On Monday, the Moroccan government approved a bill 44.18 related to compulsory national service. The decision might bring back the regulation banned in 2006. Implemented for the first time in Morocco in 1966 and banned in August 2006 through a royal decree, compulsory military service will be reinstated again, twelve years after its abolition. On Monday, 20th of August, a special government meeting was held in Tetouan to discuss bil 44.18 on compulsory national service. Pending approval by the Council of Ministers «Bringing back compulsory military service is a positive step during this particular phase», a well-informed source from the government told Arabic-language newspaper Hespress. The new measure will target young people aged between 19 and 25 years old, excepting those who are still studying and others who are physically challenged, added the same source. On Monday, a detailed report was presented by the General Secretary of Government during the meeting held the same day in Tetouan, explaining the factors of the new regulation. «Once the bill is ratified by the government, King Mohammed VI will chair on Monday afternoon the council of ministers for the approval of the draft law», explained the same source. Bill 44.18 is believed to have been submitted following high royal constructions. It might also be at the heart of today's royal speech on the Revolution Day. Established in 1966, amended in 1999 and removed in 2006 But the new project is expected to resemble the law applied on June the 9th, 1966. One year after Morocco declared the state of emergency, King Hassan II implemented compulsory military service through Royal Decree No. 137-66 Moroccans aged between 18 and 30 years old had to attend two different courses : a basic training to help «defend the country» when needed, and a technical and professional one to «raise [the] social level» and contribute to the development of the nation. The same law was amended on the 25th of August 1999, reducing the period of trainings to 12 months. Young people targeted by the service had to be aged between 20 and 40 years old. Seven years later, compulsory military service had been removed by a royal decree in 2006, notably «for financial reasons».
