HIBAPRESS – Jerada
The meeting hall of the Lamrija territorial commune in Jerada province hosted an extensive communication meeting this morning, bringing together the leader of the Lamrija command with a delegation of over 370 rights holders belonging to three tribal communities: the Ahel Arshida tribal community, the Ras El Ain Lkouar tribal community, and the Oulad Sidi Mohammedine El Cheikh tribal community.
This meeting came about based on a previous appointment granted by the leader to the rights holders after the electoral deadlines. The concerned individuals initially gathered at the command's headquarters. As the reception hall there could not accommodate such a large number, the meeting was moved to the territorial commune hall, which has a larger capacity. The meeting was attended by the current tribal deputy and candidates who had submitted their applications for the deputy position, alongside a number of tribal men and women.
The rights holders confirmed that the applications to fill the position of tribal deputy have been with the command's departments for over a year, specifically since November 12, 2025, following a democratic tribal consensus. However, the file has remained frozen without the appointment procedure being activated. They pointed out that the leader's response was to invite them to appoint deputies from what is colloquially known in tribal custom as "outsiders." This proposal was met with a categorical rejection by all attendees, who considered it a blatant violation of the provisions of Article 5 of Law No. 62.17, which stipulates that the deputy must be from among the rights holders themselves. They recalled, in this context, a precedent set by the former provincial governor who appointed an outsider as deputy, which had caused widespread discontent at the time.
In a serious development revealed by the current tribal deputy, he stated that he has not received the tribal lists from the local authority since 2021. This raises more than a few questions and reinforces the rights holders' suspicions and fears of the possibility of including individuals affiliated with the "outsider" category in the tribal lists, in clear violation of the law.
The attendees explained that their insistence on appointing new deputies from among the rights holders is not an isolated demand but a fundamental legal entry point and a prior condition for updating the tribal lists and integrating broader segments of the population. The leader confirmed that the updating procedure cannot legally commence until the deputies are appointed, as the legislator has designated the deputy as the sole authority empowered to finalize the list of rights holders and update it within a specified legal timeframe not exceeding three months from the start of the procedure.
The meeting, characterized by a spirit of responsibility and discipline, concluded with the local authority understanding the demands of the rights holders. They pledged to submit a detailed report to the Governor of Jerada province for appropriate action, pending the outcomes of the next few weeks regarding the appointment of deputies as they were promised.
