Morocco’s Interior Minister Defends Last-Minute Eid Al Adha Travel Ban

On Sunday, July 26, five days before the Eid Al Adha holiday, around 8 p.m., Moroccans were surprised by the announcement of a ban on travel between cities, starting at midnight. If the announcement seemed ill-considered for some, it was rather well-reasoned, as well as the choice of the announcement time, says the Minister of the Interior: "There was no improvisation. We knew what we were doing when we published the decision at the last minute. We hoped that a minimum of people could travel," said Abdelouafi Laftit. But that was not the case.

Hoping to reach their families before the deadline, many Moroccans had stormed the roads, resulting in an unprecedented traffic jam and several serious accidents. "What do you want? That we announce the decision a week in advance to encourage people to travel?" asked the Minister of the Interior.