Africa

After the announcement that Morocco would appoint its first female head of government – Marrakech mayor Fatima Zahra Mansouri – citizens interviewed by local television reporters were mostly enthusiastic. "It would be great if we had a female prime minister for a change. She'd lift our spirits a bit," one woman said. "Why don't we give women a chance? We've never had one [a female head of government] before," said another. "May God bless her and help her stay on a straight path." "Regardless of who takes on the role, it should be a change for the better in Morocco," a man added.Morocco's King Mohammed VI chose Fatima Zahra Mansouri to be the country's first female prime minister following September's parliamentary electionsImage: Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP Photo/picture alliance But there were...

On September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck the Al Haouz region in Morocco, killing over 2,900 people, injuring more than 5,500 and causing widespread destruction. In the village of Ighermane in the High Atlas Mountains, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Marrakech, Mohamed Ait Belaid, 72, feels like things are actually going pretty well for him three years later. He had been living in a tent after the earthquake but now resides in a newly built house, even though it's smaller than the one destroyed in the earthquake. "I benefited from partial [state] support and received 80,000 dirhams [around €7,300] for rebuilding," he told DW. "I added about 100,000 [€9,110] dirhams from my own pocket. And thanks to God, I like my new house and I'm comfortable in it. I'm at peace ...