The holy month of Ramadan began this Sunday in Morocco, a month different from previous ones. At least of the last two, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed in places of worship and public spaces.
The holy month of this year is also distinguished by a rise in prices which affects most products.
Two years after the appearance of COVID-19 in Morocco, things are back to normal and prevention measures have almost entirely been lifted. The Tarawih prayers in the mosques have already taken place on Sunday evening even if the Moroccan Ministry of Islamic Affairs has not, for the moment, taken a decision on a possible opening of the mosques to the faithful for these prayers during the month. sacred.
According to some sources, the fact that the ministry has not issued a ban so far means that Moroccans will be able to perform Tarawih prayers in official mosques. This week, King Mohammed VI also ordered the opening of 26 mosques that have been the subject of “reconstruction or restoration work” and whose capacity is 15,500 faithful.
Moroccans will again be able to go out at night in cafes and other places of leisure and exchange family visits. This could indeed have been a return to a completely normal situation, if not for this general increase in prices which spares almost no food product.
Ramadan this year comes at a time of soaring prices compounded by fallout from the situation in Ukraine. Fuel prices have reached unprecedented lows. While gasoline reached more than 14.20 dirhams per liter (1 dollar = 9.72 DH), that of diesel broke all records, exceeding 14.30 dirhams per liter.
It is for the first time in Morocco that the price of diesel at the pump has exceeded that of gasoline. This increase in the price of fuel is all the more worrying as it inevitably affects the prices of several basic foodstuffs, further stifling the purchasing power of Moroccans in this month of Ramadan.
Although the government has reassured the supply of the national market during Ramadan with stable prices, the rise in prices affects all products, some of which have become inaccessible to modest purses: red and white meats, fruits and vegetables, fish and several others products.
Even if a drop is expected, the fact remains that prices are already very high and it is a difficult Ramadan that awaits Moroccans, whose income curve has not followed that of consumer product prices. Moroccans are called upon to avoid excessive consumption and waste, in this global context marked by profound changes.