Complaints Against Moroccan Interior Ministry Surge 196%, Sparking Investigation

The General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration has opened an investigation into these complaints addressed to the Royal Cabinet, reports the daily Assabah, specifying that the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region holds the record with 649 complaints, followed by Casablanca-Settat with 533, Marrakech-Safi (313), the Oriental (254), Fès-Meknès (235), Darâ-Tafilelt (220), Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima (203), Souss-Massa (168), Beni-Mellal-Khénifra (150), Guelmim-Oued Noun (60) and Laâyoune Sekia El Hamra (26).

Emanating from Moroccans residing abroad (MREs), 200 complaints have been addressed to the various ministerial departments. They relate to urban planning, the fight against slums, subdivision authorizations, expropriation of property for public utility, requalification programs and collective lands, as well as the behavior of certain authority agents. All these grievances have been taken into account by the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration, which, the daily reports, has entrusted 204 complaints addressed against authority agents to investigators at the provincial and prefectural levels.

By sector, 26 complaints concern obstacles to investment, 22 relate to the anarchic exploitation of mines, 20 concern arrears of individuals and companies, 17 address expropriation indemnities, 12 mention the use of public force, 40 concern irrigation and wells, 82 relate to the carrying of weapons and passports, 192 denounce the squatting of other people’s property, 140 concern the beneficiaries of slum eradication programs and dilapidated houses, and 16 raise judgments against local authorities, details the same source.