Following a significant increase in marriage requests from Senegalese nationals to Moroccan women, reaching 12,000 requests in 2023, social media has erupted due to Moroccan citizens' rejection of African marriages with Moroccan women. Opinions have divided regarding the controversy surrounding the rise in marriages between Moroccan women and Senegalese men; some view it as a threat to national identity and the symbol of "Tamgroubit," while others believe the reluctance of young people to marry is the real issue.
In recent years, the Moroccan government has rejected calls for discrimination and hatred against migrants from sub-Saharan African countries that have previously surged on digital platforms in Morocco.
Academic experts in sociology and psychology attribute the prevalence of these campaigns and the Moroccan society's acceptance of such marriages, as opposed to others from many European and Asian countries, to the Moroccan man's discomfort with Moroccan women marrying outsiders, regardless of their family connections, as well as factors related to ethnicity and religion.
Ali Al-Shabani, a research professor in sociology, stated in an interview that the phenomenon of mixed marriages in Morocco is not new, and it is absurd for racism to arise between two countries that share strong ties in many areas. He added that Moroccan women are in high demand for marriage because they are distinguished by their desire for stability and family foundations. Similarly, he noted that Senegalese men are characterized by their honesty and loyalty, describing them as a peaceful people, unlike individuals from other African nations involved in conflict.
Al-Shabani also suggested that the increase in marriage requests between Senegalese men and Moroccan women reflects Morocco’s recent shift in the nature of African migration, focusing on settlement rather than mere transit.
Additionally, Al-Shabani pointed out that the provocative debates and rejection of these marriages on social media, which encourage racism and mockery, highlight the absence of research and the dangerous impact of these platforms in spreading hate speech and discrimination.
The sociologist concluded that marriages between Moroccan women and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are subject to preconceived notions, as Morocco and these countries have established commercial relationships, contributing to the growing phenomenon of marriages between men from African countries and Moroccan women over time.
It is worth noting that social media users previously launched a campaign titled "Against the Settlement of Sub-Saharan Africans," rejecting this through the marriages of Moroccan women to sub-Saharan Africans.
