Flood-hit village sees protests as authorities block civil coordination meeting

Residents of Douar Aghbalo, part of the rural commune of Tanqoub in Chefchaouen Province, staged rare and noisy protests Friday after recent floods damaged homes and property in the area.

Demonstrators blocked a main road by placing stones across it, disrupting traffic, including school buses, according to videos circulated on social media. Protesters said their action was driven by ongoing power outages and deteriorating living conditions following the floods.

Affected residents called for dialogue with authorities, stressing that their aim was not to create disorder but to draw attention to their situation and push for concrete solutions to compensate losses and improve daily life.

Local civil society groups voiced support for what they described as the residents’ legitimate demands, while urging constructive dialogue. They cautioned that road blockades could undermine the cause and disrupt public interests.

Residents said they are counting on local and elected officials to open talks and provide compensation, expressing confidence in state institutions to respond to their grievances and help restore social stability.

In a separate development, local authorities in Chefchaouen prevented the holding of a founding general assembly for a provincial coordination body aimed at supporting people affected by climate-related disturbances. The meeting had been scheduled for Sunday at the headquarters of the Democratic Confederation of Labour.

The preparatory committee said in a statement that the union received a written notice informing it of the ban after it had agreed to host the meeting.

The committee described the decision as a restriction on citizens’ rights to organize, express themselves and engage in civic action,  rights it said are guaranteed by Morocco’s constitution and international conventions ratified by the country. It added that the ban would not deter members from continuing what it called their legitimate efforts to seek redress for affected residents through peaceful means and in full respect of institutions.