Morocco Drowns in Crises While the Makhzen Accumulates Wealth

Moroccan media reports have levelled harsh criticism at the Makhzen government (the ruling elite), accumulating wealth and profits while the country is mired in endless crises due to rampant corruption.

The reports condemned the government’s silence regarding the devastating floods that have struck numerous regions. They indicated that despite the difficult economic context the country is experiencing and the suffering of its citizens, the financial results of “Afriquia Gaz,” owned by the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, revealed an upward trend in profits that raises more than a few questions. The group announced profits for 2025, reaching a 2.4% increase compared to 2024.

While Aziz Akhannouch’s company consolidates its position as a major player in the energy sector, Moroccan citizens find themselves the weakest link, bearing the brunt of a pricing policy that has burdened them and negatively impacted broad sectors of the national economy.

Given this situation, the reports confirmed the need for a clear separation between power and money, as well as genuine transparency to protect the public interest and restore the principle of accountability.

Furthermore, reports condemned the government’s silence regarding the devastating losses caused by the recent floods in Ksar El Kebir and other mountainous and rural areas, losses documented with audio and video evidence. The reports asserted that the government has a history of turning a blind eye to reality.

In this context, they cited the events of Monday’s oral question session in the Moroccan Parliament, where the government had no qualms about ignoring urgent demands from some members of parliament for an immediate debate on the disaster, simply adhering strictly to the agenda as if what was happening outside the chamber was a minor detail that does not deserve attention.

The same reports highlighted that this behaviour cannot be isolated from a recurring pattern in the performance of a government described as a “disastrous government.”

In a related context, the Moroccan Human Rights Forum expressed its deep concern and dismay at the extent of the suffering endured by the residents of Ksar El Kebir and the surrounding areas as a result of the recent floods, holding the authorities responsible for their mismanagement of the crisis.