Morocco is witnessing a surge in protests across various sectors, as citizens denounce rampant corruption in state institutions, reject the privatization of healthcare, and demand basic rights and the annulment of normalization agreements with Israel signed since December 2020.
The Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Funds has called on citizens to join a major protest on Saturday in front of the Parliament in Rabat under the slogan “We Are All Responsible… We Are All Involved.” The protest aims to denounce the widespread corruption across state institutions.
In a statement, the association declared, “The fight against corruption, bribery, illegal enrichment, and the plundering of public funds is a battle for all Moroccans.” They rejected the government’s repression of free speech and the rights of civil organizations to report corruption. The association also condemned the interference in the judiciary and the limitations on the public prosecutor’s ability to investigate financial crimes, demanding accountability for public officials.
Additionally, the Moroccan Coordination for Health and Social Protection Workers issued a call to action, urging citizens to resist the government’s push to privatize the healthcare sector. They warned that such moves threaten the future of public healthcare and essential social services in Morocco.
The Moroccan Coordination has outlined a plan for escalating action, with upcoming protests aimed at restoring rights and reversing the privatization process. The union has called on all healthcare workers to participate actively in the movement.
Furthermore, the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) criticized a proposed law that would modify the compulsory health insurance system, calling for the government to immediately withdraw the bill. The union described the law as a move to dismantle the National Social Security Fund (CNOPS) and urged workers to unite in opposition.
In response to these challenges, healthcare workers have been holding protests in cities across Morocco, while the National Federation of Education announced a protest in front of Parliament on October 1, demanding the government meet their demands.
In parallel, cities across the country have seen protests demanding housing, employment, and basic living conditions, alongside calls to end abuses of power and the confiscation of land from farmers.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights also condemned the government for continuing to suppress freedom of speech, targeting activists, journalists, and whistleblowers. The association further criticized the government’s policy of expropriating land from indigenous populations and allowing foreign, including Israeli, companies to exploit Morocco’s water resources for export agriculture.
Protests against normalization with Israel have continued daily since October 7, 2020, with growing calls for the expulsion of Israeli officials from Morocco. Anti-normalization groups are planning a national march in Rabat on October 6, 2024, rallying for the Palestinian cause and the end of ties with Israel.
In a sign of growing desperation, thousands of Moroccan youth attempted a mass exodus to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Sunday, seeking better living conditions as the regime continues to enrich a select elite while leaving the majority of the population in poverty.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
