Moroccan netizens unleashed their wrath, on social media, at Head of Government Akhannouch Aziz over basic commodities’ price surge, demanding government dissolution or reshuffle.
Given that citizens did not receive any response from those elected to serve them, internet users turned unanimously to the king, calling for his intervention to protect their purchasing power.
Moroccans launched hashtags such as “We ask the king for urgent government reshuffle”, “Akhannouch go”, and “king and people’s revolution against the corrupt government”. The hashtags received a large turnout on social media.
Akhannouch, a businessman and former Minister of Agriculture, was classified among the wealthiest individuals in the African continent.
Several media outlets shed light on Morocco’s social and economic situation after the election of Akhannouch, including American “Equal Times” which said that while business interests have always had a strong influence on Morocco’s political leadership, many believe that they are more powerful now than ever before.
“In the country’s political circles, there is talk of a marriage of politics and business, not least because the current prime minister, Aziz Akhanouch, is himself the country’s wealthiest businessman”, wrote the paper.
American magazine “Forbes” had previously ranked Akhannouch among the wealthiest people in the world, stressing that his wealth doubled during Covid 19 pandemic, amounting to 2 billion dollars in 2022 compared to 1.9 billion dollars in 2021.
Akhannouch owns the “Aqua” economic group and its affiliate “Africa Gas” company.