Morocco’s Prime Minister Warns Ukraine War Impacts Global Economy, Including Morocco

"The war in Ukraine is complicating things," estimated Aziz Akhannouch, in front of the media, after his monthly meeting with the heads of the two other parties in the government majority, Abdellatif Ouahbi (Authenticity and Modernity Party, PAM) and Nizar Baraka (Istiqlal). "As you know, Europe is experiencing a major war. And economically, this war has consequences for the whole world, including Morocco," reports H24info.

Repeatedly questioned about the rise in prices despite the government’s promises to control them, Aziz Akhannouch stressed that things are more complicated than they appear. "We are not in an ordinary situation, and things are complicated, because there are global problems related to the supply of raw materials, but also to the increase in energy and food prices, especially cereals."

For the head of government, Morocco had just emerged from the crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic when the Russian-Ukrainian crisis began. "The reality is there, but our country, thank God, remains safe," he added. However, he reassures about the availability of all products in Morocco, despite the high prices. "When you go out to do your shopping, you can see that food is available in abundance, despite this difficult year of drought, mitigated however by the recent rains," he specified.

For his part, the Minister of Equipment and Water and Secretary General of the Istiqlal, Nizar Baraka, stated that the government majority is "fully aware of the difficult situation the country is going through due to external shocks, particularly the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its repercussions at the international level, in terms of basic raw materials, and its consequences for citizens".

He stresses that the government is determined and is doing everything necessary so that the consequences are less for Moroccans, "especially the middle and lower classes", as well as for Moroccan companies, especially small and medium-sized ones "which are suffering from an alarming crisis".