Protests erupted in 53 Moroccan cities on Sunday as consumer costs increased in the winter months over what the crowds say requires concrete government action.
The weekend saw Moroccan streets flooded with protesters who carried banners and chanted slogans against price spikes, marking exactly 10 years after the birth of the Arab Spring protest movement in the North African kingdom.
Protests have largely been pacific, said the head of Moroccan Association for Human rights Aziz Ghali in an interview with Hespress EN.
His association recorded at least six people who have been arrested in the Agadir, before being released.
He said public discontent is likely to grow if the government does not respond to public anger.
“We will see more social congestion if matters continue as is,” Ghali said.
The annual inflation in Morocco quickened to 3.2% in December of 2021, the highest rate since February of 2009, according to the latest figures of the High Commission for Planning.
A looming drought this year is fanning the fire of social unease and correlating government pressure as it seeks ways to alleviate inflation and meet rising consumer demand.
Though it said measures are underway to support consumers, the government admits that its actions may not be sufficient to counterbalance high global prices and import fees.
In 2022, the freshly appointed government plans to spend 17 billion dirhams to continue subsidizing key products such as wheat and butane gas.
But key transport sector, unsupported by subsidies, is feeling the burn the most, with an inflation rate that reached 7.1% in November, the highest across all sectors.
Its professionals, from cab drivers to international transport are planning protests and strikes in March against what they call the “government’s policy of discrimination.”
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