Morocco Considers Tamazight Language Requirement for Citizenship

A new condition could be imposed on people applying for Moroccan nationality. This is the mastery of Tamazight. The Istiqlal group in the House of Representatives "has submitted a bill adding the mastery of the second official language of the kingdom as a naturalization criterion". The adoption of this text would imply that any applicant for Moroccan nationality must have knowledge of Arabic or Tamazight. To date, only knowledge of the language of Sibawayh is mandatory. This bill has already received the approval of the government and its head Aziz Akhannouch, and will be submitted for discussion and adoption in Parliament from next week, Le360 believes.

What are the conditions to be met to obtain Moroccan nationality? The Moroccan Nationality Code provides for three cases of acquisition of nationality: acquisition of nationality by double jus soli and residence in Morocco, acquisition by kafala and acquisition by marriage. "Acquisition of nationality by the grace of the law is provided for in three cases: birth of at least two generations in Morocco and their residence, Kafala (Article 9 of the Moroccan Nationality Code) and the marriage of a foreign woman to a Moroccan (Article 10 of the Moroccan Nationality Code)."