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| Marrakesh-Safi Regional Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marrakesh-Safi Regional Council |
| Native name | Conseil régional de Marrakech-Safi |
| Settlement type | Regional council |
| Seat | Marrakesh |
| Established | 2015 |
| Area km2 | 38947 |
| Population | 4,520,569 |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | (see Governance and Political Structure) |
| Subdivisions | Marrakesh, Safi, Essaouira, Chichaoua, Al Haouz, El Kelâa des Sraghna, Rehamna, Youssoufia |
Marrakesh-Safi Regional Council is the deliberative assembly for the Marrakesh-Safi region created during the territorial reform of Morocco in 2015. It functions within the administrative framework set by the Moroccan Constitution of 2011 and interacts with national bodies such as the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), the King of Morocco’s institutions, and regional offices like the Wilaya. The council operates alongside provincial councils in urban centers including Marrakesh, Safi, and Essaouira while engaging with international partners like the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral donors.
The region was formed by the 2015 territorial reorganization promulgated alongside reforms linked to the 2011 Moroccan constitutional referendum, following precedents set in earlier administrative changes involving the Grand Casablanca-Settat reconfiguration and the creation of regions such as Rabat-Salé-Kénitra. Local elites from Marrakesh and historic cities like Safi and Essaouira advocated during debates with the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and representatives of the Parliament of Morocco and the House of Representatives (Morocco). Early presidencies drew attention from national figures including ministers associated with the Party of Justice and Development (Morocco), the Istiqlal Party, and the National Rally of Independents, while civil society groups such as Amnesty International and local Moroccan Association community actors monitored decentralization implementation.
The council’s jurisdiction covers a diverse territory ranging from the High Atlas mountains through plains toward the Atlantic coast at Safi and Essaouira, incorporating communes and municipalities like Al Haouz Province, Chichaoua Province, Youssoufia Province, Rehamna Province, and El Kelâa des Sraghna Province. Physical features include the Toubkal National Park, the Oued Tensift basin, and coastal zones adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and the Cap Sim. The region interfaces with neighboring regions such as Béni Mellal-Khénifra and Souss-Massa and contains UNESCO-linked sites in Marrakesh including the Medina of Marrakesh and the Koutoubia Mosque.
The council is composed of elected councillors drawn from municipal and provincial elections regulated by the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and the electoral framework shaped after the 2011 Moroccan constitutional referendum. Its presidency has involved politicians affiliated with parties like the Authenticity and Modernity Party and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and coordination occurs with the Wali appointed by the King of Morocco. The council oversees regional planning consistent with national strategies such as the Plan Maroc Vert, tourism promotion aligned with national policies, and coordination with agencies like the Agence pour le Développement du Sud and municipal bodies in Marrakesh Prefecture.
Economic activity under the council spans agriculture in the Haouz plain with crops connected to the Plan Maroc Vert, tourism centered on Marrakesh’s riads and festivals like the Marrakech International Film Festival, artisanal industries from Essaouira’s craft workshops, and phosphate-linked industry near Youssoufia. The region engages with development financiers including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and private investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council and European Union partnerships targeting sectors such as renewable energy projects tied to Masen and small and medium enterprises supported by Caisse de dépôt et de gestion initiatives. Trade flows use transport nodes connected to ports like Safi Port and logistics corridors toward Casablanca and Agadir.
Regional infrastructure programming coordinates road networks including national routes linking Marrakesh to Agadir and Rabat, rail connections on lines administered by ONCF, and airport operations at Marrakesh Menara Airport and local airfields. Utilities and services involve collaborations with entities such as the Office National de l'Électricité et de l'Eau Potable and water management across basins like the Oued Tensift under frameworks influenced by the Moroccan Water Strategy. Health and education rely on provincial hospitals linked to the Mohammed VI University Hospital network and higher education institutions such as Cadi Ayyad University and vocational centers aligned with national reform efforts.
The population reflects Moroccan Arab, Amazigh, and historic Jewish heritages seen in neighborhoods like the Mellah of Marrakesh and cultural expressions from festivals like Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira and the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival. Languages include Arabic dialects and Tamazight varieties, while migration links connect diasporas in France, Spain, and Belgium with remittance flows monitored by institutions like the Bank Al-Maghrib. Cultural institutions include the Museum of Marrakech, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, and NGOs active in heritage conservation such as the World Monuments Fund.
Key regional initiatives managed or supported by the council include tourism development plans around the Medina of Marrakesh UNESCO designation, renewable energy and solar projects in collaboration with Masen, agricultural modernization under the Plan Maroc Vert, coastal protection near Essaouira and Safi coordinated with maritime agencies, and urban regeneration projects tied to Cadi Ayyad University expansion and transport upgrades in partnership with the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank. Other programs address sustainable water management with the Global Environment Facility and cultural promotion linked to events such as the Marrakech International Film Festival and heritage conservation supported by the UNESCO.
Category:Regions of Morocco Category:Marrakesh