Doha - Morocco has fallen two places in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), now ranking 99th out of 180 countries with a score of 37/100, indicating a continued regression in the country’s anti-corruption performance over recent years.

The latest ranking, released on Tuesday, shows Morocco losing one point from its 2023 score of 38/100. The index uses a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates high corruption levels and 100 represents complete integrity.

This decline continues a downward trend that began after Morocco achieved its best performance in 2018, when it ranked 73rd globally with a score of 43/100. The country has since lost 26 positions over six years.

In the Arab world, Morocco maintains eighth position, ahead of Algeria (107th), Egypt (130th), Mauritania (130th), and Iraq (140th). The United Arab Emirates leads the regional rankings at 23rd place globally with 68 points, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia sharing 38th position with 59 points each, and Oman ranking 50th with 55 points.

Government reports 76% anti-corruption success

Despite the declining ranking, Morocco reports progress in its domestic anti-corruption initiatives. Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas announced in January that 76% of the objectives outlined in Morocco’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy have been achieved.

The country has implemented several key measures, including the adoption of a Public Services Code to enhance transparency in public administration, simplification of administrative procedures, and new public procurement regulations to improve oversight of government contracts and spending.

Morocco’s anti-corruption efforts received international recognition this month with its re-election to the Executive Committee of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA).

Mohamed Bachir Rachdi, President of the National Authority for Integrity, Prevention, and the Fight Against Corruption (INPPLC), will represent the country in this role.

According to the World Bank, corruption costs Morocco approximately MAD 39 billion ($3.9 billion) annually.

The country’s legal framework includes ten articles in the Moroccan Penal Code (Articles 248 to 256-bis) specifically addressing corruption and influence trafficking, with penalties ranging from two to ten years imprisonment and fines between MAD 2,000 ($200) and MAD 100,000 ($10,000), depending on the severity of the offense.

The corruption challenge spans multiple sectors, including health, real estate, justice, and military.

While Morocco has established institutional frameworks to combat corruption, including the INPPLC as mandated by the 2011 Constitution, Transparency International’s latest ranking suggests that more substantial reforms may be needed to reverse the country’s declining performance in global corruption metrics.