Moroccan Authorities Struggle to Curb Persistent Street Vending

Street vendors, a real headache for the Moroccan authorities? They are unable to overcome this problem. Yet tens of millions of dirhams have been invested in the construction of markets. Campaigns to free up public space have been organized. Commercial premises meeting standards have also been allocated by the municipalities and the Ministry of the Interior. We continue to see that street vendors continue to illegally occupy the public domain. Public policies have proven ineffective.

Why does the phenomenon persist? The daily Al Akhbar points to irregularities in calls for tenders, the allocation of alternative premises, inadequate infrastructure and subsequent demolitions, but also the high unemployment rate, the survival of a vulnerable segment of the population dependent on the informal sector’s income, the abandonment of markets due to lack of follow-up and support.

To reverse the trend, it is suggested to avoid technocratic haste, generator of social tensions, and complacency towards illegality. It is also recommended to develop a clear strategy reconciling respect for public space and socio-economic inclusion.