In the heartbeat of Morocco’s narrative, the echoes of women’s resilience resonate profoundly. Prophet Mohammed’s assertion that “Women are counterparts of men/akin to men” finds vibrant expression in the tapestry of Moroccan society, as we commemorate the International Day of Women’s Rights on March 8th.
Barlaman Today will take you on a journey through the achievements of Moroccan women in 2023—a year painted with both triumphs and tribulations, including the seismic ripples of the September 7th earthquake. These women–known for their strength, beauty, intelligence, and charisma–have left an indelible mark on a nation navigating the complexities of progress and adversity.
We cannot start the list with a woman other than the head of Morocco’s Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra, who has led the institution since 2003. An ironclad Moroccan engineer and politician, she was Morocco’s Minister of Energy in the El Fassi government from 2007-2022.
During her presidency, many gas sites were discovered, including Guercif, Tindrara, Larache, Legzira and Boujdour. She gathered–alongside current Minister of Energy Leila Benali–more than 180 participants all over the world in Marrakech during the 3rd Oil and Gas Summit in October representing international oil companies, national energy companies, and national companies in charge of the Morocco-Nigeria Pipeline Project.
Benkhadra oversees the Morocco-Nigeria Pipeline project, which is a crucial project to Mororocco’s and West African economy, and a priority to the Kingdom, -as King Mohammed VI said in his Green March speech in 2022: “Considering the special importance I attach to the partnership with West African countries, I consider the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project to be more than just a bilateral project between two sister nations”- the construction of which will begin this year.
Continuing with Moroccan women’s talent and achievement, there is also Nadia Fettah Allaoui, who became the first woman to be appointed Morocco’s Minister of Finance in 2021. Since she took the lead at the Ministry, the Kingdom’s real GDP growth fell from 8 % in 2021 to 1.3 % in 2022, according to the World Bank. However, in 2023, Morocco’s economy registered a growth of 4.8% thanks to the partial recovery of agricultural production, the rebound of the tourism sector, and the positive contribution of net exports.
Fettah fostered tax fairness, broadened the tax base, and improved tax transparency for taxpayers, noting that the 2023 Appropriation Bill had taken a major step in the gradual convergence towards a unified corporate income tax (CIT) rate, moving initially from 6 rates to just 3 (20%, 35% and 40%).
Fettah has strengthened the social solidarity contribution on profits and income, which has been renewed for 3 years (2023, 2024 and 2025) as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the New Development Model (NMD), which called for greater mobilization of taxation for social solidarity.
Sahrawi Aicha Duihi, Human Rights Activist, President of the International Observatory for Peace Democracy and Human Rights in Geneva, and one of Morocco’s pillars in defending the National Sacred cause–“Territorial Integrity” in the international sphere—is another Moroccan juggernaut of accomplishment.
Aicha never misses an opportunity to reveal the miserable situation of the inhabitants of the Tindouf camps who live under the “mercy” of Polisario’s militia and Algerian Military regime, and consistently reminds the world of the alarming situation that the inhabitants suffer in the camps.
The activist’s voice is also in support of all basic human rights, as she reflected her cultural background–the Moroccan identity and spirit–in refusing all kinds of discrimination through her effective participation with a huge Moroccan delegation at UN Treaty Bodies reunion last November, and at the African Descent Conference regarding the scarcity of official data on the “systemic racism” in many countries.
Another remarkable woman who shined in 2023 is Samira Stail, the newly appointed ambassador to France after a longstanding empty chair at the Moroccan embassy in Paris. The former journalist and former editor-in-chief of national channel 2M is indeed a woman of principle.
Her rage to defend her country has been the talk of the town during the last three months of 2023, after her intervention on BMF TV following the earthquake that hit the North African country, in which Samira defended her country following journalists’ attacks on Morocco when it thanked France for its offer to assist but refused to accept it.
The French media’s poisonous and heinous allegations, claimed that Stail is a “mouthpiece for the Makhzen.” She responded, “No one is paying me to defend my country,” and that it was a “shame” that an allied country had faulted Morocco for its choices, essentially attempting to manipulate Moroccan public opinion against its leadership. She noted that this French criticism was happening at a time when France is limiting visas to Moroccans.
Professor Najia El Abbadi became the new President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), assuming her position on December 7, 2023 at the 18th World Congress of Neurosurgery in Cape Town, South Africa. She is the first Arab and African woman to be chosen as President of the WFNS.
Najia, the first woman and the first African and Arab woman in the world to assume this prestigious responsibility, has also earned the recognition of her colleagues in the Arab world, as she has chaired the Pan-Arab Society of Neurosurgery since 2018.
With her impressive leadership, the dedicated doctor now aspires to new responsibilities and is embarking on an electoral battle to run for the post of president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, a non-governmental organization comprising 134 learned societies.
Proudly representing Morocco on the international stage, Rajaa Cherkaoui El Moursli is a Moroccan researcher who has contributed to the advancement of nuclear physics, and won the prestigious Women in Nuclear (WiN) 2023 International Excellence Award in recognition of her contributions to education and research in the nuclear sciences.
In 1996, she played an important role in Morocco’s involvement in the worldwide ATLAS cooperation at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
Moursli Cherkaoui is ranked among the 200 most influential researchers in the world in 2022, according to the Alper Dodger scientific index, as she is a member of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and serves on the “For Women in Science” international jury.
Asmae El Moudir’s name shines brilliantly across the globe thanks to her latest film, “The Mother of All Lies.” The famous filmmaker notched the “Étoile d’Or Grand Prix” at the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM).
The same film garnered the official competition prize at the 70th annual Sydney Film Festival (SFF), which was held on June 7-18 in Sydney (Australia), announced the festival in a tweet. The prize is valued at $41,000. “The Mother of All Lies” will represent Morocco in the “Best International Film” section at the 2024 Oscars.
The 34 year-old filmmaker has demonstrated an illustrious career, already having directed eight movies and winning seven awards, including Grand Prix, IsReal Film Festival de Nuoro in 2021, and both Best Documentary and Best Director categories at Festival de Cannes in 2023.
Khadija Mardi, a boxer, never stopped waving Morocco’s flag internationally last year. She started with the gold at Women’s World Boxing Championships held in New Delhi in March after defeating the Kazakhstani Lazzat Kungeibayeva, and became the first Moroccan, Arab, and African woman champion in boxing.
The Casablancaise champion defeated her Congolese adversary and took the gold medal at the African Boxing Championships (Yaoundé-2023), leading the Moroccan team to top the tournament with 13 medals, including 8 gold.
The 18 year-old Aya El Aouni, ranked 875 internationally in 2023, represented Morocco at the W15 Heraklion Tennis Tournament held in Greece last October, and brought the gold home after defeating Spaniard Claudia Hoste Ferrer in three sets (2-6, 6-4, 6-3).
Bouchra Karkoubi is a true Moroccan woman warrior as a wife, mother, police officer, former football player, and a talented referee. She made history not only by becoming one of the first female referees, but also by becoming an internationally renowned professional, as she became the first Arab woman to referee a match at the Men’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 held in Cote d’Ivoire.
She refereed the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, as well as the final of Morocco’s Throne Cup between AS FAR and Maghreb Atletico Tetuan in May, 2022.
Karboubi’s extraordinary contributions to football were acknowledged on January 10 in Dubai, where she received the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Creative Sports.
These and other women earned great achievements in 2023 in different fields, including but not limited to diplomacy, economy, renewables, IT, art, and athletics. In addition, there have been those who have contributed to the economic life, those who are taking care of future generations working from home, and those who are working in the mountains and countryside, and those who endure extreme cold and heat every single day just to bring home a piece of bread.
As we commemorate International Women’s Day, let us pay tribute to the resilience and strength of women who endured immense hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake. Their stories serve as a testament to the unbreakable spirit of women, highlighting the need for ongoing support, empowerment, and recognition of their invaluable contributions to rebuilding communities and fostering positive change.