Berber languages are primarily spoken in countries where Arabic is the official language. Despite being a separate ethnic group there is no popular separatist movement. Instead, Berber activist groups demand recognition of their language and identity and for an end to discrimination. Berber activists in Morocco and Algeria mainly demand recognition of their Amazigh tongue as an official language. As one leader put it “The Amazigh language should be taught in schools on equal footing with Arabic.”
Demonstrations leading to violent conflicts with the Algerian security forces and the threat of an election boycott finally enforced the implementation of Tamazigh as the second official language in Algeria in 2002. Still, the fight was not yet over for many Berbers. They demanded the equal status of Tamazight and Arabic in Algeria. Although the Algerian government added Tamazight to the curricula of state schools in 2003, the Berber's fight for equality of Arabic and Tamazight continues. In February 2004, Berber activists called for a boycott of the presidential elections in April to force the government to agree to their demands.
This development provoked the Moroccan king and government to think. To avoid similar escalations in his country which also held a large number of Berbers, King Hassan II. had already announced to permit Tamazight lessons in Moroccan schools in 1991. However, he never kept his promise. The Royal Institute for Amazigh Culture was actually founded by his son Mohammed V when he succeeded to the throne. In 2003, the king allowed Tamazight lessons in 317 primary schools. It is also planned to be introduced step by step into secondary education and universities.
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