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Rabat – Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), has called on Moroccans to remain consistent in their values and conduct following recent reactions linked to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), especially during the finale.
He warned against allowing isolated incidents to reshape public attitudes toward Sub-Saharan African communities living in Morocco.
Tensions rose in the aftermath of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, as the emotional weight of the match spilled beyond the pitch and into public discourse.
What started as sporting disappointment quickly descended into chaos and heated exchanges. Social media platforms and some public spaces witnessed racist remarks, slurs, inflammatory language, as well as instances of extreme violence.
While these reactions did not reflect the broader attitudes of either society, they fueled a climate of tension and misunderstanding, which only amplified isolated incidents, turning them into symbols of a wider confrontation that extended far beyond football.
Speaking on the matter, Benkirane said the incident occurred at a time when “citizens were busy with AFCON,” adding that while the national team’s exit from the tournament was disappointing, it should not overshadow Morocco’s broader standing.
“It is unfortunate that we did not win, but thank God Morocco has enough glory and proved the best organization,” he said.
Benkirane stressed that relations with Senegalese nationals, in particular, should not be affected by the behavior of a few individuals.
“The Senegalese are our dear people,” he said, acknowledging that “some of them acted in an inappropriate way,” but insisted that this “is not an excuse to change our behavior toward them as people, or to change our perspective toward all our African brothers living in our country.”
He underlined that Morocco’s approach toward neighboring African communities is rooted in long-standing principles.
“Each one of them has a story,” Benkirane said, adding that Moroccans have always treated African nationals “in line with royal directives and in accordance with logic, generosity, and humanity.”
For the former head of government, this moment does not justify a departure from those values.
“This is not a time to change our behavior,” he said. “Moroccans will not change.”
Benkirane concluded by affirming that the situation ultimately passed without major incident. “Thank God for everything. In general, all went in peace,” he said.
