On July 29, 2024, marking the 25th anniversary of his reign, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI delivered a wide-ranging speech and issued a significant royal pardon, addressing both domestic challenges and international concerns.In a move welcomed by human rights defenders, the King pardoned 2,476 prisoners, including three prominent journalists: Taoufik Bouachrine, Omar Radi, and Soulaimane Raisouni. These journalists had been imprisoned for several years on various charges, including sexual assault, which they denied. The pardon also extended to 16 individuals convicted of terrorism and extremism who had publicly renounced such ideologies.Addressing the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed Morocco’s support for the Palestinian cause. He called for a ceasefire in Gaza and emphasized the need for a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state. The King stressed that ‘depending on negotiations for peace between the parties requires cutting off the path of extremists’.On the domestic front, the monarch highlighted the urgent need to address Morocco’s water crisis, exacerbated by drought and climate change. He called for the acceleration of dam construction projects, water transfer between regions, and the development of a national water treatment industry.This royal address and pardon, coinciding with the Throne Day celebrations, reflect Morocco’s complex balancing act between addressing internal challenges, maintaining regional influence, and navigating international relations.
Key points
- King Mohammed VI pardoned 2,476 prisoners, including three prominent journalists, on his 25th anniversary as monarch.
- The King reaffirmed Morocco’s support for the Palestinian cause and called for a two-state solution.
- He emphasized the need to address Morocco’s water crisis amid drought and climate change.
