“Deficits, lack of valorization instruments and of protection tools, absence of land policy”. This is the result of assessment conducted by the Morocco’s Cout of Audit in its 2015 report released on April 24, 2017. Management of State’s private property thus calls for urgent reforms.

In the report, the institution which estimates private land owned by the State at 1,703,677 hectares worth 567 billion dirham ($56.8 billion), deplores the lack of a legal framework hampering investment. “Reviewing management helped detect deficits and dysfunctionalities that impair the mobilization of State’s land. Moreover, services in charge of management lack the appropriate information of land, that can be dedicated to investment, categorized by destination and nature of productive sectors,” the report indicates.

Investigators of the court also noted that only half of the state-owned lands is registered. “Analysis of registration process shows that 53% of buildings are registered, while 41% of constructed buildings are being registered. There is still 6% left unregistered”.

In a context where King Mohamed VI has personally committed to ending land speculation in the country, the report should help contribute significantly in reforms’ implementation toward a sustainable management of land in Morocco.

Souha Touré