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| Royal Council of Morocco | |
|---|---|
| Name | Royal Council of Morocco |
| Native name | Conseil Royal du Maroc |
| Formation | 19th century (formalized 20th century) |
| Type | Advisory body |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
| Leader title | Monarch (Chair) |
| Leader name | Mohammed VI of Morocco |
Royal Council of Morocco is a long-standing advisory body convened by the monarch of Morocco to consult on high state matters, succession-related questions, national security, and major appointments. It operates at the nexus of the Alawi dynasty, Moroccan institutions such as the Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), and traditional consultative practices inherited from pre-colonial courts and the Makhzen. Historically flexible in scope, the Council has been invoked during crises, constitutional revisions, and during the accession of monarchs like Hassan II of Morocco and Mohammed V of Morocco.
The Council traces roots to the advisory circles around sultans of the Alawi dynasty in the 17th and 18th centuries where viziers, qaids, and religious scholars from Fez and Marrakesh met under the aegis of the sultan. During the Protectorate of Morocco era, the institution adapted to interactions with the French Protectorate in Morocco and figures such as Lyautey. Post-independence reforms under Mohammed V of Morocco and Hassan II of Morocco codified practices inherited from the Makhzen and the royal cabinet. The Council reappeared prominently during the Green March era and the constitutional revisions of 1962, 1970, and 2011 where monarchs consulted with heads of armed services like the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie, religious authorities from the Al-Qarawiyyin University, and political leaders from parties such as the Istiqlal Party and the Independence Party (Morocco).
Membership is at the monarch’s discretion and typically includes senior figures from the Alawi dynasty's entourage, former prime ministers including members associated with Abbas El Fassi and Driss Jettou, heads of security such as the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Nationale, military leaders from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, and religious dignitaries like the Grand Imam of Al-Qarawiyyin. Senior civil servants from ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Morocco), leaders of major political formations including Justice and Development Party (Morocco) and Authenticity and Modernity Party, business elites tied to firms like the OCP Group, and representatives of traditional institutions such as the Amazigh cultural networks are commonly included. Foreign-born dignitaries have occasionally been invited, reflecting ties to states like France and Spain.
The Council exercises purely advisory functions, providing counsel to the monarch on succession matters, declarations of national emergency, and appointments to constitutional bodies like the Constitutional Court of Morocco. It deliberates on national security alongside commanders of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and intelligence leaders from services comparable to the DGED (Morocco). The Council has been involved in shaping policy positions adopted by the palace during negotiations over treaties such as the Tangier Protocol and during mediation efforts involving actors like Western Sahara negotiators and representatives of the Polisario Front. It also plays a ceremonial role in legitimizing royal decisions and endorsing proclamations related to orders like the Order of Ouissam Alaouite.
Meetings are summoned by the monarch at the palace in Rabat or during royal visits to regional centers like Casablanca or Marrakesh. Agendas are set by the royal cabinet and may include briefings from the Ministry of Interior (Morocco), the Ministry of Defense (Morocco), and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Morocco). Proceedings are confidential; protocol mirrors practices seen in other royal advisory bodies such as meetings of the Privy Council (United Kingdom) and state councils in Jordan. Decisions are transmitted to executive counterparts including the Prime Minister of Morocco and institutional heads but do not bind courts such as the Supreme Court of Morocco.
The Council is an extension of monarchical prerogative under the Alawi dynasty and functions within Morocco’s constitutional monarchy where the monarch holds executive and religious titles including Commander of the Faithful. It connects the palace to institutional actors like the Parliament of Morocco and the Council of Ministers (Morocco), often serving as a forum for pre-decisional coordination with party leaders such as from RNI (National Rally of Independents). While the Council advises the monarch, formal government powers rest with elected officials, creating a dual track of authority evident during administrations led by figures like Saadeddine Othmani and Aziz Akhannouch.
Historically, the Council has been associated with key moments: informing royal responses during the Green March, shaping appointments after the death of Mohammed V of Morocco and during the accession of Hassan II of Morocco, and advising on the 2011 constitutional reforms that followed protests influenced by the Arab Spring. It has influenced security-sector leadership reshuffles, diplomatic stances toward Spain over enclaves like Ceuta and Melilla, and major infrastructure projects championed by the palace, including projects involving Port of Tangier Med and the TGV Morocco initiative.
Critics, including opposition parties like Istiqlal Party factions and civil society groups such as Forum Vérité et Justice, argue the Council’s secrecy and informal authority can circumvent parliamentary oversight and constrain judicial independence in high-profile cases involving figures from business conglomerates such as SNI. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have occasionally highlighted decisions taken in settings associated with the palace as lacking transparency. Debates continue over the balance between royal prerogative and reforms advocated by activists linked to movements inspired by the February 20 Movement.