MENA Regional Hub: Moroccan Cities’ Efforts in Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation

Publication Date:

20/12/2023

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— 3 minutes reading time

On 27 — 28 November, in Tangier, Morocco, the Strong Cities Network MENA Regional Hub, in partnership with the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC) and the City of Tangier, convened a two-day roundtable to discuss Moroccan cities’ efforts in preventing and responding to hate, extremism and polarisation and to explore how to strengthen the role of cities and national-local cooperation (NLC) more broadly in preventing hate and extremist-motivated violence and related threats. The event marked the Strong Cities’ first engagement focused on local governments in Morocco, made possible by generous support from the European Union’s STRIVE Cities Initiative.

The roundtable brought together more than 25 participants, including mayors and local government representatives from nine cities across Morocco. Participants included representatives from Morocco’s Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence (OMEV), the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among other organisations.

In his opening remarks, Mounir Lymouri, Mayor of Tangier, emphasised the city’s cosmopolitan legacy as a bridge between East and West, the history of openness and diversity, as well as Tangier’s newly forged partnership with the Strong Cities Network. Further, the Mayor shared the city’s focus on citizen engagement to enhance social cohesion.

Asmaa Rhlalou, Mayor of Rabat and Co-Chair of the Strong Cities International Steering Committee, described the event as an opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices, as well as to learn how cities can support prevention initiatives and programmes in their communities. She also highlighted the importance of using the workshop as an opportunity to explore how cities can prevent hate, extremism and polarisation among their residents amid rising manifestations of these threats globally.

Over the two days, participants addressed challenges facing cities across a range of interconnected issues, such as hate speech, climate change, migration, the rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) of returnees from conflict zones and the role of cities in maintaining social cohesion in the face of these challenges. They also explored the importance of enhanced national-local cooperation (NLC) to effectively navigate these issues and were introduced to the new Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) NLC toolkit, developed by the Strong Cities Network, and its relevance to the Moroccan context. Discussions culminated with recommendations on how Strong Cities and other partners could best support efforts of Moroccan cities to become more involved in hate and extremism prevention work.

Key findings from the roundtable included:

Mayors and deputy mayors recognise the important role local governments play in the prevention of hate, extremism and polarisation, even if security issues are not specifically within their mandate. They can contribute through inclusive policies, engagement of youth, women and minorities, as well as building resilience.
There was consensus among city and government officials that there is room for enhanced cooperation between different levels of government on prevention. However, clarifying roles and mandates, including for local government, around issues like countering hate speech would help local response.
Cities could overcome challenges such as lack of resources by exploring partnerships with civil society, the private sector and international actors. Leveraging networks like Strong Cities can assist with such efforts.
Identifying existing local government and non-governmental structures and programs that are positively impacting communities is critical for building a whole-of-city approach to prevention.
Youth engagement, and providing opportunities for young people, is viewed as crucial by Moroccan cities to prevent extremism and build resilience. This can include promoting and developing sports initiatives, providing public spaces for youth, cultural activities, and job creation, as well as establishing youth and children’s councils to give them a voice and role in decision-making.
Strategic communication is a key area for capacity building as it can help cities build trust with local communities, which is a foundation for effective prevention.
The impact of climate change is exacerbating existing social tensions and vulnerabilities and can enable the spread of extremism and hate. Raising awareness about this threat and building societal resilience to manage its impact is important.

MENA Regional Hub: Moroccan Cities’ Efforts in Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation

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