2020 in Morocco explained

Events in the year 2020 in Morocco.

Incumbents

• King: Mohammed VI
• President of the Government: Saadeddine Othmani

Events

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco.

January

• January 24 – Several organizations in Ecuador express their support for the rights of the Sahrawi people.^[1]
• January 28 – February 7 – 2020 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations: Morocco was the defending champion and successfully managed to defend their title after beating Egypt 5–0 in the final.

February

• February 9 – The African Union reaffirms its support for self-determination for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.^[2]
• February 17 – Morocco tightens its control over the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla.^[3]
• February 22 to February 23: 2020 African Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament, Rabat.
• February 29 – 2020 Marrakesh ePrix, Marrakesh.

March

• March 2 – First confirmed case of coronavirus in the country.
• March 10 – First death from coronavirus, a French tourist^[4]
• March 12 – At least 18 African countries, including Morocco, report cases of the novel coronavirus. Most are in single figures, but five deaths have been reported in North Africa.^[5]
• March 13 – The government shuts down all schools, effective March 16 until further notice.^[6]
• March 17 – Journalist and rights activist Omar Radi, 33, is given a four-month suspended sentence and a U $50 fine on charges of insulting a judge on Twitter, in a case that outrages advocates of free speech.^[7]
• March 19 – The country declares a state of medical emergency beginning on March 20, 2020 and remaining in effect until April 20, 2020 with the possibility of extending.^[8]

May

• May 14 – Algeria summons the country's ambassador to Algiers in protest against when the Moroccan consul in Oran purportedly referred to Algeria as an "enemy country."^[9]

June

• June 26 – The government of Morocco "categorically denies" an Amnesty International report that they used surveillance software to spy on the phone of a prominent journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi.^[10]

September

• September 4 – Dutch right-wing extremist and leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders is acquitted of a hate crime despite his "unnecessarily offensive" call in 2014 for "fewer Moroccans."^[11]

November

• November 15 – A 30-year cease-fire between Morocco and Polisario Front forces is broken as the government tries to open a road in the Guerguerat buffer zone near the border with Mauritania.^[12]

December

• December 11 – Morocco normalizes relations with Israel and in return U.S. President Trump acknowledges Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara.^[13] The deal also includes US$1 billion in military aid.^[14]
• December 16 – Couscous is added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.^[15]
• December 17 – Moroccan Ayoub El Khazzani is sentenced to life in prison for planning the 2015 Thalys train attack in France.^[16]
• December 31 – Historian and human rights activist Maati Monjib is arrested for money laundering.^[17]

Deaths

January

• January 30 – Larbi Chebbak, footballer (b. 1946).^[18]

February

• February 24 –, journalist (b. 1956).^[19]

August

• August 8 – Naima El Bezaz, Moroccan-Dutch writer (b. 1974).^[20]
• August 24 – Touriya Jabrane, theatre director, actress and politician, former Minister of Culture (b. 1952).^[21]

September

• September 2 – Abdeljebbar Louzir, actor (b. 1928).^[22]

October

• October 19 – Ahmed Adghirni, 73, lawyer, politician, and human rights activist.^[23]
• October 25 – Abderrazak Afilal Alami Idrissi, 96–97, Moroccan economist and politician, MP (1977–1983).^[24]
• October 28 – Mohamed Melehi, 83, painter; COVID-19.^[25]

November

• November 9 – Bruno Barbey, 79, Moroccan-born French photographer.^[26]
• November 15 – Mahjoubi Aherdane, 99, politician, Minister of Defense (1961–1964).^[27]

December

• December 2 – Mohamed Abarhoun, 31, footballer (Moghreb Tétouan, Moreirense, national team); stomach cancer.^[28]
• December 15 – Noureddine Saïl, 73, film critic and writer; COVID-19.^[29]
• December 27 – Mohamed El Ouafa, 72, diplomat and politician; COVID-19.^[30]

See also

• Western Sahara
• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
• International recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
• 2020 in North Africa
• COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
• 2020s in political history
• 2020s
• African Union
• Arab League

Notes and References

1. https://allafrica.com/stories/202001260004.html Western Sahara: Several Ecuadorian Organizations Reiterate Support for Right of Sahrawi People to Self-Determination
2. https://allafrica.com/stories/202002100479.html Western Sahara: South African President Reiterates Support for Right of Sahrawi People to Self-Determination and Independence
3. https://www.elespanol.com/espana/politica/20200216/marruecos-estrangula-ceuta-melilla-cortando-fronteras-sanchez/467703295_0.html Morocco strangles Ceuta and Melilla, cutting borders to take advantage of Sánchez
4. Web site: Le Matin - Le Maroc annonce le premier cas de décès du nouveau coronavirus. MATIN. M. Se, LE. Le Matin. fr. 30 March 2020. Morning - Morocco announces first case of death from new coronavirus.
5. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-spreads-african-countries-200313153229327.html Coronavirus spreads to more African countries
6. News: Courses Suspended in Morocco from March 16 Until Further Notice. 13 March 2020. Maghreb Arabe Press. 30 March 2020.
7. Web site: Morocco sentences activist for criticising 'judiciary' . www.aljazeera.com . June 3, 2020.
8. Web site: COVID-19: Morocco Declares State of Emergency. 2020-03-19. Morocco World News. en-US. 2020-03-30.
9. Web site: Algeria summons Moroccan ambassador over 'enemy country' remark . www.aljazeera.com . June 3, 2020.
10. Web site: Moroccan authorities deny using spyware to monitor critics . ABC News . June 27, 2020 . en.
11. Web site: Wilders, absuelto de incitar al odio al pedir "menos marroquíes" en Países Bajos . www.msn.com . EFE . September 4, 2020.
12. News: Brennan . David . Fighting in Morocco May Present Biden with Fresh Africa Crisis Amid COVID Surge . November 15, 2020 . msn.com . Newsweek . November 15, 2020.
13. News: LAVALLÉE . Guillaume . Trump hace un regalo a Marruecos al reconocer su soberanía sobre el Sáhara Occidental . December 11, 2020 . es-us.noticias.yahoo.com . AFP . Yahoo News . December 11, 2020 . es-US.
14. News: Zengerle . Patricia . Stone . Mike . Exclusive-Trump administration moves forward with $1 billion Moroccan arms deal . December 12, 2020 . news.yahoo.com . Reuters . Yahoo News . December 11, 2020.
15. News: UNESCO adds couscous to list of intangible world heritage . December 17, 2020 . aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera English . December 16, 2020 . en.
16. News: French court jails Moroccan for life over foiled 2015 train attack . December 17, 2020 . msn.com . AFP . December 17, 2020.
17. News: Morocco detains rights activist for alleged money laundering . January 1, 2021 . AP NEWS . 31 December 2020.
18. https://maroc-diplomatique.net/football-lancien-joueur-de-la-selection-nationale-larbi-chebbak-nest-plus/ Football: L'ancien joueur de la sélection nationale, Larbi Chebbak, n'est plus
19. http://www.mapbenimellal.ma/fr/beni-mellal-le-journaliste-mohamed-el-hajjam-tire-sa-reverence/ Béni Mellal : Le journaliste Mohamed El Hajjam tire sa révérence
20. https://www.tzum.info/2020/08/nieuws-naima-el-bezaz-1974-2020-overleden/ Nieuws: Naima El Bezaz (1974 – 2020) overleden
21. https://www.hespress.com/art-et-culture/482118.html الفنانة المغربية ثريا جبران في ذمة الله عن 68 عاما
22. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/09/317212/iconic-moroccan-actor-abdeljabbar-louzir-dies-at-92 Iconic Moroccan Actor Abdeljabbar Louzir Dies at 92
23. https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/deces-de-ahmed-adghirni-figure-du-mouvement-amazigh-au-maroc/ Décès de Ahmed Adghirni, figure du mouvement amazigh au Maroc
24. https://www.hespress.com/societe/487863.html النقابي البارز عبد الرزاق أفيلال يرحل إلى دار البقاء
25. https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5217322/Moroccan-painter-Mohamed-Melehi-succumbs-to-covid-19.html Moroccan painter Mohamed Melehi succumbs to covid-19
26. https://www.liberation.fr/photographie/2020/11/09/mort-de-bruno-barbey-figure-de-l-age-d-or-du-photojournalisme_1805074 Mort de Bruno Barbey, figure de l'âge d'or du photojournalisme
27. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/11/325986/iconic-moroccan-political-leader-mahjoubi-aherdan-dies-at-100/ Iconic Moroccan Political Leader Mahjoubi Aherdan Dies at 100
28. https://www.ntvspor.net/futbol/mohamed-abarhoun-31-yasinda-hayatini-kaybetti-5fc755bc9c9f160e0c6e38eb Mohamed Abarhoun, 31 yaşında hayatını kaybetti
29. https://www.albawabhnews.com/4214784 ناقد مغربي : نور الدين الصايل عراب السينما المغربية
30. https://assabah.ma/515610.html محمد الوفا في ذمة الله