Morocco: Keeping the path and the race

By African Bulletin on May 2, 2011

Terrorism has become a global threat, and its globalisation imposes again, information exchange and combination of efforts.

Benjamin Stora has stated in 2005 that “Islamism is evolving in a multiparty system characterising the Moroccan political landscape”. This explains to a certain extent the different approach used in dealing with the phenomenon. The Politic and security alarm picks have been successfully integrated and the slot has been smoothed   within the Islamist talks. The well management that led to the depreciation of the attacks of May 16, 2003 in Casablanca is the best example.  Moderate Islamists as PJD group (Development & Justice Party) have joined the democratic path, evolve openly in its instances and have members in the parliament. The radical tendency of “Al Adl Wa Lihsane” was finally contained. This is called the “Exception of Morocco”, where the political and security go hand in hand. This social performance has made the Moroccan experience an exceptional value, and can inspire.
Unfortunately there are those who are animated by terror and are resistant to change and progress. The despicable attack in Marrakesh on Thursday, April 28, is the signature of aspiring criminals to test the will and the limits of a consolidated nation to reform. This attack, and beyond the human and material loss, is primarily an attack against the projected radical reform of the state.  Morocco is engaged in a historic process of constitutional reform, which should lead to a referendum scheduled on the coming fall; aiming to accompany the country entering its second phase of demographic transition, estimated to reach the 45 million people by the year 2050. This Entry requires the reconstruction of a new economy built around diversified and converted agriculture, and new activities for SMEs, to ensure sustainable and imperative economic growth in raising the living standards, and  facilitating the  citizens’ socio-economic insertion.
Morocco will keep the race and the path of its democratization process, widely but wisely opening its instances and institutions to the well being of its different social problems.        This is called the integrationist way.  Other countries have preferred an “eradicationist” way to resolve social problems by adopting an anti-terrorism approach; preventing the “conciliators” from seeking a political solution.