Morocco’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Falter as 72% of Citizens Report Widespread Graft

Corruption is reaching alarming proportions in Morocco. According to a survey published in December by the National Authority for Integrity, Prevention and the Fight against Corruption, 72% of Moroccans and 68% of companies recognize the extent of the phenomenon in the kingdom.

"Moroccans consider it useless to report corruption," for fear of retaliation from the authorities, said Mohamed Bachir Rachidi, the president of the anti-corruption body, adding that only 6% of those surveyed said they were willing to bring a corruption case to court.

According to this survey, the most vulnerable and poorest groups are the ones who suffer the most from these practices, particularly in terms of access to health services or social benefits, and recruitment in the civil service. Since 2020, the Moroccan justice system has not investigated any large-scale fraud and the Ministry of the Interior has only dismissed a few officials suspected of embezzling public funds, notes El País.

In 2022, Morocco lost 21 places and ranked 94th out of 180 states. Since 2018, when it scored 44 points out of 100, the kingdom has fallen to 39 points out of 100.