North Africa and the Sahel have generally been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Unlike most other North African states, Morocco depends heavily on imported hydrocarbons to meet its energy needs. Comprehensive free trade agreements were signed with the US in 2006 and the EU in 2000. Negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area started in 2013 but were put on hold in 2014 at Morocco’s request. The Western Sahara/SADR dispute is the single largest impediment to economic growth and diversification of the economies of Morocco and North Africa generally.

Source: The Guardian January 04, 2024 14:36 UTC