Morocco Essay -- essays research papers

Morocco,is a country in the northerlywestern corner of Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the north and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, separates Morocco from Spain by only about 8 miles (13 kilometers). Fertile plains lie along Moroccos coasts, and forested mountains stretch crosswise the middle of the country from southwest to northeast. Beyond the mountains lies a sun-baked desert, the Sahara. capital of Morocco is Moroccos capital, and Casablanca is the largest city. Nearly all Marocs are of mixed Arab and Spanish descent. But the people make up two distinct ethnic groups--Arab and Spanish--depending mainly on whether they speak Arabic or Spanish. Almost all Moroccans are Muslims. Farming is the chief occupation, and more than half the people live in rural lands. France and Spain controlled Morocco from the early 1900s until it won independence in 1956.Morocco is a constitutional mona rchy headed by a king. Its Constitution gives the king giving powers. For example, he commands the armed forces, may issue orders that have the force of law, and controls the major government agencies. The day-to-day work of Moroccos government is carried out by a height minister and a Cabinet of other ministers, all appointed by the king. The Chamber of Representatives makes Moroccos laws. Its 306 members serve six-year terms. The people elect two-thirds of the members. The rest are chosen by representatives of local governments, professional organizations, and other groups. All citizens who are 20 years of age or older may vote.Morocco is divided into 35 provinces and 6 prefectures. Rabat makes up one prefecture, and Casablanca the other five. A governor appointed by the king heads each province and prefecture. The provinces are further divided into smaller units. The field of study government controls all local governments.Moroccos Istiqlal (Independence) Party promotes the sp read of Arab culture and reforms based on Islamic teachings. The Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires (Socialist Union of Popular Forces) backs broad collectivist reforms. The conservative Mouvement Populaire (Popular Movement) generally supports the kings policies. Other political leave-takingies in Morocco ... ...r. Mauritania also wanted parts of the area. But the Polisario Front, an organization in Spanish Sahara, demanded independence. In 1976, Spain gave up the area to Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco claimed the northern part, and Mauritania the southern. The area came to be called westbound Sahara. The Polisario Front continued to demand independence for Western Sahara. Fighting broke out between the Front and forces from Morocco and Mauritania. Algeria and Libya provided military aid to the Front. In 1979, Mauritania gave up its claim to Western Sahara. Morocco then claimed the entire area. Fighting between Morocco and the Polisario Front continued. The cost of the fi ghting in Western Sahara drained the economy of Morocco. The economy also suffered when the world market price of phosphate rock, Moroccos chief export, dropped sharply in the 1980s. A cease-fire between Moroccan forces and those of the Polisario Front was declared in September 1991. The cease-fire plan also called for a referendum (direct vote) to determine whether Western Sahara would become independent or a part of Morocco.