Letter from... Rabat

By Driss Benhima, Managing Director, Cambre Associates (Part of SEC Newgate)

It’s been interesting to see how recent handling of the health crisis in Morocco has led public opinion to question the apparent indecision of the government in its control of exiting the crisis.

Observers agree that the way in which the government, under the direct leadership of the Moroccan sovereign, initially protected the country from the threat of the epidemic at the beginning of March when the first cases appeared are to be applauded. The success of this programme of very strict measures, to which all citizens have adhered, has resulted in a very small number of deaths – 210 death from the virus amongst out of Morocco’s 35 million inhabitants.

Paradoxically the programme to lift these measures, deconfinement and the restart of social and economic activities, does not elicit the same approval and the same collective commitment.

Morocco is one of the last countries in the world to have decided to lift its strict containment of society and to start to allow the reopening of some companies. While it has maintained the closure of restaurants, cafes, hotels, sports facilities and non-professional travel, and while the borders are still hermetically closed, the return of Moroccans stranded abroad has started.

However, the press hasn’t held back from echoing the frustrations of the public and the grievances of certain sectors such as tourism, which is a key sector of the Moroccan economy. Hoteliers have complained that competing countries have already reopened their doors and are attracting the small numbers of tourists who will dare to leave their homes in the coming summer months.

On closer inspection, there may be only a communication deficit: the government has taken two approaches but has failed to outline why they are necessary and are as relevant as the series of measures taken at the beginning of the crisis.

Firstly, progressive deconfinement decisions are being reviewed on an almost daily basis using data on how the epidemic is slowing. This has led to the reactive policies being introduced being misunderstood by citizens.

Secondly, the urgency at the start of the epidemic created the need for central and strong measures throughout the country, whereas the exit from the crisis needs a more local treatment. In Morocco, 40 of the country's 72 provinces have not recorded any cases for many weeks. As a result, the government has empowered local commissions to manage their own exit process based on local data. But these commissions are typically nervous and in all likelihood too cautious, fueling further misunderstanding.

Lack of government communication and lack of local decisions being made – these are the two factors that unfortunately risk masking a remarkable strategy and execution in the defence of the country against the global pandemic.