Mohammed VI’s luxurious lifestyle stands in stark contrast to reality of Moroccans living in poverty, precariousness

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- The Cherifian kingdom is the country of all paradoxes. Moroccan King Mohamed VI is known for his opulent lifestyle, which has drawn criticism from Moroccans living in poverty. According to official figures, nearly one-fifth of the population lives in poverty, with some facing unemployment and a lack of basic necessities like food and shelter. Meanwhile, King Mohamed VI is estimated to have a net worth of $2.1 billion, making him one of the wealthiest monarchs in the world. This stark contrast between the luxurious lifestyle of the king and the dire living conditions of many Moroccans has led to criticism and protests.

One example of the king’s lavish lifestyle is his palace in Casablanca, which reportedly costs $1 million a month to maintain. This sum could go a long way in addressing the needs of the Moroccan people, but instead, it is used to fund the luxuries of the monarchy. Additionally, the king’s frequent international travels, often on private planes, have drawn criticism for their high cost. Moroccans have expressed frustration that their tax dollars are being used to fund the king’s lifestyle rather than address the problems faced by the population.

One of the main causes of extreme poverty and precariousness in Morocco is unemployment, which disproportionately affects young people and women. Morocco’s economy has been heavily impacted, resulting in job losses and reduced economic activity.

A recent report by the World Bank shows that Morocco is one of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region that suffers the most from poverty and restrictions.

“Morocco is the most unequal country in North Africa and among half of the most unequal countries on the planet,” writes Oxfam for illustration in one of its reports on inequalities in the world.

According to a recent report by the Moroccan branch of this NGO, entitled “Domestic work of little girls: little hands, big chores”, “Morocco has been designated the most unequal country in North Africa and among the most unequal half of countries on the planet”.

Citing the “Global Inequality 2022” report, Oxfam says that in Morocco, “only 10% of the population owns more than 63% of total wealth, while 50% own less than 5%”.

The first victims of poverty and vulnerability are, indeed, children

The report notes that “35.6% of the poor population and 28% of the vulnerable population are children aged 0 to 14,” stressing that “as children represent approximately 27.2% of the total population, they are clearly overrepresented among the poor and vulnerable populations.”

Worse still for this important but fragile category of Moroccan society, “inequalities also persist in terms of access to education”, regrets the NGO.

Access to education is another factor that contributes to poverty and precariousness in Morocco. Illiteracy is a significant issue in the country, particularly among women and those living in rural areas. Lack of education limits people’s access to job opportunities and can perpetuate a cycle of poverty, with children from poorer families less likely to attend school and more likely to drop out early.

A large-scale slump

The Makhzen, whose country is ranked among the most unequal in the world, continues to sink a good part of its population, especially children and girls, into the darkness of poverty and vulnerability, to serve a thin minority of rich people, according to the NGO Oxfam.

According to the same document, “children whose parents have a low level of education generally leave with a disability, and those living in rural areas are at a disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts: in rural areas, 71.2% of preschool children are out of school, compared to 21% in urban areas”, and “12% of children living in rural areas repeat their first year of primary school, compared to only 5% in urban areas”.

Morocco has a total of 220,000 children of age to be enrolled in kindergarten, around 83,000 children of age to be enrolled in primary school, and 255,000 children aged 12 to 14 (i.e., in age to be enrolled in college), who are not yet enrolled, according to the same report, which cites Unicef.

On the other hand, the same report indicated that for the year 2020–2021, the national school dropout rate in Morocco was 5.3% on average in the public sector, which represents more than 331,000 schoolchildren, a figure up compared to 2019–2020 with disparities between urban and rural areas, where school dropout is still at 5.9%.

The “little maids”, a new form of slavery 

Regarding the main subject of the report, which is the exploitation of young girls in domestic work, the NGO noted that in Morocco, thousands of children, mainly girls and some as young as 8 years old, work in private homes as servants.

Known as “little maids,” they usually come from poor rural areas and are sent by their guardians to cities hoping to provide them with a better life while helping them financially, the report added, pointing out that poor girls “often face physical and verbal abuse, isolation, and seven-day-a-week work that begins at dawn and continues late into the night.”

These domestic workers, who are poorly paid and almost none of them go to school, “continue to face precarious, dangerous, or slavery-like working conditions and are exposed to violence and harassment, with risks and serious consequences for their physical and mental health and safety”, warned the same document.

Mohamed VI and the Azaitar brothers

On another level, Moroccans have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the relationship between King Mohamed VI of Morocco and the Azaitar brothers. The brothers, Ottman and Abu Bakr Azaitar, are mixed martial arts fighters from Morocco. However, their recent actions have caused controversy, with Abu Bakr being arrested in Germany for drug-related offenses and Ottman being accused of assaulting a hotel employee in Casablanca. Despite this, King Mohamed VI has continued to show support for the brothers, causing ridicule from the Moroccan public.

The relationship between the King and the Azaitar brothers has caused a significant rift between the Moroccan Royal family and the Moroccan people. Many feel that the King’s continued support for the brothers is misplaced and inappropriate, especially considering their recent behavior. Social media has been awash with comments criticizing the brothers and the King’s association with them. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that the King’s endorsement of the brothers is an indication of his support for criminal activity.

The controversy surrounding the Azaitar brothers and their relationship with the King has wider implications for the nation of Morocco. Many feel that the King’s association with the brothers is a reflection of broader issues related to corruption and nepotism within the country. Moroccans are calling for an end to this type of system and are demanding greater transparency and accountability from those in positions of power. Ultimately, the anger and frustration of the Moroccan public suggest a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo and a desire for change in the country.

Morocco’s king….absent 

In addition, Moroccans are expressing their dissatisfaction with the absence of their monarch, King Mohammed VI, who spends too much time abroad (200 days out of 365). The monarch’s trips abroad have been the subject of controversy, with some citizens questioning the purpose of his frequent and extensive travels. These criticisms have been heightened amidst the current economic and health crises in Morocco, as citizens feel that Mohammed VI should be present to address these issues.

The monarch has been absent from the public for extended periods of time, which has fueled speculation about his well-being and leadership. These speculations have been further compounded by the lack of transparency regarding his travels. Some Moroccans stress that the monarch’s absence has contributed to an increase in social and political unrest in the country. They dubbed King Mohammed VI’s recent trips to France and Gabon as “for fun” trips rather than for the betterment of the country.

Subsequently, demonstrations and protests have erupted in Morocco, calling attention to issues such as lack of accountability for corruption and discrimination against certain minority groups. Some feel that the King’s focus on foreign travel instead of domestic matters sends a message that he is not interested in addressing these issues at all!

Makhzen and the Zionist Entity

Moroccans have also expressed their disappointment and strong opposition to the recent Zionist penetration in Morocco. These moves have sparked anger among Moroccans who view it as a violation of their country’s sovereignty. This has led to widespread protests across the country, with Moroccans calling for the government to sever diplomatic ties with the Zionist Entity.

Many Moroccans are also concerned about the Zionists’ intentions in the region. The majority of Moroccans feel that this move is an attempt by the Zionist entity to exert its influence on North Africa and gain a foothold on the continent, which would inevitably exacerbate tensions in the area.

Overall, the Zionist penetration in Morocco has been met with strong opposition and condemnation from valiant Moroccans. The move has been seen as a violation of the country’ sovereignty and a threat to the stability of the region.

Recently, the research professor at the Hassan II Institute of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Muhammad al-Naji, noted that three Zionist companies, specializing in seeds, irrigation, and fertilizers, are controlling Moroccan markets.

These companies, labeled as Dutch to mislead Moroccan farmers, control 80% of vegetable seed markets in Morocco, jeopardizing the country’s food security and hampering the process of developing local seed programs.

Noting that relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity have always been more than just cordial. Although Morocco did not formally recognize the entity until the Abraham Accords, it maintained informal ties with it. Observers consider 2020 normalization to be a resume of relations, as these date back to the 1960s, during the reign of the late King Hassan II. Relations were marked by the immigration of Moroccan Jews to the Zionist entity and meetings between officials from the two sides. Noting that Morocco was home to the largest Jewish community in the Arab world, most of whom came from Spain after the 1491 expulsion by the Spanish Catholic monarchy.

According to many media resources, Hassan II invited Zionist spies from Shin Bet and Mossad to spy on the Arab leaders’ activities at the 1965 Arab League Summit held in Casablanca, thus, being instrumental in causing the Arabs’ defeat to the Zionist Entity in the 1967 Six-Day War.

On July 22, 1986, Zionist Prime Minister Shimon Peres secretly flew to Morocco and was received by King Hassan II, who exchanged several-hour talks with him, a move strongly slammed by Moroccan political forces and the Arab League. At the outset, Morocco did not acknowledge the Zionist leader’s presence, nor did the state-controlled radio, television, or newspapers. However, the visit was confirmed later by the Zionist officials in Al Quds. The confirmation came after a flurry of rumors spread that Mr. Peres and a small entourage had left for Morocco. Hassan II’s move was aimed at breaking the deadlock to recognize the criminal entity; however, the fierce objection obliged him to withdraw his attempt. Nonetheless, Hassan II maintained a bond with Peres, and Peres voiced his condolences when Hassan II died in 1999.

In conclusion, the king’s lifestyle and long-time absence stand in stark contrast to the reality of many Moroccans’ daily lives, and this has led to growing frustration and anger. Some have called for greater transparency in the royal family’s finances and for the funds to be redirected to support those in need.