HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In a preemptive move to curb any potential political exploitation of charitable work, the Ministry of Interior has directed an internal memo to the Walis and Governors, urging them to intensify monitoring of the activities of a number of civil society associations. This follows information received indicating that these associations are starting to prepare lists of the poor and needy in various regions of the Kingdom, with the aim of benefiting from the "Ramadan food basket" a month before the holy month arrives.
This memo comes in a sensitive context, after political parties, especially from the opposition, expressed their concerns during discussions on the new electoral code, about the exploitation of these solidarity initiatives to win over citizens' votes and influence their electoral choices through the distribution of food aid. According to available data, the memo has been activated on the ground, through the movements of the authorities' agents, aiming to control the distribution of these aids and ensure their compliance with the legal and humanitarian framework, and prevent any deviations that may be interpreted as tools for propaganda or veiled political exploitation. This increased oversight comes at a time when the Ministry of Interior continues to support civil society associations with significant amounts, estimated at around 100 billion centimes annually, within the framework of partnership programs and public support, provided that the disbursement of these appropriations is subject to close scrutiny by the Ministry's Inspectorate, in addition to the Regional Courts of Accounts. Observers believe that this move falls within the authorities' efforts to achieve a delicate balance between encouraging legitimate solidarity work and ensuring the integrity of the upcoming electoral deadlines, avoiding any confusion between humanitarian work and narrow political interests.
