u/amazigh_tarifsht

North African governments are Arabist elites who only pretend to acknowledge us.

I also feel that complaining to the UN won't get us anywhere, because North African states are too powerful.

The worst part is that the majority of Imazighen have been Arabized, which complicates the issue. Sometimes I wonder if a minority can actually have influence and bring about change, or if it’s a lost cause.

In short, it feels like the odds are stacked against us; if anyone can reassure me, please do.

Tenmirt.

Back in the 20th century, there were various movements—such as the Kabyle or Rifian ones—where people courageously and boldly voiced their grievances.

Is it because Tamazight was officially recognized in 2011 that the struggle is considered over? I see many Imazighen—for instance, from Morocco—happy that Tamazight will appear on passports, even as North Africa becomes increasingly Arabized.

Thank you for taking the time to understand.

Azul fllawen,
I’ve been following our cause closely for a while now, and honestly, I feel like we’re just running in circles. We often see the CMA (World Amazigh Congress) sending official letters to ministries demanding regional autonomy or a "Union of Tamazgha," or giving speeches at the UN. But let’s be real for a second: on the ground, nothing is moving, and it feels like the UN doesn't really care.

It makes sense when you think about it. The UN is basically a club for sovereign states. Their committees on indigenous peoples can only issue non-binding recommendations. We are fighting a losing battle against highly experienced state diplomacies.

In my opinion, traditional activism and symbolic petitions have reached their absolute limit. We need to shift to a hardcore, professional lobbying strategy, just like other minorities around the world have successfully done (in Canada, for example).

When I say lobbying, I don't mean corruption or shady backdoor deals. I mean using law, policy, and political leverage to force leaders to act. Here is how it could actually work:

Targeting Western parliaments smartly: I know the EU is never going to cut off funding or openly threaten Morocco or Algeria. Maghreb states hold too many cards (security, immigration control, gas, etc.). However, lobbying can be used to negotiate more subtle conditions. For instance, pushing EU MPs to demand that development or education funds be directed straight to marginalized regions (Rif, Souss, Kabylie, Atlas) instead of being fully controlled by the capitals.

Using the "Name and Shame" strategy: Lobbying forces Western politicians to face their own hypocrisy. If we manage to get a European MP or mayor to officially take a stand on a specific issue (like releasing a political prisoner or enforcing Tamazight education), they are backed into a corner. If they refuse just to protect their economic interests with North African regimes, the lobby exposes their double standards publicly. Elected officials hate looking like hypocrites in front of their voters.

Stop demanding autonomy right away: Demanding political autonomy or the dissolution of the pan-Arab model from highly centralized states is like running straight into a brick wall. It’s just not realistic right now. A region cannot be autonomous if it isn't prepared. Our lobbying needs to focus on economic and cultural foundations first: demanding local universities, making it easier for the diaspora to invest back home to create jobs, and keeping the language alive. Once our regions become economically and intellectually strong, autonomy will follow naturally.

The main issue right now is that the CMA and our associations run almost entirely on volunteer work, and we are heavily fragmented. Meanwhile, governments are spending millions on professional PR and lobbying firms to polish their image.

This is exactly why I believe we need to stop relying on organizations that lack the resources to match their ambitions. The real solution is for the diaspora and the people to organize, fund, and create our very own Amazigh lobbying firm. We need full-time, professional lawyers, legal experts, and communicators who are paid to defend our interests in Brussels, Paris, or Washington. That is the only way we will ever gain real leverage and counter state propaganda.

Curious to hear your thoughts on this. Tanmirt!

Hi everyone,
Following Morocco's elimination yesterday
, j’ai des sentiments très partagés sur l'impact de cette course à la Coupe du Monde sur l'Amazighité. Après y avoir réfléchi, je commence à me demander si ces réussites sportives font en réalité plus de mal que de bien à notre cause culturelle.
Chaque fois que le Maroc gagne, les médias (et pas seulement les pan-arabistes) cadrent tout autour de "la fierté arabe" ou "la meilleure équipe du monde arabe." Même les commentateurs arabophones le font constamment. Cela efface complètement l'identité amazigh du pays aux yeux du monde, rendant beaucoup plus difficile la promotion d'un récit pana-mazigh.
D'un autre côté, la Coupe du Monde 2030 (Maroc-Espagne-Portugal) arrive. Nous jouerons sur notre propre terre. Le Congrès Mondial Amazigh (CMA) a déjà contacté le Maroc pour demander une réelle intégration du Tamazight et de l'alphabet tifinagh pour l'événement. Même l'Espagne reconnaît cette dimension (via Melilla et les liens historiques avec les Canaries). C'est une opportunité historique que nous ne pouvons pas manquer pour montrer au monde notre vraie identité, plutôt que celle qui nous est imposée.
Qu'en pensez-vous ? La Coupe du Monde 2030 donnera-t-elle enfin une réelle visibilité mondiale à l'Amazighité, ou le pouvoir doux pan-arabe reprendra-t-il le récit une fois de plus ?