Tensions Escalate Between Nomads and Locals in Southern Morocco Amid Coronavirus Crisis

65 kilometers from Agadir, the clashes between the local population and nomads coming mainly from the Sahara are raging in these times of coronavirus. One camp denounces an "invasion" while the other defends an "ancestral habit". "This is the first time our commune has seen nomads pass through. [...] They are destroying our almond trees, insulting and assaulting anyone who dares to approach them," denounces Abdessalam Chegri, a resident of the region and president of the provincial office of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH).

"The nomads have forbidden the inhabitants of the douars to film what is happening. If someone tries to do it, they take his cell phone," confides to TelQuel, a resident of the region. He claims that several fruit trees, including almond trees, fig trees and apple trees, have been destroyed by the transhumants and their livestock.

"We have not attacked anyone, I can assure you," defends Mohamed Zawat, one of the nomads. As for the fruit trees, we left our livestock graze on a bare, uninhabited land where almond trees grow. We thought it was unowned land. We were attacked by stone throwing and one of the shepherds was even injured. We had to leave the premises without having time to apologize."

In the wake of this, "the governor himself traveled to the region in order to provide the local services with the necessary human resources to maintain peace and avoid conflicts," says a local authority official. Currently, we are fully supervising the transhumants to ensure their passage in the region. Let’s not forget that they have the right of way."