Regions of Morocco

Morocco

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Regions of Morocco – As part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were created. It is the current highest administrative division of Morocco. The regions are subdivided into a total of 61 second-order administrative divisions, which are prefectures and provinces. A Moroccan region is governed by a Wali, nominated by the King. The Wali is also governor of the province (or prefecture) where he resides.

Before 1997: Geographic-based Regions

Before 1997, Morocco was divided into 7 regions: Central, Eastern, North-Central, Northwestern, South-Central, Southern, Tansift. [1]

1997 to 2010: Full Unitary System

Regions of Morocco

Map number	Region	Capital
6	Chaouia-Ouardigha	Settat
11	Doukkala-Abda	Safi
14	Fès-Boulemane	Fès
5	Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen	Kénitra
9	Grand Casablanca	Casablanca
3	Guelmim-Es Semara	Guelmim
2	Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra	Laâyoune
7	Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz	Marrakesh
13	Meknès-Tafilalet	Meknès
8	Oriental	Oujda
1	Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira	Dakhla
10	Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer	Rabat
4	Souss-Massa-Draâ	Agadir
12	Tadla-Azilal	Béni Mellal
16	Tangier-Tétouan	Tangier
15	Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate	Al Hoceima

You may see that the regions of Guelmim-Es Semara (3) and Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra (2) partly coincide with the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira (1) is entirely within this contested area.

The sovereignty of Western Sahara is disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front which claims the territory as the independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Most of the region is administered by Morocco as its southern provinces. The Polisario Front only controls areas east of the Moroccan Wall, from its headquarters in Tindouf, south western Algeria.

Starting 2010: the Advanced Regionalization

Starting 2010, a new governmental program aimed at giving each of the regions of Morocco autonomy, much like the Spanish style, and a greater autonomy to the regions fully coinciding with the Western Sahara. So a governmental organization was formed to tackle this subject; it got the name of Consultative Commission for the Regionalization. The latter published the names of the new regions and their numbers:

• 01. Region of Tangier-Tétouan
• 02. Region of the East and the Rif
• 03. Region of Fes-Meknes
• 04. Region of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra
• 05. Region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra
• 06. Region of Settat-Casablanca
• 07. Region of Marrakesh-Safi
• 08. Region of Drâa-Tafilalt
• 09. Region of Souss-Massa
• 10. Region of Guelmim-Oued Noun
• 11. Region of El Aiun-Saguia al Hamra
• 12. Region of Dakhla-Oued Addahab

Main proposal

Midelt province variation

Figuig province variation

The different regional configuration proposed in 2010

See also

• Administrative divisions of Morocco
• ISO 3166-2:MA
• ISO 3166-2:EH