Anger swells as homes near Moroccan surfers’ paradise flattened
The Moroccan coastal town of Imsouane is known for its swells and breaks, making it a popular surfing spot.
However, last month, the town attracted a different kind of attention after dozens of homes and businesses were flattened in a mass demolition by authorities – with residents given just a day’s notice.
Properties were razed over several days, beginning on January 19, leaving Imsouane residents homeless and confused by the sudden and unexplained decision.
The demolitions left about 150 people displaced or without an income in the thriving tourist hot spot.
“It looks like a bomb just exploded,” said Layla Izem, a long-time resident of Imsouane, who could only watch as her home was destroyed.
Ms Izem was given a day’s notice to leave, despite her husband’s family having lived in the home for about 40 years. According to reports, the properties were technically illegal as they were unlicensed, despite many of them having stood there for decades.
Issa Ouchen, the owner of two businesses and a home in Imsouane, said that about 30 businesses and 80 houses were destroyed.
“We were all staring in disbelief,” said Mr Ouchen, describing the moment he watched the razing of everything he had built. He had a small house in the town and his restaurant had operated in Imsouane for seven years.
“The scene was chaos, people were frantically running everywhere moving stuff, trying to save their possessions – or as much as they could,” said Mr Ouchen.
He said the police, army and heavy machinery arrived at the town a day after residents were informed of the move.
“A day is not long enough for
much of a town to vacate,” he said. Mr Ouchen is now homeless, and his six employees have been left without an income.
Imsouane, an hour and a half north of Agadir, was originally a small community with a few fishermen’s houses.
It became popular with surfers in the 1980s and attracted visitors from the surfing community in the decades that followed,
with surfers affectionately calling the 1km stretch of coastline “The Magic Bay”.
As it became one of Africa’s most popular surf destinations, shops, cafes, accommodation and other businesses flourished.
Imsouane’s Tasblast area was home to cave houses, similar to those on the Greek island of Santorini. All of them have now been destroyed. “These buildings were like those in the Madinah of Marrakesh,” said Mr Ouchen.
In 2020, Youssef Mohamed bought one of the oldest cave houses in the area – which was constructed in the late 1960s. The government owns land 30 metres from the ocean, he said.
Many buildings were not “viable”, Mr Mohamed said, adding that some structures didn’t follow “official plans” and some were “without proper sewerage systems”.
He had been working with authorities to try to make his home legal.
“The government did not take the time to see how it could regulate certain structures in the area, it just took out everything,” he said.
“The demolition was so fast. They didn’t take the time to study each case separately.”
He believes some of Imsouane’s culture and heritage has been eradicated with the destruction of its cave houses and buildings. No details have been provided to Imsouane residents as to why the demolition happened so quickly, or whether those who lost their homes will be offered compensation by the authorities.
French photographer and surfer Nick Pescetto was travelling in Morocco at the time of the demolitions. He documented the scenes of destruction in Imsouane. “It was pretty intense,” he said.
Residents fear for their future and their livelihoods after the demolition.
“Parts of Imsouane are now empty, there are no more guests, no more tourists – just destruction,” said Mr Ouchen.
Mr Mohamed said: “In the name and benefit of our country’s long history and heritage, authorities should consider leaving certain constructions even if they are in the maritime domain. We should keep our memory alive, remembering our past and stepping confidently into the future.”