Interior Ministry orders investigations into complaints over demolitions and forced evictions

The Ministry of Interior has sent out instructions to local authorities across Morocco, urging them to quickly set up investigation committees to look into a rising number of citizen complaints. The complaints concern forced evictions and the demolition of what officials say are illegal buildings or unauthorized use of public property.

Sources told Hespress Ar that these investigations come after several serious claims that some local officials, like caïds and pachas, acted outside the law when carrying out demolition orders. 

In some cases, citizens even had legal representatives document these actions, although they haven’t yet taken the matter to administrative courts.

The goal now is to check whether these interventions were done by the book, and if citizens’ rights were respected, especially when it comes to showing proper paperwork and legal documents for their buildings. 

The Interior Ministry seeks to make sure that all legal procedures were followed, and that no one was treated unfairly.

Complaints have especially increased in recent weeks from the Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regions. 

Many of these cases involve the removal of storefronts, cafés, restaurants, and even large sheds built on farmland. 

Some business owners said they had legal permits to use public space and paid all necessary fees, but their properties were demolished anyway.

Other sources say that some local officials turned a blind eye to complaints from powerful elected officials whose own properties were affected. 

These same officials reportedly pressured local authority figures to stop demolition efforts, especially around Casablanca’s outskirts.

In some places, demolition work couldn’t even start because the equipment, like bulldozers, was blocked or disabled by local council members. 

In contrast, in other cases, certain officials made bulldozers available to help large developers clear land for future private projects.

What’s also raising eyebrows is that in several areas, local authorities haven’t enforced demolition orders at all, even when construction clearly violated the law. 

Instead of sticking to the 30-day deadline set by urban planning regulations, officials reportedly gave some violators up to 18 months to change their building plans or fix illegal structures.

In cities like Casablanca and Kenitra, repeated demolitions have led to disputes between local authorities and property owners. 

Some of the demolished buildings were said to be on land meant for villas, while others were commercial spaces that had permits for temporary use of public land. 

Property owners say they followed all legal steps and accuse the authorities of acting too fast without following proper legal channels.

The newly formed committees will review every detail and decide who went too far, and whether the rights of citizens were respected in the process.