Morocco’s Court of Cassation and the Supreme Court of the Union of the Comoros signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Rabat on Monday, October 12, to establish an institutional framework for legal and judicial cooperation between the two institutions.
The agreement was signed by Mohamed Abdennabaoui, First President of the Court of Cassation and Delegate President of the Higher Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ); Hicham Balaoui, King’s Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation and President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office; Cheikh Salim Said Athoumani, First President of the Supreme Court and First Vice President of the Higher Council of the Judiciary of the Union of the Comoros; and Nourdine Abodo, Prosecutor General at the same court.
The memorandum provides for regular exchanges between judges, prosecutors general and staff members. It also aims to create opportunities for joint discussions and encourage specialized seminars on the role of courts of cassation, the modernization of their operations and their management.
The agreement covers areas of common interest related to contemporary international challenges, including the protection of fundamental rights, the fight against corruption, terrorism and transnational crime, and the development of methods for disseminating case law. It also addresses technological developments related to the internet, the introduction of artificial intelligence into the judicial system and civil law.
To ensure effective implementation, a “monitoring committee” made up of representatives from both courts will be established. It will draw up annual activity programs, propose budgets, monitor and evaluate implementation and address technical and administrative difficulties.
The committee’s reports will be regularly submitted to the heads of both institutions, which will hold periodic meetings or convene as needed, either in person or by videoconference.
Speaking on the occasion, Amal Lamniai, head of the training and cooperation division at the CSPJ, said the agreement aims to strengthen judicial cooperation between the two institutions through the exchange of expertise, experience, best practices and case law.
She said the agreement opens up new prospects for cooperation, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence in the judicial field and the strengthening of human rights protection. The partnership goes beyond exchanges of expertise and experience, she added, seeking to establish lasting institutional cooperation capable of addressing contemporary challenges in judicial practice.
The partnership is intended to help establish an efficient justice system that is accessible to citizens, capable of protecting rights and safeguarding freedoms, thereby strengthening public confidence in the judiciary and consolidating the rule of law, Lamniai said.
“This text reflects the depth of the historic bonds of brotherhood between Morocco and the Comoros and translates the shared desire to make judicial cooperation a lever in the service of justice and citizens,” she said.
Youssouf Msa, president of the Judicial Section at the Supreme Court of the Union of the Comoros, described the memorandum between the Comorian Supreme Court and Morocco’s Court of Cassation as an important milestone in strengthening judicial and technical cooperation between the two institutions.
The agreement will enable the establishment of technical and judicial cooperation programs aimed at bringing the two countries, which share strong historical ties, closer together, Msa said. He added that the initiative would help strengthen cooperation between Morocco and the Comoros.
The partnership reflects the historic ties of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries and their shared commitment to serving justice, upholding the rule of law and democracy, harmonizing judicial case law and protecting human rights.
