By closing the chapter of 2024, Morocco takes stock of a year full of upheavals and progress. On the judicial, political, diplomatic, sporting and even climate fronts, the Kingdom has been able to combine resilience and ambition in the face of complex issues. A year, therefore, which, although tormented, suggests promising prospects for 2025.
If the past year has highlighted the varied challenges facing Morocco, it has also revealed its capacity to adapt and innovate. By moving forward with determination, the Kingdom continues to chart its course on the global stage, while remaining faithful to its values and ambitions.
Summarizing the developments of 2024, it becomes clear that Morocco finds itself at a turning point in its modern history. Between internal reforms, diplomatic ambitions and strategic investments, the Kingdom seems determined to position itself as a model of resilience and progress in Africa. The challenge will be to transform these achievements into levers for sustainable growth, while meeting the aspirations of its citizens. An ambitious task, certainly, but worthy of a country that has never stopped reinventing itself.
A capricious climate and strategic responses
The year 2024 will have been that of the moralization of public life, marked by several high-profile trials. The “Al Khair Group” affair, which uncovered a vast network of fraud, particularly attracted attention. The severe sentences handed down by the Tangier court, ranging up to five years in prison for the main defendants, demonstrate a firm desire on the part of the State to restore citizens’ confidence in justice.
Other cases, linked to the fight against corruption and abuse of power, also marked the year. This dynamic is driven by an ambitious judicial reform, a continuation of Morocco’s efforts to consolidate the rule of law. These efforts are not devoid of political issues. By tackling networks of corruption and abuse of power, Morocco is sending a clear signal: accountability will spare no one. A posture which reinforces its image as a modern and reforming state in a regional environment often marked by impunity.
Diplomacy
If Morocco shone on the judicial scene, it also asserted its stature as a diplomatic power in 2024. In Africa, it positioned itself as an essential mediator in the Sahelian crises, notably facilitating the release of Western hostages in Burkina Faso. Internationally, the Kingdom’s participation in summits such as that of BRICS in China or in negotiations on the Lebanese crisis in Paris illustrates its desire to play an active role in major geopolitical issues.
The opening of an office of the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Rabat also marks a turning point in Moroccan-American relations, confirming Morocco as a strategic partner in North Africa. This proactive diplomacy is not limited to symbolic gains. By weaving a network of solid alliances, Morocco secures strategic support, both economic and military, consolidating its role as a regional pivot.
Sport
On a sporting level, 2024 was also a crucial year. The Kingdom continued to invest massively in its sports infrastructure, with a view to the joint organization of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The announcement of the creation of four new sports TV channels reinforced this dynamic, offering unprecedented coverage of national and international sporting events.
Morocco has also consolidated its role in African Football by hosting meetings of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) where major decisions were taken regarding continental competitions. The Kingdom has also opened the headquarters of a FIFA African office in Morocco. These efforts demonstrate a clear ambition: to make Morocco a leader in sport in Africa. Behind these initiatives there is also a desire to use sport as a lever of influence. By attracting attention from around the world, Morocco is consolidating its soft power and strengthening its economic appeal.
Climate
The year 2024 will also have been marked by intense climatic events. Torrential rains, devastating floods and late snowfall have hit several parts of the Kingdom, straining the country’s infrastructure. These bad weather conditions, although destructive, nevertheless allowed a notable improvement in the filling rate of the dams, providing respite from the water crisis.
Morocco responded to these challenges with pragmatism, accelerating the implementation of its hydraulic strategy. Water management, included in the “Maroc Digital 2030” strategy, is now among the national priorities, with massive investments in recycling and desalination technologies. Water management remains a major challenge for the Kingdom. Although innovative solutions are underway, their success will depend on their rapid implementation and the buy-in of local populations. Morocco nevertheless seems determined to transform this crisis into an opportunity.
