The National Coalition for Supporting Figuig has called on Moroccan authorities to take immediate action in response to demands from local activists, urging the government to protect the Figuig Oasis’ water resources from privatization.
The coalition stressed the need for the state to uphold its responsibilities in preserving the oasis’ rich natural and historical heritage, rather than handing it over to private interests focused solely on profit.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the coalition raised concerns about the privatization of water in Figuig, arguing that it could lead to the dismantling of social cohesion and the erosion of the community’s centuries-old cultural identity. The group called on progressive forces across the country to unite and support the ongoing protests in Figuig, saying that the privatization would undermine the economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights of the local population.
The coalition emphasized that transferring control of the oasis’ water to a private company would be a direct blow to local participatory democracy. The statement also pointed out that it would violate the community’s historical rights over water management, a system developed over generations by the people of Figuig, and dismiss the efforts made by locals to build and maintain water distribution systems by hand.
The group echoed the central slogan of the protest movement: “Water is not a commodity.”
The coalition further reiterated the demand from local activists to maintain the current community-managed, solidarity-based water system. This system, which has been integral to the survival and prosperity of the oasis, ensures water is used sustainably for drinking, subsistence agriculture, and other needs.
The coalition, which includes various civil society groups, political parties, and trade unions, was formed in July in Rabat to provide national political and social support for Figuig residents who continue to resist privatization by the Eastern Distribution Company.
The announcement comes one year after the start of the “Water Movement” in Figuig, which has involved several stages, including local protests, the resignation of nine members from the city council, and the subsequent by-elections in which the Left Federation won all nine contested seats.
In October, local activist Moufo was released after serving eight months in prison on charges of insulting a public official. The local community rejected the charge, viewing it as an attempt to suppress opposition to the privatization of their water resources. Figuig residents are now pushing for a new resolution that would formally sever ties with the Eastern Distribution Company.
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