King Mohammed VI of Morocco highlights water crisis and Middle East in speech

Monday July 29, King Mohammed VI devoted his speech to two subjects closely affecting Moroccans: the water problem and the situation in the Middle East.

In his speech, the King focused on water policy. Dams, water highways, and desalination stations are at the heart of the battle against drought and water stress in which Morocco is sinking.
Six consecutive years of drought have profoundly affected water reserves and groundwater, making the water situation more precarious and complex.

In accordance with the program of water supply potable 2020 2027, the King called for the acceleration of the implementation of large projects of water transfer between hydraulic basins, connecting the Oued Laou-Larache and Loukous basins with the Oued Oum Er-Rbia basins via the Oued Sebou and Bouregreg basins.

These projects will allow the exploitation of a billion cubic metres of water that was being lost.

In addition, according to the programme adopted for this purpose, the construction of desalination stations for seawater must be accelerated to ensure the annual mobilization of more than 1.7 billion cubic meters.

By 2030, Morocco will be able to cover more than half of its drinking water needs from these stations, The Commission’s proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area is based on the principle that the Community should be able to provide irrigation in large areas and thus increase its food security.

This is the case of the desalination plant in Casablanca, the largest project of its kind in Africa and the second installation in the world that will be supplied with 100% clean energy.

Gaza crisis

The monarch insisted on the need for a comprehensive solution to the conflict, stressing that the end of hostilities in Gaza must go hand in hand with the opening of political prospects for a just and lasting peace in the region. He called for the resumption of the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, saying that this step must exclude extremists, «wherever they come from».

The King stressed that regional security and stability will be fully ensured only by the implementation of the two-state solution, Guaranteeing that Gaza will be an integral part of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

As chairman of the al-Qods Committee, HM King Mohammed VI highlighted Morocco’s efforts to provide essential humanitarian aid to Gaza at this critical time. “We have been able to open an unprecedented route for delivering urgent food and medical aid to our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said.

The Sovereign promised to continue supporting constructive initiatives aimed at finding practical solutions and establishing a ceasefireThe EU’s European Commission has been working on a number of issues. This support demonstrates Morocco’s determination to remain a committed actor in the quest for justice and peace for the Palestinian people.

Journalists benefit from the Royal Grace

A little earlier, in the evening, the traditional royal pardons surprised the media and relieved part of Moroccan civil society.

King Mohammed VI pardoned three journalists and an intellectual on Monday. NGOs have been constantly demanding their release.

Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine, arrested in 2020 for the first two and in 2018 for the third, were pardoned, a Moroccan official told AFP under cover of anonymity.

Maâti Monjib, historian and human rights defender Franco-Moroccan, is also concerned by the royal pardon, which occurs on the occasion of the feast of the throne celebrated on Tuesday, marking the enthronement of Mohammed VI 25 years ago. The Ministry of Justice said in a statement that 2,476 people have been pardoned.

Source: Jeuneafrique and MAP