Rising Concerns Over Illegal Construction in Ain Chkef
As the 2026 legislative elections approach, the phenomenon of illegal construction has seen a significant increase in the municipality of Ain Chkef, located within the Moulay Yacoub region. Reports indicate that several neighborhoods, including Ouled Saleh, Ouled Kir, Ouled Ayad, Ouled Mohammed, Ouled Maaref, and Ouled Yzed, have turned into open construction sites where buildings are being erected without the necessary legal permits. This surge in unauthorized construction activities coincides with the election campaigning period, raising alarms among residents and local authorities alike.
According to sources, these construction projects have continued unabated throughout the election campaign, flouting building codes and safety regulations. Many of the buildings lack basic quality and safety standards, rendering them unsuitable for habitation and posing a direct threat to the lives of their future occupants. Local community activists have reported that these violations extend to land that does not belong to the collective agricultural lands, in addition to the clandestine digging of wells without prior authorization from the relevant authorities.
Local sources have also revealed that some candidates are resorting to illicit methods to attract voters, including enticing residents with promises of expedited building and housing permits, as well as facilitating the issuance of electricity licenses that had been on hold for an extended period. These licenses were suddenly granted just days before the elections, along with a noticeable leniency towards these illegal activities.
Infrastructure Challenges in National Route 27
In another report, the same newspaper highlighted the closure of a section of National Route 27 that connects Sidi Kassem and Bab Tisra for two months starting September 30, 2026. This closure is necessitated by ongoing works to remove rocks and stabilize the slope, thus imposing additional costs on travel between Meknes and Sidi Kassem. While the closure is justified by safety measures, the current works raise questions that extend beyond the duration of the project: Will the slope stabilization resolve the recurring issues at Bab Tisra, or will the route continue to require repeated interventions whenever there is a risk of rockfalls? This situation concerns not only the reopening of the section after construction but also ensuring the continuous functionality of this vital roadway without turning it into a bottleneck.
Moreover, "Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribiya" reported that Marrakech is preparing to host the eighth edition of the Marrakech International Airshow at the Royal Schools Airbase, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of this international event focused on the aviation and defense sectors. The 2026 edition is expected to feature over 200 exhibitors from 27 countries, alongside the presence of official and professional delegations from several nations, making it an excellent opportunity for some of the leading global companies in the aviation and defense industries to participate.
Additionally, in the province of Sefrou, at least 27 areas have been opened for community and tourism hunting, covering nearly 60,000 hectares, in preparation for the 2026-2027 hunting season, which was launched recently, in accordance with the legal provisions governing this activity.
As reported by hespress.com.
