Morocco Extortion Scandal: Interior Ministry Demands Contractor Guarantees Released
The Interior Ministry has asked municipalities to immediately release guarantees owed to contractors. This intervention follows reports of unjustified delays and suspicions of commissions demanded to accelerate the return of these sums.
The Financial Department of Local Authorities has sent urgent instructions to governors and municipal presidents to settle provisional and final guarantees that remain blocked when no legal reason justifies their retention.
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Initial steps concern notably the Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regions. According to Hespress, the central administration found that sums linked to municipal contracts concluded years ago had still not been released.
Some situations have become particularly concerning for small and very small businesses. These structures depend heavily on their cash flow to pay employees, suppliers and continue participating in new calls for tenders.
The guarantees involved generally represent between 1% and 2% of the estimated market value. The provisional guarantee should normally be returned to unsuccessful companies after contract award, while the winning company recovers it after providing the final guarantee.
Inspections conducted by the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration reportedly revealed guarantees still immobilized five years after certain calls for tenders. The release depends on the municipal president’s signature on a release document.
Commissions demanded to unlock money
Contractors claim to have waited for long periods without receiving explanations, despite their official requests. Several have filed complaints with the National Public Procurement Commission to denounce these practices.
Complaints transmitted to central services would also include accusations targeting municipal officials and elected representatives. Some allegedly demanded commissions in exchange for accelerating the return procedure.
These suspicions do not imply that responsibilities are already established. The reports and inspection findings have nevertheless led the ministry to demand rapid regularization of pending cases.
The prolonged blocking of guarantees causes bank fees and commissions that continue accumulating each month. It also reduces the capacity of affected companies to respond to new public contracts and finance their current operations.
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Governors must now push municipalities to examine outstanding guarantees and sign necessary documents as soon as legal conditions for return are met.
