Morocco’s King Appoints Members of Development Model Committee

King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Reuters file photo
King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Reuters file photo
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Morocco’s King Appoints Members of Development Model Committee

King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Reuters file photo
King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Reuters file photo

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed members of the new special committee in charge of the Kingdom’s development model.

The committee consists of 35 competent and impartial representatives and experts from a range of fields and industries, including prominent Moroccans from the public and private sectors.

Ambassador and former Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa was appointed by the King on November 19 as the committee’s president.

The highly competent members are required to submit an initial report that examines Morocco’s current political, social, and economic situation while considering the Kingdom’s achievements and reforms, along with citizens’ expectations.

It shall also consider Morocco’s international role as well as the country’s prospective developments, according to a statement by the Royal Court.

The report is expected to be submitted to the King on the summer of 2020 and include major required amendments and concrete initiatives to improve and renew the national development model.

Among the members are Adnane Addioui, co-founder of the “Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship” and “Wuluj” platform for participation in the financing of creative and innovative projects, Rajae Aghzadi, surgical practitioner, president of Moroccan Association “Heart of women,” Mohamed Amrani Boukhobza, dean of the Faculty of Law of Tetouan and Professor of Higher Education at the Faculty of Law of Tangier and Farida Benlyazid, film critic, director and screenwriter.

It also includes the international expert in energy strategy and sustainability, Laila Benali, who also serves as chief Economist, director of Strategy, economics and sustainability at APICORP and president of the Arab Energy Club.

Other members include Economist Mohamed Benmoussa, former administrator of the Deontological Council for Securities and vice-president of the Damir association, Rachid Benzine, professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Paris, Hamid Bouchikhi, expert in entrepreneurship and managerial innovation, dean of SolBridge International School of Business based in Daejeon, South Korea and member of the Moroccan Institute of Strategic Intelligence.

Ahmed Bounfour, Raja Chafil, Reda Chami Ahmed, Noureddine El Aoufi, Rita El Kadiri, Khadija EL Kamouny, Mohamed Fikrat, Rachid Guerraoui, Narjis Hilale, Hakima Himmich, Larbi Jaidi, Driss Jetto, Ahmed Joumani, Driss Ksikes, Ghita Lahlou El Yacoubi, Fouad Laroui, Khalid Machchate, Abdellatif Miraoui, Noureddine Omary, Ouhajou Lakbir, Hassan Rachik, Youssef Saadani, Saadia Slaoui Bennani, Karim Tazi, Mostafa Terrab, Mohamed Tozy and Michael Zaoui are the rest of the committee’s members.

Back in July, the Monarch called on Throne Day to address the needs of Morocco’s growing and modernizing population by forming this committee.

“I should like to emphasize, in this regard, that the said committee will not serve as a second government or be a parallel official institution. This is an advisory body with a specific time-bound mission,’’ said King Mohammed VI.

The special committee will consider serious reforms in education, health, agriculture, investment, and taxation. It is also expected to make suggestions on how to improve reforms the government has already put into place and increase their effectiveness.



Almost Half of Attacks on Heath Care in Lebanon Have Been Deadly, WHO Says

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Al-Khiyam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Al-Khiyam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Almost Half of Attacks on Heath Care in Lebanon Have Been Deadly, WHO Says

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Al-Khiyam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Al-Khiyam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world.

The UN health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more.

WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat.

Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah in the country two months ago.

The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday.