Morocco

Introduction to Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco (Arabic المملكة المغربية) is a country in northwest Africa. It has a long coastline on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Algeria to the east, though the Algerian border is closed, Western Sahara to the south, the Mediterranean Sea and Spain to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to its west. Morocco claims ownership of Western Sahara and has administered most of the territory since 1975. Its status is disputed, pending a United Nations referendum.

Morocco was the first nation to recognize the fledgling United States in 1777 and has the oldest non-broken friendship treaty with the country, the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship, which has been in effect since 1783. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were the American signatories. The United States legation (consulate) in Tangier is the first property the U.S. owned abroad. It now houses the Tangier American Legation Museum. Morocco was granted Major Non-NATO Ally status in June 2004 and signed free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union.

In 2003, Morocco's largest city, Casablanca, was attacked in the Casablanca terrorist attacks. The attacks left 33 civilians dead and more than 100 people injured.

Algeria borders Morocco to the east and southeast. There are also four Spanish enclaves on the Mediterranean coast: Ceuta, Melilla, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and Peñón de Alhucemas, as well as several islands including Perejil and Chafarinas. Off the Atlantic coast the Canary Islands belong to Spain, whereas Madeira to the north is Portuguese. To the north, Morocco is bordered by and controls part of the Straits of Gibraltar, giving it 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 down the backbone of the country, from the south west to the north east. Most of the south east portion of the country is in the Sahara Desert and as such is generally sparsely populated and unproductive economically. Most of the population lives to the north of these mountains, while to the south is the desert. To the south lies the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975 (see Green March). Morocco claims that the Western Sahara is part of its territory and refers to that as its Southern Provinces. Internationally, this is only recognized by four countries (see History of Western Sahara).

Cultural notes about Morocco

Culture of Morocco - Morocco is a country of multi-ethnic groups with a rich culture and civilization. Through Moroccan history, Morocco hosted many people coming from both East (Berbers, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs), South (Africans) and North (Romans, Vandals, Moors and Jews). All those civilizations should have an impact on the social structure of Morocco. It conceived all forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism, Christianity to Islam.

Each region possesses its own specificities, contributing, thus, to the making of national culture and to the civilization legacy. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its legacy and the preservation of its cultural identity.

Ethnically and culturally speaking, Morocco nowadays can be considered the least Arabic among Arab countries. Most of its population are of Berber origins.

Official Canadian government advisories for travelling to, in and around Morocco

In 2003, there were bombings near Casablanca's city centre. Even though the security situation has since stabilized, the attacks demonstrate that conditions can deteriorate rapidly and without warning. Canadians should exercise caution in public places.

The Western Sahara region between Morocco and Mauritania poses a risk for travellers, as thousands of unexploded landmines still litter the region, particularly in remote areas. You should also exercise caution in the mountainous Rif region, on the northern coast of Morocco, as hashish is produced in this area and tourists are occasionally tricked into unknowingly committing drug offences.

The land border with Algeria is closed. No attempt should be made to cross into Algeria by car. Consult the Algeria Travel Report for travel advice on that country. It is illegal for visitors arriving by private boat to enter the Morocco other than at a recognized port of entry.

Petty crime, including pickpocketing, purse snatching, assaults, muggings, scams and theft, occurs, particularly in the Medina/market areas, parks, and beaches. Thefts have increased around ATMs. Panhandlers can be aggressive. Ensure your personal belongings are secure and do not show signs of affluence, particularly when walking at night. Do no accept food or drink from strangers as it may be drugged.

You should not accept invitations from strangers or change your planned itinerary at the suggestion of such individuals. There have been reports of passengers travelling south on the train from Tangier being invited to stop off at Asilah, only to be mugged. While these might be isolated cases and Moroccans are generally very friendly and hospitable, you should always exercise common sense and travel wisely.

There have been reports of tourists being taken to certain rug stores in Tangier and then intimidated into making purchases. You should politely but firmly decline.

Demonstrations and strikes can occur, as can confrontations between police and demonstrators. You should monitor local news reports, exercise caution, and avoid demonstrations.

While swimming conditions in tourist areas are generally safe and problem-free, public beaches in major cities are often polluted and unfit for swimming. If unsure of conditions, check with your hotel.