World Cup 2030 Preparations Marred by Real Estate Scandal in Morocco

It all started with complaints filed by small real estate investors with Mohamed Mhidia, the wali of the Casablanca-Settat region. In their complaints, they accuse elected officials from the provinces of Berrchid, Mediouna and Nouacer of illegal real estate speculation. They collaborated to appropriate land in subdivisions sometimes exceeding 120 hectares.

The authorities then opened a thorough investigation to examine the ongoing subdivision operations in a commune of Berrchid. The investigations reveal that an intermediary, supported by the president of this commune currently under a dismissal procedure at the Court of Cassation, would have acquired more than 38 plots in strategic areas, depriving the real real estate developers of essential opportunities.

Another finding: while a directive from the Minister of the Interior orders the suspension of the issuance of building permits in exchange for the repayment of municipal debts, some elected officials continue to circumvent these restrictions, thus facilitating the acquisition of land. The association of the permit issuance process and debt collection is not only illegal, but also unacceptable, reiterated Abdelouafi Laftit.