Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has approved the celebration of the Amazigh New Year as an official national holiday.

King Mohammed VI has instructed to add the Amazigh New Year to the list of national holidays in Morocco.

In a statement from the Royal Court, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has approved the celebration of the Amazigh New Year as an official national holiday.

Instructions were sent to the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, to take the necessary steps to implement the decision.

This move reflects the king’s "commitment to the Berber language, a fundamental part of Morocco’s authentic identity and a shared asset for all Moroccans", the statement explains.

This Royal initiative comes to consecrate the High solicitude of which His Majesty the King does not cease to surround the Amazigh as an essential component of the authentic Moroccan identity, enriched by the plurality of its tributaries, and common heritage to all Moroccans without exception.

In 2011, the constitutional recognition of the Amazigh language as an official language of the country, alongside Arabic, further underscores the significance of this decision.

It’s a historic step that’s expected to deepen national unity and further promote the country’s diverse cultural heritage.

The Amazigh New Year, also known as "Yennayer", marks the beginning of the agricultural calendar and is celebrated by the country’s Amazigh people, who make up around 40% of the population.

The material was provided by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Bulgaria.