Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco, the major non-NATO ally of the US is located in North Africa, bordering Algeria to the east, Spain to the north, and Mauritania to the south. It is 57th largest nation of the world. The North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea border the nation to the west and north respectively. It is the only non-member African nation of African Union. It is a member of Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, the Francophonie, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue group, and Group of 77. Rabat is the capital of Morocco.

HISTORY:- The Berbers inhabited in the region around the second millennium B.C. Morocco was incorporated into the Roman Empire in 46 AD. In the 5th century, when the Roman Empire fell down, the Vandals, followed by the Byzantine Greeks overran Morocco. Around 685, Islam was introduced to the land by the Arabs. The Berbers gained the control of the major portion of the Moorish Spain in 1086. Berbers-Arabs conflicts were very common and frequent, as a result the land was never united. But when Portugal and Spain started invading the region, they were forced to unify. The Alawite dynasty annexed Morocco in 1660. The region had been transformed into the headquarters of pirates at the threshold the first European colonization around 1840. French-Spanish quarrel over colonizing Morocco was ended with the secret agreement in 1904, which recognized French control over almost all of the land whereas the Spanish control over the small southwest part. In the Algeciras Conference in 1906, French power over Morocco was cut down while under the Treaty of Fez of 1912, Morocco became a protectorate of France. Independence movement started during the World War II, and in 1956 Morocco became independent.

GEOGRAPHY:- Morocco is located at 32 00 N, 5 00 W in Northern Africa, capturing total 446,550 sq km area in which 446,300 sq km area is covered by land masses and 250 sq km area is covered by internal waters. The coastline is 1,835 km long along with the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The lowest point is Sebkha Tah (-55 m) and the highest point is Jebel Toubkal (4,165 m). The northern coast and the interiors of the country are mountainous with large quantity of surrounding plateaus, valleys, and rich coastal plains. 

CLIMATE:- The predominant climate of Morocco is Mediterranean, but the climate of the interiors is more extreme.

GOVERNMENT:- Morocco has a constitutional monarchy. The constitution was adopted on 10th March 1972 and was amended in 1996. The legal system is designed on the Islamic law, the French and the Spanish civil law systems. The three major braches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the King (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The monarch is hereditary and both the Council of Ministers and the prime minister are appointed by the monarch.

Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (270 seats), and the Chamber of Representatives (325 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.

Principal political parties of Morocco are  Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Istiqlal Party (PI), Party of Justice and Development (PJD), National Rally of Independents (RNI), Popular Movement (MP), National Popular Movement (MNP), Constitutional Union Party (UC), Democratic Forces Front, (FFD), National Democratic Party (PND), Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Democratic Union (UD), Democratic and Social Movement (MDS), Social Democratic Party (PSD). Suffrage is universal at 18.

King   Mohammed VI

Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Morocco is divided into 16 regions and sub-divided into 62 prefectures.

CULTURE:- Morocco is culturally very rich. The cuisine of Morocco is a blend of Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Portuguese, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisines. Moroccan literature is mainly written in Arabic, Berber and French. Arabian music, Berber folk music, and Andalusian have influenced Moroccan music. Handball, football, golf, tennis, basketball, and athletics are widely practiced in Morocco.

ECONOMY:- Moroccan economy if the 5th best in Africa. Phosphate mining and tourism are the leading industries of Morocco. Morocco signed a Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and US.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $125.3 billion; per capita $4,100.

Real growth rate: 2.1%.

Inflation: 2%.

Unemployment: 10.2%.

Arable land: 19%.

Agriculture: Barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock.

Labor force: 11.35 million; agriculture 40%, services 45%, industry 15% (2003 est.).

Industries: Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism.

Natural resources: Phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt.

Budget:  

Revenues: $20.58 billion

Expenditures: $21.71 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 72.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exports: $12.73 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables.

Imports: $22.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics.

Major trading partners: France, Spain, UK, Italy, India, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China (2006).

Monetary unit: Dirham

LANGUAGE:- Arabic is the official language of Morocco but several Berber dialects are also spoken. French is widely used in business, government, and diplomacy.

CITIES:- The capital of Morocco is Rabat while the largest city of the country is Casablanca. Other large cities are Agadir, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Mohammadia, Oujda, Ouarzazat, Safi, Salè, Tangier and Tétouan.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Morocco is 33,757,175 with an average growth rate of 1.5%.

Density per sq mi: 196

Literacy rate: 52.3% (2004 est.)

RACE:-

Arab-Berber 99.1%

Other 0.7%

Jewish 0.2%

RELIGION:-

Muslim 98.7%

Christian 1.1%

Jewish 0.2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.52 years

Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 258

UNICEF:- Maternal and neonatal mortality are the major issues of Morocco. Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has been taken in hospitals and breastfeeding is being promoted. To eliminate iodine deficiency disorders, UNICEF has taken necessary measures. UNICERF tries to combat transmission of HIV, specifically mother-to-child transmission of HIV by implementing the National Strategic Plan in Rabat.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 1,907 km (2006).

Highways: total: 57,493 km; paved: 32,716 km (including 507 km of expressways); unpaved: 24,777 km (2004).

Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla.

Airports: 60 (2007).