RABAT, Morocco — As Morocco heads toward parliamentary elections on Sept. 23, political parties have intensified their efforts to win over young voters. At campaign rallies and public forums, politicians have focused heavily on employment, economic opportunity, and the promise of a better future, reflecting a broad recognition that the country’s youth will play a decisive role in shaping its future.
Yet while politicians are asking young Moroccans to trust the democratic process, growing numbers of them appear to be placing their hopes elsewhere. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have attempted the dangerous sea crossing to reach the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, on Morocco’s northern coast. Dozens of them died in the process.
Such spikes in irregular migration are not new, but the timing is significant: The latest wave comes roughly a year after youth-led protests erupted across the country, as Moroccans demanded jobs, dignity and social justice. While the demonstrations spurred some limited reforms and increases in social spending, they also were met with a heavy-handed crackdown that saw thousands of participants arrested and charged with serious crimes.