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Rabat – The visit of Head of Government Saad Eddine Othmani to the region of Al Hoceima is on the table, said Government spokesperson Mustapha Khalfi without specifying the exact date.
Khalfi said at Thursday’s weekly meeting of the government coalition that Othmani’s visit is intended to “boost the development projects that the government announced in response to the demands of the population.”
Khalfi went on to add that Othmani met with the officials of the region earlier this week and held an “explicit discussion,” concluding that “the solutions to resolve the crisis of the Rif is related to development projects.”
The government discussed “new things” not included in the program of the Al-Hoceima, Manarat Al Moutawassit project, added Khalfi, such as establishment of new roads to remove isolation in some villages, and the allocation 900 positions in the education sector of Al Hoceima region to curb unemployment.
Since the death of Mouhcine Fikri in October 2016, 700 sit-ins have been held in the region of Al Hoceima, said Khalfi in last Thursday’s meeting.
Last week, the government coalition broke its silence on the “Hirak” movement, stressing demonstrators’ right to protest for “legitimate” social demands.
Tensions have grown in the region in the past two weeks following the police’s pursuit and arrest of leading activist Nasser Zefzafi. He was taking into custody on Monday along with many other activists after interrupting a Friday sermon he felt was denouncing the “Hirak” movement, and was transferred to Casablanca for investigation. Zefzafi has been charged with “obstructing the right of worship” and “undermining state security.”
Zafzafi’s lawyer Mohammed Ziane has said that Zafzafi has refuted the government claims that the “Hirak” movement was motivated by separatism and foreign funding.
The investigating judge of Casablanca’s Court of Appeal ordered Zafzafi and six of the 20 detainees to be placed in Casablanca’s Oukacha prison on Monday evening.
