Morocco



The flag of Morocco was adopted on November 17, 1915. It features a red backround that was used in the 1600s and a green pentagram that was adopted in 1912. It was added to help distinguish the flag from other nations. The red in the flag represents the color of the reigning Moroccan dynasty. The seal of Solomon was used as a symbol in occult law for centuries and represents the link between god and the nation.

__ Country Report __ Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morroco, is located in North Africa. It's capital is Rabat and it's the largest city in Casablanca. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Algeria, Spain, and Mauritania. Several dialects of Arabic and Berber are spoken there. Although there is a linguistic diversity, it doesn't affect the ethnic situation because the population is largely homogeneous. It is the only country in Africa that is not a member of the African Union and it has shown no intrest in joining it. This is due to other nations recognizing the Western Sahara as a sovereign state. Although Morocco hasn't joined this union it is a member of the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, Francophonie, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue Group, and Group of 77. It is also a major Non-NATO ally of the United States.

The geography of Morocco spans from the Atlantic Ocean, to mountainous areas, to the Sahara Desert. It borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and the annexed Western Sahara. The Atlas Mountains are located mainly in the center and the South of the country. The Rif Mountains are located in the North. Both of these ranges are mostly populated with Berber people. The area of this country makes it the 57th largest country in the world. Algeria borders Morocco but the border has been closed since 1994. In the North, Morocco borders and controls part of the Strait of Gibraltar. This gives them the power over the waterways in and out of the Mediterranean Sea. The Rif Mountains occupy the region bordering the Mediterranean from the north-west to the north-east. The Atlas Mountains run along the back of the country from the south west ot the north east. Most of the south east is the Sahara Desert and it is very sparsely populated and unproductive economically. Most of the population lives to the north of the mountains and south of the desert. In the South is the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Morocco claims the Western Sahara as it's territory and refers to it as its Southern Provinces.

The climate in Morocco is Mediterranean. It becomes more extreme toward the interior regions where it's mountainous. The coastal plains are rich and accordingly and serve as the backbone of agriculture. Forests cover about 12% of the land, about 18% is arable, and 5% is irrigated. In mountainous areas temperatures may drop below zero and the mountain peaks remain snow-capped throughout most of the year. Northern Morocco gets very wet and rainy during the winter. In the south, it gets bitterly dry and cold. Morocco is also very well known for its wildlife biodiversity. Birds represent the most important fauna. The avifauna includes a total of 454 species.

__ Travel __ Morrocan trends have been copied everywhere around the world, but nothing compares to the original. You may be surprised how easy it is to slip into another culture and century. Morroco warps all sense of time and place just like a desert mirage. Here you will notice refined minarets and rugged brick fortifications, sparkling coastline with silken sand and striped canyons carved out of the Atlas Mountains. Throughout history Morocco has been very open to other ideas that created a heavy mix of cultures, religions and languages with ancient roots, and a modern outlook. Influences from different cultures can be spotted in monuments throughout here. Many travelers come here expecting to be amazed by dazzling royal palaces, unexpected oases, distinctive handicrafts, and hospitality. Morroco doesn't dissappoint and the people there will go out of their way to go above your expectations. In Rabat, there are many hotels and cafes you can go to. Many people go there on vacations to visit the beautiful beaches and the Mamora Forest. There are many other attractions here such as the Tour Hassan, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Palace, the Chellah, and the Oudaias. Also, you can visit places like Sale, Meknes, Fes, Marrakech, The Coast, Tangier, and Casablanca. They are all well worth the visit and have many exciting and historical places to visit. No matter where you go there the most commonly used phrase is you are welcome in Morocco.



__ Backround __- In 788, successive Moorish dynasties began ruling in Morocco. During the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, under the rule of Ahmad Al-Mansur (1578-1603), kept foreign invaders out and began a golden age. During 1860, Spain occupied Northern Morocco and brought with them a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode. This led to the French imposing a protectorate over the country in 1912. The struggle for independence from France ended successfully in 1956. The city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. For the most part Morocco added the Western Sahara into it's domain in the late 1970s, but the final result on the status of the territory remains unresolved. The establishment of a bicameral legistlature came from gradual political reforms in the 1990s. It first met in 1997.Improvements on human rights have been made under King Mohammed VI and the press is moderately free. The authority remains in the hands of the monarch, despite continuing reforms.

__ Location __- Morocco is located in Northern Africa.

__ Area __- Total Area is 446, 550 sq km __ Borders __ - Morocco borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and the Western Sahara.

__ Climate __- The climate is Mediterranean and it is becoming more extreme on the interior.



__ Ethnic Groups __- Arab-berber: 99.1%, other: 0.7%, Jewish: 0.2%

__ Government type __- Constitutional Monarchy

__ Suffrage __- 18 years of age, universal

__ GDP per capita __- $4,000

__ Agricultural Products __- barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

__ Imports (commodities) -__ crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transitors, plastics

__ Religion __- Muslim: 98.7%, Christian: 1.1%, Jewish: 0.2% __ Terrain __- Northern Coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermotane valleys, and rich coastal plains

__ Natural Resources __- The Northern Coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.

__ Land Use __- Arable land: 19%, Permanent Crops: 2%, Other: 79%

__ Natural Hazards __- Northern Mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes. There are also periodic droughts.

__ Enviromental Issues __- There is land degeneration/desertification, their water supplies are contaminated by raw sewage, siltation of reservoirs, and oil pollution of coastal waters.

__ Languages __- Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French ( often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

__ Capital __- Rabat __ Leader __ - King Mohammed VI

__ Military expenditures __- 5% of GDP

__ Industries __- Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

__ Currency/Exchange Rate __- Moroccan dirhams(MAD) per US dollar- 7.526 (2008 est.)

__ Education __- Students begin the basic education program at age 7. The program consists of 5 years of primary school that is followed by 4 years of primary secondary school. These are then followed by 3 years of general secondary or technical education.

__ Population __- 34, 859, 364

__ Population growth rate __- 1.479%

__ Net migration rate __- -0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population

__ Infant mortality rate __- Total: 36.88 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 40.35 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 33.24 deaths/1,000 live births

__ Life expectancy __-Total: 71.8 years Male:69.42 years Female:74.3 years

__ Literacy __- Total: 52.3% Male: 65.7% Female: 39.6%

__ Independence __- Morocco gained their independendce on March 2,1956 when France relinquished its protectorate.

__ Economic overview __- Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment despite the government's ongoing efforts to make the economy more diverse. The country's GDP growth rose to 5.9% in 2008, from the economy recovering from a drought in 2007. The drought severly reduced the agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. During 2005, the National Initiative for human development was launched. It is a $2 billion social development plan to adress poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of urban slums. Authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and entered a Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006. Some long-term challenges are improving education and job prospects for the youth and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor. The government hopes to achieve these goals by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competition in textiles.



__ Unemployment __- 10% (2008 est.)

__ Exports(commodities) -__ clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fruits

__ Illicit Drugs __- one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments are mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

__ Internet Access __- 275,889 internet hosts and 7.3 million users

__**Important Events:**__

1956 - End of French Protectorate. Sultan Mohammed becomes King in 1957. 1961 - Death of King Mohammed. King Hassan II comes to power. 1963 - First General elections. 1973 - Polisario movement formed and it aims to establish an independent state in Spanish Sahara. 1975 - The Green March is formed and King Hassan orders 350,000 civilian volunteers to go into Western Sahara. 1975 - Spain agrees to leave Spanish Sahara, that will soon become Western Sahara but Algeria objects. Moroccan forces enter and take over territory. 1976 - Moroccan and Algerian troops fight and Algeria announces the formation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco and Mauritania split up Western Sahara. 1976 - Fighting goes on between Moroccan forces and Polisario military and this has a financial drain on Morocco. 1984 - Morocco leaves the Organisation of African Unity in protest. Polisario claims to have killed more than 5,000 moroccan soldiers during the fight. 1988 - Resumption of diplomatic relations with Algeria.

__**Works Cited**__ [] [] [] [] [] []