Municipal Land Grab Scandal Rocks Morocco’s Local Governments

Following suspicions of manipulation of the collective heritage for private purposes by municipal councils, the Directorate General of Local Authorities (DGCT) has sent a circular to the walis and governors, asking them to freeze the validation of any suspicious items on the agenda of the October sessions. These items are the transfers of land and property from the municipal private domain to individuals close to former municipal employees, elected officials or members of their entourage.

These attempted transfers have been particularly observed in the regions of Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Marrakech-Safi, according to well-informed sources at Hespress. These transfers are sometimes made in favor of retirees who already have a comfortable material situation, but who are eager to obtain lots at prices well below market value. One of the most emblematic cases was recorded in an urban municipality in the province of Berrechid, near Casablanca, where the elected officials proposed to modify the specifications to transfer municipal land to retirees, even though the municipality, like the neighboring ones of Nouaceur, lacks available land and buildings for its administrative services, reveal the same sources.

Based on these irregularities, the Ministry of the Interior has dispatched central investigation commissions to examine the regularity of these operations. To better fulfill their mission, they will have to rely on the reports of the Regional Courts of Accounts, which had already highlighted recurring violations of Law 57.19 on the management of the real estate assets of local authorities. Among the shortcomings noted are the lack of updating of land registers, non-compliance with expert appraisal and competitive bidding procedures, or cases of transfers without adequate compensation.