Villagers in Azilal protest over poor road, lack of clean drinking water

A group of residents from Douar Aknan, in the Ait M’hammed commune of Azilal province, marched to the provincial headquarters on Monday morning to demand improvements to their basic infrastructure.

They pointed out that the road is in poor condition, has deteriorated badly, and makes movement difficult, especially during heavy rains. They also urged authorities to equip an existing well to ensure a reliable water supply for the community.

Hamid Al Kilani, an activist from the commune, told Hespress English that the peaceful march was organized by residents of Douar Aknan and neighboring villages.

Al Kilani said that the protest was a response to the poor condition of the main road, which serves more than 10 villages and has deteriorated despite being renovated in recent years.

He stressed that the work on the road was poorly done, noting that it had led to several fatal traffic accidents.

The local activist pointed to dangerous curves on steep slopes that create serious hazards, especially during heavy rains, adding that “the road still needs serious fixing.”

He claimed that “the road development study was not logical,” even though it was prepared by a team of specialists.

The second major demand is access to clean drinking water.

Al Kilani explained that the terrain makes it challenging, and although a well and water reservoir were built, they are insufficient to meet the needs of the residents of Douar Aknan.

He said that this summer, the river that runs through the village dried up completely, stressing that the town was once known for its local peach and almond farming, but this agriculture has been hit badly.

The activist stressed that the locals are now looking to the governor, who manages a large area with 43 communes, for a real response and a serious fix.

Al Kilani acknowledged that residents understand repairs to the road and water supply won’t happen overnight.

Still, he emphasized that the people of Douar Aknan and surrounding villages are calling on all officials responsible for water and roads to act swiftly to address their urgent needs.