Rif Mountains: Unearthing Social and Ethnic Separatism Amidst Earthquake Tragedy
BY: Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria- In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that has cost the lives of nearly 3,000 people and left thousands injured, Morocco finds itself grappling with the painful consequences. This tragic natural disaster has unveiled long-buried lines of social and ethnic separatism, casting a harsh light on the stark disparities between regions within the country.
It took an earthquake to make these invisible lines visible….
These lines of shame, dividing the prosperous heart of Morocco from the marginalized Rif region, expose a governance system that has prioritized an image sold to the world over the well-being of its own citizens languishing in poverty and misery.
In stark contrast to neighboring Algeria, where President Tebboune prioritized improving living conditions in underserved areas upon taking office, Morocco’s longstanding Alaouite monarchy largely ignored its “black spots” nestled in the shadow of the Rif mountains. Instead, these communities were inadvertently encouraged to cultivate cannabis and construct their homes from clay, all while lacking basic infrastructure like roads, drinking water, and electricity. They lived in isolation, far removed from the affluence and opulence of the more tourist-friendly parts of Morocco.
The recent earthquake reduced their modest homes to rubble, exposing the heartless policy of the Makhzen, which has long favored investing in large tourist hubs while neglecting many other regions living in destitution and despair.
Even the Medina of Marrakech, an UNESCO-listed heritage site, has fallen into disrepair due to a regulatory focus on attracting foreign tourists at the expense of local residents. This tragic outcome reflects the prioritization of appearances over people’s lives, resulting in insurmountable suffering and pain.
The earthquake, while a natural disaster, does not absolve the longstanding royal governance from the risks associated with inhabiting a seismically active region. This human tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the callousness and disinterest shown toward marginalized populations living in the Atlas region.
Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Moroccan people, but it is now painfully clear that the Makhzen, over centuries, has presented to the world a fractured nation, compartmentalized into first-class and second-class citizens, much like the “untouchables” in distant lands.
Translated with adaptation from: Algerie54
