Country Profile

The only monarchy in North Africa, Morocco contains a blend of Arab, African, indigenous Berber and European cultures. The kingdom has long maintained close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties to Europe that it continues to deepen and has a reputation as a stable and tolerant state. Morocco encompasses a landmass of 446,500 sq km and is located on the north-western tip of Africa, sitting astride both the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It has one of the more diversified GDP mixes in the region, and the mainstays of the economy include agriculture, tourism, and the textiles and garments industry; higher-end manufacturing (such as the automotive and aeronautics industries), information technology and communications, and outsourcing are also all becoming increasingly important. The past few years have seen Morocco undergo some significant changes, yet the kingdom has remained stable, both socially and politically, even amidst the broader regional turmoil. This chapter contains interviews with King Mohammed VI; Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of Government; Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon; and Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire