Morocco travel guide
Morocco is situated in the north of Africa, it is bordered to the south by Western Sahara, to the south east and east is Algeria. To the west is the Atlantic Ocean and to the nortyh east the Mediterranean sea.
Total Area:446,550 sq km
Land Borders: Algeria, Western Sahara, Spain
Population: 33,241,259
Life Expectancy: 71 years
HIV % Total Poulation:0.1%
Ethnic Groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Prime Minister:Driss JETTOU
GDP - Per Capita: $4,200
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. Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.