Morocco: Protests continue in Jerada December 31 /update 1

Event

Protests demanding jobs and development continued in Jerada (Oriental region) on Sunday, December 31. Demonstrators reportedly protested through the late night hours on Sunday (local time), carrying black loaves of bread and coffins in remembrance of two young people who recently died attempting to extract coal from a shuttered coal pit near the town. Additional related protests and consequent traffic disruptions are expected in Jerada and other cities in Oriental region in the coming weeks.

Context

Thousands of demonstrators in Jerada (Oriental region) have called for jobs, development, and lower water and electricity prices in a series of protests that began on December 25. The protests began after two men were killed in a tunnel accident in a shuttered coal pit on December 22. Oriental region officials reportedly met with protesters in Jerada on December 30 to hear their concerns.

Young people often attempt to mine coal from the closed mines for extra income amid high unemployment rates. Similar demonstrations in protest of high water and electricity prices broke out in Jerada on December 12.

Morocco has witnessed a series of demonstrations protesting underdevelopment and unemployment in recent months, including those spurred by Hirak Al-Shaabi (Popular Movement) in Rif region. Hirak Al-Shaabi started in Al-Hoceima (Rif region) in October 2016. The movement is broadly focused on curbing perceived government corruption and widespread social injustice, in addition to addressing chronic grievances of regional poverty and underdevelopment.

Advice

Individuals in Jerada and elsewhere in Morocco are advised to monitor developments to the situation and avoid any form of public demonstration or public gathering as a precaution.