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Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
King Mohammed VI Marks 26 Years of Reform, Global Leadership
Rabat — Twenty-six years ago today, King Mohammed VI became the 23rd monarch of Morocco's Alaouite dynasty. He ascended the throne on July 30, 1999, not only inheriting power but also inheriting and advancing a vision of modernity, inclusion, and national strength. From the beginning, the King championed major social initiatives. In 2004, he reformed the Family Code, known as the Mudawana, granting women greater rights and gender equality. In late 2024 and early 2025, King Mohammed VI took direct leadership of Morocco's comprehensive reforms to the country's Family Code, guiding a process described as both balanced and holistic. He personally chaired royal working sessions in Casablanca, where he instructed the government to align proposed changes with Islamic precepts while responding to modern social realities. King Mohammed VI's vision framed the reform as a social project reinforcing the family unit, rather than a narrow women's rights agenda, stressing inclusive consultation — bringing together ulemas, civil society actors, and government authorities — to ensure the revision promotes justice and solidarity across the family structure. In 2005, the King launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), targeting poverty and social exclusion through community-focused programs in health, education, and income support. His Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, founded in 1999, has since disbursed over MAD 3.3 billion ($ 365.524 million) to support vulnerable groups and disaster relief. The King also oversaw an infrastructure boom. Morocco now boasts Africa's longest high-speed rail line, Al Boraq, linking Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, and Tangier at speeds up to 320 km/h, making it the continent's first HSR network. The road network has expanded from 1,800 km of highways toward an expected 3,000 km by 2030, helping the country rank second in African infrastructure after South Africa. Flagship projects like the Tanger-Med port and the Mohammed VI Tower in Salé further reflect modern urban development. Green energy and economic diversification King Mohammed VI pressed Morocco toward renewable energy, raising its national target from 42% to 52% of installed capacity by 2030, and pushing ahead with the massive Ouarzazate solar complex. During Throne Day celebrations in July 2023, the King commended OCP Group's green energy initiatives, linking sustainability to industrial resilience. Under his leadership, Morocco built a competitive industrial base. Programs like the Emergence Plan and National Pact for Industrial Emergence powered growth in automotive, aeronautics, and electronics. Investments in tourism, agriculture, and digital innovation strengthened the national economy and helped position Morocco as a regional hub. Democratic reform and cultural recognition In response to the Arab Spring, King Mohammed VI revised the 2011 constitution. The update reduced royal power, boosted parliamentary authority, stressed gender equality, and cemented good governance principles. That year, he also recognized Amazigh (Berber) identity by establishing the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture in 2001 and committing to its inclusion in education and media. Pan-African diplomacy and global influence Morocco's foreign policy under Mohammed VI has been proactive and panoramic. The country rejoined the African Union in 2017 and forged new 'South–South' partnerships across sub-Saharan Africa. The annual International Africa Development Forum in Casablanca, launched in 2010, reflects Morocco's growing role as a continental investment hub. In June 2025, King Mohammed VI urged African leaders at the 'Africa for the Ocean' summit in Nice to take charge of maritime resources, indicating that oceans as key to sustainable development and security. Western Sahara: sovereignty and recognition The King's diplomatic efforts have dramatically shifted the Western Sahara narrative. His 2007 Autonomy Plan envisions self-governance for the region under Moroccan sovereignty. Ever since, the UN Security Council has described the plan as 'serious and credible.' In 2020, the US formally recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, while France followed in July 2024, offering similar endorsement and pledging €10 billion in regional investment. Just this week, Portugal also backed the plan, calling it a 'serious and credible basis' for settlement. Religious tolerance and security cooperation The King has positioned Morocco as a leading advocate for religious moderation. He backed the 2016 Marrakech Declaration promoting interfaith harmony and actively funds imam training programs across the Sahel to combat extremism. In 2022–23, Morocco and the UN launched the Marrakech Platform to coordinate regional counter-terrorism efforts. 25 years later: legacy of progress and promise King Mohammed VI has turned Morocco into a model of reform: modern infrastructure, a green-energy economy, democratic strides, cultural recognition, and cross-continental diplomacy. His leadership has raised Morocco's regional profile — stabilizing, prosperous, and inclusive. Still, pressures from climate stress and socio-economic disparity remain. As Morocco approaches its next phase, the King's commitment to sustainable development and international partnership will prove critical in steering the nation forward. Tags: King Mohammed VIKing's legacyKing's Throne Day
CNA
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Commentary: Malaysia's fake birth certificates scandal exposes a deeper crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent arrest of 10 individuals involved in a birth certificate forgery syndicate – linked to human trafficking and the smuggling of undocumented children – has exposed a deep and troubling flaw in Malaysia's legal and bureaucratic framework. While authorities frame this as a case of corruption and criminality, the scandal is, in reality, a symptom of a much larger problem: a system that fails abandoned and adopted children, pushing desperate families into illegality. THE CRISIS OF THE UNSEEN CHILDREN Malaysia's constitution guarantees citizenship to foundlings – children discovered abandoned with no known parents. Yet, in practice, civil servants often refuse to apply this provision, driven by personal biases or unfounded fears. Some believe granting citizenship would "reward" illegitimate births, while others suspect foundlings might be children of undocumented migrants. The result? Thousands of children grow up stateless, invisible to the system and vulnerable to exploitation. Without birth certificates, these children cannot attend school, access healthcare or prove their identity. They exist in legal limbo, and when they reach adulthood, their lack of documentation bars them from formal employment, pushing many toward informal – and sometimes illegal – means of survival. THE ADOPTION MAZE AND THE DESPERATION OF PARENTS For Malaysian families who wish to adopt abandoned children, the process is fraught with obstacles. Adoption laws differ for Muslim and non-Muslim children, though the classification of a foundling's religion is often arbitrary. Even after navigating the adoption process, parents face an uphill battle to secure birth certificates and citizenship for their children. Frustrated by bureaucratic inertia and discriminatory practices, some turn to middlemen and illegal channels to obtain documentation. In many cases, adoptive parents resort to registering the child as their biological offspring, erasing the child's true origins. This is not just a failure of law enforcement – it is a failure of the state to provide a humane, functional system for adoption and citizenship. THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINALISING ABANDONMENT Malaysia's penalisation of child abandonment exacerbates the crisis. Fear of prosecution drives mothers – often single and vulnerable – to abandon newborns in unsafe conditions. In Malaysia, it is called 'baby dumping'. Shockingly, 60 per cent of abandoned infants are found dead. Instead of supporting these women or providing safe alternatives, the law pushes them into desperation, perpetuating a cycle of tragedy. Malaysia need not look far for solutions. Morocco, an Islamic nation that once faced a similar orphan crisis, first implemented sweeping reforms to its family code (Mudawana) in 2004 and further improved the code to promote women's rights in 2024. Key among the initial reforms was decriminalising child abandonment and establishing clear legal pathways for adoption under kafala, an Islamic guardianship system that maintains the child's lineage while placing them in a loving home. Morocco's approach ensures that mothers who cannot raise their children can surrender them safely – under judicial supervision – rather than abandoning them in perilous conditions. The state then takes custody, documents the child, and facilitates legal adoption or kafala. This system, compliant with international child rights conventions, has significantly reduced street abandonments and improved child welfare. TIME FOR MALAYSIA TO ACT The birth certificate bribery scandal should serve as a wake-up call. Instead of merely prosecuting those caught in the web of corruption, Malaysia must address the root causes: opaque adoption laws, discriminatory citizenship practices and the lack of support for vulnerable mothers. Last year, a controversial proposal to strip foundlings of automatic citizenship rights was narrowly defeated. Had it passed, this scandal would be just the beginning – statelessness would become the norm for countless children, fuelling more illegal syndicates. Malaysia must take decisive action to rectify this systemic failure by first upholding constitutional protections for foundlings and ensuring that citizenship rights are enforced without prejudice or bureaucratic resistance. The adoption process must be reformed to create a clear, unified legal framework that serves all children equally, eliminating the arbitrary religious distinctions that currently complicate and delay placements. Additionally, decriminalising child abandonment – while establishing safe, legal surrender mechanisms – would protect both vulnerable mothers and infants, reducing tragic cases of unsafe desertion. Finally, strengthening child protection systems is essential to prevent trafficking and 'baby selling', ensure proper documentation for every child, and integrate them into society with dignity. These reforms would not only address the immediate crisis but also align Malaysia's laws with its international commitments to children's rights, fostering a more just and compassionate society. This scandal is not just about corruption. It is about children whose lives hang in the balance, parents driven to desperation and a system that has failed them all. The Moroccan model proves that children protection principles already exist within the Islamic legal corpus even if Malaysia has yet to implement them. Malaysia, a nation that has ratified international conventions on children's rights, must now align its laws with its obligations – and its humanity. The time for reform is now – before more lives are lost to bureaucracy and indifference. Dr Sophie Lemiere is a political anthropologist who specialises in Malaysian and Southeast Asian politics, and has held research and teaching positions in major universities across Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. She is currently Research Fellow at College de France in Paris.
