Moroccan report highlights steady growth, persistent fragilities in small businesses – The North Africa Post
Medium-sized firms represent only a small share of the total, while large enterprises account for an even smaller fraction. Despite its strategic importance, the manufacturing sector represents only 6.4 percent of total enterprises. The SARL remains the most common legal form among Moroccan businesses. Corporate entities accounted for 68,000 of these, reflecting a 5.5 percent rise and offsetting the decline of individual business registrations. Most newly created firms are very small, with almost all generating revenues below one million dirhams.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 17:37 UTC
Morocco’s 2026 Tax Code Emphasizes Compliance Over Rate Adjustments – The North Africa Post
Underlying Moroccan fiscal philosophy has evolved significantly in recent years, no longer prioritizing nominal rate adjustments but reducing non-taxation zones to prevent circumvention behaviors. This orientation reflects tax system maturity, now centered on robustness and predictability rather than periodic levy adjustments. Regarding fiscal control, the 2026 code emphasizes efficiency while reinforcing formalized guarantees accorded to taxpayers. The text equips tax administration with new tools, notably possibilities for conducting parallel accounting verification and personal fiscal situation examination. Source withholding generalization, tax payment anticipation, and declaration obligation multiplication directly affect their treasury and organization.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 16:56 UTC
Iran: Elite Paralysis and Systemic Decay
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Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 16:03 UTC
Paleontology: Moroccan hominin fossils shed light on the emergence of modern humans (Nature)
Press release Paleontology: Moroccan hominin fossils shed light on the emergence of modern humans (Nature)Hominin fossils discovered in Casablanca, Morocco, which have been dated to about 773,000 years ago, may be close ancestors of modern humans. The last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans, are thought to have lived around 765–550 thousand years ago. The Moroccan fossils combine ancient features seen in species such as Homo erectus with more modern traits found in H. sapiens and Neanderthals. The Moroccan fossils may not be the last common ancestors to modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans, but may be close ancestors, the authors note. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09914-yNews & Views: Of all the quarries: Casablanca fossils reveal African ancestors of Homo sapienshttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03986-6© 2026 Springer Nature Limited.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 15:33 UTC
African agrifood VC ‘does not need to follow the Silicon Valley growth trajectory’
Backing African agrifood startups based on their impact alone is not sustainable, according to Sherief Kesseba, managing partner at Climate Resilient Africa Fund (CRAF). With Africa migrating away from grants and donations, its agrifood ecosystem is evolving fast and has all the structural ingredients for outsized growth. AgFunderNews (AFN): From a VC perspective, how would you describe Africa’s agrifood ecosystem in 2025? One big understanding is that unit economics actually work, and that Africa does not need to follow the Silicon Valley growth trajectory. Reality is that going forward, it is not just about technology but also the ability to meet the required specifications for supply chain management.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 15:26 UTC
Flashpoints: How Emirati and Qatari Competition Is Redrawing the Red Sea Map
Charlotte Touati – Mondafrique: Two competing poles are now clearly taking shape in the contest for control over access to the Red Sea. The State of Somaliland, a Strategic IssueTo understand this turning point, it is necessary to revisit the deeper history of Somaliland. And yet, it long received no international recognition. The Hamas attack, another Iranian proxy, against Israel triggered the immediate reactivation of the Houthis, who blocked the southern Red Sea. Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, remains firmly opposed to any recognition of Somaliland, viewing it as an existential threat.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 14:52 UTC
UK lawmaker cites reports on Russian flights to Iran, gold airlift
Members of parliament have accused both the government and the public of contributing to the economic collapse that triggered the unrest. Speaking at a meeting with officials and academics on Tuesday, January 6, Pezeshkian acknowledged that responsibility for the current situation was shared. In his only intervention on protest so far, Khamenei appeared to urge authorities to tighten the control. Infighting unabatedSimilar claims were echoed by Esmail Kowsari, a Tehran lawmaker, IRGC officer and member of parliament’s national security committee. Kowsari also criticized the government for “leaving the markets uncontrolled” and suggested parliament should summon the president to explain the situation.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 13:40 UTC
Preventive hepatology for MASLD in the MENA region: reframing care from late-stage treatment to early intervention
Younossi, Z. M. et al. Younossi, Z. M. et al. Mapping metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease models of care across 17 Middle East and North Africa countries: insights into guidelines, infrastructure, and referral systems. Younossi, Z. M. et al. Frailty and risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and other chronic liver diseases.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 13:30 UTC
Tpay licensed for digital government payments in Egypt
Egypt’s regulator the NTRA (National Telecom Regulatory Authority) has granted tpay the country’s first licence to offer Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) for government payments. The move will enable citizens who own mobile phones but do not hold bank accounts or cards to pay for essential government services – such as electricity and utility bills, traffic fines, and civil registry services – directly via their devices, either using their mobile balance or by adding fees to their monthly bill. This could have an immense impact on advancing access to digital payments in Egypt; financial inclusion data cited by local outlet Egypt Today notes that while only 76.3% of adults in the market hold active bank accounts, access to mobile internet is nearly universal. Isik Uman, Group CEO of tpay, said that the development would enable “secure and frictionless payments for government services via mobile numbers”, adding that it laid “the foundation for a national digital payment channel that broadens access, improves convenience, and supports Egypt’s evolving digital economy.”
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 11:10 UTC
Morocco’s Water Authority Implements Digital Investment Management System – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water is deploying new digital solutions dedicated to investment programming and monitoring, marking a key modernization step in governance and management processes as part of the water branch’s digital transformation roadmap. The office emphasized digitalization acceleration necessity for modernizing operations and improving management, developing a digital roadmap accompanied by structuring initiative portfolio. Priority projects include investment programming and monitoring, aimed at optimizing planning, budgeting, and investment project piloting. Increased public and private actor intervention in drinking water production will also integrate within study scope. Business aspects concern multi-year investment programming, budget preparation and monitoring, financial commitment piloting, multi-level reporting, and investment scenario simulation and analysis.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 11:00 UTC
Maersk North America Market Update - January 2026
Table of contentsTo receive the Maersk North America Market Update in your inbox, sign up for our logistics newsletter here and update your preferences when prompted via email. Maersk offers logistics capabilities that combine network expertise with technology platforms to support supply chain visibility and planning. Read more in our Global Market Update. Navigating 2026 Trade Compliance: Join us and USFIA for a webinar on January 15 at 2:00 PM EST, covering the 2026 trade outlook, identifying compliance risks, and strategies to reduce impact. Inland Update Drayage: The drayage market enters 2026 with underlying pressures that could affect capacity and timing at key ports.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 10:38 UTC
Morocco to Ban Frozen Sardine Exports From Feb. 1
NewsMorocco will ban frozen sardine exports starting Feb. 1 to protect domestic supply and prices. Sardine landings fell 46% between 2022 and 2024 due to stock depletion and overfishing. Morocco will ban exports of frozen sardines starting Feb. 1, Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries Zakia Driouich said on Monday, Jan. 5. Morocco remains the world’s leading producer and exporter of canned sardines, shipping nearly 15,000 tons to markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The group also urged authorities to ban the capture of juvenile fish and enforce biological rest periods to ensure stock sustainability.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 08:49 UTC
Jubilee Metals Sells South African PGM and Chrome Assets
UK-based Jubilee Metals has completed the sale of its platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome operations in South Africa to local mining company One Chrome. The divestment allows Jubilee Metals to focus on expanding its copper business in Zambia, where the company is targeting growth through exploration and development projects. Jubilee Metals will retain its stake in the Tjate platinum project in South Africa, maintaining exposure to the country’s PGM sector while streamlining its operational focus. South Africa remains one of the world’s largest producers of chrome and PGMs, with the sector contributing significantly to export revenues and employment. Divestments like this reflect a broader trend of companies refocusing portfolios toward higher-growth or strategically important projects in other parts of Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 06:01 UTC
Early hominins from Morocco basal to the Homo sapiens lineage
We documented layers, special features and profiles in 3D models using total station measurements, digital photographs and drawings. Three-dimensional coordinates of anatomical landmarks and curve semilandmarks were digitized on the surface models using Landmark Editor (v.3.0.0.6)60. 3D EDJ shape analysisThe shape of the EDJ was examined for multiple tooth positions represented in the ThI-GH sample and compared to a sample of fossil hominins as well as early and recent modern humans. With a few exceptions (for example, Atapuerca material) morphological assessment and crown measurements of the comparative material were taken from the original specimens using Mitutoyo digital callipers. Comparative samples involve Neanderthals, early and recent H. sapiens, as well as early and lower Pleistocene hominins, some from Northern Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 04:35 UTC
US forces attempt to board oil tanker after pursuit across Atlantic
US forces attempt to board oil tanker after pursuit across Atlantic1 day ago Share Save Patrick Jackson , Kathryn Armstrong and Kayleen Devlin , BBC Verify Share SaveHakon Rimmereid via Reuters The Bella 1 recently had its name changed to the MarineraThe US is carrying out an operation to seize a tanker linked to Venezuelan oil, an official tells CBS, the BBC's US news partner. Previously named Bella 1, its name has been changed to Marinera and it has also reportedly been reflagged from a Guyanese to a Russian vessel. Russia has reportedly deployed a submarine and other vessels to escort an oil tanker - which is also being pursued by US forces - across the Atlantic. The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. "For reasons unclear to us, the Russian ship is being given increased and clearly disproportionate attention by the US and Nato military, despite its peaceful status," it said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2026 03:17 UTC