EIB Pledges €1 Billion for Morocco's Earthquake Recovery Efforts

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Morocco 1 billion euros over the next three years to support the north African country's reconstruction efforts (AP)
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Morocco 1 billion euros over the next three years to support the north African country's reconstruction efforts (AP)
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EIB Pledges €1 Billion for Morocco's Earthquake Recovery Efforts

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Morocco 1 billion euros over the next three years to support the north African country's reconstruction efforts (AP)
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Morocco 1 billion euros over the next three years to support the north African country's reconstruction efforts (AP)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) said on Wednesday it will lend Morocco 1 billion euros over the next three years to support the north African country's reconstruction efforts after an earthquake that struck the Al Haouz region on September 8.

This financing is completely aligned with Morocco's ambitious national recovery program, which will mobilize €12 billion over the next five years on a post-earthquake reconstruction plan that includes the upgrade of infrastructure, EIB said in a statement.

The loan announcement was made by EIB’s Vice-President, Ricardo Mourinho Felix, after meeting with Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco’s Vice-Minister overseeing the Budget on the margins of the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

Also present were Lionel Rapaille, EIB's Director of Operations for EU Neighboring Countries, and Adrien de Bassompierre, the EIB representative in Morocco.

The EIB's contribution is underpinned by a vision of resilience and sustainability, the statement said. It added that funds will be used to repair damage from the earthquake and rebuild better, with a focus on resilient and sustainable infrastructure, leveraging the Bank’s resources and expertise.

“As a long-standing partner of Morocco, we aim not just to rebuild what was lost, but also to contribute to laying the foundations for a brighter, stronger and more resilient future across all the regions in Morocco affected by the September earthquake,” said Ricardo Félix, who is responsible for financing in Morocco.

“Our role as the EU bank is not just about providing financing, it is also a strong commitment to advancing development, and supporting resilience and climate action hand-in-hand with our partners,” he added.

 

 



Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisian police on Monday detained Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and fierce critic of the country's president, lawyers told Reuters, raising human rights groups' concerns that a crackdown on dissent will go ahead.

Souab is among the lawyers acting for opposition leaders who received lengthy prison sentences on Saturday on conspiracy charges.

Souab strongly criticized the judge and the trial on Friday, calling it a farce and saying the judiciary had been completely destroyed.

"It seems he was detained because of his critical comments on the trial on Friday," said Samir Dilou, one of Souab's lawyers. Two others lawyers confirmed the detention.

Political parties rejected the rulings, saying they were retaliatory after a trial aimed at cementing President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule.

Rights groups say Saied has had full control over the judiciary since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. He dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges in 2022.

"The mass conviction of dissidents...is a disturbing indication of the authorities' willingness to go ahead with its crackdown on peaceful dissent," the human rights group Amnesty International said.

Those convicted included prominent leaders of the Islamist Ennahda party, the main opposition party to Saied.

Ennahda Vice President, Noureddine Bhiri received a 43-year prison sentence, while the court sentenced two senior party officials, Said Ferjani and Sahbi Atig, to ​​13 years each.

The largest sentence was 66 years for businessman Kamel Ltaif, while opposition politician Khyam Turki received a 48-year sentence.