Stranded Moroccans Urge King’s Help for COVID-19 Repatriation, Plan Global Protests

Moroccans stuck abroad due to COVID-19 can no longer stand living away from their country, despite all the measures taken to be able to return to Morocco. The 22,000 Moroccans stranded abroad have decided to make themselves heard. To force the government to find a solution, they are calling for sit-ins on May 11, in front of the Moroccan embassies and consulates, around the world. The objective of this outburst is to call on the king for help, for their repatriation, because they no longer trust the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The press release, which recalls that the sit-ins are scheduled for May 11 from 1 pm, specifies that it is in despair that these Moroccans stranded abroad have decided to organize this sit-in. Through this demonstration, they are calling on the parliament as an institution to control government action, to exercise its prerogatives to demand their repatriation from the executive, in addition to requesting royal intervention. They say they have been abandoned by the government, which has been unable to repatriate them for months.

Mohamed Basri, the Ambassador Director of Consular and Social Affairs, said in an interview with Radio 2M that arrangements are being made to organize and successfully repatriate Moroccans stranded abroad. For the ambassador, repatriation rhymes with the success of the health security bet for repatriated and resident Moroccans, especially in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The repatriation of these compatriots is a concern for the government of the kingdom, insisted Mohamed Basri.