Residents Express Discontent Over Historical Wall Collapse
The city of Taroudant has recently witnessed a wave of discontent among its residents and local observers following the collapse of a section of its historic wall, which stands as one of Morocco's most significant architectural landmarks. Mohammed Kermah, the regional secretary of the Justice and Development Party, emphasized that this wall represents a historical, material, and human heritage that dates back centuries. Historical sources indicate that the wall was constructed during the early Saadian period when the Saadians initially established Taroudant as their first capital before later relocating to Marrakech.
Kermah stated in an interview with pjd.ma that over time, the wall has suffered from neglect and erosion, leading to significant portions deteriorating, including the area that recently collapsed. This occurred despite efforts by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and the local community to restore parts of the wall since the beginning of the millennium.
In recent months, a significant contract was launched to renovate the wall, strengthen its foundations, and repair its gates. However, Kermah stressed the need to assign these restoration projects to specialized companies that focus on the preservation of historical monuments to ensure the quality of the work and maintain the original character and architectural integrity of the wall as it was constructed from the very beginning. He also called for meticulous monitoring of the construction phases, involving local stakeholders in this process, as well as identifying the most vulnerable points and proactively addressing them to prevent such incidents from recurring.
He concluded by noting that the collapse of this section of the wall fortunately did not result in any human or material losses, while also emphasizing the urgency of assessing the most affected areas of the wall and intervening promptly and professionally to prevent future collapses.
