Arrests reinforce Rabat's anti-corruption drive

Significance A major scandal involves a Malian national imprisoned on drug trafficking charges, which has implicated high-ranking individuals. The nature of the cases underlines both the depth of the problem, and the authorities’ newfound appetite for cracking down on corruption, albeit in seemingly selective ways. Impacts The United States and other allies will likely continue to subject Morocco to increased anti-corruption monitoring. The government will focus on improving economic conditions, which may help reduce public scrutiny of officials. An anti-corruption drive could help the government attract more foreign investments.