Scandal Rocks Rabat: Director Appointed with Allegedly Fake Diploma
A shocking revelation has surfaced in Rabat, Morocco, where a local council member has accused a high-ranking official of securing their position with fraudulent credentials.
Farouk El Mehdi, a member of the Rabat City Council, dropped a bombshell accusation on Sunday, alleging that the Director of Services within the Rabat local government obtained their position using a fake diploma. El Mehdi went on to criticize the current administration, stating that their tenure will be remembered as a “black mark” in the history of Rabat, citing failures in both political and administrative management.
El Mehdi’s accusations stem from a report issued by the Regional Audit Council (RAC), an independent body responsible for overseeing public finances. The report, which focused on the recruitment and appointment processes for leadership roles within the Rabat government, highlighted several irregularities in the appointment of the Director of Services.
The RAC report specifically noted that:
Candidates were not required to submit a request for the position that included approval from their current administration and an assessment of their competency from their direct supervisor. This requirement is mandated by Article 7 of Decree 2-11-681 of November 25, 2011, which outlines the procedures for appointing heads of departments and services within public administrations. Ironically, this requirement was enforced for the sole position of Director General of Services, leading to the disqualification of several candidates.
The minutes from the committee meetings responsible for reviewing applications and conducting candidate interviews did not provide reasons for rejecting certain applications. Additionally, these minutes were not accompanied by final reports detailing the interview and selection process, as required by Article 9 of the Interior Minister’s Decision No. 2522.21 of October 28, 2021, which defines the conditions and procedures for appointments to senior positions within local governments. The report highlights instances where qualified candidates were rejected without even being granted an interview.
* Upon examination of the successful candidate’s file, the RAC discovered that the submitted diploma (a postgraduate diploma from June 2015) did not meet the qualifications for a second-class administrative officer. This revelation suggests that an unqualified candidate was appointed to the crucial role of Director of Services.
This scandal raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the Rabat local government. The use of fraudulent credentials to secure a high-ranking position erodes public trust and undermines the integrity of the entire administration.
The allegations have sparked outrage among citizens and fueled calls for a thorough investigation. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for the future of the Rabat local government and could potentially lead to criminal charges against the accused.
