Morocco's Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, announced that nearly 40,000 cases have been resolved through conciliation since 2025. This approach has helped reduce the pressure on Moroccan courts. Ouahbi shared these results at the Chamber of Counselors on October 27. The conciliation process has also led to the recovery of approximately 30 million dirhams for the public treasury.
The Moroccan justice system handles around five million cases annually, putting significant strain on its functioning and case processing times. This has resulted in a backlog of cases with varying levels of complexity, all competing for the same judicial and administrative resources. According to Ouahbi, important cases sometimes get delayed due to the large number of simpler cases.
The use of conciliation has allowed for the removal of 40,000 cases from the judicial circuit. This helps decrease the number of cases requiring court intervention. Ouahbi emphasized that this approach not only eases the burden on courts but also helps avoid the social repercussions of prolonged criminal proceedings for those involved and their families.
Conciliation has proven effective in resolving certain disputes without the need for a full-scale trial. This process enables the resolution of some cases without going through the entire classical penal process. The recovered 30 million dirhams correspond to fines paid as part of these conciliations.
During a session at the Chamber of Counselors focused on oral questions, Ouahbi discussed the issue of court congestion and delays in processing judicial cases. He presented the results of conciliation and suggested several solutions to improve the functioning of the justice system.
Ouahbi advocates for increased use of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and arbitration. He believes these mechanisms should be more integrated into dispute resolution practices. This approach can help manage disputes more efficiently, especially when they can be resolved without requiring court hearings or judgments.
The Moroccan government is exploring ways to modernize judicial procedures and enhance the use of alternative dispute resolution methods. By doing so, they aim to improve the efficiency of the justice system and reduce the backlog of cases. The results of the conciliation process demonstrate the potential of these alternative approaches in managing disputes and reducing pressure on the courts.
Key points
- Nearly 40,000 cases have been resolved through conciliation in Morocco since 2025.
- The conciliation process has recovered approximately 30 million dirhams for the public treasury.
- Morocco's justice minister advocates for increased use of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and arbitration.
