Morocco

Kingdom of Morocco
Flag
Location  Africa
Capital  Rabat
Area  446,550 sq km
Population  34,314,130

"All things come to those that wait"
(Proverb/Quote of the Week)

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January

January 1 January 2 January 3 January 4 Morocco's Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) was elected as the Club of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Ghanaian capital Accra on 4 January 2018. January 5 January 6 January 7 Researchers in Morocco have identified the remains of the last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, according to research published in the journal Nature on 7 January 2026. The researchers discovered the fossils in a cave called Grotte à Hominidés (Cave of Hominids) at the site of Thomas Quarry I in Casablanca, Morocco. January 8 January 9 January 10 Moroccan athlete Hicham El Guerrouj won the Olympic Creative Sports Award at the 9th Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award ceremony held in Dubai on 10 January 2018. January 11 January 12 January 13 January 14 Adam Lamhamedi, the only Moroccan athlete participated at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games, clinched a Gold medal after winning the Alpine Skiing Men's Super G on 14 January 2012. January 15 January 16 January 17 January 18 January 19 January 20 January 21 Morocco’s football star Achraf Hakimi was awarded Best Arab Sportsman prize at the Joy Awards ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 21 January 2023. January 22 Morocco has approved a motion allowing women in the country to become public notary officials, an occupation that has traditionally only been held by men, as King Mohammed VI on 22 January 2018 endorsed the decision through a royal decree. January 23 An international team of archaeologists has found and identified a trackway made by multiple humans approximately 90,000 years ago in Morocco, as revealed in the journal Scientific Reports on 23 January 2024. January 24 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28 January 29 Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN in New York, Omar Hilale, was elected as the president of the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2026. January 30 Morocco was admitted as the 55th member of the African Union (AU) on 30 January 2017. January 31

February

February 1 February 2 February 3 February 4 Morocco became the first host nation to claim the African Nations Football Championship title with a convincing 4-0 win over Nigeria on 4 February 2018. Morocco on 4 February 2016 switched on the first section of its new Ouarzazate solar power plant, what will become the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world. The new installation already creates 160 megawatts of power and is expected to grow to cover 6000 acres by 2018. February 5 February 6 February 7 IBM on 7 February 2014 announced it is further expanding its operations across Africa with the opening of two new IBM Innovation Centers in Casablanca, Morocco and Lagos, Nigeria. These new centers aim to spur local growth and fuel an ecosystem of development and entrepreneurship. February 8 February 9 February 10 February 11 February 12 February 13 A team of international experts, including Moroccan paleontologist, have uncovered a new duck-billed dinosaur species, labeled Minqaria bata. The fossils from Morocco were around 3-4 meters long and weighed about 250kg, about the size of a pony, as revealed in Scientific Reports on 13 February 2024. February 14 February 15 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 19 February 20 February 21 February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25 February 26 February 27 February 28 February 29

March

March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 March 5 March 6 March 7 The GENIE Programme, aimed at incorporating ICT to improve the access and quality of education in schools in Morocco, received the UNESCO King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of ICTs in education on 7 March 2018. March 8 March 9 March 10 Moroccan government and Siemens have reached an agreement to build a factory in Morocco to manufacture rotor blades for onshore wind turbines, as announced on 10 March 2016. The factory is expected to create 700 local jobs once commence operations in spring 2017. March 11 March 12 March 13 March 14 Moroccan author, Mohammed Achaari, and Saudi Arabian author, Raja Alem, were announced as joint winners of the 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction on 14 March 2011. Mohammed was awarded for his book The Arch and the Butterfly. This is the first time the prize has been split between two novelists. March 15 March 16 Moroccan boxing referee Oumaima Smlali was named the Best Referee at the World Boxing Championship on 16 March 2025. March 17 March 18 March 19 The Atlas Mountains biosphere reserve in Morocco, home to 75% of the world’s majestic Atlas cedar tree population, was added to the list of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves on 19 March 2016. The list recognizes regions that have maintained a healthy economy while hanging on to significant environmental values. Moroccan professor Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli won the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO Award 2015 from the Africa and the Arab States region for her key contribution to one of the greatest discoveries in physics: proof of the existence of the Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for the creation of mass in the universe. March 20 March 21 More than 200 million years ago, volcanoes decimated a large numbers of marine and terrestrial species — including large sea reptiles and mollusks - which opened the door for the dinosaurs to take over millions of years later, according to a study published by scientists from Morocco, Canada and the USA on 21 March 2013 in the journal Science. March 22 March 23 Professor Mohamed Abdalmotaleb Mostafa of Morocco was named as the winners of the 2016 King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Language and Literature in recognition of his distinguished literary effort. March 24 March 25 March 26 Morocco was named as the most attractive investment destination in Africa, according to the Africa Investment Index 2018 published by Quantum Global Research Lab. Governments of Morocco and Gabon signed six cooperation agreements on 26 March 2013 in the field of agriculture, health and communication, among others. March 27 March 28 March 29 March 30 March 31

April

April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20 April 21 A team of international and Moroccan Paleontologists has uncovered a huge concentration of fossils of various carnivorous dinosaurs in southeast Morocco’s Kem Kem beds, according to a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 21 April 2020. April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 April 28 April 29 A team of international and Moroccan researchers has discovered that the Spinosaurus was the first dinosaur who could swim based on their analysis of a well-preserved fossil tail. The study was published in the science journal Nature on 20 April 2020. April 30

May

May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 Scientists from Morocco and their international colleagues have discovered one of the last dinosaurs living in Africa, named Chenanisaurus barbaricus, before their extinction 66 million years ago in a phosphate mine in northern Morocco, as revealed on 4 May 2017. May 5 May 6 May 7 The Moroccan initiative 475 won jury honors as the Best Social Activism campaign at the Deutsche Welle sponsored Best of the Blogs Awards 2013. The project is named after a code in Moroccan law that allows rapists to avoid punishment by marrying their victims. Morocco’s Ridouane Harraoufi won the 2011 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, the largest half-marathon in the United States, with a time of 1:02:45. The Marathon took place in Indianapolis on May 7, 2011. May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 May 13 Moroccan researcher Adnane Remmal was announced as the winner of the 2015 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) in recognition of his research that provides solutions to farmers to improve livestock production whilst taking into account consumer health needs. May 14 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 May 19 Moroccan filmmaker Meryem Benm’Barek won the Best Screenplay prize at the 71st Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2018 for her movie Sofia. May 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 Morocco on 25 May 2026 ranked first in Africa’s industrialisation index for the first time, overtaking South Africa, which had held the top position since 2010, according to a new report by the African Development Bank (AfDB). May 26 May 27 The United Nations awarded one fallen peacekeeper from Morocco posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on 27 May 2021. May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31

June

June 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 7 Scientists from Morocco and a team of international researchers have discovered the oldest fossils of Homo Sapiens in Morocco that show Homo sapiens emerged at least 100,000 years earlier than previously recognised. Their findings were published in the journal Nature on 7 June 2017. June 8 Moroccan writer and painter Mahi Binebine won the prestigious 2020 Prix Mediterranee literary award for his latest French novel “Rue du pardon”. Binebine became only the second Moroccan to win the award, after Tahar Ben Jelloun claimed the prize in 1994. June 9 June 10 June 11 June 12 June 13 June 14 June 15 June 16 June 17 June 18 June 19 June 20 Association Amsing from Morocco created by the villagers of Elmoudaa was honored with the 2012 Equator Prize by the United Nations for successfully regenerating degraded lands surrounding their village through a traditional land management practice called 'azzayn' which bans herders from grazing in protected lands. June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 25 Moroccan boxer Oumayma Belahbib won the ladies Light Welterweight (64kg) title at the 2017 African boxing championships. June 26 June 27 June 28 The US First Lady Michelle Obama launched a $100 million investment package in Morocco on 28 June 2016 to promote the education of girls in the country. June 29 June 30

July

July 1 July 2 July 3 July 4 July 5 July 6 July 7 July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31

August

August 1 August 2 Moroccan runner Soufiane El Bakkali won gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics on 2 August 2021, becoming the first non-Kenyan to win this Olympic gold event since Poland's Bronisław Malinowski won the title in Moscow in 1980. August 3 Morocco and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, service or special passports on 3 August 2016. August 4 August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10 August 11 August 12 August 13 August 14 August 15 August 16 August 17 August 18 August 19 Morocco hosted the 12th African Games from 19 to 31 August 2019 in Rabat. This was the first time that the African Games were hosted by Morocco following the country's readmission to the African Union in January 2017. August 20 August 21 Morocco’s Fathallah Oualalou won the Special Book of China Award for his book China and Us: A Response to the Second Passage on 21 August 2018. August 22 August 23 August 24 August 25 August 26 August 27 Moroccan and English researchers have discovered an armoured dinosaur, called Spicomellus afer, which had metre-long spikes sticking out from its neck, lived 165 million years ago in Morocco. Their discovery was detailed in the journal Nature on 27 August 2025. August 28 August 29 August 30 August 31

September

September 1 September 2 September 3 September 4 September 5 Qatar waived visa requirement for Moroccan nationals from 5 September 2017, meaning holders of Moroccan passports wishing to visit Qatar will not have to apply for a tourist visa or pay a fee to travel. September 6 September 7 September 8 September 9 September 10 September 11 Moroccan scientists along with their international colleagues unearthed a giant fossil of the first ever semiaquatic dinosaur, Spinosaurus, in the Sahara desert. Their findings were published on 11 September 2014 in the journal Science. September 12 A new law in Morocco criminalising violence against women, which includes a ban on forced marriage and sexual harassment in public places, went into effect on 12 September 2018. September 13 September 14 September 15 September 16 September 17 September 18 September 19 September 20 September 21 September 22 September 23 A team of researchers from Morocco, England and Switzerland has discovered a new species of ankylosaur dinosaur in the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco – giving Africa its first ankylosaur, as revealed in Nature Ecology and Evolution on 23 September 2021. September 24 September 25 September 26 September 27 September 28 September 29 Morocco’s King Mohammed VI named Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as prime minister on 29 September 2026, making the 50-year-old the first woman to hold the role in the kingdom and the third woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world. September 30

October

October 1 Morocco joined the Arab League, a regional organization of Arab states for creating a closer relation among its members, on 1 October 1973. October 2 A new law aimed at protecting thousands of young girls working as housemaids in Morocco took effect on 2 October 2018, the country's first such legislation. The law sets a minimum age of 18 for household work, in a bid to end the exploitation and abuse of young girls working for unscrupulous employers. Morocco and Ecuador on 2 October 2014 signed a partnership agreement in the field of export promotion. The agreement aims to reinforce exchange of information and know-how between the two countries, including promotional activities, assistance, support, planning, best practices and lobbying. October 3 Morocco and Spain signed a raft of cooperation accords on 3 October 2012, during Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's visit to Morocco, covering the simplification of visa procedures, cooperation in tourism, sport, education and transport. October 4 October 5 Morocco on 5 October 2023 was named as one of the co-hosts for the 2030 FIFA Men's Footbal World Cup along with Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. October 6 October 7 October 8 October 9 October 10 October 11 October 12 October 13 Moroccan journalist Chaima Lahsini, who led a protest following the sexual assault of a young woman in Morocco, was included in the BBC global list of 100 inspirational and innovative women for 2017. October 14 The Confederation of African Football (Caf) voted Morocco as the host of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on 14 October 2017. October 15 October 16 October 17 Moroccan, Swiss and French researchers have discovered the remains of now-extinct creatures called trilobites that were almost perfectly preserved in the Moroccan desert near the town of Zagora, as reported in the journal Scientific Reports on 17 October 2019. October 18 October 19 October 20 October 21 Morocco was elected as a non-permanent member of the 15-member UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term on October 21, 2011. October 22 October 23 October 24 Moroccan researcher Karima El Azhary won the prestigious German Green Talents Award 2019 for PhD research focusing on developing new sustainable construction and insulation materials, based on alimentary and agricultural waste. October 25 October 26 October 27 Morocco was elected as a council member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 27 October 2014 for four years from the African region. ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. October 28 October 29 October 30 October 31

November

November 1 November 2 November 3 November 4 November 5 November 6 November 7 November 8 November 9 November 10 November 11 November 12 The United Nations General Assembly on 12 November 2013 elected Morocco to serve on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for a period of three years beginning on 1 January 2014. November 13 November 14 November 15 November 16 Morocco secured the 8th position at the Climate Change Performance Index published on 16 November 2016 by Climate Action Network Europe and Germanwatch. The index ranked 58 countries according to their emissions level, the trend in emissions, the deployment of renewable energy, the energy intensity of the economy and climate policies. November 17 November 18 November 19 November 20 November 21 November 22 November 23 November 24 Moroccan rapper Houda Abouz on 24 November 2020 was included in BBC's annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for her unique style and lyrical songs. November 25 November 26 November 27 November 28 November 29 November 30

December

December 1 December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 Morocco stunned Spain in penalty shootout 3-0 after a goalless draw to reach their first ever FIFA World Cup quarter-final on 6 December 2022. The General Assembly of the United Nations on 6 December 2013 appointed Morocco as a member of the world body's Economic and Social Council's Committee for Program and Coordination, to serve a three-year term beginning 1 January 2014. December 7 December 8 December 9 December 10 Morocco and Israel agreed to establish diplomatic relations on 10 December 2020 in a deal brokered by the United States. Khadija Ryadi from Morocco received the 2013 United Nations Human Rights Prize for her passion for full equality between men and women, self-determination and freedom of expression regardless of sexual orientation. December 11 December 12 Moroccan director Essam Doukhou received an award for his film Dalto for the short film competition at the 14th Marrakech International Film Festival in Marrakech on 12 December 2014. December 13 The UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee inscribed Medina of Essaouira in Morocco as a World Heritage Site in 2001. It stands as a fine example of a late 18th fortified North African town. December 14 December 15 December 16 December 17 December 18 December 19 December 20 December 21 December 22 December 23 December 24 December 25 December 26 December 27 December 28 December 29 December 30 December 31

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