The earthquake that claimed at least two thousand lives in Morocco struck around 11:00 p.m. on Friday. By midday Saturday, King Felipe VI sent a telegram to Mohammed VI expressing heartfelt condolences for the disaster, addressing him as a dear brother and noting deep sorrow over the violent event. At that moment, the Moroccan monarch had not yet spoken publicly after the quake. The first public words from the Royal Palace arrived around 8:00 p.m., almost twenty-four hours after the event. Mohammed VI had not appeared on television by the time this article was written.
Mohammed VI was in Paris on holiday when the misfortune occurred, according to Libération. The king reportedly spends most of the year there. Media reports state that two planes belonging to the Moroccan Royal Family arrived in the French capital on Saturday morning to bring him home. Prime Minister Aziz Ajanuch and the rest of the administration were silent for a time, with no public statements from officials speaking on behalf of the ruler, who retains significant influence over the country’s governance.
Upon his arrival in Rabat, Mohammed VI, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, chaired an emergency executive meeting at the Royal Palace at 8:00 p.m. The gathering included representatives from the Royal Armed Forces, local authorities, law enforcement, civil protection units, and relevant ministerial offices. In response to the disaster, three days of national mourning were declared and flags were ordered to fly at half-mast nationwide. The king ordered strengthened search and rescue efforts, provision of water and food kits to affected areas, and the swift restoration of public services.
An absent king
At 59 years old, Mohammed VI has spent extended periods abroad, spending time at holiday residences in Gabon or in France, where a grand estate near Paris anchors his presence. Media reports claim a large residence at the foot of the Eiffel Tower was purchased for a substantial sum a few years ago.
In February of the previous year, he could not attend the High Level Meeting between Spain and Morocco, where a planned discussion with Pedro Sánchez was anticipated after reforms in Moroccan policy regarding Western Sahara.
In Francophone Moroccan media, there is ongoing speculation about his health and leadership role. Reports have suggested talk of abdication by the crown prince due to concerns over his health. Still, at the most recent throne anniversary celebrations, he appeared visibly weaker and paler, prompting public discussion among observers.
In recent months, he has sought to bolster his public presence and launched numerous initiatives that mobilized demonstrations across the country. He remained in Morocco for several months before resuming a working visit to Paris.
Geopolitical changes in the region
The earthquake triggered a diplomatic stir over the Western Sahara issue, the former Spanish territory that Morocco regards as its own and has sought a UN-backed referendum on self-determination.
High-ranking officials from the United States and the United Nations moved quickly through the region, suggesting behind-the-scenes activity. Special envoy Staffan de Mistura traveled to Rabat and gained access to the disputed areas under Moroccan control after years of obstacles.
p>Discussions with Sahrawi pro-independence activists continued, and sources indicate that a forthcoming report on the enduring conflict will be presented to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to inform renewed diplomatic efforts toward a settlement.
p>U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Joshua Harris recently visited the region, meeting with the Polisario Front leadership in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, and visiting Rabat. The U.S. embassy in Rabat released a statement outlining Washington’s stance on the conflict: a self-government plan for the Sahara remains a viable option but not the only one.
The Biden administration appears to shift away from the more assertive pro-Moroccan posture of the previous administration, indicating nuanced support for Western Sahara’s status and relations with Israel. This evolving position underscores the need for a careful, measured approach as regional dynamics unfold.
Amid these shifts, Morocco faces the immediate tasks of rescuing citizens trapped beneath rubble and planning reconstruction efforts in the weeks to come. The tragedy drew widespread international support, with condolences and offers of assistance coming from a broad spectrum of states, including neighbors and rival actors alike, as the country navigates the immediate aftermath and a long road to recovery.