Stranded Moroccans Plea to King Mohammed VI for Urgent Repatriation Amid Border Closure

In their letter, the Moroccans stranded abroad say they have waited three weeks without any prospect of a return possibility, before addressing the king who remains the last resort. "We are now exhausting our financial resources and our mental health is deteriorating," they say.

For most of them, these Moroccans were surprised by the precipitous closure of borders, decided on Friday, March 13, and find themselves unable to return home, and exposed to all risks. "Our resources are in Morocco and we are no longer able to continue to live with dignity in a country that is not ours. Added to this is the suffering of being separated from our wives, our husbands and our young children," can be read in the letter cited by TelQuel.

Despite the distance and the measures imposed in each country where they are located, these Moroccans living abroad have gathered in different WhatsApp or Facebook groups. Yassine is a marketing consultant stranded in Béziers, France. He says they have knocked on many doors, without being able to find the expected help. "We are stuck in France, Spain, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Thailand and other countries," the letter states. Among the signatories, there are also nationals stuck in Sri Lanka and Senegal.

These impatient Moroccan nationals to return to the country say they are ready to comply with the requirements of the Moroccan government, such as quarantine and various laboratory tests. "Every day, we see citizens from all over the world returning to their countries: French, Germans, Algerians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Koreans." This, they say, fuels their distress, while "Morocco is congratulating itself on organizing the departure of foreigners stranded in the kingdom," they noted. Yassine, registered in a WhatsApp group that brings together 250 members stuck in France, evokes a common feeling that comes up in the various messages: "Why doesn’t Morocco help us get back?"

On April 6, another letter received by TelQuel, from another collective of 400 Moroccans stranded in France, solemnly appeals to the king for essential repatriation. "Faced with the incomprehensible silence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has left us without visibility, we solemnly appeal to our King His Majesty Mohammed VI, to kindly take into account the situation and give his instructions to allow the return of all Moroccans stranded abroad for 20 days," it reads.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently does not plan to repatriate Moroccans who remain stranded abroad following the suspension of international air links with Morocco. They are called upon to turn to the Moroccan diplomatic representations for any consular assistance, the same source specifies.