Moroccan Government Forges Partnership to Promote Amazigh Language

Rabat – The House of Representatives and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform signed a partnership agreement as part of the government initiative to enhance the official status of the Amazigh language today in Rabat.

The agreement was signed by the president of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, and the Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Ghita Mezzour today.

This agreement aims to implement the procedural plan endorsed by the parliamentary council, while also seeking to formalize the status of the Amazigh language.

Talbi Alami emphasized in his comments to the press that this agreement will bolster the use of the Amazigh language as an official language in Morocco.

He explained that the council “has been actively working on this matter and initiated a project for instant Amazigh translation.” He noted that the intervention of the Ministry of Digital Transition has “also been of crucial importance to this project.”

The president added that the agreement aims to support instant Amazigh language translation and implement the provisions of the organizational law for its official recognition.

A multi-phased approach

The first phase of this initiative involves providing this instant translation within the House of Representatives. Also commenting to the press, Minister Mezzour highlighted her ministry’s unwavering commitment to assisting the House as they integrate the Amazigh language into their operations.

Following this, a second phase will ensue, involving the translation of parliamentary committee proceedings and written materials into Amazigh within a five-year timeframe, as stipulated by legal requirements.

Mezzour reiterated that the Amazigh language ought to be used alongside Arabic in all parliamentary meetings and associated endeavors.

She also clarified that based on the agreement, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform will offer real-time translation of these proceedings to and from the Amazigh language.

These translations will be aired on Amazigh public television and radio channels, as well as on the official YouTube channel of the House of Representatives.

She emphasized the intention to expand the scope of cooperation to include broader areas to promote the use of the Amazigh language.

This includes supporting all projects and programs aimed at promoting Amazigh within the House of Representatives, enabling citizens to follow the activities of their representatives in the council.

In 2022, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said in a speech that 200 million dirhams were allocated in a finance law to promote the official status of the Amazigh language, with a commitment to incrementally increase this allocation, reaching one billion dirhams by 2025.

The Amazigh language is viewed as a crucial part of the national culture, deeply embedded in Moroccan history.

It has been officially recognized as a language by the constitution since 2011, making it a shared heritage for all Moroccans, without any exceptions.