Bruce Maddy
Bruce Maddy
30 articlesEditor
Maghreb politics and identity contributor
Bruce Maddy covers Morocco, Algeria, Amazigh politics, Western Sahara and questions of political identity across the Maghreb. His work focuses on how institutions, regional rivalries and relationships between states and communities shape political change across North Africa.
30 latest articles by Bruce Maddy
Algeria Condemns Attack on Medina Power Station
Algeria condemned the reported 29 September attack on a power distribution station in Medina, calling it a threat to civilian infrastructure and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthis; they denied responsibility.
DHL Adds Morocco to Its Priority Markets for Global Trade
DHL has placed Morocco in its Geographic Tailwinds priority-market group as nearshoring and investment reshape trade routes. The move recognizes the country's logistics role but does not announce new facilities or spending.
ONEE Builds African Water Partnerships as 400 Million Lack Safe Water Access
ONEE says it works with 24 African nations as an estimated 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack basic access to safe drinking water. Morocco is combining technical cooperation with a major domestic water programme and international financing, but delivery and long-term investment will shape the results.
Algeria's Lower House Votes to Expand Death Penalty to Arson and Child Abduction
On 1 October, Algeria's lower house approved changes that would make deliberate forest and field arson, and child abduction in specified circumstances, punishable by death. The bill still has further legal steps to clear, and the vote does not end the execution moratorium in place since 1993.
Five Countries Advance SoutH2 Hydrogen Corridor Plans
Ministers from Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Austria and Germany signed the Algiers declaration on October 1, 2026. The corridor remains at the planning and feasibility stage, with no commercial deliveries underway.
Froch targets 2027 production at Morocco plant
Froch says equipment installation is under way at its Morocco facility, with trial runs planned by the end of 2026 and production targeted for early 2027. The company has tied earnings growth to a new export-focused manufacturing base, but public sources reviewed did not independently confirm the budget or timetable.
Morocco awards MAD 2.7 billion contract for stadium infrastructure
CMS-GTR has won an 18-month, MAD 2.7 billion contract for roads, utilities, drainage and security systems around the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane. The work is separate from the stadium's main structure and must link up with transport projects planned for major events and the 2030 World Cup.
Morocco Leads France's International Student Intake
Morocco accounted for 12% of degree-seeking international students arriving in France in 2024, ahead of Algeria and China. OECD data also set student mobility against teacher shortages, demographic shifts and employment pressures across member states.
Morocco's OAPAM Takes Inclusive Education Agenda to Johannesburg
OAPAM will present Morocco's experience at the Johannesburg conference. Delegates will discuss assistive technology, early intervention and accessible learning materials.
Morocco's Next Government Faces a Test of Public Trust
After the 2026 election, King Mohammed VI asked Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri to form Morocco's next government, the first time a woman has received that mission. Coalition talks and low turnout have sharpened the test: turning political promises into jobs and better services, and rebuilding public trust.
Royal Air Maroc Sets 200-Aircraft Target for 2037
Royal Air Maroc now has 70 aircraft. A government-backed plan sets a target of 200 by 2037, as Morocco also works to raise airport capacity to 80 million passengers a year by 2030.
Amnesty links Spain's Pegasus attacks to Morocco's intelligence service
Amnesty says an iMessage account linked to Morocco's Pegasus system was used in the 2021 attacks on Spain's defence and interior ministers. It names the DGST as the end user behind operations against Moroccan and foreign targets, but does not identify an individual perpetrator.
Algeria Moves SoutH2 Corridor Toward Investment Planning
Algeria will host Tunisia, Italy, Germany and Austria on October 1 to discuss the next stage of the 3,300-kilometre SoutH2 Corridor. Its proposed capacity of four million tonnes a year remains a target, subject to technical studies, infrastructure conversion, project economics and long-term buyers.
African Legislators Back Morocco's Vaccine Plans
Speakers of African parliaments backed Morocco's vaccine manufacturing plans and praised its pandemic assistance to African states. Morocco's health authorities describe production capacity as a project under development, not established serial output.
Morocco Wants African Security Pledges to Become Joint Action
At the UN crime-prevention congress in Abu Dhabi, Morocco urged African states to build sustained operational cooperation against terrorism and organized crime across the Sahel and Sahara.
Niger Credits Algeria With Helping It Withstand Pressure
At the UN General Assembly, Niger's prime minister said Algeria had helped Niamey withstand sanctions and outside pressure. The claim comes as Niger, Algeria and Nigeria advance plans for a trans-Saharan gas pipeline.
Morocco's Q2 Growth Slows to 4% as Industry Contracts
Morocco's economy grew 4% in Q2 2026, down from 5.8% a year earlier. Agriculture rose 21.2%, offsetting falls in mining and manufacturing. Bank Al-Maghrib and the EBRD have different forecasts for 2026 and 2027, as questions remain over how long the agricultural rebound can support growth.
US report points to Morocco as an investment hub
A 2026 U.S. investment-climate report points to Morocco's trade access, infrastructure and open financial system as draws for foreign capital. It also notes that the country has no screening process for investment in critical industries.
Morocco Secures €270 Million for Airport Expansion
Morocco and the African Development Bank have signed a €270 million agreement to upgrade airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez. The loan is reported to cover about 31% of PEMIA's cost, with ONDA funding the rest through Morocco.
Morocco's New Coalition Is Unlikely to Shift Israel Ties
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri must build a coalition after PAM won 97 of 395 seats. Morocco's state-level foreign-policy channels make a sharp break with Israel unlikely, even as her government faces pressure over jobs, water and public opposition to closer ties.
Morocco turns Chinese ammonia into a fertilizer export advantage
Morocco received 51,050 tons of Chinese ammonia in May 2026, about 27.6% of China's monthly exports. OCP uses imported ammonia to make phosphate fertilizer, while tighter Chinese inspections and higher input costs put the value and limits of Morocco's processing capacity in focus.
Aya puts Boumadine NPV at C$3.5 billion as Zgounder generates cash
Aya Gold & Silver says an updated preliminary economic assessment puts Boumadine's after-tax NPV at C$3.5 billion, while Zgounder is generating cash flow. The figures are projections and company-reported operating claims, not a completed feasibility study or independent verification of project delivery.
OPEC Chief Backs Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline as Niger Sets Survey Start
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais has backed the proposed pipeline from Nigerian gas fields through Niger to Algeria, with a possible link to Europe. Niger expects route surveys to begin in early October 2026, but the project still has no full delivery timetable.
Morocco appoints its first woman prime minister
PAM won 97 of 395 parliamentary seats, and King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri prime minister-designate on 29 September. She is Morocco's first woman prime minister and the Arab world's second; coalition talks and the cost of living will test the new administration as Morocco prepares for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco's Battery Bet Connects Kenitra to European Industry
Gotion High-Tech and PowerCo plan to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of LFP cathode material a year in Kenitra. The €480 million project is part of a wider partnership with battery ventures in Spain and Slovakia.
Algeria Plans HPV Vaccination for Girls and Boys in 2026-27
Algeria plans to offer school-based HPV vaccination to girls and boys aged 11-13 from the 2026-2027 school year. The expansion builds on a free program for girls aged 11-12 that began in 2023 and forms part of the country's cancer-prevention strategy.
Morocco and Mauritania target the El Guerguerat road corridor
Signed in Rabat, the Morocco-Mauritania framework covers work on about 480 kilometres of road between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, linking Mauritania with the El Guerguerat crossing. It sets out preparatory steps, not a confirmed start to construction.
Rubicon Water picked for Morocco canal upgrade
Rubicon Water has been chosen to supply canal-control technology for a proposed upgrade to Morocco's Béni Moussa irrigation scheme. Its proposed contribution is worth about A$12 million, but the award is not yet a signed contract and remains subject to a 15-day appeal period.
Morocco positions itself as a Mediterranean clean-tech hub
A European Commission assessment names Morocco's industrial base, port infrastructure and phosphate resources as potential links to European clean-technology supply chains. New AfDB support and planned investments add momentum, but announced funding is not the same as operating capacity.
US Drug Pricing Policy Could Delay New Treatments in Morocco
A study of 195 patented medicines suggests US most-favored-nation pricing could make some European launches less attractive. Because Morocco relies on foreign suppliers for innovative treatments, delays in larger markets may affect access. That does not mean every delayed European launch will be withheld from Morocco.
