'Akhannouch out': Moroccans call on PM to resign over rising prices

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has become the target of ‘a digital revolution' calling for his resignation amid rising food and fuel prices in the kingdom.

With more than 11 000 tweets, the Arabic hashtag ‘Akhannouch get out’ trended at number one on Twitter in Morocco, less than 200 days into Akhannouch's  time in office.

“Stop corruption,” “Get out, you are an irresponsible person,” “We are struggling to afford food and the government is doing nothing,” and similar comments were shared on Twitter with pictures of the new lists of prices in supermarkets and gas stations.

Pour ceux & celles qui ne savent pas, voici les taux d'augmentation pour chaque produit, vous ne trouvez pas que c trop????? #اخنوش_ارحل pic.twitter.com/pbrdhFMB4P

— Soukeïnah 🦋 (@sukyxelmit) February 15, 2022

Some activists are also planning to take to the streets on Sunday, 20 February, to coincide with the  anniversary of the “20 February movement" that was inspired by other pro-democracy movements across the region in 2011.

Under the cabinet of billionaire Aziz Akhannouch, the prices of several essential food products have skyrocketed in recent months. 

The price of a 5-litre bottle of “vegetable oil” increased by MAD 27 ($3), while the price of semolina, a type of flour widely used in Moroccan cuisine, increased by MAD 50 (~$5) for 25kg.

The inflation has severely impacted vulnerable families, who are still reeling from two years of the pandemic, in which more than 430,000 Moroccans lost their jobs.

On January, 18, Akhannouch commented on the prices crisis during his first interview since winning the September 8 elections.
 
“They are temporary rises due to production chains being affected by the pandemic conditions, either by a shortage of supply in the international market due to the closure of some companies, or an increase in demand after reopening," he said.

Akhannouch added that the situation in Morocco “is better than other countries, as the inflation rate did not exceed 1.8 percent.” These were the first and the last public comments on the matter from the prime minister, who rarely makes media appearances.

Amid the dramatic increase in fuel prices, the Moroccan Association of Transport and Logistics announced on Tuesday a twenty percent increase in the transport prices. 

After a few hours, the association annulled the decision following the intervention of the government, who promised to open a national dialogue with the association to find a middle ground.