2018 Moroccan boycott

A popular consumer boycott occurred in Morocco in 2018. Motivated against price gouging, market monopolization, and business-politics conflicts of interest, it targeted the Sidi Ali bottled water, Afriquia Gaz, and Centrale Danone [ar; fr] dairy products—three corporate brands closely associated with political power in Morocco.[1][2][3][4]

Analysts saw the boycott as sending a message against ties between money and power to figures holding positions of power in public office while managing private economic activities.[2] Observers considered the issue to be political and not legal, as no protections had been put in place to look out for potential conflicts of interest.[2]

The boycott campaign mainly targeted Aziz Akhannouch, the richest person in Morocco and a personal friend of King Mohammed VI. Many activists were arrested for what was considered an insult to the king. Akhannouch later accused critics of "exploiting Moroccans' hardship for political goals".[5][6]

  1. ^ "Morocco consumer boycott has big business in its sights". Reuters. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "المغرب: ماذا وراء حملة مقاطعة علامات تجارية شهيرة؟". فرانس 24 / France 24 (in Arabic). 26 May 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ^ Echine, Ayyad (1 January 2019). "Social Media and Social Mobility: Exploring the Role of Social Networks in the 2018 Boycott Campaign in Morocco". Journal of Cyberspace Studies. 3 (1): 59–78. doi:10.22059/jcss.2019.264126.1024. ISSN 2588-5499.
  4. ^ Moussa, Mohamed Ben; Benmessaoud, Sanaa; Douai, Aziz (11 November 2020). "Internet Memes as "Tactical" Social Action: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Approach". International Journal of Communication. 14: 21. ISSN 1932-8036.
  5. ^ El Atti, Basma (18 July 2022). "Massive digital campaign spurt up against Morocco's rich PM". The New Arab. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Akhannouch: "Le boycott a touché l'économie marocaine dans son ensemble"". H24info.ma (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2022.