VIDEO 1. MORROCO ( UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

VIDEO 2. 4.5 YEARS, AFRICA OVERLAND

3.GENERAL INFORMATION MOROCCO

Morocco is not really Africa and not really Europe so let’s call it the frontier between Europe and Africa. Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the Moroccan economy. Europeans love the western atmosphere mixed with some Arabic culture and the safe country to visit. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Morocco after the phosphate industry. Morocco is close to Europe and attracts visitors to its beaches, perfect landscapes, the dunes in the south and ancient roman and Islamic sites and cities. Morocco is relatively inexpensive because of the devaluation of the dirham. Morocco has an excellent road and rail infrastructure that links the major cities and tourist destinations.

The Moroccan economy remains heavily dependent on the export of raw materials. Also of growing importance to the economy are modern sectors, particularly tourism and telecommunications. Morocco’s sunshine, diverse environments and rich cultural heritage give it outstanding potential for tourism, which the government has been actively developing. Morocco regained its independence in 1956 and has since remained comparatively stable and prosperous by regional standards, with the fifth largest economy in Africa.

Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara

Morocco claims the Western Sahara, formerly known as the Spanish Sahara. in 1975, a guerilla war arose with local forces. Mauritania relinquished its claim in 1979, and the war lasted until a ceasefire in 1991. Morocco currently occupies two thirds of the territory, and peace processes have thus far failed to break the political deadlock. Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara has been repeatedly criticised by the international community. Spain, which had controlled the territory since 1912, withdrew in 1976, creating a power vacuum that was filled by Morocco in the north and Mauritania in the south. When Mauritania withdrew in Aug. 1979, Morocco overran the remainder of the territory. A rebel group, the Polisario Front, has fought against Morocco since 1976 for the independence of Western Sahara on behalf of the indigenous Saharawi’s. The Polisario and Morocco agreed in Sept. 1991 to an UN-negotiated cease-fire, which was contingent on a referendum regarding independence. For the past decade, however, Morocco has opposed the referendum. In 2002, King Muhammed VI reasserted that he “will not renounce an inch of” Western Sahara.