Morocco's national football team's victories drown out social protests

RabatoAs soon as the decisive penalty kick by a Moroccan player found the back of the net, pandemonium erupted in downtown Rabat. Morocco had defeated Nigeria in the semifinals and, after a 50-year drought, could once again be crowned champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). Moreover, this time the title could be won in front of their home crowd, as the final against Senegal is this Sunday in Rabat. Within minutes, thousands of euphoric fans gathered on Mohamed V Avenue in the capital to celebrate the victory. Amidst the honking of car horns and the blaring of trumpets, the noise was deafening. the social protests of the GenZ 212 movement that shook the country last October

One of the sharpest criticisms the young protesters leveled at the government was the massive expenditure on building or renovating new football stadiums for the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup. The total cost, which includes the brand-new Moulay Abdalah Stadium, the venue for the final, amounts to around 1 billion. Some activists boycotted the tournament, but others see no contradiction between participating in the protests and supporting the national team. "You have to find a balance. It's possible to invest in events like football and also invest money in healthcare or education," says Mohamed Amin, a 23-year-old marketing graduate who participated in the demonstrations. Mohamed not only follows the matches but has also signed up as a volunteer with the organizing committee.

Amal Salmi, also a volunteer, watches the quarterfinals with him in a bar with even more passion. In a Cameroonian counterattack, he covers his face with his hands and shoutsDefend!"She didn't participate in any demonstrations. "I think the money these events will generate will ultimately multiply the investment," Amal predicts. Her optimism extends to the country's progress: "There is progress in Morocco, also in areas like health. We've already made progress compared to some European countries." However, she, like Mohamed, is unemployed despite having a university degree. Thirty percent of young Moroccans are in the same situation. "They were middle-class young people with education; they weren't poor." “It was also noteworthy that they weren’t politicized,” explains this veteran human rights defender. Although the movement’s criticisms were directed at the government led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and not King Mohammed VI, the police repression was relentless. Of the more than 5,000 young people, nine have already been tried and sentenced to harsh prison terms of up to 15 years. However, it is believed that the real number could be even higher. But it is doubtful that they will call for further protests in the short term. Their goal now is to free the imprisoned young people, and we at AMDH are coordinating to help the families of many of them,” Riady adds. For many families, Morocco’s success in the Africa Cup of Nations is not the main concern.

All set for the royal succession

Although censorship surrounding the royal family is firm in Morocco, rumors about a sudden deterioration in King Mohammed VI's health are recurrent. Regardless of their veracity, his appearance in recent public appearances conveyed fragility. All signs indicate that the machinery of Crown Prince Moulay Hassan's succession is already well-oiled, and when the time comes, sooner or later, it will proceed smoothly. Among the clearest signs is the fact that Moulay Hassan presided over the opening of the Andean Community and conducted the inaugural service. His public presence has steadily increased in recent years, especially after reaching the age of majority. "I don't believe King Mohammed VI will abdicate due to health problems. Therefore, it's impossible to predict when the succession will take place. But all the mechanisms are in place, and the succession will be an orderly process, without any issues," maintains a well-connected Moroccan political observer.

One of the factors that will facilitate the transition is the fact that there is no serious threat to the stability of the Kingdom. Little is known about the 22-year-old Crown Prince beyond his very close relationship with his mother, Lalla Salma, from whom King Mohammed VI divorced in 2018. In fact, he lives with her and is expected to have a significant influence on the future king's decisions. Several sources indicate that there are rumors circulating that the young prince has more interest in politics than his father. "He seems to have taken after his grandfather," some are saying with a degree of skepticism, given Hassan II's authoritarian tendencies.