Once again, the issue of the Sub-Saharan immigrants resurfaces. Moroccan society is truly and literally divided over this issue, especially after a clash between Moroccans and illegal immigrants in Casablanca a couple of days ago. Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Safi, Essaouira and other Moroccan cities have known a significant flux of illegal immigrants from countries down South, along with Syrians refugees. Those aim at crossing the borders to Ceuta or Melilla or reaching the greener side, Europe. Some are still waiting for the so-longed for opportunity to cross or reach; some have reached the greener side, got caught and were repatriated while others, unfortunately, died trying.
©Mathiew Willcocks, World Press Photo
A significant number of Moroccans think that the government and the authorities should repatriate any individual from African Countries, as they are not welcome into Morocco due to their behaviors, difference or simply race that tarnish the image of Morocco worldwide. Their argument is that many of those illegal immigrants stuck in Morocco are working as drugs dealers, beggars, pickpockets or running prostitution networks. "We don't want those “Aawaza” (blacks) in our country", one old woman said in taxi conversation, "I fear that there will come a day when they would colonize us and claim our lands as theirs. What would happen then to us and to our children". "Look around us, 'Africans' are everywhere", added the taxi driver, "they don't do us any good, and after the King's order to regulate their situation and to issue residence permits to them, they will be empowered more than they already are".
Such un-educated opinions are a combo of racial, religion and other differences mainly. "They don't respect us, neither respect our religion, culture and traditions", said one Facebook comment, "you know why that incident happened (in reference to the clash between Moroccans and illegal immigrants), it happened because one or many of them harassed one Moroccan girl in the street and two Moroccans interfered to help her; the harassers got backup and the girl called backup, her family and neighbors, and things got out of hands urging police intervention". "The government is to blame. When they saw Euros, they agreed to take those immigrants blindly without considering the aftermaths. We don’t know who they are, they might be rapists, criminals, or killers escaping justice." One comment in a Moroccan online newspaper stated. Some go as far as refusing to rent houses to 'Africans', simply because they are 'Africans or because they are 'loud', 'dirty' and tend to overcrowd the houses.
Credits: le360.ma
On the other hand, aside from any racial or biased prejudices, many citizens think that Morocco has its hands full with the current interior conditions. “As much as we want to welcome our brothers and sisters into our country, as much as we fear that with the increase of unemployment and illiteracy, difficulties facing the educational system, stumbling heath institutions, and the like, the country would fail both of us ”, stated a comment on Facebook.” As a matter of fact, Morocco is bound by many partnership and cooperation agreements with European countries, mainly Portugal, Spain, France and Italy regarding illegal immigrants coming from Morocco and other African countries. In fact, most of these agreements appoint Morocco as a border "guard" to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into Europe and to abort any attempts to reach the other bank by fighting against illegal immigration mafias.
©Sergi Camara - The Guardian
Such mission forces Morocco, its government authorities and security services to deplore plenty of its resources to ensure the "guarding" mission. In addition, depending on each agreement, Morocco is not only expected to guard the borders but also to receive and welcome the repatriated immigrants into its territory, not only Moroccans, but also immigrants from other African countries and ensure their rights and reintegration. That alone will take all Morocco's focus, concentration and resources, as NGO's, Human Rights organizations, and binding treaties and agreements are regularly supervising and monitoring the situation.
European aids and funds to carry such "guarding" mission only are not sufficient. Such issue needs strategies and methods that Morocco is not capable of making. Take Germany and other European "developed" countries for example, they have had their hands full when managing the flux of refugees; Then what would Morocco, a country under development, do? As a result of the lack of such strategic and well-built approaches ensuring a suitable life for those immigrants, many citizens strongly recommend that Morocco itself should repatriate the immigrants to their home countries for public benefit.
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Credits: Fondation Orient - Occident[
It is not like there are not any illegal Moroccan immigrants in Europe or elsewhere - or at least Moroccans who used to be illegal immigrants before the regulation of their situations. In this regard, I share with many the belief that society, associations and individuals should take part in the reintegration of those illegal immigrants, through organizing events to introduce the Moroccan culture, traditions and lifestyle, to establish mutual understanding of each other’s differences and to help improve the lives of those immigrants, interacting with them without prejudices and treating them right, after all, notwithstanding color, language, faith or status, they are human beings.
Foundation Occident Orient is a great illustration of such reintegration. It provides assistance and help to immigrants and refugees. It provides a platform for those immigrants to reintegrate society and to meet with, discover and exchange with Moroccans. Another example of this integration is the
African Cultural Center in Rabat that promotes African culture in Morocco and the exchange between Moroccans, Sub-Saharan immigrants and non-Moroccans residents through organizing cultural days, souks (markets), art exhibitions and so forth.
I personally have come across many immigrants who integrated the Moroccan society. Some have earned their residence permits, found jobs, married Moroccans or brought their wives from home, even learnt Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and started a living in Morocco either by working as musicians, dance teachers, sellers, journeymen, beauticians, laborers and sadly beggars; some are still waiting for the regulation of their status while others, unfortunately, are still pursuing the dream to reach the other side.
©Walid Bendra, Instagram
If you visit the Twin Center, you will find beauty shops owned by non-Moroccan Africans. If you go to Bab Chellah in Rabat, or Rue Rabat in Safi, you will witness with your own eyes the interactions between Moroccans and non-Moroccans. My Shea butter supplier is a Senegalese. My sister's hairdresser is Congolese. And I even learnt the "tchiiip" from an Ivorian beautician.
In sum, I agree with the worries of Moroccans regarding public safety. I believe that Morocco and other African countries should bind their efforts to manage this issue, especially now that Morocco reclaimed its seat back in the African Union. And If Europe appointed Morocco to do the dirty work in exchange of funds and aids, other African countries need to lend a helping hand to find solution, be it the governments or NGOs. Immigrants, legal or illegal, repatriated or stuck in Morocco are human beings who left their home countries escaping wars and hardships looking forward to better life conditions. They need assistance and help. They need to enjoy their rights as human beings as well as assume duties. They not only need to obtain legal status but also need to have access to social security, to education, and to health care. Morocco, unfortunately, cannot achieve such accomplishments alone.
