It’s been ten years since the February 20 Movement shook Morocco in the wake of the Arab Spring. What remains of this popular sling a decade later? Here are some answers.
On February 20, 2011, thousands of Moroccans took to the streets, mobilized by the all-out demands launched from social networks. The slingshot, which then took the name of “Mouvement du 20-janvier”, was unique. The leaders of the protest are calling for a series of in-depth reforms on the political, social and cultural levels. Ten years later, what remains of the movement and its demands? Pierre Vermeren, historian of contemporary Maghreb societies and author of the book “Morocco in 100 questions – A kingdom of paradoxes” (Tallandier), sheds light on France 24.
Pierre Vermeren: The king, Mohammed VI, took the people’s demands very seriously. After speaking publicly, he launched a constitutional referendum and legislative elections. On the political level, the movement led the country to endow itself with a new government and a new Parliament. Some changes to the Constitution have also been made such as the recognition of Tamazight [Berber language, editor’s note] as an official language. This modification allowed the Berbers, the Islamists and the militants of the left to obtain satisfaction. Article 19 on the sacredness of the monarchy has also undergone some modifications. These advances remain minor, but they allowed the authorities to defuse the movement in six months time.
The movement has all the same experienced some rebounds with demands on very diverse causes in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in various localities in the form of demonstrations, sit-ins or strikes. It was also extended by the popular movement of the Rif, in 2017 and 2018 in the north of the country. Today, the movement as such no longer exists and did not lead to a political party as it had once been discussed, because the movement was not powerful enough. But the spirit of the movement’s revolt has always been present on social networks. A new form of communication has also emerged from this movement. We can now say a lot of things. But we also remain very closely watched. Police surveillance practices have also evolved with society: we no longer monitor the whole of society, but target individuals. Opponents likely to disturb are very often the subject of condemnation. We then look for crimes still enshrined in the law – such as homosexuality, abortion, sex outside marriage, non-observance of Ramadan – to arrest or disqualify a troublemaker. These new practices are also a legacy of the February 20 Movement. Today, many opponents, activists, journalists and intellectuals are still in prison, and have been for ten years. Others went into exile. This is particularly the case of Charlie Hebdo journalist Zineb El Rhazoui, who found refuge in France.
Printemps arabe : que reste-t-il des révoltes populaires dix ans plus tard ? https://t.co/khHd1VNzPk
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Has the protest movement of February 20 changed the society?
The protest movement was not massive, but it brought about lasting changes in society. The movement was not born spontaneously, but in the broader context of the Arab Spring, after the falls of Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Unlike demonstrations in neighboring countries, Moroccans only took to the streets occasionally, gathering every 20th of the month. It gathered only 350,000 people across the country at the height of the crisis. But the movement surprised by its sudden character. In about fifty cities in the country, mainly in Rabat and Casablanca, protesters gathered to express demands vis-à-vis power. It had never been the case before. Until then, the demonstrations had always been organized at the call of trade unions within a professional framework or Islamist groups to protest against external elements, in particular vis-à-vis Israeli policy. For the first time, Moroccans participated in insolent rallies to demand profound changes, on politics, culture or the Constitution. The movement, largely born on social networks, has freed the floor and uninhibited the minds of Moroccans, marking a turning point for the people.
Could the protest movement be reborn?
Probably not in the current context. As everywhere else, the health crisis is not conducive to gatherings, which are also prohibited in the country. But the question may arise at the end of Covid-19. Morocco has been hit very hard by the economic crisis. Tourism is almost at a standstill; this sector supports a quarter of the population. The economic crisis, the demands that have not been met: all the ingredients for a future revolt are there. But no one knows if it will take place, or in what form, or when.
