Morocco’s Youth Uprising: King Urged to Address National Crisis

"We are a group of daughters and sons of this nation. We are addressing you because you hold the ultimate authority, and therefore the ultimate responsibility in this country. The people of Morocco are suffering, its youth are shouting it loudly in the streets for ten days. So far, the authorities’ reaction has been repression and hundreds of arrests. Regrettable but predictable acts of violence have followed, some of which have caused deaths. The situation is serious, and it is our duty to speak to you before a fatal mechanism, God forbid, leads our country into the unknown," indicated the signatories of the letter published on the Change.org website.

They recall in their note that "the youth of Morocco, the beating heart of our society, are demanding a reform of health and education - and beyond, of governance. These demands, supported by the entire people, are legitimate. They require a concrete, profound and political response. Only a response of this type will be able to appease the tensions, bring back reason and restore hope. The young people of Generation Z are demanding the fall of the government of Aziz Akhannouch." The signatories express their support for the young protesters on this point. "We can only support them in this demand, which will have to be implemented through the appropriate constitutional means," they affirm, stressing that "what is really necessary is to address the deep and structural causes of the anger shaking our country."

To this end, actions must be taken along three essential axes: "the moralization of power, which requires a sincere and effective fight against corruption, the rentier economy, clientelism and the collusion between money and authority; the priorities of the State, which must be focused on the essential needs of the people - education, health and job creation - instead of persisting in lavish expenses such as the world’s largest football stadium, Africa’s fastest trains, etc.; and the credibility of institutions, which can only be restored by rigorously linking the effective exercise of power to political accountability to the people - and where appropriate, criminal liability before the courts."

In the medium and long term, the signatories consider it "essential that Morocco engage in these paths of reform with determination." In the short term, they call on the authorities to "convince the Moroccans, Generation Z in the lead, of the reality and seriousness of this determination" through "tangible acts." To this end, they invite King Mohammed VI to "present, on behalf of the State, [his] condolences to the families of the victims of recent days and [to] commit to ensuring that serious and transparent investigations into these tragedies are carried out, and that those responsible are held accountable." They also call on the Sovereign to strengthen human rights by releasing "all detainees of the GenZ212 movement and all other political and opinion prisoners in Morocco, starting with those of the Hirak of the Rif" and by promoting freedom of the press and expression.

The signatories also recommend that the monarch "launch a process of constitutional reform that enshrines (really, this time) the democratic sovereignty of the people, fundamental freedoms and the separation of powers" and "open a fully representative national dialogue, aimed at re-examining Morocco’s economic and social priorities and the means to implement them [...] and to redirect the budgets thus released towards public health and education." And they conclude: "Our hope is immense that by taking these measures, you will open, after twenty-six years of your reign and as a new generation is emerging, the way to a real reconciliation of all the daughters and sons of this country - a path that guarantees to all what our young people have been chanting in the streets for ten days: dignity, freedom, social justice."