Mohammed VI boasts of economic achievements and reaches out to Algiers

The Moroccan sovereign reiterated his call for dialogue with Algeria and his attachment to the construction of the Maghreb Union, on the occasion of his speech to the Nation for the Throne Day.

“There is no place, neither today nor tomorrow, for a Morocco moving at two speeds,” said the King, calling for “a global upgrading of territorial spaces” and the consolidation of human development. In this context, the sovereign announced the development of a new generation of regional development programs, articulated around four priorities: employment, basic social services, sustainable water management, and territorial integration.

The speech is in line with the New Development Model adopted in 2021, while renewing the ambition to build a competitive and socially inclusive economy. Mohammed VI praised the Kingdom’s economic performance, despite the successive climate and geopolitical crises. He highlighted the doubling of industrial exports since 2014, particularly in the strategic sectors of automotive, aeronautics, renewable energy and agri-food, Morocco World News said.

The King also highlighted the social progress made in recent years. The multidimensional poverty rate fell from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024, according to the results of the last census. Morocco has now crossed the threshold of countries with “high human development” according to international criteria. However, Mohammed VI acknowledged that “some areas, especially in rural areas, still endure forms of poverty and precariousness,” calling for accelerated efforts to ensure effective spatial justice.

At the institutional level, the Sovereign asked the government to finalize before the end of the year the revision of the Electoral Code in view of the legislative elections scheduled for 2026. He instructed the Minister of the Interior to open political consultations with the different parties to ensure a electoral process «judicious, transparent and in accordance with democratic standards».

In his speech Mohammed VI reiterated his commitment to rapprochement with Algeria, stating that the Algerian people are a “brother nation”, linked to Morocco by “language, religion, geography and common destiny.” He called for a “frank, responsible and sincere dialogue” with Algiers and expressed his regret at the persistence of the break between the two countries.

Furthermore, the King welcomed the growing international support for the autonomy proposal for the Moroccan Sahara, particularly welcoming the recent positions of the United Kingdom and Portugal. He described this proposal as the “one and only solution” to the regional dispute.

On the same occasion, the King of Morocco granted a pardon to 19673 convicted selected according to determined criteria to make this operation a humanist initiative.