Morocco: Gatherings planned in Casablanca May 26 and May 28

Event

Two gatherings have been planned in Casablanca on Friday, May 26, and Sunday, May 28. Friday's gathering, held at 21:00 (local time), was a celebration of Casablanca's Wydad football team's National Championship win. On Sunday, a protest is scheduled to take place at 22:00 at Place des Nations Unies, in front of the Hyatt Regency. The demonstration is in solidarity with ongoing anti-government protests taking place in Al-Hoceima.

Transportation disruptions are possible in the vicinity of the gatherings.

Context

Protests, which sometimes turn violent, are relatively common in Al-Hoceima. The city, known to be a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, is suffering from difficult economic conditions. In October 2016, violent protests broke out after a fishmonger was killed while trying to prevent his wares from being confiscated by police.

Advice

Individuals in Casablanca are advised to avoid any form of public demonstration or public gathering and to remain vigilant at all times. Anticipate localized transportation delays.

More generally, due to a significant underlying terrorist threat, individuals in Morocco are advised report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to exercise caution at all times, particularly when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (festivals, public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.), especially in major cities such as Rabat, Marrakesh, and Casablanca.