Authorities in Belyounech, a town in Morocco's Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region, demolished houses overlooking the sea earlier this week as part of a government campaign to reclaim public maritime property. The action sparked anger and concern among residents affected by the demolitions. Videos of heavy machinery tearing down the structures went viral on social media, highlighting the distress of residents who had lived in the affected houses for years. Speaking to Hespress, some residents complained about receiving only a three-day notice before the demolitions began. They also demanded compensation and alternative housing, citing their unemployment and lack of options after losing their homes. The Belyounech demolition aligns with a nationwide campaign to recover public property. In January, authorities demolished houses built near the sea in the surfing town of Imsouane. Casablanca also saw the demolition of substandard housing near the Sidi Abderrahmane mausoleum, mainly occupied by individuals allegedly involved in dubious medical practices and witchcraft. Similar operations are anticipated in other areas where residents have been asked to vacate homes built on public land, including Dar Bouazza, a rapidly growing Casablanca suburb near the beach.
