Souss-Massa Regional Council governance issues

The Souss-Massa Regional Council in Morocco has faced significant political and administrative challenges. In early October, a scheduled council session in Taroudant was postponed after a political boycott by members of several parties, including the Authenticity and Modernity Party, the Istiqlal Party, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and the Progress and Socialism Party. Participants cited a lack of prior consultation regarding projects and agreements proposed by the Wali of Souss-Massa, Said Amzazi.

By late October, investigations by the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration and the General Inspectorate of Finance revealed significant financial irregularities and legal violations in public procurement management during 2022 and 2023. The findings detailed inflated costs for regional development programs, the unjustified exclusion of competitors in technical evaluations, and the execution of negotiated contracts without necessary ministerial authorization. The report also identified unjustified payments related to COVID-19 response logistics. Despite these findings and ongoing political friction regarding the responsibility of elected officials, the council has continued to approve development projects through consensus or absolute majority.