Morocco
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Kingdom of Morocco
Country name - conventional short form : Morocco
Country name - local long form : Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
Country name - local short form : Al Maghrib
Government type : constitutional monarchy
Capital - name : Rabat
Capital - time difference : UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Population : 34,343,220 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Moroccan(s)
Nationality - adjective : Moroccan
Languages : Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Currency (code) : Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code : MAD
Morocco is located Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara. The climate is Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior. The terrain is northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Improvements in human rights have occurred and there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
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