Misuse of State Vehicles by Officials in Fes
The city of Fes, along with various towns and villages in its region, is witnessing a troubling trend involving the illegal use of government vehicles by authority figures, public officials, and elected representatives. This issue has become increasingly prevalent across all public and semi-public institutions that manage a fleet of state-owned vehicles, which are often repurposed for personal and family errands by those who exploit them outside the bounds of the law.
In a recent incident reported by "Al Mayadeen," a government vehicle of the make "Dacia," registered under the Ministry of Interior (Morocco 230759), was observed causing a blockade in the parking area of an apartment building on Bâ Hnin Street on Sunday, August 30. The situation necessitated the involvement of traffic police, who witnessed the legal violation committed by this state vehicle.
As a tow truck prepared to remove the offending vehicle and take it to the municipal impound lot, the driver emerged from a nearby café, identifying himself as a local authority chief from the Fes district. When requested for the vehicle's documentation, he claimed he only had the ignition key, arguing that the Ministry of Interior does not provide its employees with vehicle documents. This assertion complicated the police's ability to verify the vehicle's registration, until a superior officer advised the traffic police to ask for his driving license to proceed with the citation, despite the fact that the situation warranted the impounding of the vehicle due to the absence of necessary documents, just as it would for any other citizen.
What is particularly striking about the chief's statements is that a subordinate, ranked as "Sheikh," was responsible for using the government vehicle and parked it in front of the apartment building's parking garage while the chief was seen loitering in a café. This blatant misuse of state resources highlights the ongoing issue of illegal exploitation of government vehicles, especially since when the officer requested the official mission order ("ordre de mission"), based on the decree No. 2.14.652 issued on November 30, 2015, which prohibits the use of state or local government vehicles for personal purposes outside of working hours, it was noted that the incident occurred on a Sunday holiday. The chief, dressed casually in shorts and a t-shirt, appeared to be off-duty and admitted to lacking any documentation related to his mission or the vehicle under his use, which belongs to the Fes district, according to his own statements.
The actions of this Fes authority chief, among many others, raise serious concerns regarding the increasing trend of misusing government vehicles in Morocco, without any administrative oversight. This scenario has turned state vehicles into social privileges and administrative windfalls, leading some public servants to unabashedly use public vehicles for personal errands, despite the substantial financial burden these vehicles impose on the state's budget concerning fuel, maintenance, insurance, and more.
Will the Wali of Fes, Khaled Ait Taleb, take decisive action to halt the misuse of state vehicles, starting with the cars of authority figures that frequently park outside cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets, often more than they are seen near their workplaces? This blatant disregard for the strict legal regulations governing the use of government vehicles in Morocco has sparked ongoing discussions about the financial implications and proper management of the fleet operated by public administrations and local governments.
It is worth noting that Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has previously issued repeated circulars and memos, the most recent in early 2026 and late 2023, unequivocally prohibiting the use of state and local government vehicles for personal purposes or outside official working hours. He has urged governors and district heads to inventory the service vehicles in municipalities and other public administrations, rationalizing the consumption of fuel and the movements of government vehicles. This follows an earlier directive from former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane in 2014, which mandated stricter oversight on the use of state vehicles, setting financial limits for each type and allowing police and gendarmerie officers to confiscate government vehicles if used outside of work hours.
As reported by almayadeennews.ma.
