Rabat — The Moroccan government has launched a series of initiatives to strengthen the official status of the Amazigh language. Mustapha Baitas, the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, made the announcement following the weekly government council during a press briefing in Rabat on Thursday.
As part of these initiatives, the government has increased the presence of Amazigh-speaking agents in public administrations and institutions, with 464 agents now available to assist citizens. Additionally, 69 Amazigh-speaking agents have been deployed in call centers to further enhance accessibility.
The language has also been integrated on nearly 3,000 signs and official websites, with an ongoing study evaluating the level of Amazigh language integration across 158 public administration websites.
Baitas remarked on the Ministry of Education’s efforts to create an online platform for learning the Amazigh language, benefiting students across the country. The number of Amazigh language teachers has increased significantly, growing from 200 to 600 this year.
Other measures to promote the official status of Amazigh include broadcasting government press briefings in Tamazight since their launch three years ago and organizing a variety of cultural events by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.
Baitas also elevated the importance of ñKing Mohammed VI’s decision to designate the first day of the Amazigh New Year as an official paid holiday, reinforcing the language’s role in Morocco’s cultural and national identity.
This year marks the second celebration of the Amazigh New Year as an official holiday, with numerous cultural events held across the country for its 2975th anniversary.
The decision represents a major milestone and responds to the long-standing efforts of Amazigh activists who have been calling for the Amazigh New Year to be officially recognized across the country.
