Morocco
Morocco performs at the mid-range level in three categories of the Global State of Democracy framework (Participation, Representation and Rights), and at the low-range in Rule of Law. It is amongst the world’s bottom 25 per cent of countries with regard to Local Democracy, Freedom of Religion and Electoral Participation. Morocco's economy is diversified, with strong mining and manufacturing industries, including phosphates, textile and automotive sectors. Natural disasters, such as drought and earthquakes, have adversely impacted agriculture and tourism. High youth unemployment has driven migration to Europe, resulting in significant diaspora remittances.
Morocco’s pre-colonial history was shaped by diverse Berber kingdoms and Islamic dynasties, which extended its influence across North Africa and into parts of Europe. However, by the end of the 19th century its power was in decline and in 1912 it was divided into French and Spanish protectorates. Morocco gained its independence as a kingdom in 1956 and is a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch continues to enjoy extensive powers, alongside an elected parliament.
Religious and ethnic divides are key drivers of Moroccan politics. In a country where over 99 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim and the monarchy’s authority derives its claimed descent from the Prophet Mohammed, a central cleavage is between Islamists and secularists. Despite occasional instances of physical violence, these groups generally cooperate in politics. Although most Moroccans have mixed ethnic heritage, there are divisions between the two main population groups, the Arab and Imazighen (Berber) people. Reforms in the early 2000s, which guaranteed land and linguistic rights to the Imazighen people, were a step toward reducing historical discrimination. In Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by Morrocco, the Sahrawi people, face systematic marginalization, including forced evictions and restrictions on civil and political rights, imposed by Moroccan authorities. Morocco’s claim to the territory is disputed by the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement with which it has been engaged in a 50-year conflict.
Institutional reform is another important and longstanding issue in Morocco. Demands for such change have generally come from civil society, in the absence of strong opposition parties. Arab Spring-inspired protests in 2011 represented a key moment in this regard, resulting in the adoption of a new constitution. Ongoing reform efforts include changes to the judicial system and the decentralization of government. However, the monarchy’s top-down management of reform processes has prevented a significant alteration to the balance of state power. The ability of civil society to shape institutional reform has also been stymied by the shrinking of civic space, with perceived critics harassed and prosecuted. This continued in 2025, with the passage of a law constraining the right to strike.
Morocco is a mid-range performer on the GSoD’s Gender Equality measure and despite legal protections, women continue to suffer high rates of gender-based violence and are underrepresented within the labour force and in parliament. LGBTQIA+ people lack rights protections and face widespread discrimination and harassment.
Looking ahead, Rights will be an important area to watch, particularly Civil Liberties, as the state continues to censor speech and restrict the right to freedom of association and assembly. Gender Equality also merits attention, in light of proposed reforms to the Family Code which, if enacted, would improve women’s rights in marriage, divorce and inheritance. The prospects for democratization in Morocco also lie with the ongoing devolution of power to regional and local authorities.
Last Updated: July 2025
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September 2025
Mass youth-led anti-government protests spread nationwide
On 27 September, Morocco witnessed a rare wave of anti-government demonstrations, the most widespread since the 2011 protest movement, largely led by young people mobilized through social media. Large crowds took to the streets in cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier. The protests were sparked by public outrage over the deaths of several women at a public hospital in Agadir earlier in the month, attributed to inadequate maternity care, as well as anger over a draft higher education reform under parliamentary review, which had raised concerns about universities’ academic autonomy and access to education. Demonstrators voiced widespread dissatisfaction with public services and questioned government spending priorities, including investments in sports infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Security forces intervened in multiple locations, using force to disperse crowds and detaining at least 200 people. The protest movement continued in the following days, extending into October.
Sources: Morocco World News, Al Jazeera, Committee for Justice, Reuters
August 2025
Alternative sentencing law comes into effect
On 22 August, a new law introducing alternative sentences to imprisonment came into effect, aiming to ease prison overcrowding (which had led to poor living conditions in prisons) through non-custodial measures such as probation, community service, fines, electronic monitoring, and rehabilitation programs. The law also allows early release or sentence reductions for inmates showing good behaviour or active participation in rehabilitation. The Attorney General’s Office and prison administration estimate that only about 1,700 inmates (out of around 100,000 in total) will initially benefit. Despite this modest initial rollout, the law marks a shift toward rehabilitation and reintegration, with the first sentence under the new framework issued on 25 August, replacing a one-year prison term for theft with community service.
Sources: Morocco World News, Avocats Sans Frontieres, El País, Hespress
February 2025
New strike law triggers first general strike in a decade
On 5 February, a new law regulating the right to strike was passed by parliament. The law introduces conditions for organizing and participating in strikes including, among others, advance notice requirements, minimum service levels in essential sectors, and the possibility of fines and administrative penalties for those who fail to comply. Labor unions strongly criticized the law, claiming that it undermines workers' rights. In protest, major unions organized a nationwide strike on 5 and 6 February, the first general strike in a decade. This drew significant participation across key sectors, including transport, healthcare, and education. Unions reports indicated that over 80.0 percent of workers took part, although the figures reported by the government showed lower levels of participation – 32.0 per cent among public sector workers and 1.4 percent in the private sector. Rising living costs were also cited as a major concern driving the strike.
Sources: Barlaman Today, Morocco World News, British Broadcasting Corporation Arabic, The North Africa Post, The North Africa Post (2)
December 2024
Government presents proposal to reform Family Code
On 24 December, the government proposed a reform of the Family Code (Mudawana) which, if enacted, will improve women's rights in marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Coming after years of consultations, this would be the first major revision of the code in 20 years, introducing over 100 amendments. Key proposed changes include raising the legal marriage age from 15 to 17, shared parental guardianship, divorced mothers retaining custody after remarriage, and requiring a wife’s consent for polygamy. Other proposals include simplifying divorce procedures, recognizing wives' contributions to marital assets, and giving parents the right to donate assets to female heirs. The amendments, approved by the Higher Council of Ulemas (the country’s highest religious authority), are now awaiting parliamentary and royal approval, with the legal text still being drafted.
Sources: La Quotidienne, Morocco World News, The New Arab, Le Matin
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