Gambiaj.com – (Rabat, Morrocco) – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has urged citizens to forgo the traditional sheep sacrifice during Eid Al-Adha this year, citing severe drought conditions that have decimated livestock numbers and driven up prices. In a rare move not seen since 1996, the king—who also holds the title of “Commander of the Faithful” in the country—called on his people to refrain from the ritual in a televised speech delivered by the Minister of Religious Affairs on Wednesday, February 26.

“Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in livestock,” the king said.

He acknowledged the significance of Eid Al-Adha as a religious, family, and social event but stressed that carrying out the sacrifice this year would “harm a large part of the population, especially those with limited income.”

The directive comes as Morocco endures its seventh consecutive year of drought—the worst since the early 1980s. Official figures show a 53% rainfall deficit compared to the 30-year average, leading to a staggering 38% drop in livestock numbers over the past year.

Meat prices have soared as a result, with a kilogram of red meat now selling for up to 12 euros in Casablanca, posing a severe burden for many families given the country’s minimum monthly wage of about 290 euros.

To enforce the king’s call, Moroccan authorities have ramped up efforts to halt the sale and transport of sheep intended for slaughter.

In Casablanca and nearby regions, local officials, security forces, and the royal gendarmerie have intensified inspections, setting up roadblocks at city entrances and cracking down on informal sales.

In some cases, trucks carrying livestock have been seized, and confiscated sheep heads and offal have been destroyed on site.

The government has faced criticism for subsidizing meat importers but not directly addressing the spike in meat prices that many find unaffordable.

The decision to suspend the sacrifice rite this year aims to spare Moroccan households from further financial strain during one of the country’s most important religious holidays.