Morocco Unveils Ambitious Plan to Tackle Youth Unrest and Inequality

The Moroccan government sees the youth demonstrations that have shaken the kingdom in recent weeks as an opportunity. The Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, believes that these protests will help "energize" and "accelerate" public policies, as King Mohammed VI urged during his speech delivered at the opening of the parliamentary session. "We have noticed a decrease in mobilizations, but we consider that the king’s speech has given a vision," Baraka explained in an interview with Europa Press.

The minister defends the "emergency plan" put in place in recent years, the main objective of which is to reduce social and territorial inequalities. He recalls that King Mohammed VI had already warned against the risk of having "a two-speed Morocco" and that the government’s objective would now be to work for a "single-speed Morocco" that takes into account the youth. A major challenge when we know that the unemployment rate for young people aged 15-24 reaches 36.7%.

Baraka affirms that the government not only "understands" the protests of the GenZ 212 collective, but had "anticipated" them. The employment plan is among the top priorities, as is the development of rural areas where the poverty rate is still around 12%, or double that of urban areas, the official said, adding that his department is working to combine infrastructure and social development in order to "improve the situation" of all and guarantee their "dignity", especially for young people often tempted by immigration.

On the migration issue, Baraka welcomes the cooperation with Spain. The security forces of the two countries work like "one team", the government member rejoiced, describing this collaboration as "wonderful" and which has helped reduce immigration to Europe. But Spain can play a major role in the development of Morocco, he also notes, recalling that nearly a thousand Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises are already established in Morocco, which absorbs nearly half of Spanish exports to Africa. "Morocco is a very dynamic market for Spain, which also contributes to establishing important links," he insisted.

Spain could support Morocco in green hydrogen, continues Baraka, who does not fail to mention the mega-project of the tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar, which would help to streamline the transit of people and goods. The work would constitute "a true bridge between Europe and Africa". The Moroccan minister also mentions the good relations between the two countries, highlighting the strong ties of "friendship, brotherhood and common destiny." For Baraka, Spain, which has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, ambitions like Morocco to make the Mediterranean "a zone of prosperity and stability".