Eid al-Adha sheep crisis revives political clash over Morocco’s livestock support program

A fresh political dispute has erupted in Morocco over livestock import subsidies and the management of the national herd, after soaring Eid al-Adha sheep prices and supply shortages left many families unable to purchase sacrificial animals ahead of the holiday.

The controversy has revived debate in parliament over a stalled parliamentary inquiry and a fact-finding mission that has failed to reach consensus after a year of discussions. Opposition and majority lawmakers exchanged accusations over responsibility for blocking investigations into one of the country’s most contentious economic files in recent years.

The dispute comes amid continuing public anger over rising meat and livestock prices, as well as questions surrounding state support and customs exemptions granted to livestock importers.

Allal Amraoui, head of the Istiqlal Party parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, condemned speculative practices in livestock markets and said his party had repeatedly called for tighter market oversight, measures to combat price manipulation and support for small-scale breeders.

“The government also worked to direct public support toward breeders directly, which is commendable,” Amraoui told Hespress. “But the continued rise in sheep prices despite these efforts reflects the persistence of profiteering among some speculators who exploit citizens’ attachment to this religious ritual.”

Amraoui blamed opposition parties for the collapse of a proposed parliamentary commission of inquiry, saying opposition groups themselves failed to agree on the initiative. He added that majority parties instead proposed a parliamentary fact-finding mission, which they considered faster and more effective.

Opposition lawmakers rejected that account.

Idriss Sentissi, head of the Popular Movement parliamentary group, said the issue “cannot simply expire with the end of the current legislative term,” arguing that billions of dirhams in public funds allocated to livestock imports remain unaccounted for.

“We still need a parliamentary commission of inquiry to uncover the real background of this file,” Sentissi said. He questioned official figures regarding the national herd, saying it was difficult to reconcile government claims with the severe shortages seen in livestock markets before Eid.

Sentissi also said any parliamentary investigation should include hearings with private-sector actors and could ultimately lead to referrals to the public prosecutor if wrongdoing is uncovered.

The political controversy unfolded alongside widespread frustration in the southern city of Laayoune, where many families struggled to secure sheep in the final days before Eid al-Adha due to shrinking supply and surging prices.

A social media campaign encouraged consumers to delay purchases in hopes prices would fall and speculators would be pressured into lowering costs. Instead, prices rose sharply in the final days before the holiday as supply dwindled.

Residents reported long lines and near-empty livestock markets, with many citizens expressing regret over postponing purchases.

One resident interviewed by Hespress criticized what he described as “collective submission to unrealistic online campaigns,” accusing social media influencers of misleading consumers without understanding market dynamics or supply-and-demand pressures tied to Eid al-Adha.

Livestock professionals cited multiple factors behind the shortage, including high consumer demand, limited domestic supply and logistical difficulties in bringing additional animals into the city quickly enough to stabilize the market.

The developments have intensified broader debate in Morocco over the impact of social media campaigns on consumer behavior and public opinion, particularly on issues tied to purchasing power and social stability.