Housing crisis in Oujda: Victims of the Azhar association protest before the Wilaya

Protest escalation before the Wilaya of the Oriental region

The city of Oujda witnessed a protest movement on Friday morning led by victims of the Azhar housing association projects in the Oriental region, in front of the Wilaya headquarters. This escalation comes in response to the procrastination and indifference they have faced for over two years, with hopes for obtaining housing or recovering their funds remaining in limbo due to the lack of concrete response from the association’s officials.

Stalled projects and questions over permits

The protesters’ concerns focus on the fate of the association’s projects in Kala, Zghamim, Saïdia, and Ras El Ma, where construction has completely halted. Protesters reported that a large portion of these lands lacks the necessary legal permits. The coordination committee’s statement also criticized how work was managed at the few sites where it had briefly commenced, describing them as “camouflage operations” limited to fencing the land and minor excavations before stopping entirely.

Accusations of “fraud” and rejection of the arbitration process

Association members expressed their categorical refusal of the “arbitration” proposal put forward by the administration, viewing it as an attempt to circumvent their legal rights and a “theatrical act” to extend the waiting period. The coordination committee also directly accused the management of transferring subscribers’ funds to the contractor’s account under a “secret agreement,” emphasizing that this move had never been approved or voted on during general assemblies.

Urgent demands for intervention and investigation

The coordination concluded its protest by calling on public authorities, led by the Wali of the Oriental region, to intervene urgently and open an in-depth investigation into the association’s files. The victims demanded protection of their funds against any arbitrary actions and the guarantee of a full refund of their financial dues, warning against the continued silence of the concerned parties regarding what they described as “violations” that threaten the savings of citizens who only dreamed of decent housing.