Moroccans urged to leave cars at home for one hour on October 18
Moroccan motorists are being urged to leave their vehicles parked on Sunday, October 18, for one hour. The grassroots initiative aims to protest rising fuel prices and call for measures to protect purchasing power.
On Sunday, October 18, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., cars and motorcycles could stay off the roads in several Moroccan cities. This is the action proposed by the Committee for the Citizen Initiative to Cap Fuel Prices. In an appeal issued on October 11, the group is inviting citizens to voluntarily give up motorized travel for one hour, under the slogan “One Hour for Purchasing Power and Social Dignity.”
On Bladi.net : Moroccan diesel tops 16 dirhams a litre, adding nearly 175 dirhams to a 50-litre fill-up since July
The mobilization comes after a new round of pump price increases. Since the start of October, diesel has topped 16 dirhams per liter at several stations across the Kingdom. The latest increase, of around 80 centimes, means an extra 40 dirhams for a 50-liter fill-up alone. Compared with the beginning of July, the same fill-up costs nearly 175 dirhams more.
For the organizers, the problem goes far beyond motorists’ budgets. Higher fuel prices affect transport costs, the distribution of goods and the prices of many everyday products. Lower-income households bear the consequences, even when they do not own a car.
One hour without cars, but no road blockades
The group stresses that the action is peaceful and voluntary. It is not calling for roads to be blocked or for other motorists to be prevented from traveling. Medical emergencies and essential travel are expressly excluded from the appeal.
In an opinion piece, the initiative’s deputy general coordinator explains that the hour-long stoppage is intended to turn individual discontent into a collective message to the authorities. “One hour alone will not solve the cost-of-living problem,” he acknowledges, while arguing that a mobilization can give the demands greater visibility.
On Bladi.net : Diesel has risen by 2.40 dirhams in a month and a half in Morocco
Beyond this one-day action, the organizers are calling for caps on fuel prices and profit margins, greater transparency in how prices are set, and stronger competition oversight. They are also seeking targeted measures for low-income households and the opening of a dialogue with the authorities.
The committee is also continuing its signature drive for a national petition calling for price caps. For the October 18 action, it is seeking participation from citizens as well as associations, trade unions and human rights organizations. The gathering is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Morocco time.
