The Integrity, prevention, and anti-corruption body (Instance de probité, de prévention et de lutte contre la corruption ) (INPPLC) has just unveiled its annual report for fiscal year 2023. This document comes against a backdrop marked by « the persistence of the unsatisfactory situation of corruption in our country.
This is a structural fact which accentuates the gap between this reality on the one hand, and the commitments of the authorities, with undeniable efforts being made in this direction». In concrete terms, despite the various measures and action plans launched in this area, the country continues to suffer from endemic corruption.
Its socio-economic impact amounts to 3.5% to 6% of GDP, or « an annual cost of 50 billion dirhams» (USD 5 billion), according to Bachir Rachdi, President of the INPPLC. For him, « there is an urgent need for a real momentum based on a new approach that builds on accumulated achievements to strengthen them and bring their effects into line with the objectives». The president of this body believes that «the conditions for this transition are now in place, and have reached a stage of maturity enabling the launch and implementation of a new-generation strategy, with a renewed approach». In detail, in 2023, the various indicators relating to corruption are in the red.
Morocco scored 38/100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), a drop of 5 points over the past 5 years. In the ranking, the country went from 73rd out of 180 in 2018 to 97th in 2023, a drop of 24 places. The IPPLC has carried out a thematic study, «as part of its efforts to deepen objective knowledge of the phenomenon of corruption». It shows that corruption ranks 8th in the concerns of business leaders. 68% of them believe that corruption is widespread or very widespread in Morocco.
The areas most affected, according to business leaders, are obtaining authorizations, approvals, public contracts and orders, and recruitment, appointment, and promotion in the private sector. According to the operators questioned, 23% said they had been confronted with at least one form of corruption over the past 12 months.
«The majority of cases concerned direct or indirect solicitations by the civil servants concerned».
At the same time, 3% said they had offered bribes on their own initiative. While in most cases these are services to which companies are entitled, bribery allows them to «speed up procedures or benefit from a priority».
M.A.M.
