Moroccan Associations Declared Receiving 848 Million Dirhams in Foreign Aid

Hespress reports on a significant revelation by Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, Mustapha Baitas, concerning foreign funding received by Moroccan associations. In the first months of 2025 and up to March 2026, these associations declared receiving a total of 848 million dirhams from foreign entities. This figure, while declared, has sparked debate about the transparency and oversight of such funds.

Baitas assured that the process of receiving foreign aid is regulated by a 1958 decree concerning the right to form associations. He further indicated that the General Secretariat of the Government is actively revising this legal framework. This review, conducted in a participatory manner with relevant sectors, aims to better align the regulations with the evolving landscape of civil society, particularly in light of the 2011 constitution, and to incorporate lessons learned from national and international experiences.

However, the substantial sum has not gone unnoticed by parliamentary representatives. Nourridine El Harouchi, a member of the Constitutional, Democratic and Social Group, expressed strong reservations, likening the declaration of such a large sum through a simple paper process to an "uncalculated adventure." He stressed the paramount importance of immediately halting suspicious funding that could serve as a cover for detrimental agendas, including extremism, human trafficking, or illicit enrichment at the nation's expense.

El Harouchi's concerns were echoed by a sentiment that intermediaries, or "Farakishia," may be exploiting the system, trading in consciences and mediating these funds for kickbacks. He called for rigorous tracking from source to destination to ensure every dirham is channeled into genuine development projects. This perspective highlights a critical local concern: ensuring that foreign aid genuinely benefits Morocco and its people, rather than being siphoned off or used to promote external agendas. From our vantage point at Hespress, while civil society is a vital partner in development, robust oversight is crucial to maintain public trust and national integrity.