Morocco: Interior Ministry investigates bribery allegations

The Moroccan Interior Ministry has launched an inquiry after a councillor alleged a former governor sought millions for a road project.

According to Yabiladi on October 8^th, a video that has been circulating widely on news sites and social media platforms shows a local councillor from the Moroccan province of Safi claiming a former governor requested a payment of $6.5 million to authorise a road development project. The remarks were also reportedly made by a municipal councillor from Lamsabih during the council’s regular October session.

In response to the footage, the Interior Ministry has ordered a comprehensive administrative investigation to verify the accuracy of the claims. A committee from the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration has been tasked with conducting the inquiry, which will include gathering testimonies from all relevant parties, questioning the former governor, and reviewing all documentation linked to the project.

The ministry stated that appropriate administrative, disciplinary, or legal measures will be taken against anyone found responsible, in line with Morocco’s principle of linking responsibility to accountability

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to projecting the reputation of the territorial administration by making sure to uphold transparency and integrity within public service.

The Safi bribery allegation arrives at a time when local governments are losing billions in tax revenue, apparently partly due to bureaucratic corruption. As Maghrebi reported, local administrations lag by around $4.3 billion in uncollected tax, of which only $1 billion is realistically recoverable. Many speculate that a large portion of this deficit is due to collusion between accountants and elected officials, where surcharges or penalties are cancelled.

The corruption issue in Moroccan politics has also soiled into their interactions abroad. In one EU-level scandal, Moroccan officials were accused of influencing Members of European Parliament in exchange for favourable treatment.

The people of Morocco are growing increasingly frustrated with seeing corruption within their government. Whether the Safi incident will actually drive change remains to be seen.