4 days ago
Moroccan Urban Planning Minister denies conflict in Marrakech land sale amid Jabaroot leaks
Amid the controversy triggered by leaks from a group calling itself «Jabaroot», which claims to be «Algerian», targeting Morocco's Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has issued an official response denying any suspicion of conflict of interest related to a major real estate sale involving her family near Marrakech. She emphasized that the transaction was legal, transparent, and had no connection to her government role.
The leaked document, widely circulated online, originates from a notary's office in Marrakech and confirms that El Mansouri and her brothers, Zouhair and Saad, sold more than 66 hectares of land in 2023 in the Tassoultante, a small town near Marrakech, for a total of 266.17 million dirhams.
The documents indicate that the land is officially classified as agricultural and not eligible for construction under current zoning rules. The contract notes that the buyers were explicitly informed by the notary to check with authorities whether construction would be permitted, and that they would be responsible for doing so. Critics have since accused El Mansouri of using her influence after the land was reportedly converted into two real estate projects.
In her statement, El Mansouri stressed that the property is neither state-owned nor under her ministerial oversight. She explained that it was inherited from her late father, Moulay Abderrahmane El Mansouri, who purchased the land from private individuals in 1978.
«Contrary to what's been falsely claimed in these malicious leaks, the land was not acquired from the state or any public institution», she said in remarks reviewed by Yabiladi.
She added that the land was sold legally by the heirs following their mother's death in 2023, with all transactions properly declared to tax authorities.
«The family's appointed agent sold the land in a transparent, legal manner. All sales were declared to the tax office, which collected the appropriate fees. The proceeds were reinvested in Marrakech in clearly declared and legitimate projects», Fatima Zahra El Mansouri.
Mansouri further clarified that the property lies outside the boundaries of the Marrakech municipality, which she formerly led as mayor, and stressed that the deal had no link to her political or ministerial roles. She denounced the leaks as part of a «malicious campaign» aimed at damaging her reputation and that of her family.
The minister also revealed that her family's legal representative has filed a complaint against those responsible for publishing the documents, which she said were «neither verified nor truthful».
