Morocco Faces Setbacks in COVID-19 Exit Strategy as Cases Rise

The many letters of congratulation received by Morocco to salute the health and socio-economic measures taken at the beginning of the crisis have contributed to the failure of its deconfinement policy. For maghreb-intelligence, the Moroccan government has entrenched itself in a certain triumphalism, which has become exasperating over time.

Contrary to its commitment and the dynamism it has shown since the first cases were recorded, the government seems to be stagnating. According to the same media, the contaminations have started to rise again, often reaching 200 cases per day. The silence in which the government has been entrenched for a few days, adds to the fear and psychosis of the population.

At this rate, Moroccans still don’t know if they will be deconfined on May 20. Some, on the other hand, still don’t understand the content of the deconfinement. Less than a week before the date initially announced for the lifting of confinement, the deep silence of the El Othmani government leaves public opinion prey to rumors and speculation, it is specified.

The other issue that is the subject of fierce protests is the fate of the 27,000 Moroccan citizens still stranded abroad and demanding their repatriation to their country.

While demonstrations took place earlier this week in Algeciras, Paris, Lille, Istanbul, Algiers, Oran and Dijon to demand the repatriation of Moroccans to their countries, others have chosen to sue the Moroccan state in the competent courts. Meanwhile, Algeria and Egypt have chartered special flights to repatriate their citizens.