Mustapha Draiss, the new governor of the province of Sidi Bennour, has his work cut out for him. He must address a large number of the province's problems, such as urban planning and the fight against substandard housing. And even though the urban commune of Sidi Bennour is one of the richest in the province with a surplus of several million dirhams, the town is deteriorating over time.

The region has certainly experienced development, but dysfunctions have arisen at several levels: the appearance of shanty towns such as Karia, Douar Abdi, Jnan Belfatmi and Mekbara. The ongoing policy of fighting against illegal construction has not yet succeeded in eradicating the scourge. The town of Sidi Bennour developed for several years without an urban planning document.

The master plan for urban development of the province, which should curb this anarchy, has been delayed each time. In 1998, after the laying of the foundation stone by Ahmed Chaouki, former governor of the province of El-Jadida, for the construction of a commercial complex located on Avenue des FAR, the regulation works initiated by the Aounat company remain largely unfinished to this day. A few months before the last elections, the inhabitants of the town of Sidi Bennour wanted to believe the promises of the candidates for the legislative and municipal elections. But, in the end, the situation remained unchanged. The streets and alleys are still in a pitiful state. The gaping holes and broken roads constitute a daily concern for the population, even for those who only make a brief stop in this locality. Even the new housing estates do not have paved roads, to such an extent that one would think they had gone back a century. Hence the question about the true role of elected officials and the silence of the local authorities. "The security aspect is one of the other projects to be quickly taken in hand in a quest for social peace," recalled Mustapha Draiss, at the time of taking office. Of the 25 communes in the province of Sidi Bennour, about ten are considered to be among the poorest in Morocco. Mustapha Draiss will have to work in partnership with elected officials and heads of external services, set up bridges for dialogue with the various stakeholders and, above all, identify the sectors that can offer jobs to the population of the province of Sidi Bennour. The new governor, who cut his teeth in the Ministry of the Interior, may be able to breathe new life into the region's economy.

Mustapha Draiss is a graduate of the Royal Institute of Territorial Administration in 1992, in its second class. Holder of a postgraduate diploma in private law, Mr. Draiss began his career as a civil service recruit at the Ministry of National Education. He evolved at different levels in the administration across several provinces. On 27 May 2010, Mustapha Draiss was promoted to Secretary General of the province of Sidi Bennour.

-* Urban upgrading programme:

-* The project amounts to 228 million DH.

-* This plan runs until 2014

-* It provides for the development and equipment of the Mohammed V and FAR boulevards, the strengthening of the road network, the creation of green spaces, a multi-sports hall and the equipment of social centres.