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The Casablanca Medina Rehabilitation Project, spanning from 2010 to 2023, aimed to address deficiencies in this historic district. Its objectives encompassed improving living conditions, restoring the built environment, creating new infrastructure, safeguarding monuments, enhancing tourism appeal, and reviving economic activities. Divided into three phases, each spanning three years, this article focuses primarily on the inaugural phase, managed by the Casablanca Urban Agency from 2010 to 2013. Notably, this phase marked a significant milestone as it represented the city's first major project led by a public entity recognizing civil society's pivotal role. Within this context, the paper delves into the intricate dynamics of the key actors involved, with a particular emphasis on civil society, the steering committee, and Medina's resident population. It accentuates critical moments of conflict between these stakeholders, shedding light on the foundational representations underpinning their respective claims to legitimacy. Throughout the project's duration, multiple local associations played a crucial role in meticulously overseeing its progress. Serving as intermediaries bridging the divide between developers and the local population, they actively engaged in facilitating communication and conducting project presentations. However, this involvement was not without its challenges, as underlying tensions among different associations regarding their legitimacy to participate in the project surfaced. In conclusion, the paper underscores that citizen participation within the Medina project often retained a predominantly symbolic nature, marked by a preference for pre-established choices. In a broader context, these experiences illuminate the intricate challenges and complexities associated with citizen participation in urban development projects. They serve as a reminder that participatory processes can sometimes veer toward symbolism, with predetermined decisions eclipsing genuine collaboration. These insights encourage a deeper exploration of the multifaceted dynamics between civil society, authorities, and project implementation, offering valuable lessons for future urban development and community engagement endeavors.

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