Rabat – Morocco’s Government Council, chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, convened Thursday, September 10, to consider a series of legal texts and an international agreement, in accordance with Article 92 of the Constitution.
The council approved a decree implementing Law No. 36.09, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and provides for their destruction. The draft decree, No. 2.26.271, was presented by the Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi and approved after taking into account observations raised during its review.
The council also approved Decree No. 2.26.578, amending and supplementing the 2023 decree governing state aid for housing. The changes concern the forms of government assistance and the procedures for granting support to people purchasing homes intended as their primary residence.
The housing decree was presented by the Secretary of State in charge of Housing, on behalf of the Minister of National Territory Planning, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.
According to the government statement, the council also approved two decrees concerning the creation and modification of industrial acceleration zones. The first, Decree No. 2.26.98, amends the 2024 decree establishing the Jorf industrial acceleration zone, while Decree No. 2.26.593 establishes the Bouknadel 2 industrial acceleration zone. Both texts were presented by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour.
The council then examined and approved three draft decrees implementing provisions of Law No. 59.24 on higher education and scientific research.
The first, Decree No. 2.26.331, sets out the composition, organization, and operating procedures of the National Commission for Higher Education Coordination and its permanent committees.
The second, Decree No. 2.26.390, amends and supplements the 2004 decree defining the responsibilities of university institutions, postgraduate study programs, and corresponding national degrees.
The third, Decree No. 2.26.326, implements provisions of Articles 30, 42, 48, and 53 of Law No. 59.24.
The council concluded its meeting by reviewing an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between the governments of Morocco and Niger. Signed in Niamey on April 8, 2026, the agreement was accompanied by Draft Law No. 048.26 approving the convention.
The texts were presented by the Minister of Justice on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad.
The Council convened in the absence of several ministers affiliated with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
The meeting was attended without Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion; Fatima Zahra Mansouri, Minister of National Territory Planning; and Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication.
Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa and Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi were also absent from the meeting.
The absences come during the final weeks of the current parliamentary term, ahead of Morocco’s September 23 legislative elections. The September 10 session is expected to be the last official Government Council meeting of the current term, unless another session is convened before the elections.
