Agadir, rebuilt after the devastating 1960 earthquake, had become a hotspot for tourism and real estate development by the 2000s. Land titles were still being reorganized, and the Melkia (state-owned land registry) was often chaotic. This environment was fertile ground for manipulation—and Belguel was about to become its master architect. The scandal erupted in 2008, though its roots go back to 2004. A sprawling, 20-hectare estate located in Drarga , a suburban commune just north of Agadir, became the object of a fierce legal battle. The land, known locally as Al Mansouriya , was originally agricultural land classified as Guich (land granted to military tribes in exchange for service). By law, such land cannot be sold to private individuals without royal approval.
For the first time, the monarchy was forced to respond. In a speech on August 20, 2008—the anniversary of the King's revolution—Mohammed VI declared without naming the case: "No one, regardless of their position, is above the law. Any assault on public property will be punished, and any official who facilitates such acts will face justice." belguel moroccan scandal from agadir full
For the people of Agadir, the phrase "Belguel" is now a bitter synonym for corruption, impunity, and the gap between royal rhetoric and political reality. As Morocco pursues land reforms and digitizes its title registry in the 2020s, the ghost of Belguel serves as a warning: without transparency and independent courts, a single forged document can still shake the kingdom. Agadir, rebuilt after the devastating 1960 earthquake, had
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However, in late 2004, a property title emerged showing that the land had been transferred to a shell company named (Société de Développement Industriel et Commercial). The majority shareholder of SODIDEC was none other than Fouad Ali El Himma —a close childhood friend of King Mohammed VI and a powerful political figure who would later found the PAM (Authenticity and Modernity Party). The minority shareholder was a businessman from Casablanca with alleged ties to the royal cabinet. The scandal erupted in 2008, though its roots