RABAT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani has promised to speed up implementation of development projects in the troubled Rif region in northeast of the country, local media reported Thursday.
In 2015, Morocco launched Lighthouse of the Mediterranean, a large-scale development program in the northeastern city of Al Hociema, but many of its projects have been marred by delays.
El Othmani told reporters late Wednesday that King Mohammed VI has announced the formation of an investigation committee to hold related officials responsible for the delays, the news website Hespress.com reported.
He also expressed his concern over the violent incidents in the city of Al Hoceima on Monday when clashes renewed between protesters and security forces.
However, El Othmani called for calm and stability to enable the government to implement the projects as quickly as possible.
The situation in Al Hoceima has been tense since October 2016, when fish vendor Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death while climbing into a waste truck to retrieve his swordfish confiscated by police.
The demand for justice for Fikri in the Rif region has evolved into a major grassroots movement to request greater government investment to create more jobs.
Morocco has not witnessed any protests of this size since the pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab spring in 2011.
