Morocco (in Amazigh, pronounced “Lmaghrib”), [7] officially the Kingdom of Morocco (in Amazigh, pronounced “Tageldit n Lmaghrib”), [7] lies in the far west of North Africa. Its capital is Rabat, and its largest city is Casablanca, regarded as the economic capital. Other important cities include Salé, Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes, Tangier, Agadir, Safi, Tetouan, Ouezzane, Oujda, and Settat. Morocco faces the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. It borders Algeria to the east, with a dispute over the Morocco–Algeria border, and Mauritania to the south. [8] In the narrow maritime strip between Morocco and Spain are three Spanish enclaves: Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera. [8]
Morocco has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy and an elected parliament. The 2011 parliamentary elections were monitored by international observers for the second time in Morocco, [12] although turnout was 45.44 percent of registered voters. [13] The main winners were the conservative Justice and Development Party and Istiqlal Party. The opposition socialist Socialist Union of Popular Forces made modest gains in seats, as did the National Rally of Independents, described in the source as a left-wing party. On November 25, 2011, Abdelilah Benkirane of the Justice and Development Party became head of government of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Morocco has belonged to the United Nations since 1956, the Arab League since 1958, the International Olympic Committee since 1959, the Organization of the Islamic Conference since 1969, the International Organization of La Francophonie since 1981, the Arab Maghreb Union since 1989, the Mediterranean Dialogue since 1995, and the Group of 77 since 2003. It has had a relationship with NATO as a major non-NATO ally since 2004 and joined the Union for the Mediterranean in 2008. It was also elected a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term from January 2012 through December 2013.
At the time described in this article, Morocco was the only African country outside the African Union, which replaced the Organization of African Unity. Morocco withdrew from the latter in 1984 over its refusal to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. It nevertheless retained a special position, benefiting from services available through member countries, including the African Development Bank group. [9] In 2008, the European Union granted Morocco advanced status under partnership and neighborhood agreements, enabling participation in certain European agencies. [10] Morocco also agreed to move gradually toward membership of the Gulf Cooperation Council after receiving an invitation in 2011. [11]