The mystery surrounding the missing king of Morocco
Five years ago, an unusual image appeared on Instagram. It showed Mohammed VI, the 54-year-old king of Morocco, sitting on a sofa next to a muscular man in sportswear. “The two men were huddled together and smiling like kids at camp. Moroccans were more used to seeing their king alone, on a gilded throne,” reports the Economist.
The story behind the image was even stranger. Abu Azaitar, the 32-year-old man next to the king, is a veteran of the German prison system as well as a mixed martial arts (mma) champion. Since moving to Morocco in 2018, his Instagram posts have, according to the Economist, sent shivers down the spine of the country’s conservative elite. It’s not just the flashy cars, it’s the strikingly casual tone in which she addresses the monarch: “Our dear King,” she wrote alongside a photo of the two together. “I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for us.”
A crisis is brewing in Morocco and the kickboxer is at the heart of it. The country is considered one of the success stories of the Arab world. It has a thriving automobile industry and its medieval bazaars enchant Western tourists. While it has all the charm of the Middle East, it has none of its turmoil. But Morocco’s 37 million citizens face the same problems that have plagued so much of the Arab world over the past decade: insufficient jobs, soaring inflation and oppressive security services.
This has not, so far, led to serious unrest, in part because the king promptly introduced constitutional reforms at the height of the Arab Spring in 2011. But now unrest is on the horizon and the king, insiders say, is gone, as says the Economist in its extensive report.
200 days a year outside the countryFor the past four years Azaitar and his two brothers have monopolized the monarch’s attention. The king’s advisers are said to have tried to reduce the influence of the Azaitars, but to no avail. Some officials appear to be complicit in the publication of articles revealing Azhaitar’s criminal past. But the king does not change his attitude.
A former official who spoke to the British magazine estimated that last year the king was out of Morocco on pleasure trips for 200 days. Even when he is in the country he frequents the Azaitar brothers at a private ranch in the Moroccan countryside.
Muhammad made his first public appearance with Azaitar on April 20, 2018, at an event to celebrate their mma achievements. In photos released to the press, the king and the three brothers stand together holding an mma championship belt.
As their friendship deepened, Azaitar began posting pictures of himself with the king. He and his brothers joined the circle of people who accompany the king everywhere. The king, who was somewhat overweight at the time he met the brothers, suffered from asthma and lung problems. The three brothers set up a gym in the palace and he began training. His image and health improved.
The king for his part does not miss an opportunity to show his gratitude. When their mother died, he allowed them to bury her in the grounds of his palace in Tangier. The brothers acquired valuable beachfront properties and showcased their lifestyle on social media. “They use military aircraft, they have a blank check to operate in the palace as they want, they can go to the garage and take the cars they want,” says a person from the palace environment. “It’s so weird.”
In theory, Morocco has a constitutional monarchy. In fact, Muhammad is much more than a person. He has the final say on every important issue and without him, the country’s political factions tend to engage in pointless bickering. The Middle East is littered with the wreckage of regimes that failed to act decisively in moments of crisis. “We are a plane without a pilot,” fumes one former official.
The shy leader
Mohammed is perhaps the most shy of Middle Eastern leaders. Since becoming king in 1999, he has never held a press conference or even given statements to television stations. Avoids international Summits. When he has to give his once-a-year Throne Day public speech, he mixes up his words.
From his demeanor, to the t-shirts and sneakers he wears, everything suggests a desire to be something other than a ruler (although he absolutely enjoys the financial perks the title gives him). “He is not interested in power. All he wants to do is live his life,” says a courtier.
Academics believe the institution of the monarchy helped Morocco avoid the revolutions that swept the Arab world in 2011. Unlike the presidents of neighboring republics, the king could quickly introduce reforms while still representing stability and continuity. The sense of the Moroccan monarchy as something timeless and ancient is instilled early on. Students are taught that their royal house dates back to the eighth century |
