Casablanca – As the March 25 deadline approaches, Morocco World News is reminding young African thinkers that submissions remain open for the inaugural MWN Toubkal Prize for Strategic Thinking, launched to mark the outlet’s 15th anniversary in May 2026.
The new annual prize seeks to recognize rigorous analysis, historical awareness, and forward-looking ideas at a time when thoughtful, original writing is increasingly vital in the age of artificial intelligence
Named after Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, the prize symbolizes intellectual elevation and depth. Each year, it will also honor a prominent figure from Morocco’s intellectual tradition.
For its first edition, the prize pays tribute to Abdellah Laroui, the renowned Moroccan historian and philosopher whose work has shaped debates on modernity, history, and political thought in Morocco and the wider Arab world.
Laroui’s scholarship, known for bridging historical inquiry with contemporary critique, serves as the intellectual backdrop for this year’s competition.
The 2026 essay contest focuses on strategic thinking in relation to Africa’s geopolitical realities. MWN designed the initiative to encourage young Africans to engage critically with questions of diplomacy, crisis management, and historical perspective.
In recent years, Morocco has pursued a more assertive diplomatic posture on the continental and global stages, prompting renewed discussion about strategy, sovereignty, and Africa’s role in international affairs. The contest aims to materialize and recognize this momentum.
Participants, aged 18 to 35 and holding African citizenship, are invited to submit original essays in English between 3,500 and 5,000 words.
Writers may choose from four themes, including the need for strategic thinking in navigating Africa’s shifting geopolitical landscape, Western Sahara diplomacy, historical perspectives on Africa’s global diplomacy, and crisis management strategies in the Sahel.
Submissions must be sent in Word doc format and include a cover page with the participant’s name, age, nationality, and contact information. Essays should be emailed to [email protected] no later than March 25. Winners will be announced by May 30.
Five prizes will be awarded. The first-place winner will receive a $1,700 wire transfer, a certificate of recognition, and publication of their submission on the Morocco World News website.
Second and third prizes carry awards of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, while fourth and fifth place winners will receive $700 and $500. All winning essays will be published.
By submitting an essay, participants grant Morocco World News the right to publish and use the work, including the possibility of compiling selected essays in a collective volume.
With the deadline nearing, the call stands open for young African voices ready to contribute serious, grounded analysis to the continent’s ongoing conversations about history, strategy, and global engagement.
Read also: Announcing the MWN Toubkal Prize for Strategic Thinking
