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| Moroccan administrative divisions | |
|---|---|
| Name | Morocco |
| Category | Unitary state |
| Territory | Morocco |
| Upper unit | Morocco |
| Current number | 12 regions; 62 provinces and 13 prefectures; communes and arrondissements |
| Government | Government of Morocco |
| Subdivision | Provinces, Prefectures, Communes, Arrondissements |
Moroccan administrative divisions
Moroccan administrative divisions define the territorial organization of Morocco for public administration, planning and statistical purposes. They link national institutions such as the Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), and the General Directorate of National Security with local entities including regional councils, provincial governors and municipal councils. The system has evolved through interactions among dynastic regimes including the Alawite dynasty, colonial administrations of French protectorate in Morocco and Spanish Morocco, and post-independence reforms driven by actors such as King Mohammed VI and legal instruments like the Moroccan constitution of 2011.
Morocco’s territorial organization reflects legacies of the Almoravid dynasty, the Marinid Sultanate, and the Saadi dynasty as well as treaties like the Treaty of Fez (1912) that formalized the French protectorate in Morocco and Spanish Morocco, leading to administrative patterns adopted by officials such as Lyautey and institutions like the Resident-General in Morocco (French) and the High Commissioner (Spanish Morocco). After independence in 1956, leaders including Mohammed V of Morocco and Hassan II of Morocco pursued centralization, creating provinces and prefectures modeled on French territorial law and influenced by international examples such as the French administrative divisions and the Spanish provincial system. Reforms during the late 20th century under cabinets led by figures like Abbas El Fassi and Driss Jettou modified municipal powers; the 2011 constitutional reforms advocated by the Movement of 20 February and ratified in the Moroccan constitutional referendum, 2011 accelerated decentralization, prompting creation of new regions and the statutory framework implemented by the Ministry of Interior (Morocco).
The present architecture instituted by the 2015 reorganization comprises 12 regions created under laws promulgated after the Moroccan constitutional referendum, 2011; these regions encompass 62 provinces and 13 prefectures, further divided into rural and urban communes and arrondissements like those in Casablanca. Regions such as Marrakesh-Safi, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Souss-Massa and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab illustrate geographic diversity from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara coast. Regional councils, presided by elected presidents in line with the Moroccan constitution of 2011, coordinate development plans, while governors (walis) and provincial governors (pachas) appointed by the monarch under guidance from the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) manage administrative and security functions.
Regional councils operate alongside appointed representatives such as walis and governors who act as agents of the central state and liaise with institutions like the High Commission for Planning (Morocco) and the National Observatory of Human Development (Morocco). Municipal councils in cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Meknes, Tangier, Agadir, and Oujda handle local matters, while intercommunal bodies coordinate across communes in territories such as Guelmim-Oued Noun. Local executives include mayors elected from municipal councils, with notable political parties active at local level such as the Party of Justice and Development (Morocco), the Istiqlal Party, and the National Rally of Independents influencing council composition.
Division of competencies assigns regional responsibilities for planning, economic development, and investment promotion working with agencies like the Agence pour la Promotion et le Développement économique et social des Provinces et Préfectures (APDN) and national programs such as the Moroccan Green Plan and infrastructure initiatives by the National Railways Office (ONCF). Provinces and prefectures handle civil registration, land administration interfacing with the Land Registry (Morocco), local policing cooperating with the Royal Gendarmerie (Morocco) and the General Directorate of National Security, and delivery of municipal services in partnership with utilities companies like ONEE and development banks such as the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion.
Electoral rules for regional, provincial, and municipal bodies derive from laws enacted after the Moroccan constitutional referendum, 2011 and are implemented by the Ministry of Interior (Morocco) and election authorities; municipal elections in cities including Casablanca and Rabat determine mayors and councilors, with parties such as the Istiqlal Party and Party of Progress and Socialism contesting seats. Governance incorporates mechanisms of accountability including audits by the Court of Auditors (Morocco) and coordination with constitutional bodies such as the National Human Rights Council (Morocco), while decentralization debates involve stakeholders like civil society organizations formed during the Arab Spring in Morocco.
Reform processes have produced disputes over boundaries and resource allocation, notably in regions bordering Western Sahara such as Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, involving international actors including the United Nations and debates around the Madrid Accords legacy. Controversies have arisen around the pace of devolution advocated by political blocs like PJD and critiques from regional activists in areas such as Rif and Morocco’s Amazigh movement associated with organizations like the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM). Land tenure conflicts have invoked bodies such as the Supreme Court of Morocco and prompted policy reviews by ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests.
Statistical organization is anchored by the High Commission for Planning (Morocco), which produces censuses and territorial statistics down to commune level, using regional divisions for indicators on population, economic activity, and human development comparable to databases maintained by international institutions like the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme. Major urban agglomerations such as Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and Marrakesh-Safi feature prominently in demographic reports, while rural zones in Drâa-Tafilalet and Béni Mellal-Khénifra are tracked for migration, agriculture and infrastructure planning by agencies including the Caisse Centrale de Garantie.
Category:Administrative divisions by country