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Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
‘It's Over': Nizar Baraka Concedes Government Failure on Million-Job Commitment
Doha – Nizar Baraka, Secretary General of the Istiqlal Party and Minister of Equipment and Water, acknowledged the government's failure to meet its major commitment of creating one million jobs by 2026. 'It's over, we cannot create one million jobs by 2026. We tell the truth to Moroccans,' Baraka declared Saturday during his party's national council meeting in Salé. Despite this admission, Baraka pointed to positive employment trends in early 2025. The first quarter saw the creation of 180,000 net jobs, compared to a loss of 80,000 positions during the same period last year. Baraka attributed this improvement to increased public investment, which reached MAD 340 billion ($34 billion) this year, up from MAD 220 billion ($22 billion) in 2020. His ministry's investment budget alone jumped from MAD 40 billion ($4 billion) to MAD 70 billion ($7 billion). Addressing price increases, Baraka condemned what he called 'inflationary greed' among some traders and speculators. 'We face non-citizen behaviors from people who have exploited the inflationary context to raise commercial margins and make excessive profits at the expense of citizens… and this, we will not accept,' he asserted. The minister called for maintaining unity within the government coalition. He warned that premature competition for first place in upcoming elections could harm government performance and citizens' interests. The Akhannouch government's term has been marked more by job losses than gains. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), 432,000 jobs were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while 230,000 were created in 2021. The Moroccan economy lost 24,000 jobs in 2022 and destroyed 157,000 positions in 2023. In January, Baraka had painted a concerning picture of Morocco's employment situation. He cited youth unemployment at 39.5%, overall unemployment at 21.3%, and women's unemployment at 29.6%. 'Our country's youth have objective and legitimate reasons to feel anxious about the future and fears about uncertainty,' Baraka stated during a national event commemorating the 81st anniversary of Morocco's Independence Manifesto. Tags: Aziz AkhannouchNizar BarakaUnemployment in Morocco
Morocco World
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
66 Years Later: Morocco Remembers Mohammed V, Architect of Independence
Doha – Moroccans marks a solemn yet historic moment today, 10th Ramadan 1446 (March 10, 2025), as they commemorate the 66th anniversary of the passing of King Mohammed V – the legendary leader who spearheaded Morocco's fight for independence and left an unshakable legacy in the nation's history. The late monarch, who passed away on February 26, 1961, merely four years after securing the nation's independence, left an indelible mark on Morocco's political landscape. Born on August 10, 1909, in Fez, Mohammed Ben Youssef ascended to the throne in 1927 as the third son of Sultan Moulay Youssef. His reign witnessed crucial moments in Morocco's history, particularly during the French protectorate period established by the 1912 Treaty of Fez. A defining moment in the independence movement came on January 11, 1944, with the presentation of the Independence Manifesto. This bold initiative demonstrated the unity between the throne, the national movement, and the people. The movement gained further momentum when the Sultan delivered a landmark speech in Tangier on April 10, 1947, formally declaring Morocco's demand for independence. During this period, Thami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakech, allied with French General Alphonse Juin in a failed attempt to overthrow the sultan. The colonial authorities' response to these independence efforts led to the forced exile of Mohammed V and the royal family in August 1953, first to Corsica and then to Madagascar. This action, intended to weaken the independence movement, instead catalyzed widespread popular uprising and armed resistance against colonial forces. The monarch's exile ended with his triumphant return on November 16, 1955, followed by Morocco's declaration of independence in 1956. Mohammed V was subsequently proclaimed King in August 1957, marking a new chapter in Morocco's history. During World War II, Mohammed V demonstrated strategic leadership, maintaining relations with France while protecting his people's interests. Notably, he opposed the implementation of Vichy government's anti-Jewish legislation in Morocco. He participated in the Anfa and Casablanca conferences, where discussions with President Roosevelt opened new possibilities for Morocco's future. He rejected a 1943 proposal for joint US-British-French-Spanish protectorate over Morocco, maintaining his ultimate goal of complete independence. Following independence, Mohammed V focused on establishing a modern state based on democratic principles. His death in Rabat in 1961 marked the end of an era, with his son Hassan II succeeding him to the throne. The commemorative atmosphere today shines a spotlight on this crucial turning point in Morocco's history – marking its transformation from a protectorate to an independent nation. It also shows the unified struggle between the monarchy and the national movement in securing the North African country's sovereignty. Tags: King Mohammed VMoroccan History
