In a notable development, Morocco's National Ombudsman announced that it received a total of 9,958 case files in 2025, reflecting a substantial rise from the 7,948 files documented in 2024. This represents an increase of approximately 25.29%, as highlighted by Ombudsman Hassan Tariq during the presentation of the institution's annual report in Rabat. This surge in cases underscores the growing reliance on the Ombudsman's office to address various grievances faced by citizens.
Out of the total cases recorded, a significant portion, specifically 6,770, were formal complaints, accounting for around 67.99% of all submissions. Additionally, the institution managed 3,157 requests for guidance and noted 31 requests for amicable settlements, marking the highest figure since the implementation of its organic law. Financial disputes were the most prevalent, with 2,528 cases reported, followed closely by administrative matters that attracted 2,387 complaints. Other notable categories included 623 cases related to social assistance programs, 544 pertaining to land disputes, and 337 linked to the non-implementation of court rulings by public administrations.
Further breakdown of the complaints revealed that access to public services accounted for 157 cases, while major risk management issues contributed 99 complaints. There were also concerns raised regarding human rights, which involved 60 cases, alongside 22 issues related to digital services and 13 requests for provisional legal aid. Tariq pointed out that the distribution of complaints indicates a new wave of grievances that are increasingly tied to public policies and social programs. These include concerns over access conditions for public assistance, criteria for eligibility, oversight mechanisms, and the broader implications of public decisions on citizens' legal and social circumstances.
This evolving trend suggests a shift towards a more analytical understanding of grievances that transcends mere administrative complaints, reflecting the dynamic relationship between citizens and public administration as the state's role in social matters expands. In 2025, the Ombudsman processed a total of 9,006 files, which encompassed 5,825 complaints, 3,157 guidance requests, and 24 amicable settlement requests. The office also engaged proactively by dispatching 2,770 letters to applicants seeking additional information and 4,316 initial correspondences to relevant administrations.
The institution conducted 690 investigation sessions and recorded 69 instances where summoned parties failed to appear. Additionally, 267 minutes were documented following meetings of the permanent monitoring and coordination committees, which reviewed 247 cases in total. Remarkably, the Ombudsman issued 1,653 settlement decisions across 28 sectors in the reporting period.
Moreover, the annual report evaluated the responsiveness of public administrations to the Ombudsman's recommendations, examining metrics such as implementation rates, execution of settlement decisions, financial impacts, and adherence to administrative deadlines. Notably, outstanding recommendations decreased to 557 in 2025, down from 640 in 2024 and 845 in 2023, though the average time required for implementing these recommendations increased to 815 days, reflecting a rise of 143 days from the 2024 average.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
