Study: Morocco’s regionalization plan still falling short of goals

Morocco’s advanced regionalization project, introduced as a key reform following the 2011 Constitution, has yet to achieve its intended objectives, according to a recent study by Omar Aherchan, a public law professor.

The findings were published in the 10th issue of Hakama magazine and echo concerns voiced by both citizens and officials — including King Mohammed VI, who has publicly expressed frustration with the project’s limited progress.

Despite its ambition to shift power from the central government to regional and local authorities, the regionalization strategy remains hampered by a series of structural and administrative shortcomings.

One of the study’s central critiques is the persistence of centralized decision-making. While the reform aimed to grant more authority to territorial collectivities, the Moroccan state continues to retain tight control, following a French-inspired administrative model that the report argues is ill-suited to the country’s needs.

The study also identifies a lack of clarity in the division of responsibilities among regional, provincial, and local entities. This overlap has led to duplicated efforts, reduced efficiency, and confusion over jurisdiction. Aherchan refers to this as “institutional inflation,” with an excessive number of agencies that complicate coordination and hinder development efforts.

Financial independence is another major challenge. According to the report, local governments are often unable to manage their resources autonomously, leaving them dependent on central authorities or international actors. This lack of fiscal flexibility undermines their ability to invest in development plans tailored to local priorities.

To overcome these obstacles, the study proposes several reforms. Among them is the creation of a unified legal framework — a single code encompassing laws on decentralization, local governance, public finance, and taxation. Such consolidation, the report suggests, would help reduce legal fragmentation and improve institutional coordination.

It also calls for limiting the Interior Ministry’s dominant role in overseeing local governments. Instead, the report recommends transferring this oversight to the head of government’s office or establishing a dedicated Ministry of Local Development. This shift would reorient the process from a security-driven approach toward one centered on sustainable development.

Additionally, Aherchan advocates granting greater financial autonomy to territorial collectivities, enabling them to set development priorities based on local needs without undue external interference.

The report further calls for a reassessment of Morocco’s territorial divisions. Disparities in resource distribution have fueled inequality, with wealth and infrastructure concentrated in a few urban regions while others — such as the Rif, Sidi Ifni, and Jerada — remain underserved and socially restive.

To strengthen democratic engagement, the study recommends a national dialogue on low voter turnout and weak public participation in local governance. It also urges that elected councils be required to report not only on budget execution but also on their actual performance and developmental impact.

Overall, the study portrays Morocco’s regionalization as a promising but stalled reform, weighed down by outdated governance structures and limited local empowerment. Without meaningful adjustments, it warns, the initiative risks falling short of its transformative potential.