Rabat Considers Women-Only Buses Amid Controversial Driver Recruitment

On social networks, the subject is as passionate as it is divisive, with Internet users making all kinds of comments. At the origin of this agitation, the launch of a recruitment campaign for 180 bus drivers in the Rabat-Salé-Témara region, conducted by the Sforhet firm and the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (Anapec).

In reality, the announcement of this recruitment operation has brought back to the Internet users the memory of this project contested by the majority, but carried and defended by the mayor of the city of Rabat, Mohammed Sadiki, a few months ago and which had aroused lively controversies. The mayor of the capital who, through this project, thought to "offer women a pleasant and secure means of transport", had rather relaunched the debate on harassment towards women in public transport. A sensitive issue in the country.

Lahcen Elomrani, the deputy mayor, seems to settle the matter, stating to Médias24 that "the city of Rabat does not intend to introduce buses reserved for women". As if to confuse the mayor, Lahcen Elomrani, who also holds the position of vice-president of the city council, noted that "the idea was launched by the mayor but that no decision has been made". The recruitment in question would, according to him, aim to "strengthen the teams of the current buses and the future bus fleet of the city" of Rabat.

One thing is certain, on social networks, according to the HuffPost Maghreb, "the debate has been relaunched, and while some are delighted with this initiative, others see it as a step towards the exclusion of women and the separation of the sexes in Morocco".