How many prefectures are there in Morocco?

Morocco is a kingdom in North Africa. It is divided into 13 prefectures and 62 provinces. In each region, a governor is appointed to handle affairs. More populated areas have prefectures, while less populated regions have provinces.

Governors work with authority agents (pashas, caids, sheikhs). They ensure the proper functioning of public services. Their role is to ensure that everything goes well on a local and legal level.

Main ideas to remember:

• Morocco has 13 prefectures and 62 provinces
• Each prefecture and province is led by a governor
• Prefectures are located in urban areas, provinces in rural areas
• Governors are responsible for supervising authority agents, public services, and ensuring elected officials comply with legal procedures
• The territorial organization of Morocco is constantly evolving, with ongoing reform projects

Introduction to Moroccan prefectures

Morocco has a large administrative variety. It has 13 prefectures that are important for the organization of the territory. These prefectures, under the direction of governors, ensure the proper functioning of public services. They also manage the local actions of state services. Finally, they ensure that laws are respected by local elected officials.

Definition and role of a prefecture

A prefecture is an urban area led by a governor in Morocco. The governor ensures that public services function well. He also works to coordinate the actions of state services at the local level. One of his responsibilities is to ensure that laws are respected by local elected officials.

Brief history of Morocco's territorial organization

Morocco has changed its administrative organization several times. In 2015, it transitioned to 12 administrative regions, with a total of 75 prefectures and provinces. This new division aims to give more power to local authorities. It also seeks to better distribute resources for regional services.

Legal framework and laws

Morocco has precise rules on how regions and municipalities operate. These rules come from the 2011 Constitution and other important laws. They explain in detail the responsibilities of each place.

2011 Constitution

In 2011, a new Constitution changed the way Morocco is organized. It granted more power to regions and municipalities. It also allowed them to manage their money and affairs independently.

Organic laws on local authorities

To implement the Constitution, Morocco created special laws for each level of local authority. There is one law for municipalities, another for prefectures and provinces, and a final one for regions. These laws explain what each authority can do, how it is governed, and how it operates. In case of disputes, citizens can consider a claim for damages.

The 13 prefectures of Morocco

Morocco has 13 prefectures that are important for its organization. They oversee municipalities and organize local state services.

Prefecture of Casablanca

The prefecture of Casablanca is crucial. With its 1,117 km², it is the largest. More than 3.3 million people live there, making it the most densely populated region in the country. The territorial reform also has a significant impact on the management of this prefecture.

Prefecture of Rabat

Rabat, the political capital, holds great importance. It covers 117 km². Nearly 580,000 people reside there.

It is central to Moroccan administration. Other key prefectures include Fes, Marrakech, Tangier, and Agadir. They host many Moroccans and are essential for the country's economy.

How many prefectures are there in Morocco

Morocco has 13 prefectures. They are located in cities. Additionally, there are 62 provinces in rural areas. These divisions form the territorial organization of Morocco.

Each prefecture has a governor. He is the representative of the state locally. His role is to supervise authority agents. He also takes care of maintaining public services. He coordinates the actions of state services in his area.

He must ensure that municipalities comply with laws. However, despite this organization, there are significant differences between Moroccan prefectures and provinces. For example, Casablanca-Settat has many people and activity. In contrast, Guelmim-Oued Noun is less populated.

Roles and responsibilities of prefectures

Prefectures in Morocco are very important for the organization of the country. They supervise various tasks, such as ensuring that public services function well.

They also coordinate the actions of state services at the local level. And they ensure that elected officials in municipalities comply with the laws.

Supervision of municipalities

Prefectures closely monitor what happens in municipalities. They oversee local authority agents, such as pashas and caids. This ensures that everyone follows the rules.

Coordination of decentralized state services

But prefectures do not only do that. They also help coordinate the various state services in their region. This guarantees coherent public action.

Functioning of prefectures

Each prefecture has a governor.

He is the local representative of the state. His mission is to supervise authority agents. He checks the proper maintenance of public services and coordinates local activities of state services.

The governor ensures that elected officials in municipalities comply with legal rules.

The governor

Chosen by the king, the governor is the head of the prefecture. He manages authority agents such as pashas and caids.

He guarantees the proper functioning of public services and ensures the coordination of state services at the local level.

He checks whether local elected officials respect the laws applicable to their region.

The districts in certain prefectures

In highly populated cities such as Casablanca or Rabat, there are districts.

They are under the direction of delegates of the governor. This allows for closer proximity to citizens in large cities.

The 62 provinces of Morocco

Morocco has not only 13 Japanese prefectures, but also 62 provinces. These provinces are located in rural regions. Each province is managed by a governor.

These governors oversee the actions of agents, coordinate local services, and verify that procedures are followed by municipal officials.

In total, there are 62 provinces throughout Morocco. Like the prefectures, these provinces are very important. They organize and lead local communities by ensuring that public services function well.

Prefectures vs Provinces

The key difference between prefectures and provinces is the location where they are found. Prefectures are in cities, while provinces extend over rural areas. However, their duties are similar. Governors at both levels manage municipalities and ensure the proper functioning of public services. They also ensure that laws are respected.

Urban vs Rural

Prefectures and provinces offer similar services but in different locations. Prefectures operate in urban areas, such as cities and large towns. They focus their efforts on the needs of these regions. In contrast, provinces take care of rural areas and small municipalities. This distinction highlights the various challenges between urban and rural areas. In this context, one can also discover traditional bistros in Nanterre that reflect the local culture and authentic flavors of the region.

The 12 regions of Morocco

Morocco is divided into 12 regions. Each is a legal entity. It has its own budget and makes autonomous decisions. A wali leads it on behalf of the state. Each region also elects its regional council.

Wali of the region

The wali is vital in each region. He ensures that state services function well. He also closely monitors public policies.

Regional council

A regional council exists in each region, with 75 councilors. These councilors are elected by the population. The council makes important decisions for the region and votes on the budget.

Taxation of prefectures

Prefectures largely finance their activities through local taxes. These taxes are distributed among municipalities, prefectures, and regions. However, many local authorities struggle to collect these taxes, which are essential for their budget.

Local taxes and duties

In prefectures and provinces, there are taxes such as the driving license tax and the tax on the technical inspection of old vehicles. Urban communities can also collect specific taxes. For example, this is the case for the municipal tax and parking fees for public transport.

The rates for these taxes are defined by decrees when the law does not set them directly. This is the case for taxes from municipalities, urban communities, and prefectures. They are voted on by municipal councils or provincial assemblies.

When a property is taxed by several municipalities, the collected money is shared among them. If necessary, taxpayers must show their accounting documents. They cannot keep this information secret from local authorities.

Territorial reform projects

Since 2011, Morocco has begun a major change. It is a reform of territorial organization. This reform aims to strengthen local and regional government. It closely examines prefectures, provinces, and regions.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe joined the Moroccan Association. They held an important meeting together on the law of prefectures and provinces. Several important figures were present, including heads of local councils. They discussed with representatives of the Moroccan government. Mr. Xavier Cadoret from the Congress was also there.

At this meeting, essential ideas about the reform were discussed. Local council heads might soon have more powers. There is also a desire to encourage public participation in decision-making. The cooperation between the Congress and the Moroccan government was appreciated. However, the road ahead is still long. The issue of funding and competencies for the regions remains a challenge.