Moroccan Opposition Journalist Dounia Filali Asserts Earthquake Relief Funds Are Diverted to King Mohammed VI’s Foreign Accounts for Personal Expenditures

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | June 7th, 2024 — In a scathing critique, Moroccan opposition journalist Dounia Filali has raised serious accusations about the misappropriation of funds intended for the reconstruction of areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake. Filali asserts that these funds are being siphoned off into private accounts controlled by King Mohammed VI to finance his lavish lifestyle and foreign properties.

During her latest appearance, Filali asserted that the Moroccan monarchy, under King Mohammed VI, is exploiting and distracting the populace with trivial issues while engaging in extensive financial misconduct. She highlighted that recent reports in the press noted that Germany, via Moroccan official Fouzi Lekjaa, signed an agreement to grant Morocco a loan of 100 million euros for the reconstruction of the earthquake-affected areas.

The Donation Fund Controversy

Filali’s investigation into the donation fund established by King Mohammed VI for the reconstruction efforts revealed alarming figures. The fund, managed through a bank account associated with the King’s holding company, accumulated approximately 12 billion dirhams. She emphasized that the Al Haouz earthquake had impacted over 57,000 Moroccan families, implying that each family should theoretically receive around 210,000 dirhams (21,000 USD) from the fund.

Additional Financial Aid

Beyond the donation fund, Morocco has secured various forms of international aid for the reconstruction effort, including a 1 billion euro loan from the European Investment Bank, 177 million euros from the European Commission, and a 1.3 billion dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund. Filali questioned why, despite these substantial sums, the affected families remain in dire conditions, many still living in makeshift shelters months after the disaster.

Misuse of Funds

Filali criticized the Moroccan authorities for failing to alleviate the suffering of the earthquake victims, despite the massive financial resources at their disposal. She argued that if the collected funds had been properly utilized, Al Haouz could have been rebuilt to the standards of a developed city by now.

Filali called into question the transparency and accountability mechanisms overseeing the expenditure of these funds. “What is King Mohammed VI doing with this money, and where is it being spent?” she asked, reflecting widespread concerns about financial oversight in the country.

The opposition journalist further accused the Moroccan regime of accumulating debt under the guise of funding critical sectors like health and education, which, according to her, do not benefit from these loans. Instead, she noted that all borrowed funds are funneled into the King’s overseas accounts in Panama, Switzerland, and the Virgin Islands, financing his opulent lifestyle and extended stays at his palaces in Gabon and Paris.

Dounia Filali’s revelations cast a harsh light on the Moroccan monarchy’s handling of earthquake relief funds, stirring public outrage and calling for greater scrutiny and reforms in the country’s financial management practices.