Moulay Hafid Elalamy

As Trade Minister, Elalamy advocated renegotiating the free trade agreement with Turkey and measures affecting the BIM retail chain, among others. Le Desk raised a possible conflict of interest due to historical links with competing Moroccan retail businesses.

The sale of Saham Finances to South African company Sanlam for approximately 1.1 billion dollars sparked political controversy in Morocco. Othman Benjelloun publicly criticised the sale, citing South Africa's position on Western Sahara and describing the transfer of a Moroccan group to South African control as politically regrettable.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

The sale of Saham Finances to Sanlam triggered controversy over an exemption from registration duties adopted in the context of the transaction and a possible advantage linked to Elalamy's ministerial position.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Controversy arose over the involvement of private-sector actors in revising hospital accreditation standards, in a context where Saham held interests in clinics. Critics suspected that the specifications could favour the group linked to the minister.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

An agreement between Saham and government ministries for an agricultural insurance product sparked controversy because Elalamy was both Saham's founder/shareholder and a minister. The agreement was suspended.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Political responsibility

Competing insurers warned of a possible conflict of interest because Saham wished to bid for an Al Barid Bank tender while Moulay Hafid Elalamy was a member of the public bank's supervisory board and a major shareholder in Saham.

Attribution

Directly implicated