Overview

• Morocco is experiencing its seventh consecutive year of drought, with rainfall 53% below the 30-year average, leading to a 38% decline in livestock numbers since 2016.
• King Mohammed VI, Morocco's highest religious authority, has urged citizens to refrain from the traditional sheep sacrifice during Eid al-Adha to prevent further economic strain on low-income families.
• The cost of sheep has surged, often exceeding the monthly minimum wage of 3,000 Moroccan dirhams ($302), making the ritual financially burdensome for many households.
• The Moroccan government has attempted to stabilize meat prices by suspending import duties and taxes on livestock and red meat, and importing sheep from countries like Australia and Spain.
• This marks the first time in nearly three decades that Morocco has issued such a request, with the last similar appeal made during King Hassan II's reign in response to drought and economic challenges.