The Ministry of the Interior is the ministerial department of the government of Morocco responsible for territorial administration, the maintenance of public order, internal security and administrative policing. It exercises supervision over the state's territorial authorities, notably the walis and governors, and is involved in the organization of elections, the coordination of public authorities at the local level, and the administrative oversight of territorial collectivities.
The ministry's headquarters are located in Rabat. Since 2017, the Minister of the Interior has been Abdelouafi Laftit.
The Ministry of the Interior is responsible, in addition to the powers and prerogatives granted to the governmental authority in charge of the interior by the legislative and regulatory texts in force, for several missions, including:
In addition to the minister's cabinet, the Ministry of the Interior comprises a central administration and territorial services.
The central administration notably includes:
The Monitoring and Coordination Center (CVC), created in 2008 on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, is an operational center under the Ministry of the Interior responsible for coordinating services involved in the event of a natural disaster or a major national incident.
The CVC acts as an interface with the operational centers of the various institutions and services concerned, notably the General Directorate of National Security, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Auxiliary Forces, the General Directorate of Civil Protection, as well as other administrations such as the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Directorate of Meteorology.
The 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake was a significant event that prompted Moroccan authorities to strengthen mechanisms for crisis management and natural disaster response. In this context, an integrated disaster risk management strategy was gradually developed, leading in particular to the creation of the Monitoring and Coordination Center.
The CVC is responsible for monitoring and tracking emergency situations, particularly during natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods. It operates continuously and maintains regular contact with prefectures and other territorial authorities.
As part of its activities, the Monitoring and Coordination Center:
The center is equipped with technical communication and transmission tools, including secure telephone and information systems, as well as videoconferencing and audioconferencing facilities, enabling it to ensure the coordination and exchange of information necessary for managing emergency situations.