Stray Dogs Spark Dispute Between Ouezzane Officials

A dispute has erupted between the municipal council of Ouezzane and the "Health Protection" group of municipalities over the escalating issue of stray dogs plaguing the Moroccan city. The conflict began when Mohamed Hellawi, president of the Ouezzane Communal Council, addressed the problem during an extraordinary council session. His remarks, which appeared to assign blame to the "Health Protection" group, prompted an immediate and strong rebuttal.

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The communal council president tried to hold us responsible for the worsening of the phenomenon and the risks it poses to public health and safety, which is inconsistent with the legal provisions governing responsibilities.

The "Health Protection" group issued a detailed statement asserting that Hellawi's attempt to shift responsibility for the worsening stray dog phenomenon and its associated public health and safety risks was legally unfounded. They emphasized that, according to organizational laws, the primary responsibility for managing public health, sanitation, and public tranquility lies with the head of the communal council. The group stressed that they have not officially taken over the duties of the Ouezzane "Communal Health Office" as a legal entity.

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The responsibility for managing this facility falls entirely under the purview of the Ouezzane Territorial Collectivity, legally and judicially, and it cannot absolve itself of its shortcomings or place them on another institution.

The group further clarified that any transfer of responsibilities from a local authority to a group of municipalities requires the completion of a formal legal process, including the signing of an agreement and official handover minutes, approved by the administrative oversight authority. They cited Article 100 of the Organic Law No. 113.14, which designates communal council presidents as having exclusive authority over administrative police powers in areas of health prevention, cleanliness, and maintaining public order. Therefore, the Ouezzane Communal Council remains the sole legal entity responsible for managing this issue.

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The phenomenon of stray dogs in Ouezzane is a direct result of administrative shortcomings in the mechanisms of local health office monitoring and immediate intervention.

The "Health Protection" group expressed regret over what they described as the Ouezzane Council's leadership adopting an "crisis export" approach by blaming a nascent regional institution for a sector that legally and practically remains under the council's purview. They argued that this evasion of responsibility contradicts the constitutional principles of good territorial governance and accountability. The group reiterated its commitment to contributing to improved health services once the legal procedures for transferring competencies are finalized, adhering strictly to the principles of legality and the rule of law.

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This evasive approach contradicts the constitutional principles governing good territorial governance and linking responsibility with accountability.