ABSTRACT
Morocco’s military engagement in the border regions of Algeria earned it a bitter defeat at Isly, which marked the progressive fall of North Africa to European powers. In the monarchy’s quest to secure absolute power and control, the human rights landscape became increasingly fraught. Many public expectations, such as access to political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights and, generally, better living conditions for the majority of the population, went unheeded by the monarchy. A laissez-faire approach towards local leaders in the handling of their internal group affairs was just practice adopted by France to maintain the status quo and power structures. The colonial discourse on this group of people revealed a clearer aspect of race and power relationships. The king appointed and dismissed the prime minister and cabinet, and could dissolve parliament and assume residual powers under emergency laws.
