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Executive
branch:
chief
of state:
King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9
October 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime
minister appointed by the monarch following legislative
elections
Capital:
Rabat
Population:
32,725,847
(July 2005 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Land boundaries:
total:
2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443
km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 kmtotal:
2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443
km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
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 eroded;
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 in 1997.
Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in
September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September
2003.
Administrative divisions:
14
regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental,
Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal,
Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the
political status of which is considered undetermined by the
United States Government; one additional region, Oued
Eddahab-Lagouira, falls entirely within Western Sahara; another
region, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sahia El Hamra, falls mostly within
Western Sahara; a small portion of this region, in the
southwestern part of the country, falls within
Moroccan-administered territory as recognized by the United
States; the province of Guelmim-Es Smara lies in both entities
International
organization participation:
ABEDA,
ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
GDP
(purchasing power parity):
$139.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing
power parity - $4,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by
sector:
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 35.7%
services: 42.6% (2004 est.)
Agriculture
- products:
barley,
wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:
phosphate
rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods,
textiles, construction, tourism
By
the
Courtesy of World
Fact Book - Morocco and
Wikipedia
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