Casablanca Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Construction

The overall strategy for adjusting the urban situation of greater Casablanca, particularly in the run-up to major events such as the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025) and the 2030 World Cup, is underway. In Casablanca, a vast clean-up campaign is underway to put an end to anarchic constructions. The campaign is bearing fruit. The Land Registry services have taken aerial photographs attesting to numerous urban planning offenses, particularly in agricultural and coastal areas where houses with gardens, warehouses or even clandestine plastic bag manufacturing plants have been built illegally, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. This has led to the deployment of investigative commissions from the Ministry of the Interior on the ground. And, heads are already falling.

The services of the Ministry of the Interior have taken disciplinary measures, including transfers, against caïds, some of whom, particularly in the province of Nouaceur, have been notified. Other administrative agents have lost their positions for their involvement in corruption cases related to housing and urban planning. The department of Abdelouafi Laftit is also demanding accountability from governors who have allowed the supply of electricity to anarchic dwellings, without the necessary administrative authorizations. Following the dismantling of the networks specialized in this sector, many auxiliary authorities who have abused their prerogatives have been identified and are pending sanctions.

The ministry has also warned against the delays in the implementation of control and anti-anarchic construction measures. Pending the imposition of other sanctions, the clean-up campaign continues, notably with the massive use of drones to have complete and clear mapping on the "black spots" of urban planning offenses in the region.