Home | News | North Africa | Marrakech Terror Attack Risks to Derail Political Progress in Morocco and Could Slow Rapprochement with Algeria

Marrakech Terror Attack Risks to Derail Political Progress in Morocco and Could Slow Rapprochement with Algeria

25 April, 2011 03:26:00 Arezki Daoud
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[By Arezki Daoud | daoud@north-africa.com | 508-981-6937 | Twitter: @northafrica] It’s test time for King Mohamed VI. Moving forward with political reforms may have awakened nasty demons, and yet scaling them back could lead the country into violent turmoil. The terror attack that rocked the city of Marrakech, Morocco on April 28, 2011 is both puzzling and alarming but not entirely unpredictable. Morocco is moving on the fast track in a region full of drama. And so while emotions are running high, a lot remains at stake, and inevitably something is bound to go wrong.

The attack, which took place at the Argana Café on the Jemaa El-Fna Plaza, claimed the lives of 16 people and some 20 wounded. With this attack, there are no shortages of motives and reasons for all sort of possible perpetrators. The potential suspects range from the anti-reformist Find us on twitterclan that has a lot to lose if Morocco moves into the greater democratic path, to extremist fringes such as Al-Qaeda North Africa which also has its own wicked reasons. Continue here | Not a subscriber? follow this link | Join our mailing list.

 

Comments (4 posted):

Young Algerians on 29 April, 2011 02:57:38
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This is a shallow analysis. First of all Al-Quaida is a CIA creation. . . Clearly, this is an internal Moroccan problem. More over most Algerians do not want any unity or cooperation with Morocco or any other country. Most Algerians if not all are very happy that the borders with Morocco are closed, and hope that they will be closed for ever.
The Borders with Morocco is a gateway for illegal smuggling, hashich and transfer of weapons in order to destabilize the order and peace in Algeria.
To conclude, Moroccoo was, is and will be unstable country, worse the Kingdom will disappear soon.
IDRISSI on 30 April, 2011 09:31:32
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Very interesting analysis .First , I do agree on the fact that the renewing of political , economic and strategic relations between Algeria and Morocco are the key to strangle Al-Quaëda . Will they succeed to get to a fair understanding for the good of the two countries ? I personally remain suspicious about a positive outcome as far as the Western Sahara problem is not resolved .
Second , the terrorist blast in Marrakesh was timed , organized and professionally executed which means that it is an Al- Qaïda brand .
And finally , I think Morocco can 't go back to square 1983 because the wheel of change has imposed itself on tha Arab arena . Whether the governments like it or not , the facebookers and society at large are asking for reforms and changes tuned with the century .
IDRISSI on 02 May, 2011 08:55:22
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A strange reaction by the so called " young Algerians " . Instead of reacting to the article to feed it with an intellectual analysis , the author concentrates on a violent attack of Morocco , which makes me think that he has nothing to do with Algeria but no doubt a Polisario supporter . Surprising enough not to sign and assume what is written .
man ma on 04 May, 2011 02:26:14
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le polizario est le sahara marocaine est devenu un probleme algerien est non plus un problemes marocain.je pense que le polizario commences a nuire a l algerie plus maroc . a celui qui parle au nom des algeriens.

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