Morocco’s 2024 Census: A Question of Identity and Inclusion
The upcoming 2024 census in Morocco has sparked heated debate, particularly among the indigenous Amazigh community. At the heart of the controversy lies the decision to include a question about “mother tongue” while omitting any mention of ethnic or tribal affiliation. While government officials argue this approach promotes national unity, many Amazigh activists view it as a continuation of historical marginalization and a direct contradiction of the country’s constitution.
Ahmed Lahlimi Alami, Morocco’s High Commissioner for Planning, explained that the census aims to map the geographical distribution of languages spoken across the nation. He emphasized that Morocco, unlike countries like India or the United States, does not conduct ethnic or tribal censuses, as all citizens are considered Moroccan. Alami further stated that inquiring about tribal origins is impractical due to the complex intermingling of tribal lineages over time.
However, this reasoning has done little to quell the concerns of the Amazigh, also known as Imazighen. They argue that focusing solely on language, while ignoring other aspects of cultural identity, risks repeating the outcome of the 2014 census. The 2014 census, which also lacked questions about ethnicity, resulted in a significant underrepresentation of the Amazigh population, fueling perceptions of erasure and exclusion.
Adding to the frustration is the government’s decision to prioritize hiring census takers fluent in the Amazigh language for regions where it is predominantly spoken. While seemingly practical, activists view this as a thinly veiled attempt to confine the language to specific geographic areas and limit its recognition as a fundamental element of Moroccan identity.
The crux of the Amazigh argument rests on the Moroccan constitution itself. The preamble explicitly recognizes the country’s diverse heritage, stating that “The Kingdom of Morocco is a sovereign Muslim State, attached to its national unity and territorial integrity, and to the preservation of its national identity with its diverse components: Arab-Islamic, Amazigh, Saharan-Hassani components, enriched by its African, Andalusian, Hebraic and Mediterranean tributaries.” This recognition, they argue, necessitates a more inclusive approach to the census, one that accurately reflects and celebrates the multifaceted tapestry of Moroccan society.
The debate surrounding the 2024 census underscores a larger conversation about identity and belonging in Morocco. As the country continues to evolve, finding ways to acknowledge and celebrate its rich cultural diversity will be crucial in fostering a truly inclusive and representative society.
