Morocco: Protests continue in Jerada February 9 /update 6

Event

Anti-government protests continued in the city of Jerada (Oriental region) on Friday, February 9, demanding job creation and economic development. Shop owners also held a strike, closing their stores, in protest of the perceived lack of response shown by the Moroccan government toward the demonstrators' demands since the deaths of two coal miners in December 2017. Additional protests and related strikes, heightened security measures, and associated transportation disruptions are possible in Jerada and other cities in Oriental region on Saturday, February 10, as Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani visits the nearby city of Oujda to examine and address ongoing economic concerns in the region.

Context

Mining was a major industry in Jerada province until the 1970s when most mines were closed. Due to the lack of other sources of income, local residents continue, at their own risk, to extract resources from the closed mines. In December 2017, two young people died while attempting to extract coal from a closed pit near Jerada, leading to various demonstrations demanding job creation, economic development, and lower water and electricity prices. Another miner died in an abandoned coal mine on the outskirts of Jerada on February 1.

Additionally, an illegal lead mine collapsed in Sidi Boubker (Jerada province) on January 24, leaving one person injured.

Advice

Individuals in Morocco, particularly in Jerada province, are advised to monitor developments to the situation and avoid public demonstrations as a precaution.