The renewal of historic urban areas in Morocco: challenges and limits on the new ‘housing at risk of collapse’ policy

This article examines a new urban renewal policy that is currently impacting historic urban areas in Morocco. Over the past decade, Morocco has strengthened its economic and political influence within the African continent and the MENA region. In this context of regional economic competition, Moroccan cities are a particular focus of attention, particularly through the renewal of historic urban areas. In 2016, the introduction of a law addressing ‘buildings at risk of collapse and the organisation of urban regeneration projects’ led to the establishment of the National Agency for Urban Regeneration and the Rehabilitation of Buildings at Risk of Collapse (‘Agence nationale pour la rénovation urbaine et la réhabilitation des bâtiments menaçant ruine’, ANRUR). Following the demolition of slums under the Cities Without Slums (‘Villes Sans Bidonvilles’) policy (2004- …), it is now the degraded historic neighbourhoods that face the threat of destruction under the ‘housing at risk of collapse’ (‘Habitat Menaçant Ruine’) policy. Using the working-class neighbourhood of Derb Moulay Cherif in Casablanca as a case study, this article explores how this new urban policy is disrupting the spatial and social fabric of Moroccan cities.