Team of the week: return of flood victims and major diplomatic breakthrough in Madrid

Sunday 15 February 2026 - 16:07

By: Sahili Aya

Team of the week: return of flood victims and major diplomatic breakthrough in Madrid

As it does every week, the platform Walaw unveils its selection of personalities who made headlines across various sectors.

Morocco has just gone through a decisive week marked by two parallel dynamics.

On the domestic front, the country has moved from the emergency relief phase to structured recovery following the devastating floods that struck the North and West. Tens of thousands of residents have gradually and safely returned to their homes in Larache, Kenitra and Sidi Slimane.

On the international stage, the Madrid discussions opened a new chapter in the Sahara dossier following a carefully conducted diplomatic initiative led by Nasser Bourita, which resulted in the development of a “2026 Roadmap” under direct United States sponsorship.

On the economic front, the launch of the strategic Safran project has strengthened Morocco’s positioning within the global aerospace industry.

Tactical formation adopted: 4-2-3-1

For this edition, the editorial team selected a balanced structure built around a 4-2-3-1 formation combining defensive solidity and attacking capacity, reflecting the equilibrium observed between domestic crisis management and diplomatic and economic action abroad.

Goalkeeper

1 – Abdelouafi Laftit
Minister of the Interior
A true institutional last line of defense, he coordinated field operations, structured official communication and supervised the gradual return of residents, preventing any disorder.

Defense

2 – Mohammed Berrid
General, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces
He oversaw a large-scale mobilization of military resources — helicopters, boats and trucks — to rescue victims, evacuate those stranded and support cleanup and reconstruction operations. A decisive performance at a critical moment.

3 – Abdellatif Hammouchi
Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance
A regular figure in this selection, he orchestrated the deployment of security forces, set up mobile assistance units and played a central role within the national monitoring cell, combining operational efficiency with a strong human dimension.

4 – Ihssane Lotfi
General, Inspector General of Civil Protection
A new entry in defense, he led rescue teams equipped with heavy machinery to evacuate victims, clear affected areas and distribute aid. His intervention stood out for its speed and discipline.

5 – Nizar Baraka
Minister of Equipment and Water
His management of hydraulic infrastructure earned him a place this week: controlled release from Oued El Makhazine Dam, reopening of 124 road sections, mobilization of 390 heavy machines, drone monitoring and exceptional water inflow exceeding 12 billion cubic meters.

Midfield

6 – Lhoussaine Youabd
Head of Communication, General Directorate of Meteorology
He provided a detailed scientific analysis of the causes of the floods, ranking winter 2026 as the third wettest ever recorded, while announcing improved weather conditions from Sunday, February 15, and warning of a new disturbance.

8 – Younes Sekkouri
Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills
His address before the House of Councillors highlighted striking figures: ANAPEC fails each year to meet more than 100,000 job opportunities. The integration program currently includes 130,000 beneficiaries, with targets of 150,000 in 2026 and 200,000 in the near future, including support for flood-affected populations.

Attack

7 – Ahmed El Bouari
Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests
A new offensive entrant, he coordinated efforts to save crops and livestock, assess agricultural losses and support farmers through compensation programs.

10 – Aziz Akhannouch
Head of Government
Present in Addis Ababa at the end of the week as representative of His Majesty the King at the African summit, he also helped resolve the lawyers’ crisis and court paralysis. He oversaw overall government coordination, declared disaster zones, allocated 3 billion dirhams for relief and compensation, and supervised field committees responsible for safe return and reconstruction.

11 – Karim Zidane
Delegate Minister for Investment, Convergence and Public Policy Evaluation
He chaired the launch of the Safran project in Nouaceur — a plant dedicated to manufacturing aircraft landing systems. The investment, exceeding €280 million, is expected to create 500 direct jobs and strengthen Morocco’s position in the global industrial chain.

Striker

9 – Nasser Bourita
Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates
He led the Madrid negotiations at the United States embassy, presented an updated and expanded version of the autonomy proposal based on UN Security Council Resolution 2797, and prepared the next stage in Washington within the framework of the “Madrid 2026 Roadmap.”

New entries

Ihssane Lotfi (No. 4) — Operational command of Civil Protection
Karim Zidane (No. 11) — Launch of the Safran project

Notable returns

Mohammed Berrid — No. 2
Nizar Baraka — No. 5
Ahmed El Bouari — No. 7
Younes Sekkouri — No. 8

Consistent performers

Abdelouafi Laftit — No. 1
Abdellatif Hammouchi — No. 3
Lhoussaine Youabd — No. 6
Nasser Bourita — No. 9
Aziz Akhannouch — No. 10

This selection highlights Morocco’s ability to simultaneously manage natural crises, achieve diplomatic progress and attract strategic investments. A cohesive team, solid in defense and inspired in attack. The game, meanwhile, continues.

To discover the selection of the previous week (February 8–14, 2026), see:

https://en.walaw.press/article/GQQSGMXFXRGW