A renewed wave of protests has erupted in Morocco’s Midelt Province, where residents of several mountainous communes are demanding improved infrastructure and public services, saying decades of isolation have left their communities underserved.
The demonstrations began in late June and have involved residents from remote villages across the High Atlas, including the rural communes of Anemzi and Agoudim, as well as neighboring communities along the mountain routes linking the area to Tounfite.
According to participants, residents gathered in their villages before marching along regional roads, with some groups attempting to reach the provincial capital of Midelt to present their demands to local authorities. Images shared by protesters showed residents walking several kilometers, underscoring the remoteness of their communities and the lack of reliable transportation infrastructure.
The protesters said their primary concern is the continued isolation of mountain communities, citing deteriorated or unpaved roads that hamper access to towns and essential public services.
Residents said snowfall frequently cuts off entire villages during winter, sometimes for days or weeks, limiting access to healthcare, schools, markets and emergency services while exacerbating economic and social hardship.
Beyond road infrastructure, protesters called for broader development measures tailored to mountain regions, including improved access to drinking water, electricity and mobile network coverage, as well as the rehabilitation of schools and healthcare facilities.
Participants also raised concerns about housing and land-use regulations, arguing that current administrative procedures fail to account for local construction practices and the geographic realities of mountain communities.
Meanwhile, the Civil Coalition for the Mountain, a national civil society network, said the latest demonstrations highlight long-standing structural challenges facing Morocco’s mountain regions.
In a statement, the coalition called for the accelerated implementation of an integrated public policy dedicated to mountain development and renewed its call for legislation guaranteeing the rights of mountain populations.
The organization argued that recurring protests demonstrate the limitations of short-term responses and urged authorities to adopt coordinated, long-term policies focused on infrastructure, public services and territorial equity.
In several locations, protest marches were stopped before reaching their intended destinations, prompting discussions between protest representatives and local authorities.
While dialogue took place, residents said their main expectation remains the implementation of concrete development projects rather than further consultations.
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