King Mohammed VI on Thursday appointed Judge Mohamed Benalilou as the Kingdom’s Ombudsman and Mohamed Bachir Rachdi as the president of the national authority for probity, prevention and fight against corruption.
Upon the appointment ceremony the monarch recalled the role of the Ombudsman as an independent authority that strives to enshrine rights and end injustices, and particularly to preserve the rights of citizens in their relations with the administration, a statement by the Royal office said.
King Mohammed also recalled that the institution’s role consists in rendering justice to citizens when subjected to any kind of abuse, under the rule of law and within the framework of the consolidation of the principles of justice and equity.
He also urged the institution to foster public awareness about its role and powers and its interaction with complainants.
Benalilou, born in 1975, is currently director of the administrative and training center of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary. He practiced at the Tangier First Instance Court, the former Special Court of Justice and the Rabat Court of Appeal.
He held several positions at the Justice Ministry from 2012 to 2018, including that of counsellor on Criminal Policy.
As for Rachidi’s appointment, King Mohammed VI stressed the importance he gives to the fight against corruption in all its forms, whether at the level of running public administrations and institutions and its impact on services for citizens, or its negative repercussions on the national economy and the achievement of sustainable and balanced development.
The King instructed Rachidi to endeavor for the optimal implementation of the missions entrusted by the constitution to this national body, mainly concerning taking initiatives and coordinating, supervising, carrying out and overseeing anti-corruption policies, contributing to raising the moral standards of public life, upholding the principles of good governance, public service culture and general interest, as well as the values of responsible citizenship.
