Lawyers in Morocco have ended a week-long nationwide strike after the government agreed to suspend a contentious draft law regulating the legal profession and open formal dialogue with representatives of the sector.
The decision follows days of mounting pressure from the country’s bar associations, which had warned that the proposed legislation threatened the independence of lawyers and undermined long-standing principles of professional self-governance.
The strike was called by the Association of Moroccan Bar Associations (ABAM), whose members suspended most court appearances and legal services in protest. While urgent and legally mandated matters continued, the stoppage disrupted hearings and delayed proceedings across the country, adding strain to an already burdened judicial system.
At the heart of the dispute was a bill introduced by Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and approved by the government in December. Officials said the legislation was intended to modernise the legal sector, strengthen oversight mechanisms and bolster anti-corruption safeguards.
However, lawyers objected strongly to provisions that would grant courts direct disciplinary authority over members of the profession — powers traditionally exercised internally by elected bar councils. Critics argued that such changes could expose lawyers to external pressure and weaken safeguards protecting their independence from the executive and judiciary.
Earlier this month, thousands of black-robed lawyers gathered in the capital, Rabat, in a high-profile demonstration against the draft law. Protesters described the bill as an existential threat to the autonomy of the profession and called for a participatory approach to reform.
The breakthrough came after Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch pledged to personally oversee discussions on the draft and establish a mixed commission composed of government officials and representatives of the legal profession. The government also postponed forwarding the bill to parliament for a vote, signalling a willingness to reconsider disputed provisions.
According to ABAM board member Omar Mahmoud Bendjelloun, the prime minister’s intervention and commitment to dialogue opened the way to resolving the crisis. The association said lawyers would resume normal duties following assurances that their concerns would be formally addressed.
Speaking previously in parliament, Mr Ouahbi indicated he was open to revising the text. “Let them give you the changes they want, and I will discuss them with you,” he said, adding that he was prepared to drop or amend provisions that harmed lawyers. At the same time, he insisted that reform of the legal profession remained necessary.
The episode highlights broader tensions in Morocco over governance, institutional reform and professional independence. While the government has framed the bill as part of a modernisation effort, critics say meaningful reform must be developed in consultation with those directly affected.
As lawyers return to courtrooms, attention now turns to the newly announced commission and whether it can produce a compromise acceptable to both sides. The outcome could shape not only the regulation of the legal profession but also wider debates about the balance between state oversight and professional autonomy in Morocco.
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