EVALUATING MOROCCAN INTEGRATION POLICIES FOR UNACCOMPANIED SUB-SAHARAN MIGRANT MINORS: A CASE STUDY FROM OUJDA THROUGH AN INTERCULTURAL LENS

Abstract

Morocco has prioritized its African foreign policy since gaining independence. The 2011 consti-tutional reform led to the 2013 creation of the National Immigration and Asylum Policy (PNIA), allowing immigrants the same rights as Moroccans under Moroccan law. However, one of the major concerns of these foreign policies is embodied in the illegal migrant minors, mainly those coming from sub-Saharan African countries to Morocco as a country of transit or destination, especially to Oujda, an eastern Moroccan border town. This paper seeks to answer the following research question: How effective are Moroccan migration policies and the role of social organizations in integrating sub-Saharan migrant minors in Oujda? To ad-dress this, it uses a qualitative research design, utilizing thematic analysis of interviews with such stakeholders as policymakers, social workers, and migrants to identify policy gaps and opportunities for improvement. The findings reveal that the integration of these children has reached an adequate level, but further work is required.