Morocco Begins Demolition of Illegal Coastal Settlements Near Agadir

The authorities of the province of Chtouka Aït Baha have deployed bulldozers in the village of Tifnit to free the public domain, after summoning the illegal occupants to leave the premises within a period of four days. Launched in Agadir, this operation to free the maritime public domain will encompass the Atlantic coast up to Sidi Ifni, reports the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, adding that the authorities have "threatened recalcitrants with legal proceedings and fines for the entire period of their illegal occupation of the maritime domain." Houses built by villagers, foreigners, and especially real estate developers have thus been demolished.

Some civil society actors, small fishermen, as well as a lobby specialized in real estate speculation, who "exploit the village of Tifnit and its inhabitants to make their business flourish" are protesting against the operation. This has prompted the local authorities to explain that "all those who have a construction on the maritime domain had been notified, and that the demolition will encompass the entire coastline from the beach of Sidi Rbat, [to] that of Sidi Wassay."

Interviewed, several villagers said that this demolition operation had started as early as 2020 in Taghazout, including in its famous tourist resort, Taghazout Bay, and had also concerned projects belonging to major personalities and security officials before being suspended. Resumed for a year, the liberation of the maritime domain extends to the road to Essaouira, and the rest of the communes of Taghazout, Tamri and Imssouane, as well as the entire territory of Chtouka Aït Baha and Tiznit, towards the Sahara.