Morocco has entered a new chapter in the management of its collective lands with the adoption of a Decree, published in Official gazette. The regulation introduces a comprehensive set of governance mechanisms designed to bring greater transparency, traceability, and accountability to the administration of lands held by Soulaliyate communities.
Historically, these collective lands — estimated to cover several million hectares across the country — have been managed through customary practices rooted in community legitimacy and oral tradition. The Soulaliyates, the ethnic groups that hold these assets, have long administered them with a high degree of local autonomy. While this model provided a measure of stability, it also generated significant gaps in financial transparency, legal formalization, and conflict resolution.
The new decree addresses these shortcomings through a series of concrete obligations. Chief among them is the creation of a centralized registry documenting all collective properties, including detailed information on each parcel, its legal status, and the terms of its use. This registry will serve as the official reference in disputes, reducing reliance on oral testimony and customary interpretation.
On the financial side, communities will now be required to produce annual reports on all income generated from collective land use. These reports must be certified by qualified professionals, ensuring a higher standard of accuracy and accountability. The measure is intended to eliminate zones of opacity that have sometimes surrounded the financial management of these assets.
The decree also tightens oversight of major patrimonial decisions. Operations such as asset transfers, long-term leases, or borrowing will require prior approval from the supervisory authority, with mandatory economic justification. Additionally, Soulaliyate community members now enjoy a formal right of access to information, allowing them to consult documents related to land management — a significant step toward internal democratic oversight.
