During a PSC meeting of the AU held via video conference on Saturday, dedicated to reviewing the Somali Federal Government's request for a technical pause in the withdrawal of ATMIS's Phase II, the Moroccan delegation pointed out that this request arises from the urgent need to address significant challenges revealed by the joint technical assessment report, which has deep implications for security transition in Somalia.

Somalia's requested suspension of withdrawal is necessary to provide the essential time to devise solutions to the challenges outlined in the joint technical assessment report, thus ensuring a smoother and safer security transition, contributing to the long-term peace, stability, and prosperity of Somalia, emphasized the Moroccan delegation.

Morocco takes this opportunity to express its support for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, aimed at assisting the Somali Federal Government in implementing the Somali transition plan and gradually transferring security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali national security forces, with the goal of enabling Somalia to assume full responsibility for its own security, including accelerating operational efforts in combating insecurity and instability factors, added the Moroccan delegation.

The Kingdom also calls on the international community to support Somalia, allowing this brotherly country to regain its rightful place at the regional, continental, and international levels by providing international and bilateral funding to Somalia for training, equipping, and capacity-building of the Somali security forces.

These measures will enable a gradual and effective transfer of responsibilities from ATMIS to Somali security forces and institutions, thus preventing a security vacuum from developing in Somalia, with all the potential repercussions it would have on the country, the sub-region, and the continent, asserted the Moroccan delegation.

On September 14th, the AU PSC had decided, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, to withdraw 3,000 ATMIS soldiers by the end of the same month in a fair manner.

The PSC had also decided, in accordance with the directives of the Somali Federal Government, to withdraw 851 police personnel from ATMIS.

In a statement to the press following a meeting held on Saturday at the headquarters of the Academy of the Kingdom in Rabat, as part of the project to amend and revise the Family Code, Hayar noted that since the 2022 Royal Speech, the ministry has been working on developing a new concept of the Family Code, taking into account the developments in Moroccan society over two decades of implementing the Family Code adopted in 2004.

The minister further praised the content of the Royal Letter addressed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the Head of Government, calling for the establishment of a committee tasked with proposing amendments to the Family Code through a participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders.

She also mentioned that today's meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the working methodology, in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, for organizing a series of meetings and consultations with the aim of developing a new project for the revision and amendment of the Family Code.

In a statement to the press following a meeting held on Saturday in Rabat at the headquarters of the Academy of the Kingdom, as part of the project to amend and revise the Family Code, Bouayach highlighted the specifics of this approach, based on "consultation, listening, and collective reflection."

During this meeting, there was an examination and deliberation on the working methodology, she specified.

There was also a discussion on developing the schedule of meetings and sessions for consultations with human rights, women's, and children's associations, as well as with relevant stakeholders, including judges, researchers, and academics who have worked on the reform of the Family Code, she added.

This meeting is part of the methodology recommended by the Royal Letter regarding the revision of the Family Code. The goal is to reconcile the central importance of legal and judicial dimensions of the issue with the perspectives of Sharia and human rights, as well as those related to public policies in the family domain, which constitutes the essential core of society. This approach aims to identify the aspects and issues related to the amendment of the Code, ensuring that its content adapts to societal changes and the developments recorded in national legislation.

During this meeting, the working methodology was discussed. It ensures the close participation of all components of this expanded committee in various stages of reflection and collective consultation for amending the Code, in accordance with the method outlined in the Royal Letter. The meeting also established the frequency and regularity of gatherings and the working procedures for listening to and hearing various stakeholders, as well as for the examination and deliberation of raised issues.

Reflecting the profound care with which His Majesty the King, Supreme Commander, and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, surrounds all His subjects, this action will bring the total number of deployed HMCCs to four. It will contribute to strengthening medical aid and assistance to the affected population, especially with the approach of the winter season, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.

Operational from the early hours following the earthquake, the first two multidisciplinary HMCCs deployed in the Asni/Marrakech and Tafingoult/Taroudant regions have, thus far, performed approximately 121 surgical operations and over 25,000 specialized medical services. Among these, about a hundred were provided remotely through Telemedicine techniques by specialist doctors from military hospital facilities, the same source adds.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the works of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament that is taking place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Dublin.

On this occasion, Mayara paid tribute to the quality of relations between Morocco and Ireland, based on mutual respect, friendship, and solidarity. He also stressed the importance of giving new impetus to parliamentary cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy that completes the governmental cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The Speaker of Morocco's House of Advisors insisted on consolidating bilateral cooperation with the Irish Senate and strengthening multi-party parliamentary action.

He also stressed the need to establish channels of communication and interaction through exchanges of visits, experience, and expertise between the two parliamentary bodies, in addition to coordinating efforts and positions at the level of regional, continental, and international parliamentary bodies.

Referring to the strengthening of economic and trade relations between Morocco and Ireland, Mayara praised the role played by the two countries' ambassadors in Rabat and Dublin in bringing the two parties closer together at all political, economic, cultural, or social levels.

For his part, Buttimer praised the quality of bilateral relations, expressing his desire to develop them, particularly by strengthening parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening the role of parliamentary friendship groups between the two assemblies, promoting effective dialogue, mutual visits, and sharing experiences in areas of common interest.

In the context of regional and international challenges, particularly problems linked to climate change, security challenges, and the achievement of sustainable development, it is necessary to pool efforts and strengthen parliamentary cooperation, said the Speaker of the Irish Senate.

This meeting, which is part of the implementation of the contents of the Royal Letter addressed to the Head of Government and relating to the revision of the Family Code, comes to concretize the Royal decision announced by HM the King in the Speech of the Throne for the year 2022 and translate the High solicitude which the Sovereign does not cease granting to the promotion of the questions of the woman and the family in general.

In a statement to the press on this occasion, Ouahbi indicated that this first meeting follows on from the one held with the Head of Government, during which the preparation of forthcoming meetings with a view to the organization and distribution of missions was discussed, adding that from next Friday onwards, the start will be made of this major project initiated by HM the King, who places the issue of the family among top priorities.

"We will be listening to the civil forces and government officials, and we will try to listen to everyone in order to agree on a set of changes," he added, expressing the wish to "live up to HM the King's trust to promote the status of Moroccan women in an equitable manner, which remains our main goal.”

In a similar statement, Abdennabaoui stressed that HM the King is sensitive to issues relating to the Moroccan family, and is always ready to listen to the grievances and expectations of citizens, pointing out that the Sovereign has kindly set up this committee to revise the Family Code, which has been in force for 20 years, long enough to identify the shortcomings and problems facing the family.

The committee began its work immediately after being informed by the Head of Government of the content of the Royal Letter, and having familiarized itself with the concepts and the Royal High Directions it contains.

The committee started its work to determine the modus operandi, the working groups and the mode to be followed for the hearing of the various parties concerned by the question, and for the holding of the necessary consultations in an intense, close and broad manner in accordance with the High Instructions of HM the King.

"Starting next week, the committee will begin hearing some parties, and this operation will continue thereafter,” he said, expressing the wish to live up to the Royal Confidence to put forward proposals likely to provide Moroccans with a new Code that meet the aspirations of the Moroccan family.

"We expect all parties to inform us of their concerns, expectations and suggestions, which we can study in order to come up with proposals for submission to the High Royal Appreciation," he added.

For his part, Daki emphasized that the meeting of this committee, set up by order of His Majesty the King, comes within the framework of the implementation of the Sovereign's High Directives contained in the Royal Letter aimed at revising the Family Code, and the presentation of the broad outlines of the Code, the meeting and the work of this committee.

Daki hailed the High Royal Initiative to revise, amend and reform the Family Code, in view of its vital importance in preserving the family entity, be it the woman or the child, stressing the importance of this opportunity "as it comes two decades after the current Code came into force, and during which, of course, many failings and dysfunctions were identified.”

The Royal Wisdom is manifested through the identification of these dysfunctions with a view to revising certain articles and provisions aimed at improving and better organizing all the components of the Moroccan family, in addition to ensuring the implementation of the broad outlines of HM the King's High Orientations contained in The Royal Letter.

Daki also praised the cooperation and involvement of the various institutions, so that "we can listen and be open to the different players and sensitivities in line with the High Royal Orientations, and listen to any component of society with an opinion in this general orientation desired by His Majesty the King.”

At a meeting of the AU's PSC devoted to interaction with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the follow-up to the implementation of commitments resulting from the Malabo Extraordinary Summit on Humanitarian Aid, the Moroccan delegation stressed that the registration and identification of refugees is a fundamental prerequisite for the implementation of the triptych of the UNHCR's mandate, namely international protection, the granting of assistance and the search for durable solutions.

In addition, the Moroccan delegation recalled that the Kingdom, as a committed player in the global and regional management of migratory flows, launched its National Immigration and Asylum Strategy in 2013, which has enabled, among other things, the implementation of two exceptional regularization operations for over 50,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, giving priority to women and children.

She also pointed out that Morocco had actively contributed to the development and implementation of the two Global Covenants on Refugees and Migration. The Moroccan delegation reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to continuing its contribution to collective efforts to protect and assist refugees.

In the same context, the Moroccan delegation condemned the devastating effects of the embezzlement of humanitarian aid, as demonstrated by UN humanitarian agencies, while calling for exploring ways and means to counter this scourge.

In an article titled "Morocco Emerges as a Pivotal Hub in the Geopolitics of Electric Vehicles", the specialized media outlet highlights the growing influx of investments in Morocco and the increasing number of foreign companies establishing a significant presence to supply Western markets.

Movilidad Eléctrica provides the example of the Chinese company CNGR Advanced Material, a global leader in manufacturing battery components for electric vehicles. This company is planning to construct an industrial complex in Morocco, with an investment of nearly $2 billion. The same source added that the Chinese group aims to produce materials for equipping over a million electric vehicles annually.

The media also reports recent investments in battery components for electric cars, such as South Korea's LG Chem, which has announced the establishment of two plants in Morocco for the production of LFP cathodes and lithium conversion. These components are essential in battery manufacturing for electric vehicles.

Highlighting Morocco's advantages in terms of natural resources, the Spanish portal mentions that Moroccan companies can leverage access to significant natural resources, including abundant phosphate reserves, which account for more than 70% of the world's volume.

The article also notes Morocco's potential for cobalt production and its partnership with the Swiss mining giant Glencore in battery recycling activities.

Another advantage, according to the Spanish magazine, is that electric vehicle companies establishing factories in Morocco benefit from the free trade agreement between Rabat and Washington.

The MoU, signed by the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Khalid Ait Taleb, and his Djiboutian counterpart, Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, aims to establish strong and lasting relations between the various components of the two countries' health systems. 

Driven by a spirit of South-South cooperation, these relations seek to develop research, expertise, and training activities designed to strengthen the healthcare systems of both countries. They also aim to offer ongoing education and skills development to students, managers, teachers, and researchers. 

Ait Taleb stated that the signing of this MoU strengthens and enriches the existing partnership between Morocco and Djibouti, particularly in terms of healthcare structures and training. He also noted that the partnership is scheduled to take effect in October. 

Following his condolences to the Moroccan people following the Al Haouz earthquake, Robleh emphasized that his visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between the two Ministries of Health. 

The MoU includes the twinning of the University Hospital Centers (CHU) of Rabat and Djibouti through a technical partnership for the training of doctors, specialists, and paramedics, as well as the exchange of experience between Moroccan experts and their Djiboutian counterparts.