Morocco: King Mohammed urges citizens to forego Eid al-Adha sacrifices amid severe drought
King Mohammed VI has called on Moroccans to refrain from sacrificing sheep and livestock during this year’s Eid al-Adha, citing a devastating drought that has drastically reduced livestock numbers and caused a surge in meat prices.
Morocco is experiencing its seventh consecutive year of drought, with rainfall levels 53 percent lower than the three-decade average, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
This has led to a 38 percent decline in livestock numbers over the past year, significantly impacting the availability and affordability of sacrificial animals.
In a speech read on national television by the Minister of Religious Affairs, the King acknowledged the significance of Eid al-Adha but urged his people to forego the traditional sacrifice, given the country’s climatic and economic hardships. A similar appeal was made by his late father, King Hassan II, in 1966, during another period of severe drought.
Eid al-Adha, observed in June this year, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of faith.
However, the current crisis has driven up meat prices, further straining Moroccan households, particularly those surviving on the minimum wage of approximately €290 per month.
