Morocco shuts down livestock markets days before Eid al-Adha
Authorities across Morocco have launched a nationwide crackdown, shutting down livestock markets and trading spaces used for selling animals ahead of Eid al-Adha. The move follows King Mohammed VI's decision to cancel animal sacrifices this year, in light of climate challenges and a significant decline in livestock numbers.
Local governors and officials have been directed to enforce the ban. In Khénifra, the provincial governor ordered the closure of all weekly markets for sheep sales and prohibited any activities related to the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals, including pop-up markets that typically spring up in the run-up to the holiday.
In Rabat, the Ministry of Interior, working with local authorities, has shut down all seasonal markets for sacrificial animals and banned the sale of related supplies—a blow to many artisans and seasonal traders who rely on Eid for income.
Authorities tighten controls ahead of Eid
Similar decisions have been announced in Al Hoceima, Tangier, Kelaa des Sraghna, and Inezgane. In Inezgane, authorities have also closed the municipal slaughterhouse and banned the slaughter of sheep and goats.
Meanwhile in Casablanca, reports say authorities have seized large quantities of sheep being sold in unauthorized locations, as part of a broader campaign to curb illegal sales and crack down on middlemen who typically exploit the seasonal demand to make quick profits.
This year, unlike previous ones, there's been a noticeable absence of commercial activity in the days leading up to Eid, with few seasonal markets or shops selling Eid supplies, observes by Yabiladi.
It's not the first time Moroccans have been asked to forgo sacrificing animals for Eid. King Hassan II made the same decision in 1963, 1981, and 1996, for similar reasons.
Just a few weeks ago, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that Morocco's livestock herd has shrunk by 38% compared to 2016 levels. To address the shortage, the government has rolled out emergency measures, including scrapping import duties and VAT on imported beef, sheep, goats, camels, and other red meats.
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