Social media has been flooded recently with a campaign under the slogan “No to the Settlement of Sub-Saharan Africans,” launched by Moroccan netizens calling for the deportation of sub-Saharan migrants, especially those viewed as violent or residing in Morocco without legal status.
Trending now on X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #SubSaharan reflects widespread outrage among Moroccans over the increasing number of sub-Saharan migrants in the country, with users sharing videos highlighting violent incidents and public disorder in various cities.
“Things have gotten out of control… in popular neighborhoods, they’re forming gangs involved in everything from drug dealing to attacking pedestrians,” complained an X user.
Many Moroccans are questioning the country’s migration strategy and the measures in place to address rising tensions and illegal settlements by sub-Saharan migrants in cities like Casablanca and Rabat—a call they say is legitimate for security, clarity, and action.
“Only Moroccans who face the daily reality of uncontrolled foreign immigration talk about it, while the wealthy accuse them of racism and tell them not to give in to hate,” said another X user, adding that “now many Moroccans no longer feel at home. Worse, some feel that foreign communities receive more state support than they do.”
What triggered this movement is the repeated chaotic and disruptive behavior caused by some sub-Saharan migrants, especially in Casablanca, creating fear and insecurity in several neighborhoods.
This has led to calls for authorities to take firm legal action, increase police presence in affected areas, and find humane solutions—recognizing that these migrants come from the same continent as Morocco.
Also, recent footage shared online showing large gatherings of undocumented migrants in cities like Agadir and Ait Amira has fueled further concern, with many questioning Morocco’s continued leniency and the demographic impact of irregular migration.
Yet, many Moroccans have condemned these calls, viewing them as expressions of hate speech and racism, arguing that the migrants come from countries plagued by war and poverty and deserve compassion, not hostility.
Migrapress, a Moroccan platform specializing in migration issues, responded to the rising hate speech and racist content on social media targeting sub-Saharan migrants, emphasizing that many of the circulated videos are often edited to provoke fear, using dramatic music and misleading narratives that portray migrants as threats.
Videos accompanied by hashtags like “The Great Replacement” and “No to Sub-Saharan Settlement”, reads the statement, reflect systematic digital racism amplified by algorithms that accelerate the spread of such content.
“Generally, much of the hate speech against sub-Saharan migrants comes from Moroccans living in underprivileged areas where basic living conditions are lacking. Migrants become scapegoats—easy targets for frustrations caused by systemic problems that have nothing to do with them,” said Hassan Bentaleb, an expert in migration.
He pointed out that there are Moroccan neighborhoods where even locals don’t feel safe after dark, with frequent street violence requiring police intervention, stressing that these are not solely migrant-related issues.
The expert explained this issue is limited to a few marginalized areas like in Casablanca and Chtouka Aït Baha, while cities like Tinghir and Oujda for example experience little to no problems. Tensions arise mainly from economic struggles, and conflicts rarely occur in affluent neighborhoods where migrants also live.
Yet, Bentaleb emphasized that illegal actions—whether theft or public disorder—must be dealt with by the police, with suspects fairly tried and, if necessary, deported through legal court orders. This contrasts sharply with Algeria’s approach, where migrants are rounded up and abandoned at the Niger border without food or shelter.
“One of the biggest policy failures in Morocco’s approach to migration is that the local population was never really prepared to accept or adapt to the presence of large numbers of migrants,” he concluded.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.