The Moroccan Monarchy Cannot Contain On-Going Amazigh Protests in the Rif

Protests throughout Morocco’s Rif in response to the brutal killing by police of a fish seller have gone beyond mere calls for reform, calling instead for republicanism and an end to monarchy.

by Jesse Brent

On October 28, 2016, fish seller Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death inside a garbage truck in Al Hoceima, a town in Morocco’s northern Rif region. Authorities had seized Fikri’s haul of 500 kilograms (over 1,000 pounds) of swordfish, a species they claimed was illegal to fish for at that time of year. Fikri reportedly jumped into the garb…