Audit reports reveal serious irregularities in management of several Moroccan municipalities

Recent reports from Morocco’s General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration have uncovered major irregularities in the financial and administrative management of several municipalities, particularly in the regions of Casablanca-Settat, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, and the Oriental.

The audits revealed significant shortcomings in accounting practices, the management of public equipment and storage facilities, and the awarding of public contracts. Key findings include a lack of resource tracking, falsified documents, defective equipment being accepted without proper inspection, and suspected collusion between elected officials and suppliers.

Inspectors noted that many assets acquired by some municipalities since their inception remain unaccounted for or poorly documented due to the absence of updated inventories and proper tracking tools such as Excel spreadsheets. Management of municipal warehouses was often delegated to unqualified personnel, increasing the risk of errors or embezzlement.

There were also reports of manipulated quantities of construction materials (such as sand, cement, and steel), and public contracts being approved without verifying whether the delivered goods met required standards. In some cases, substandard IT and office equipment was delivered and stored without prior inspection.

In the Casablanca-Settat region in particular, inspectors found ambiguously worded clauses in procurement contracts that made it easier for a small group of companies to be repeatedly awarded tenders. These contracts were often approved by municipal staff who lacked the technical knowledge to assess the quality and compliance of the delivered equipment.

Additionally, the audits found poor archive management, especially in technical departments handling urban planning and public procurement. A lack of coordination with provincial treasurers was also highlighted as a contributing factor to the mismanagement.

These findings reignite concerns over local governance and underscore the urgent need for structural reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of Morocco’s local authorities.