At the dawn of the 2030 world Cup in Morocco, an event that should propel the country under the fire of international projectors, a scandal breaks out. Behind the promises of modernization and development, the preparations for this world event take a disturbing turn.
Thousands of families are forcibly dislodged, whole districts are demolished, and historical villages disappear under the bulldozers, all to meet the requirements of an accelerated urban transformation. The project to prepare the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, in collaboration with Spain and Portugal, has led to upheavals in several major Moroccan cities. Rabat, Casablanca and other flagship cities are changing, with major works aimed at modernizing urban infrastructure. If these projects are supposed to be beneficial in the long term, they already have a considerable human cost.
The working -class districts, like Douar El Askar in Rabat, are particularly affected. These areas, which house families often living in precarious conditions, are demolished without sufficient notice. The bulldozers destroy houses and shops, plunging the inhabitants into uncertainty. Promises of rehousing or financial compensation are not enough to appease the spirits. Many residents denounce decisions made without consultation, leaving families without viable alternatives.
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The denial of the rights of the inhabitants for a global project
According to Liberation, the Moroccan authorities justify these destruction by the objective of modernizing the country to host a major sporting event. However, this urban development project raises questions about respecting the rights of the most vulnerable citizens. The local opposition and the activists denounce what they call “urban cleaning”, where the most disadvantaged populations are sacrificed on the altar of progress and international prestige.
The situation becomes even more tense when we see the lack of real dialogue between the authorities and the affected residents. The rapid execution of these projects and the tight demolition deadlines do not allow residents to defend themselves or find alternative solutions. The lack of information and the pressure exerted by the authorities add to the anxiety of the families concerned, who feel dispossessed of their homes and their shops.
A modernization for whom and at what price?
If Morocco really seeks to modernize and improve its international image, the social cost of this transformation is immense. Families who are dislodged are often without appropriate rehousing solution. For the authorities, the 2030 World Cup in Morocco seems to justify the implementation of these projects with forced march, without taking the time to manage the impacts on the local population.
The benefits of economic and tourism development are obvious. However, such a model, which promotes the construction of new infrastructure to the detriment of existing inhabitants, risks leaving a negative imprint on the history of the country. The inhabitants of the dislodged areas lose not only their houses, but also their roots, and often their means of subsistence.
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