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Rabat – A Moroccan taxi driver has been arrested following an altercation involving a Russian diplomat and a ride-hailing service near a luxury hotel in Casablanca. The incident has brought attention to the growing tensions between traditional taxi drivers and ride-sharing app drivers in Morocco.
Speaking to local media, taxi drivers who witnessed the event provided their version of what happened. They explained that the incident occurred in front of a prestigious hotel in Casablanca, where a group of taxi drivers were waiting for potential customers.
According to witnesses, a car linked to a ride-sharing app arrived to pick up the diplomat and his wife, which “angered” the taxi drivers as these apps are not legally recognized in Morocco.
One of the taxi drivers, Jamal, reportedly approached the Russian diplomat to explain that ride-sharing apps operate illegally in Morocco and urged him to use a licensed taxi instead.
Witnesses stated that this led to a verbal disagreement, after which the diplomat returned to the hotel. The situation appeared to have calmed down when several taxi drivers followed the diplomat to further explain their concerns.
Despite what witnesses described as a peaceful conversation, the Russian diplomat reportedly filed a police report alleging misconduct. This resulted in the arrest of Jamal, sparking outrage among taxi drivers and union representatives.
Mustapha Elkihel, the National Secretary of the Moroccan Democratic Labor Union, defended the arrested driver, asserting that no physical altercation occurred. He said that the situation is being blown out of proportion in the media and warned it could damage the country’s reputation.
Read also: Ride-Sharing Regulation Debate Heats Up Amid Morocco’s Preparation to Host High-Profile Events
According to converging media reports, which described the incident completely differently, the taxi driver pursued the ride-sharing car carrying the Russian diplomat and his wife. This reportedly led to a road blockade by multiple taxi drivers, who then assaulted the driver. Both the diplomat and his wife were injured while trying to break out the fight, converging reports suggested.
Elkihel, however, reiterated that, according to witness reports, the arrested taxi driver was not involved in any physical altercation with the couple.
He indicated reaching out to the King’s Attorney General to request Jamal’s release, arguing that the focus should instead be on the unregulated status of ride-hailing apps, which was the root of the issue.
Morocco World News spoke with the Russian Embassy in Rabat, who said that “on 29 November there was a conflict in Casablanca between local taxi drivers and a Russian businessman who had arrived in the Kingdom to conduct business negotiations.”
The embassy added that “the Moroccan instigators of the incident were promptly arrested by the country’s law enforcement agencies and the case was referred to court.”
It noted that the businessman has since returned to Russian, with the Russian Embassy in Rabat and the Consulate General in Casablanca closely following the development of the situation.
The incident is one in many that reflect the long-standing conflict between taxi drivers and ride-hailing platforms like inDrive, Yango, and Kareem in Morocco. These apps, which are often favored for their affordability and convenience, operate in a legal gray area as they are not officially recognized under Moroccan transportation laws.
This regulatory gap has caused tension, with taxi drivers accusing ride-hailing services of unfair competition and operating illegally. Over the years, multiple incidents of harassment and violence targeting ride-sharing drivers have been reported. Many drivers face threats from taxi operators and risk fines from authorities for operating without permits.
Meanwhile, ride-hailing drivers and their users have called for clearer regulations to legitimize their operations and ensure safety, especially by granting these companies a legal status in Morocco.
Some customers have also raised safety concerns. Unlike licensed taxis, inDrive drivers do not always undergo the same level of scrutiny or verification. This leads to fears about passenger security, in addition to customers often finding themselves caught in the middle of disputes between inDrive drivers and traditional taxi operators.
