Morocco Cracks Down on Illegal Construction: Major Cities Face Scrutiny Amid Urban Planning Scandal

The management of residential permits and housing compliance certificates is being called into question due to serious irregularities related to the ongoing demolition operations of unauthorized constructions over the past several months. The inspectors conducted an audit of the residential permit registers to verify the possible involvement of civil servants and urban planning department heads in serious violations related to the issuance of these documents, according to sources at Hespress. Following this data collection, the central services of the Ministry of the Interior have sent urgent requests for explanation to several municipal presidents, asking them to justify the irregularities in the procedures for granting questionable residential permits.

The urban planning department heads as well as elected officials have been questioned as part of this audit. Afterwards, the inspection commissions will submit their reports to the central services in the coming weeks. It is not excluded that dismissal proceedings may be initiated against the persons involved, under Article 64 of the Organic Law on Territorial Authorities. These investigations could also lead to the opening of judicial inquiries targeting the civil servants and urban planning technicians accused of having falsified supporting documents and used them in minutes of issuance of compliance certificates.

Furthermore, the inspection reports also indicate the refusal of many municipal employees to assume the responsibility of department head, due to the fear of being held accountable for the actions of elected officials, according to the same sources, noting that "this was highlighted by the results of the selection interviews, showing a growing disinterest of civil servants to apply for these positions."