Morocco’s Monarch Demands Development Justice and Reaches Out to Algeria

On His 26th Anniversary as Monarch, the King Calls for Inclusive Growth, Regional Equity, and Renewed Dialogue with Algeria

RABAT — July 29, 2025 — By El Mostafa Ouchen
With characteristic clarity and a tone of national urgency, King Mohammed VI marked his 26th anniversary on the throne by calling for a new wave of reforms aimed at eradicating regional inequalities and ensuring inclusive development across all provinces of Morocco.

In his Throne Day speech, broadcast nationwide, the monarch acknowledged the strides Morocco has made in sectors like poverty reduction, infrastructure, and economic modernization, but warned that “development must not be a privilege of a few regions, but a shared national right.”

“The Morocco we want is one of fairness, where no citizen is left behind—whether they live in the Rif Mountains, the Atlas, the Sahara, or the urban coasts,” King Mohammed VI declared.

Uneven Growth Shadows Economic Progress

Over the past decade, Morocco has earned praise for expanding renewable energy capacity, modernizing transport networks, and boosting exports in agriculture, automotive, and phosphates. Yet interior and rural regions continue to struggle with underfunded hospitals, limited educational opportunities, and high youth unemployment.

The King called for accelerated investment in:

• Healthcare accessibility
• Rural education
• Water resource management
• Job creation, especially for youth and women

According to the Haut-Commissariat au Plan, GDP per capita in coastal Casablanca is over three times higher than in inland provinces like Figuig or Taounate.

Reaching Across Borders: A Call to Algeria

In a carefully calibrated segment of his address, King Mohammed VI expressed renewed openness to dialogue with Algeria, signaling a potential thaw in a long-frozen relationship complicated by the Western Sahara dispute.

“Morocco has always favored dialogue and good neighborliness,” the King said, “and we extend our hand once again to our Algerian brothers in the spirit of shared destiny.”

While diplomatic ties remain formally severed since 2021, observers noted that the King’s overture could pave the way for regional security cooperation—especially in the Sahel.

A Vision of Strategic Resilience

The speech aligns with Morocco’s long-term development vision under New Development Model 2035, which seeks to reposition the country as a resilient, equitable, and competitive economy on the global stage.

“This was more than ceremonial—it was a policy signal,” said Dr. Imane Akharbach, a political scientist at Mohammed V University. “The King is clearly pushing for structural reforms that go beyond GDP figures.”

Human Stories Behind the Policy

For many Moroccans, especially in remote or mountainous regions, the King’s words resonate with daily struggles.

“We walk for miles to reach a doctor,” said Fatima Zahra El Habti, a community health worker in Ouarzazate. “If these reforms truly come, it could change lives.”

“Young people here don’t want to migrate—they want opportunity where they are,” added Reda Benslimane, a youth organizer from Taza.

What’s Next?

The speech is expected to shape upcoming government budgets, municipal planning, and public-private initiatives, particularly in the southern and rural provinces. Analysts say it places pressure on ministries to deliver concrete results ahead of the 2026 legislative agenda.

The broader message was clear: development is not complete until it reaches every Moroccan.