocco’s new Parliament opened its first session as government-formation talks continue under Prime Minister-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri. King Mohammed VI’s address is expected to set priorities for the five-year term. AFCON Dispute: Morocco’s title remains contested after Senegal appealed CAF’s decision to award Morocco the 2025 final. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says its ruling could come within days or take several weeks. Defence Industry: The Marrakech Air Show highlighted Morocco’s push to build local defence production. EDGE signed a deal to explore Moroccan production of small arms and aircraft engines, while Israeli defence firms made their first official appearance at the show. Tourism: Morocco welcomed 15.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures reported this week.

AFCON Dispute: Morocco and Senegal are awaiting CAS’s ruling on the 2025 final after a closed-door hearing in Lausanne. The court gave no firm date, saying a decision could take days or weeks. Aerospace and Defence: Marrakech Airshow brought more than 200 companies from 19 countries to Morocco, with new aviation and defence partnerships underscoring the kingdom’s push to build its own industry. Israel opened its first pavilion at the show. Politics: Prime Minister Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is beginning coalition talks as Morocco’s new legislature prepares to open. In Tangier, a judge is questioning suspects in an alleged election-ballot manipulation case. Migration: Spain says 11,026 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco since August 10, including 2,783 in the latest nine days. Tourism: Morocco welcomed 15.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026.

AFCON Dispute: The Court of Arbitration for Sport has finished hearing Morocco’s case against Senegal over the 2025 final. A verdict is expected within days, though a fully reasoned ruling could take weeks. Moroccans Killed in Saudi Attacks: Saudi authorities say two women, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed in an attack on Abha airport; strikes on two Saudi airports also injured 36 people. Marrakech Airshow: Morocco is using the event to advance its aerospace and defence industries, with new agreements covering AI, drone technology and aviation research. Parliament: King Mohammed VI will open the first session of the new legislature on Friday and deliver a speech to both houses.

Water Reserves: Morocco’s dam reserves have more than doubled in a year, reaching 11.12 billion cubic metres, though levels vary widely by basin. Aerospace and Defence: At the Marrakech Air Show, Airbus and Safran highlighted growing reliance on Moroccan suppliers, while the country’s first F-16 Block 72 completed its maiden flight. AFCON Appeal: The Court of Arbitration for Sport hears Senegal’s challenge today to the decision awarding Morocco the 2025 title; no ruling is expected at the hearing. New Government: Unions are pressing the incoming administration to address purchasing power, healthcare and reform. Security: Moroccan authorities arrested a French national at Casablanca airport over an international warrant linked to an alleged attempted killing in Paris.

Marrakech Airshow: The U.S. is showcasing an F-35 and other aircraft at the Oct. 7–10 event, highlighting military ties with Morocco ahead of the alliance’s 250th anniversary. Defence: Morocco’s first F-16 Block 72 has completed its maiden flight in South Carolina and will undergo testing before delivery. Women’s Football: Nigeria’s Flamingos have arrived in Casablanca for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, which begins Oct. 17; they open against Poland. AFCON Appeal: Senegal’s challenge to CAF’s decision to award Morocco the title goes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. A ruling is not expected that day. Government Formation: Coalition talks are reshaping the next government, with the PAM seeking a stronger role and the RNI excluded from the prospective majority. Investment: A planned 20-megawatt data centre near Casablanca will target high-density AI computing.