Speaking at an open debate of the Security Council on the "implementation of development policies to silence arms in Africa", chaired Thursday by the Head of State of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, whose country holds the rotating presidency of this UN body, Hilale said that conflicts in Africa have mutated from a conventional pattern to the involvement of terrorist groups and separatists, threatening the territorial integrity of states, but also international peace and security.

He stressed the imperative of preventing these threats to increase the chances of silencing the weapons on the continent by 2030, including through the dismantling of structures of recruitment, financing, housing and indoctrination of terrorists.

Referring to Morocco's commitment in Africa, the ambassador said that the Kingdom has more than a thousand partnership agreements with sister African countries, as part of an active and active South-South cooperation, shaped by the enlightened vision of HM the King and His multiple tours in Africa.

He also highlighted the role of the Mohammed VI Institute of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates which provides training to African preachers to counter obscurantist thinking and violent extremism.

During this meeting, the diplomat noted that Morocco, which currently sits on the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), remains convinced that there can be no security without development, nor development without security.

In this regard, the Kingdom, in accordance with the High Royal Directives, inscribes its action around the triptych peace, security and development to ensure the prevention and a fortiori the management of conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction, said Hilale, recalling that Morocco hosted the first political conference of the AU on the promotion of the Nexus peace, security and development, from 25 to 27 October in Tangier, which has allowed, according to him, to fructify a precursory debate on the challenges that still plague the march of Africa towards development, including food and health security challenges.

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN also pointed out that the Kingdom has submitted its national report for the year 2022 on progress made in the implementation of the AU Roadmap to silence arms in Africa by 2030, adding that this report supports the achievements and gains of the Kingdom in the various priority areas of the Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism of the Roadmap.

He also said that the international community should redouble its efforts to achieve the "realistic" goal of silencing arms in Africa by 2030, adding that it is necessary to address and resolve the root causes of conflicts. "Our actions should address security, economic, climate, religious and cultural challenges and other dimensions specific to the needs of security and stability on the African continent," he stressed.

In this regard, he called for combating poverty, hunger and social exclusion, through economic integration and development of Africa, especially within the ideal framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

This high-level open debate, enhanced by the participation of several ministers, was an opportunity to reaffirm the need to see peace and security in Africa from a holistic angle, focusing particularly on economic and development challenges, in order to end conflicts on the continent.

Concerning vaccination, the Ministry revealed that 24,921,992 people have received at least one shot, 23,423,707 have received the second dose. Of these, 6,882,747 people have received the third injection and 60,682 had four doses.

The weekly bulletin brings the total number of infections, since the first case was reported, to 1,272,679, the weekly positivity rate standing at 5.2%.

This week's new infections were reported in the regions of Grand Casablanca-Settat (19), Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (19), Souss-Massa (06), Beni Mellal-Khenifra (05), Fez-Meknes (05), Marrakech-Safi (02) and Oriental (01).

The total number of deaths remains at 16,296, as no cases were recorded last week.

The number of active cases stands at 62, with no severe or critical cases having been recorded in the past seven days.

"Following the strike notice of the civil service in France on April 1, 2023, relayed by the unions of the French DGAC, all airlines have been asked to reduce their flight schedule. In order to limit the impact of cancellations, Royal Air Maroc supports its customers by transferring them to other flights," says RAM on its website.

It added: "Customers who have contact information on their reservation file will receive emails and SMS confirming their rescheduled flight. We invite passengers to check the status of their flight and verify and update their contact information on the 'manage my reservation' section of the RAM website: https://www.royalairmaroc.com/ma-fr/gerer-ma-reservation."

In addition, for all Royal Air Maroc ticket holders on the cancelled flights, who do not wish to travel on the flights made available to them, the national airline grants them a refund of their ticket in its original means of payment, or a free change of date, depending on availability, to and from the same destination or a destination in the Royal Air Maroc network in Europe, for a new travel date within 15 days following the date of the cancelled flight, provided that the initial duration of stay is maintained.

It should be noted that for any change of destination, the possible difference in taxes will be charged to the passenger.

RAM invites passengers whose flights have been cancelled, or who have not received a confirmed rescheduled flight, not to go to the airport and to contact their initial point of sale or the RAM call center to confirm their rescheduled flight or benefit from the above provisions.

The MASI.20, an index of the 20 most liquid stocks, fell 0.85% to 832.06 pts, while the MASI.ESG, an index of companies with the highest ESG rating, as published by Moody's ESG Solutions, fell 0.72% to 787.7 pts.

Driven by external demand, this growth occurred in a context of high inflation and improved financing needs of the national economy, the HCP indicated in a briefing note on the economic situation in the fourth quarter of 2022, specifying that non-agricultural activities recorded an increase of 2.3% and those of the agricultural sector a decline of 15.1%.

In detail, the value added of the primary sector by volume, adjusted for seasonal variations, contracted by 15% in the fourth quarter of 2022, after having recorded an increase of 19.1% in the fourth quarter of 2021. This decline was due to the sharp fall in the value added of agriculture by 15.1% and fishing by 12.3%, the same source specified.

For its part, the value added of the secondary sector, in volume terms, decreased by 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, following the decrease in the value added of the "extractive industry" by 16%, "construction and public works" by 4.6% and "electricity, gas, water, sanitation and waste" by 4.5%, as well as the increase in the value added of manufacturing industries by 0.4%.

The DGAPR explained in a statement that, following reports in the press and after receiving complaints about a case of ill-treatment of an inmate by an official at the Loudaya prison, a central commission was sent to the prison in question to investigate the matter.

After hearing all parties involved and using surveillance camera recordings, and based on the results of the investigation, it was decided to refer the officer in question to the disciplinary board to take the necessary measures against him in accordance with the law, according to the statement.

The DGAPR reaffirms, on the other hand, its concern to ensure respect for the rights of the residents of penitentiary institutions, as provided by the law governing these institutions, as well as their protection against any treatment that violates their dignity, acting firmly to repress any such behavior.

Thus, the rhythms of the world will storm this 24th edition, which will mark the return of the Festival in its usual format, say the organizers in a statement, noting that the musicians of the world will once again meet in Essaouira, at the invitation of their colleagues Maâlems of Morocco.

"If the global crisis has forced us to postpone the festival for three consecutive years, it has not succeeded in stopping our momentum or our determination. The Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira feeds on passion and perseverance," said Neila Tazi, producer and founder of the Festival, quoted in the statement, adding that "today, more than ever, the preparation of this 24th edition proves that this spirit of resilience has never left us".

Since its creation in 1998, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira has become one of the major cultural events in Morocco and on the continent. With a sharp but coherent and accessible program, the festival attracts each year thousands of visitors from all over the world, but also many artists and intellectuals. Carried by its original philosophy, its spirit of sharing and discovery, the festival constitutes a unique experience, both spiritual and artistic.

Composed of the Ministers of Interior, Economy and Finance, Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Industry and Trade and the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Commission considered, during its meeting, ways to implement the various measures necessary to meet the needs of the domestic market and ensure a sufficient and regular stock of all commodities, in addition to measures to preserve consumer safety and purchasing power.

In a statement to the press, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Seddiki, said that this meeting was devoted to the evaluation of the modes of implementation of measures taken by the government to avoid the price hike, ensuring that the national market is supplied "continuously" in basic commodities.

He also explained that the rise in prices of some food products by, among other things, the high cost of production as well as climatic hazards, predicting a drop in prices during this spring with the abundant harvest of some vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes.

Referring, moreover, to the balance to achieve between the supply of the domestic market and exports, the Minister said that priority is always given to the domestic market as evidenced by the ban on exports of tomatoes decreed for weeks.

He also said that the control commissions will accompany the sales operations in wholesale markets and manufacturing units of certain products whose prices have soared and this, he stressed, to achieve equivalence between the domestic price of raw materials used in these products and that prevailing on the international market.

For his part, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Riyad Mezzour, said that this second meeting of the commission was an opportunity to examine "ways and innovative solutions to address the soaring prices of food in order to maintain the purchasing power of citizens".

He reported, in this regard, new solutions that are reviewed daily, noting that the prices of some products will remain unchanged in the weeks and months ahead while some prices are already beginning to decline as is the case of tomatoes.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah said that the products generally very consumed in the month of Ramadan are in sufficient quantity in national markets, noting that the volume of production expected in the coming days will certainly have a positive impact on prices.

The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, said that this meeting was an opportunity to highlight the structural reforms necessary to solve the problems causing price increases, especially in wholesale markets.

Baitas, who was answering questions at a press briefing held after the meeting of the Government Council, said that "prices have begun a downward trend, which is very important," stressing that the executive "will continue to work in the same collective spirit and with the same careful monitoring, the objective being to bring prices of these products to a reasonable and normal level".

"The issue of prices has largely dominated the work of the government meeting, being the subject of extensive discussions," he said, noting the holding of a meeting at the Ministry of the Interior, in the presence of various ministers concerned with this issue who "work in the context of a commission that addresses all issues relating to prices”.

In response to another question from journalists, the Minister said that the strategic stock of soft wheat exceeds three months, while the stock of durum wheat exceeds two months.

In addition, Baitas noted that the government has subsidized this product so that there is no increase, since the budget allocated to subsidies during 2022, reached 9.3 billion dirhams, through the compensation fund, representing subsidies for wheat, flour and bread, so that families can access them at reasonable prices.

Regarding the cattle imported from Brazil, the Government Spokesman stressed that "all imported cattle have been examined in a laboratory before their admission to Morocco, to ensure their good health," stressing that this process does not tolerate any laxity.

He added that all imported products comply with quality standards and are subject to different levels of controls and examination.

The opening of this unit, which is part of the Agency's budget allocated this year to support the health sector, was supervised by the director in charge of the management of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, accompanied by the director of the hospital of the charity Makassed, Dr. Adnan Farhoud, in the presence of several members of the Palestinian medical staff.

On this occasion, Cherkaoui said that the realization of this project is part of the constant concern of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the city of Al-Quds and its inhabitants, and reflects the commitment of the Agency to implement its commitments stipulated in the protocol of cooperation, which was signed in Rabat last February, on the occasion of the visit of the delegation of the Al-Quds East Hospitals Network to Morocco.

He pointed out that the unit of vigilance, coordination and monitoring will constitute, along with the field hospital, when it will be handed over later to the Red Crescent Hospital in Al-Quds, a pillar to facilitate communication between the emergency teams in the field and the emergency teams at Al-Makassed hospital since it is the reference institution in emergencies in Al-Quds.

For his part, Dr. Adnan Farhoud said that this unit, which is equipped with an information system for connectivity and coordination and communication devices, and run by technicians under the supervision of medical and nursing staff, will strengthen the roles played by the Al-Quds East Hospitals Network in linking and networking between hospitals in cases of emergency.

Dr. Farhoud, on behalf of himself and the hospital staff, expressed his feelings of gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco and His Majesty King Mohammed VI, praising the level of the Moroccan health system, as well as the Moroccan hospital facilities and medical staff he visited during his trip to Morocco with the delegation of Al-Quds East Hospitals last February.

The cooperation protocol signed by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency with the Al-Quds East Hospitals Network and the Al-Quds Red Crescent Hospital aims at organizing training courses in Al-Quds or elsewhere for the benefit of medical and administrative staff specialized in emergencies.

The agreement also aims to organize visits to exchange experiences between doctors and medical and administrative staff specialized in emergencies in Al-Quds to Morocco and other countries, to set up joint programs for continuous development of techniques and skills of human resources and to schedule joint scientific meetings.