Morocco Corruption Report

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeA new report on Moroccan efforts to fight corruption is highly critical on the government's dedication. The report asks Rabat authorities to regard corruption as plague and barrier to the development and therefore urged Moroccan government to put in place effective legislations that allows corruption to be fought in a transparent manner. The large and deep-ploughing report was issued yesterday, by the world's leader in the fight against corruption, Berlin-based Transparency International (TI).

In the report, the North African country is also asked to change its practices and perceptions towards corruption. The Moroccan government is accused of not creating space that allows civil society organisations in the fight against corruption to operate.

Though Morocco is a signatory to the UN convention against corruption, it is yet to domesticate it. And the country's penal codes - 241 and 256 - levy harsh punishment on civil servants found to be corrupt, yet corruption triumphs in the kingdom.

Morocco is accused of infringing the articles of the conventions, as it allows corruption to flourish through illicit enrichment in trading and hide these acts. In general, in Morocco there exist little legal provisions that aim to prevent corruption because the government seems to have adopted another strategy to fight corruption and deviated from its preliminary draft law, the TI analysis found.

TI asked the Moroccan government to create an agency to fight corruption, put in place effective measures that control civil servants from accepting favours and improve conditions and management of public markets. "In fact, improvement has been made in this area, but corruption is yet to disappear," the report added.

Morocco was also pinned down for creating an anti-corruption body that has a vague mission, insufficiently represented and subject to partiality in its operations. "It was also stripped off the capacity to observe and continue to monitor infringements in the system."

However, the report praised Morocco for adding laws relating to the fight against terrorism into its penal code. Some of the articles devoted to the detection of movements and seizure of funds related to terrorism.

Those found guilty of money laundering would be punished with prison terms of between two and five years plus a minimum fine of 20,000 and maximum of 100,000 dirhams (euro 1,800 to 9,000).

On the other hand, the government of Morocco is accused of having laws that exist in theory instead of practice.

At the moment, the law on money laundering in Morocco is before the commission of justice and legislation for examination. The law which entails 39 articles empowers the Prime Minister to supervise a central processing unit that will be in charge of the financial data.

TI blamed countries in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Morocco in particular, for having non-democratic government structures, coupled with little manoeuvring space for civil society amid stagnant, heavily state-managed.

The report said the civil society in this region showed an increasing willingness to take up the issues of corruption and institutional reform. This, according to the report, was evidenced by the existence of numerous international donors keen to encourage and assist civil society.

With the emergence of a new generation of leaders more inclined towards reforms and modernisation in the region, political atmosphere had opened up, TI held. Despite the difficult socio-political conditions, the release stated, TI networks in the Mddle East and North African region had raised awareness of people through education on corruption. This finally had led to the accreditation of TI-Morocco and TI-Lebanon.

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Morocco's corruption rankings get worse

Image via WikipediaTransparency International's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index lists Morocco in 80th place, signifying a fall of eight places since last year. Moroccans remain optimistic about the fight against corruption, but say the problem's root causes still need to be addressed.

Morocco has taken a step backward in its fight against corruption, according to recent data from Transparency International. The group's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index shows Morocco in 80th place out of 180 countries, a drop of eight places over 2007. The scores are the result of six inquiries on the ground, led by independent international agencies.

Rachid Filali Meknassi, Secretary-General of Transparency Maroc, said in a press briefing on Tuesday (September 23rd) that corruption has become systemic. "Morocco's fall in the rankings is due to the failure to effectively apply the reforms announced by the government to fight this phenomenon," he said.

Transparency has expressed its disappointment with the decree to set up the central anti-corruption court, creating a body which is deprived both of institutional autonomy and of any power to investigate or take legal action.

The legal system and the administration are the sectors most affected. The association has called on authorities for "more effort to combat corruption in the country".

Transparency says the measures needed to fight corruption should include a legal component. Protections also need to be included for citizens who report facts concerning offences to the relevant authorities in good faith and on the grounds of reasonable suspicion, under the terms of the United Nations convention on corruption.

According to the Moroccan government, this ranking is not based on an objective analysis of corruption, but on a simple study of perceptions of corruption. The government has said there is a great desire to eradicate this phenomenon, citing the creation of the central anti-corruption court, along with legal measures already put in place such as the passing of laws relating to money-laundering, delegated management and public officials' declaration of assets.

Nevertheless, concrete results are needed for the set objectives to be achieved. A government action plan under discussion since 2006 is intended to improve Morocco’s rating in the index. Objectives include simplified administrative procedures, establishing ethical and moral values and standards, strengthening transparency in the management of public sector tenders, improved monitoring, control and audits, and education on related issues.

MP Lahcen Daoudi told Magharebia that corruption affects all areas, beginning with elections."Corruption is a catastrophe and the government is doing nothing to eradicate it. They must set up barriers against it in legislation," he said.

Meanwhile, fellow MP Fatima Mustaghfir said the fight against corruption is a matter for which the public, the administration and the authorities must all assume responsibility.

"It is important to realise that corruption is due to low wages and also a feeling of injustice. We have to work on those areas," she told Magharebia.

There are many who feel that the state must act on major incidences of corruption, rather than focusing on the smaller cases. IT worker Hamid Zahrani said that to set an example for Moroccans, the government has a duty to clean up the administration and bring the major cases before the courts, so that the public's confidence in the authorities can be restored.

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Morocco unveils new national centre to monitor corruption

Image via WikipediaTransparency Maroc kicked off the New Year by opening the National Corruption Monitoring and Transparency Development Centre in Casablanca. Created in November 2007 with the financial support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the centre has just begun work on tackling corruption, assisting victims of the problem and building integrity in both the government and the private sector.
The new facility will inform public policy on corruption prevention and gather data on corruption, governance and transparency. It will also advise corruption victims and whistle-blowers through a support and legal advice network. The centre has a hotline and a contact e-mail address for people wishing to make reports.
Transparency Maroc Secretary-General Azeddine Akesbi acknowledged that it can be difficult to prove incidences of corruption. To prevent slander, complainants will "be asked to provide hard evidence including financial accounts and video footage, if possible," he explained.
Akesbi said Transparency Maroc hopes to involve the private sector, NGOs and specialist bodies in its work. "Plans have been announced to create a National Corruption Prevention Authority which could be given some of the information we generate and act on complaints which we receive here at the monitoring centre. We're therefore calling for co-operation with partner agencies, whether state-run or otherwise," he said.
By collecting information, the centre will be able to lead thinking on a number of specific issues, including Morocco's legislative elections in September. Transparency International, the governing NGO for the Casablanca centre, already works worldwide on bringing corrupt politicians to justice, monitoring elections and investigating vote-buying and parliamentary ethics.
Transparency Maroc says that the country must make a united effort to stamp out the corruption that is entrenched in Moroccan society. Political will is necessary to end impunity, Akesbi emphasised. "We need to see this desire translated into action on the ground. We shouldn’t be focusing primarily on specific, isolated cases – we need to clean up the system as a whole," he told Magharebia.

He is calling on the government to make its anti-corruption action plan a reality. "We already have the framework – the United Nations Convention, which has been ratified. Now it’s time to take action. The government has a huge weight of responsibility on its shoulders since they’re the ones who hold executive power. We also need to get political parties involved during election campaigns," he added.
Exposing the damaging effects of corruption is just as vital as enforcing penalties, noted Professor Mohamed Mrani. "It’s up to the media, in partnership with civil society and the state to raise awareness," he said.
Mrani added, "This phenomenon is well-entrenched in Morocco. Over the course of time, it has become a culture all of its own."
However, there is one recent, objective indicator of some progress. Morocco improved its ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, climbing from 79th to 72nd place in 2007 among the 179 countries listed by the NGO


hassan Posted 2008-01-10
Corruption is an instrument for the reallocation of wealth in countries where taxation is weak and governmental resources are minimal. Corruption will exist in Morocco so long as there is poverty. That is what we then need to fight: poverty not corruption.

Elhaj AMAL Posted 2008-01-11
Best wishes for 2008. You have my sincere congratulations for the work you are organising to combat this scourge. In my opinion, the problem is more complex than this; we need to find a solution at the origin. First of all, we should improve the work conditions of the functionaries and secure their posts. I do not call this corruption but begging when it comes to low-level and mid-level functionaries; they are in need. Corruption is found in the higher echelons, where the decision-makers and their kind are.

Delesalle Philippe Philippus Posted 2008-01-11
Hello, Your article states that it is attempting to approach the problem at the level of the big cases, elections, etc. Don’t you think that a general approach should include the low-levels and petty corruption in order to improve everyone’s conscience? The monitoring body will only take cases into account that provide proof such as videos. Do you really think that that will allow for enough cases to be brought under scrutiny and even make things better? In corruption, everything is done verbally. It should be enough to count on informers alone, so long as they provide a concrete case. Who is it really that is at risk in important cases implicating people in power, as they, in return, will vindicate themselves in the face of the informers? Clearly, won’t the system denounce the latter for the crime? I think that sensitising the terrain by changing a few simple rules of daily life would assure everyone the best version of security against corruption. Should we not first implement laws making it mandatory that all traders post their prices? Posters or printouts concerning certain administrative proceedings would also be a good way to avoid getting stuck with your hands in your pockets as often when faced with functionaries. Are these controls even in place now? Repression is nothing but a last resort, and never changes the root of the problem? As of now, is everyone really ready to play this game and finance this project with all its inherent taxes and tariffs? Other forums such as religious role models should look into the answer. Philippe (Philippus) de la Salle, Spiritual philospher

solutionneur Posted 2008-01-11
Hello. Create forums to gather ideas (it exists) that can be used to eradicate 90% of corruption so long as they are put into effect. I have a plan to erase 80 to 90 per cent of corruption in five years. Who has something better?

Anonymous Posted 2008-01-11
How do you go about proving the misdeeds of certain judges (most notably those in Marrakech)? They appear to be above all laws. Even the highest laws no longer affect them. What matters is only how much they can make of a deal; who has the right appears to be of little importance.
hicham Posted 2008-01-14
I think that the King’s will as well as that of certain ministers and officials lies here. But, it also needs to be said that the will of society is needed here; the average citizen would rather pay 10 dirhams to a police officer instead of giving over the amount that is due in light of his infraction. In any case, it should be said that Morocco is built like a glass house, no longer is anything hidden. All we need to do now is protect it and, God willing, things in Morocco will change just like so many other things did before

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Moroccan "Sniper" has corrupt police in his sights

Image via CrunchBaseBy Zakia Abdennebi
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL1212915920071114?pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0

AL HOCEIMA, Morocco (Reuters) - Armed with only a small video camera, a young Moroccan man has harnessed the power of the Internet to expose a local scandal of police corruption.
Crouched on a hill above a road in Morocco's northern cannabis growing region, the "Sniper" filmed a group of uniformed traffic police for hours as they stopped almost every van that passed and held out their hands for a bribe.
None of the drivers seemed to complain -- the gendarmes smiled and shook their victims hands before waving them on. But the viewer is left in no doubt over what is happening.
The Sniper chose the anonymity of the Internet to expose his evidence for fear of reprisals by local authorities.
To his surprise, the video has drawn tens of thousands of viewers around the world and made him a hero among downtrodden Moroccans tired of paying bribes to civil servants to avoid a fine or to obtain official papers, health care and justice.
"Take up your cameras, dear Moroccans," said one commentator on YouTube who identified himself as Youyoubes. "Such scenes you will find on any street corner. Unfortunately there is not a sniper in every house."
In a Reuters interview, the Sniper said his videos had sent a clear message to Moroccans: that they could fight corruption now instead of waiting in vain for the government to act.
"Fighting corruption is the duty of Morocco's youth before the government musters the willingness to wipe it out," he said He asked not to be named as he said he feared reprisals.
"If the government stands idle, citizens and society will lend a hand in the fight against corruption, even with the rudimentary tools they have," he added.
"STARK EVIDENCE"
Human rights activists hail the Sniper as a hero but worry police might arrest him if he were to be identified. Leading rights lawyer Abderrahim al Jamai said he feared Sniper would be pressured to "confess" to making up the videos, if arrested.
The independent Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) criticised police for hunting him, saying that an unspecified number of youths from Sniper's home village, Tarjist, were arrested by police seeking his identity and whereabouts.
"I apologise to Tarjist youth who have been kidnapped," the Sniper said, adding he had named his first video "Genuine Claim" to emphasise his sincerity in fighting corruption.
"I named the other Stark Evidence to underpin the truthfulness of the first video, which prompted authorities to cast doubts on it as a manufactured film," he said.
Government officials in the north African state, a monarchy in which the king wields paramount powers over a weak parliament, were not immediately available for comment.
But the official news agency MAP reported those policemen caught on Sniper's camera were on trial. It gave no details.

Sniper said he felt corruption was more pervasive on his mountainous Hoceima region where many farmers grow cannabis and are easy targets for police seeking bribes.
He said he did not want to suggest all police in the region were corrupt. Police and other state employees should, he said, earn decent wages to shield them from graft temptation.
Moroccans say they run risks if they try to upset powerful vested interests involved in corruption, especially in the north where the cannabis industry represents a big parallel economy.
Three lawyers in Tetouan town were expelled from the bar in March for publicly condemning graft in the judiciary, drawing condemnation from the local arm of Transparency International.
(Writing by Lamine Ghanmi; editing by Tom Pfeiffer, William Maclean and Ralph Boulton)

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Fighting curruption in Morocco

Image via WikipediaI would like to start this thread on the big problem of corruption in Morocco, firstly let me tell you I am Moroccan and deeply love and care for Morocco, but believe us Moroccan inside and particular those living outside of Morocco who may have more freedom to address this problem should STAND UP AND BE COUNTED IN THIS FIGHT TO END THIS INJUSTICE HARMING OUR COUNTRY.How do any of you think we should fight this disease harming our country?This badly affects the poor who cannot afford to give the little money they have earned to government officials who they are scared of.Please tell us about any experience you have suffered due to corrupt officials in Morocco how did you deal with this problem? did you pay them money? or did you stand up for your wright and fight, i.e not give them any money.Lets share ideas, lets publicize government email address and all email them our complaints of widespread corruption.Lets start a petition, fighting together we can get rid of this disease, and help Morocco move into a more productive country where people from all over the World will come to invest in all sectors which will provide more jobs for the poor.They will not come on mass now because they fear the widespread corruption.How sick does it make you feel to read below that Morocco is the 79th most corrupt country in the World. Moroccan's for a corrupt free Morocco stand up and be counted.Read article below.CORRUPTION-MOROCCO: Worries Rise With ItBy Abderrahim El OualiCASABLANCA, Feb 21 (IPS) - When Morocco slipped to a position as the 78th most corrupt country in the latest Transparency International report, the change reflected the perception of most Moroccans. Transparency International (TI) ranks countries by the perceptions of its people, rather than by any objective comparisons of the extent of corruption. But publication of the perceptions has further triggered views why the country is seen to be more and more corrupt. "Corruption is a structural matter and an integral part of the 'security state'," Abdullah Kamoune, member of the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) told IPS. And corruption has a long history in Morocco, he said. "In the 19th century governors of regions in Morocco were obliged to come to the royal palace to offer gifts to the king so as to strengthen their position. As compensation, they were free to do what they want with citizens. This is the origin of the problem." Following independence from France in 1956, "some courageous initiatives were started to make economic, social, and cultural reforms through the first five-year plan from 1960 to 1964," Kamoune said. "But the plan was aborted when king Mohamed V died in 1961." In later years people either went the corrupt way, or went to prison, he said. But the reasons are more than historical, such as "domination by the culture of fear, under-developed social relations, illiteracy and ignorance, and a popular culture which finds justifications for corruption," economist Mustapha Antra told IPS. State structures only help corruption, he said. "Procedures are very complicated and the law on justification of administrative decisions is not really in force. This leads to the spread of favouritism." The state, he said, "uses corruption to reproduce the political elite, to guarantee its continuity, and to retain the current political balances." The state is "a system which itself is based on privileges." Corruption results in good measure also from the "informal economy which leads to smuggling and many other illegal relations, and the lack of a clear policy in salaries," he said. The TI report lists several scandals that brought the country down from 45th position in 1999, itself not particularly impressive. Among the most well-known relates to the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca. "Construction was financed partly by 'voluntary contributions' and partly by the compulsory deduction of employees' salaries, providing ample opportunities for racketeering and the embezzlement of funds," the TI report says. It says that the Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF) has revealed evidence of "gross financial fraud or embezzlement in banking, social security, agricultural credit, public housing, state contracts, public companies, municipal councils and international aid projects." A tourism and housing development credit fund lost 1.3 billion dollars partly because "fictional businessmen using fictional companies obtained credit from the bank and were later declared bankrupt," the TI report said. Institutions need to open up, said Kamoune. "Competition must be clear and credible and we must give up compromising outside institutions. These compromises are more than corruption. They are political prostitution." The state is in a process of transformation since the accession of king Mohamed VI to throne in 1999, but Morocco seems to have lost the fight against corruption. While everyone is free to speak about corruption, "greater freedom of speech has not been accompanied by any significant improvement in accountability," said the TI report. The going joke in Morocco is that it has been spared weapons of mass destruction, but it is being destroyed by weapons of mass corruption.

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