The Escalating Crisis in Morocco
Amine Bouchaib, a Moroccan writer residing in Italy, argues that the current situation faced by Moroccans transcends a mere issue of rising prices or a temporary crisis linked to fluctuations in international markets. Contrary to the narrative promoted by the government through its official media and spokespersons who tout 'illusory achievements', the reality is far more alarming. Bouchaib emphasizes that we are witnessing a systematic policy aimed at breaking the will of the Moroccan citizen, instilling feelings of helplessness and daily humiliation, effectively transforming the aspirations for freedom, dignity, and social justice into a distant dream.
The writer points out that the manifestations of this political and social vendetta began at the moment when Moroccans took to the streets to demand their rights to freedom, justice, and the fight against corruption and tyranny. As soon as the people broke the barrier of fear and raised their voices against an economy characterized by rent-seeking behavior and monopolization of wealth and power, certain influential circles began to perceive citizens not as partners in the nation, but as adversaries that needed to be subdued and brought back into the 'house of obedience'.
When Moroccans launched a popular boycott against companies associated with Aziz Akhannouch, the prevailing mentality governing the country became evident. Citizens were not treated as free consumers exercising their legitimate right to economic protest; rather, they were regarded as 'rebels' deserving of punishment. Bouchaib recalls the condescending language used by Akhannouch, who spoke of the necessity for 're-education', as if the population were merely a herd that needed to be indoctrinated into obedience instead of being listened to regarding their legitimate demands.
Economic Strain and Psychological Pressure
Since that time, Bouchaib notes, it appears as though there is an unspoken decision to push Moroccans further into poverty and psychological and social pressure. The prices of essential goods have skyrocketed: oil, sugar, vegetables, meat, fuel, transportation, electricity, water, education, and healthcare have all become burdensome for millions of Moroccan families. Meanwhile, salaries have remained stagnant, as if citizens are expected to bear the brunt of political and economic failures alone. The dramatic rise in prices witnessed in Moroccan markets is not merely a transient economic anomaly; it is a natural outcome of the collusion between power and wealth, with monopolies linked to influential centers controlling the market. The Akhannouch government has not come to protect the purchasing power of Moroccans, but to safeguard the interests of large monopolists, even at the cost of crushing the middle class and driving the poor into despair and collapse.
For many Moroccans, the state has transformed into a massive tax-collecting machinery: raising prices, increasing taxes, reducing services, and leaving citizens to confront hunger, unemployment, illness, and despair alone. The most perilous aspect is that there are those attempting to convince the populace that their suffering is a 'natural destiny' and that those who complain are merely exaggerating or serving 'dubious agendas'. Yet, the undeniable truth is that Moroccans are no longer demanding luxury; they are merely advocating for the right to live with dignity in their own country. They seek a state that protects them, not a power that punishes them. They desire an economy that serves the people rather than monopolists, and they want officials who empathize with their struggles instead of boasting about statistics and empty rhetoric.
The gravest error any authority can commit is to make its people feel that their homeland no longer has room for them. While people may endure poverty for years, they will not forgive humiliation, nor will they forget those who have turned their daily lives into a hell of rising costs, fear, and helplessness. Moroccans, who have long endured marginalization and contempt, are now more aware than ever that the crisis extends beyond mere pricing issues; it is a crisis of governance, mentality, and a regime that has chosen to side with wealth and influence against the populace. When paying an electricity bill becomes a battle, and earning a living turns into a nightmare for Moroccan families, it is clear that this is no longer just a government failure but a resounding moral and political collapse. A state that fails to protect the dignity of its citizens or ignores their suffering opens the gates to anger, loss of trust, and social upheaval. And the pressing question that haunts Moroccans each day remains: how long will this nation continue to demand patience from the poor, while the coffers are opened to the rent-seeking and monopolistic elites? How long will the people bear the cost of policies they did not choose and governments that only heed the voices of the wealthy and powerful?
As reported by ech-chaab.com.
