'They are not separate': Activists kick off World Bank and IMF counter-summit in Morocco with solidarity march for Gaza

In Morocco's Marrakech, activists from around the globe kicked off Thursday, 12 October, the World Bank counter-summit with a march in solidarity with Palestine and against the financial dictatorship of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under the scorching sun of Marrakech, hundreds of activists marched in Bab Doukala square holding banners reading "Dignity, not debt" as the streets echoed English and Arabic chants "Cancel the Debts", carrying the urgent demand for economic relief and global equity.

While the demonstration responded to the ongoing World Bank-IMF meetings held in the city, several protesters waved the Palestinian flags in solidarity with Palestinians' right to liberate their land.

"It's not a separate case. We are here to protest the colonisation mentality that looks at us as a less important species. What's going on in Gaza today is a reflection of this mentality," said Sofia, a Moroccan student in Marrakech who joined the protest.

During the protest, activists also chanted "System change, not climate" in demand for profound reform of the socio-economic foundations to preserve the planet and end austerity loans.

Comienza en Marrakesh la contra-cumbre de movimientos sociales ante la reunión anual del Banco Mundial y el FMI y sus políticas neoliberales. Miles de activistas de todo el mundo contra el capitalismo, por el planeta y con Palestina pic.twitter.com/szFkrqEBuw

— Miguel Urbán Crespo (@MiguelUrban) October 12, 2023

Organised mainly by the social and climate movements, trade unions, women, small farmers and indigenous peoples, this counter-summit kicked off in reaction to the Annual Meeting of the IMF and the WB, deemed two imperialist institutions that undermine the Global South's nations.

The counter-summit will stretch over three days, with discussions, workshops and plenary sessions aimed at exploring economic alternatives for Africa, Asia and the rest of the World, according to Larbi Hafidi, a participating activist.

It is set to conclude on Sunday with another Pro-Palestine and anti-imperialism march in Marrakech, which is set to coincide with a national protest of solidarity with Gaza in the capital of Rabat.

"It is time to say stop to these neoliberal policies, to the capitalist policies which are devastating our populations, especially towards women," said Emilie Atchaka from Cadtm Benin.

A few meters away, world leaders and economists gathered in air-conditioned and carpeted tents to discuss stabilising the global economy during war, inequality and climate change.

However, IMF and WB officials have avoided wading into the ongoing Israel war on Gaza, calling it "an unnecessary human tragedy and global economic shock" and "a new cloud darkening not-the-sunniest horizon for the world economy."