Council of Ministers: HM the King takes stock of several crucial files [FULL]

This Monday, May 12, His Majesty King Mohammed VI chaired a Council of Ministers at the Royal Palace in Rabat, dedicated to the approval of an organic bill, four draft decrees relating to the military domain, and several international conventions, as well as proposals for appointments to senior positions.
 
At the beginning of the Council's proceedings, the Sovereign questioned the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests on the impact of rainfall on the agricultural season and the current state of the national livestock, as well as the measures developed by the government for the sustainable reconstitution of livestock and the improvement of conditions for breeders.
 
The Minister replied that the rainfall our country has experienced has had a very positive impact, especially on cereal production and autumn and spring crops, fruit trees, and also had a positive impact on vegetation cover and livestock in the various regions of the Kingdom.
 

 
In this context, His Majesty the King gave His High Orientations to ensure that the livestock reconstitution operation is successful at all levels and conducted with professionalism, in accordance with objective criteria, and that the management of the support operation is entrusted to commissions under the supervision of local authorities.
 
His Majesty the King also questioned the Minister of Equipment and Water on the dam filling rate and its impact on the water situation in our country. The Minister highlighted that the average filling rate of dams currently reaches 40.3% and that this increase allows for the mobilization of 6.7 billion cubic meters of water, equivalent to a year and a half of drinking water consumption.
 

 
Subsequently, the Council of Ministers approved an organic bill amending and supplementing the organic law on the status of magistrates. This project aims to strengthen the guarantees granted to magistrates by adapting to the latest amendments concerning the General Statute of the Civil Service. This concerns medium-term sick leave, long-term sick leave, and maternity, paternity, guardianship (Kafala), and breastfeeding leave.
 
His Majesty the King also approved four draft decrees relating to the military domain. These include a draft decree on military air navigation, and a draft decree amending and supplementing the decree on the status of military attachés, their deputies, and other military personnel assigned to them.
 
The other two draft decrees amend and supplement, respectively, the Dahir fixing the salary of monthly-paid military personnel of the Royal Armed Forces, and the decree fixing the salary, food, and travel expense regime for military personnel with progressive special salaries of the Royal Armed Forces, as well as the related administration and accounting rules.
 
Both projects are part of the special attention that His Majesty the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, pays to the settlement of the material situation of members of certain categories of these Forces, with a view to developing their operational capabilities and raising their level of competence and preparedness.
 

 
In the context of strengthening the partnership and cooperation relations linking Morocco to several brotherly and friendly countries, the Council of Ministers approved eleven international conventions, eight of which relate to the African space, two at the Asian level, and one convention with a European country.
 
Six of these conventions have the particularity of having been signed in the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla in the Moroccan Sahara, which constitutes an explicit recognition of full Moroccan sovereignty over this part of the national territory.
 
These conventions cover the areas of judicial and customs cooperation, higher education, scientific research and innovation, transport, logistics and energy, the avoidance of double taxation and the fight against tax evasion, in addition to an agreement relating to Morocco hosting a permanent headquarters of the African Union of the Blind.
 

 
And in accordance with the provisions of Article 49 of the Constitution, and upon the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister of the Interior, His Majesty the King, may God glorify Him, has kindly appointed a number of Walis and Governors to the central and territorial Administration.
 
And upon the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, His Majesty the King proceeded to the appointment of a number of His Majesty's ambassadors to several friendly and partner countries.
 
And upon the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister of Economy and Finance, His Majesty the King appointed Nezha Hayat as Director General of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment, and Said Jabrani as Director General of the National Company for Guarantee and Business Financing.
 
And upon the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, the Sovereign appointed Mohamed Aggouri as Director General of the Territorial Health Grouping of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. This appointment comes within the framework of the implementation of Territorial Health Groupings, with Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima having been chosen as a pilot region, with a view to generalizing these groupings to the other regions of the Kingdom.
 
And upon the proposal of the Head of Government, and at the initiative of the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, His Majesty the King appointed Amine El Mezouaghi as Director General of the Digital Development Agency.
 

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ), received three new members of the Council on Monday at the Royal Palace in Rabat.

They are Mr. Hicham Balaoui, whom the Sovereign has kindly appointed Public Prosecutor of the King at the Court of Cassation, President of the Public Prosecution, member of the CSPJ; Hassan Tariq, appointed member of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power in his capacity as Ombudsman of the Kingdom; and Farid El Bacha, appointed by His Majesty the King as a member of the CSPJ. On this occasion, the new members of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power took the oath before His Majesty the King. This audience took place in the presence of Mohamed Abdennabaoui, Delegate President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power. Chaired by His Majesty the King, the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power ensures the application of the guarantees granted to magistrates, particularly regarding their independence, appointment, promotion, retirement, and discipline. On its own initiative, it prepares reports on the state of justice and the judicial system, and presents appropriate recommendations in this regard. At the request of HM the King, the Government, or Parliament, it issues detailed opinions on any matter relating to justice, subject to the principle of separation of powers. In accordance with Article 115 of the Constitution, the CSPJ is composed of the First President of the Court of Cassation as Delegate President, the King's Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the President of the First Chamber of the Court of Cassation, four representatives elected from among them by the magistrates of the Courts of Appeal, and six representatives elected from among them by the magistrates of the first-degree courts. It also includes the Ombudsman, the President of the National Human Rights Council, as well as five personalities appointed by HM the King, recognized for their competence, impartiality, and integrity, and for their distinguished contribution to the independence of justice and the rule of law.