Court 27 June sentenced four leaders of Hirak protest movement in Rif region in north to twenty years in prison, sparking protests in Hoceima in north and Casablanca.

Morocco cut ties with Iran 1 May, accused Tehran and Lebanese Shiite movement Hizbollah of training and providing advanced weaponry to Western Sahara independence movement Polisario Front, govt 14 May said Algeria supported Hizbollah in backing Polisario Front. Govt condemned Polisario Front’s 45th anniversary celebrations in Western Sahara’s Tifariti area east of separation wall 20 May as “provocation” and “violation of ceasefire”, and said it had alerted UN. UN 19 May called on parties to avoid action “which may constitute a change to the status quo”.

Govt 1 April said Polisario Front independence movement had entered UN-monitored buffer zones in Western Sahara from Algeria, threatened to take control of area (see Western Sahara).

Protests to demand development and jobs in Jerada in north east, initially sparked by death of two brothers trying to extract coal from abandoned mines in Dec, escalated following arrest of movement leaders 10 March. Protesters clashed with police 14 March, at least nine arrested, several protesters and security forces wounded. Thousands marched again 16 March. Opposition leaders 30 March denounced repression, said 70 protesters had been arrested in Jerada since mid-March.

After months of protests to demand jobs, denounce corruption and repression in al-Hoceima in Rif region, King Mohammed VI 24 Oct dismissed several ministers and other high-ranking officials for failing to implement development plan for region. Protestors called for release of 21 opposition supporters on trial over protests, after 24 Oct initial hearing trial adjourned to 31 Oct. Authorities 14 Oct dismantled Islamic State (ISIS) cell reportedly active in eight towns and planning terrorist attacks. After Algerian FM 21 Oct accused Moroccan banks of laundering drug money, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Algeria.

King pardoned 415 prisoners 19 Aug, including thirteen convicted in terrorism cases, but no-one who took part in protests to demand jobs, denounce corruption and repression in al-Hoceima in Rif region in north since Oct 2016.

Police in northern town al-Hoceima in Rif region 20 July fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters defying govt ban to demand jobs, denounce corruption and repression.

Protests to demand jobs and against corruption continued throughout month in northern town al-Hoceima in Rif region, epicentre of protest movement since Oct 2016. Protesters and security forces clashed there 8 June, at least one policeman and one protestor wounded and several arrested; clashes erupted again 14-15 June after al-Hoceima court 14 June sentenced 25 protestors to eighteen months in prison. Police said more than 10,000 demonstrated in Rabat 11 June in solidarity with al-Hoceima protests. Govt said four suspected members of jihadist cell linked to Islamic State (ISIS) planning major attacks arrested 22 June in city of Essaouira in west. Govt 25 June recalled ambassador to Netherlands after criticising Dutch authorities for failing to take action against former Moroccan parliamentarian and Dutch national Said Chaaou accused of funding civil unrest. Chaaou arrested in Netherlands 29 June after Morocco gave guarantee he could serve any sentence in Netherlands.

Authorities 8 May said they and Spanish counterparts dismantled three-man jihadist cell linked to Islamic State (ISIS) in Tangier in north and Badalona and Salou in Spain. Thousands marched to demand jobs and protest against injustice and corruption 18 May in northern town al-Hoceima where death of fishmonger crushed in rubbish compactor trying to retrieve fish confiscated by police sparked protests in several cities in Oct 2016. Interior minister and seven other cabinet members 22 May toured city to calm tensions. Protests escalated 26-27 May after govt ordered arrest of protest movement leader Nasser Zafzafi; at least 40 protesters arrested over next few days including Zafzafi. Solidarity protests and rallies began in other cities, including Casablanca, Tangier and Rabat 27 May.

Govt 12 April said security forces had dismantled seven-member cell linked to Islamic State (ISIS) in Fez and Moulay Yacoub in north. King Mohammed VI 5 April named six-party coalition govt led by PM Saad-Eddine El Othmani from Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD); PJD lost key ministries including justice, despite winning Oct parliamentary elections.