Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has urged public institutions to place youth welfare at the centre of government policies, calling for improved education, skills development and employment opportunities amid growing concerns over the country’s social and economic challenges.
The monarch made the call on Friday while opening a new parliamentary session in Rabat, months after youth-led protests highlighted public frustration over access to healthcare, education and jobs.
He urged authorities to adopt a more integrated approach to youth development, stressing the need to guarantee equal opportunities and strengthen young people’s participation in the economy.
“Youth-related issues must be placed at the forefront of public policies and of the concerns of governing bodies,” he said.
He added that this should be achieved “through the development of an integrated vision that guarantees equal opportunities and encompasses education, skills development, and economic inclusion”.
The king also called for a new generation of economic strategies designed to attract greater private-sector investment and expand opportunities for young Moroccans.
The address comes against the backdrop of growing demands by young people for better public services and measures to address rising youth unemployment.
Many of those who crossed into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta in a mass migration incident at the end of July were young people, reflecting the wider challenges surrounding employment and economic prospects.
Beyond domestic concerns, Mohammed VI defended Morocco’s partnership with Spain following tensions over the mass migration into Ceuta, announcing plans to redefine bilateral cooperation.
Responding to what he described as irresponsible statements from some political and media circles, the king insisted that the partnership remained a sovereign decision.
“In the face of the irresponsible statements made by certain political and media circles … we affirm that partnership is a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment, which cannot be subject to any pressure or threat, nor to any form of blackmail,” he said.
He announced that Morocco would present its partners with a strategic document outlining a renewed vision for cooperation, focusing on joint development, economic competitiveness and regional stability.
The monarch also criticised delays in transferring powers and resources to regional authorities, calling for more effective decentralisation to support development across the country.
He further underscored the importance of strengthening water, energy and food security as part of Morocco’s broader development priorities.
Following the address, opposition lawmakers said they would monitor the government’s response to determine whether the priorities outlined by the king would translate into concrete policies and measurable action.
The challenge for the government, they indicated, would be to move beyond broad commitments and deliver tangible improvements in the lives of young Moroccans.
