Rabat – Morocco World News would like to announce an important update regarding the Toubkal Prize for Strategic Thinking. We had originally scheduled the results of this critical writing contest to coincide with our 15th anniversary. However, after evaluating the entries received so far, we regret to note that most did not meet the standards of originality and strategic depth we had hoped to promote.
While AI has understandably become an “indispensable” companion and assistant for many in the creative and writing fields, it is important that participants in a contest aimed at promoting depth, originality, and critical thinking invest the necessary effort in their essays. As such, our decision to postpone the contest’s deadline is motivated by a desire to both expand our pool of participants and to give earlier applicants a second chance to submit stronger, more original entries.
In the coming days, MWN will focus on organizing a conference in Rabat, as well as potential tours across Africa and beyond, to continue marking our 15-year milestone – which we celebrated earlier this month – while keeping up our mission of lucidly covering Morocco and unapologetically presenting its story to the world. As we extend the Toubkal contest’s deadline beyond the occasion of our anniversary, we sincerely hope participants will take seriously the challenge of original and critical strategic thinking in this AI-saturated age.
In the spirit of welcoming as many original essays as possible, the submission deadline is now July 15, 2026, with results to be announced by the end of September.
Eligibility Criteria:
Open to African citizens aged 18-35.
Essays must be submitted in English and be original.
Word count: 3,500–5,000 words.
Essay topics remain centered on strategic thinking, historical insight, and Africa’s shifting geopolitical landscape, including Western Sahara diplomacy, crisis management in the Sahel, and lessons from Africa’s global diplomacy.
Participants should submit essays in Word format, including a cover page with their name, age, nationality, and contact details, to: [email protected]
Winners will receive cash prizes, certificates of recognition, and publication on MWN’s website. The prizes remain the same as detailed in our initial announcement of this contest.
We look forward to your contributions and to celebrating the next generation of Africa’s original strategic thinkers.
