Naftimes – Smara

The Provincial Council of Smara held its ordinary session for the month of June on Monday morning, June 8, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Sidi Mohamed Salem Labihi, President of the Provincial Council, in the presence of the Governor of Smara Province, Ibrahim Boutoumilat, and the General Secretary of the Provincial Prefecture, Mohamed Naji, alongside council members, heads of local territorial communes, and representatives of external local departments.

The session, characterized by extensive and constructive discussions between elected officials and government sector representatives, concluded with the council unanimously approving all 11 items on the agenda, which spanned developmental, social, educational, and sports sectors.

The agenda for the first part of the session, held in the Upper Hall at the provincial headquarters, included the deliberation and voting on a package of agreements and projects. Most notably, these focused on supporting schooling, launching summer camp programs, backing local sports associations and teams, and supporting artisans and traditional craftsmen. Additionally, the council approved support for celebrations commemorating the first anniversary of Unity Day in the province, budget appropriations, and the election of the council’s representatives to the “Smara” Inter-communal Group for Health Preservation. The voting process resulted in the election of Sidi Mohamed Salem LaBihi, Maryam Bouaaila, and Sidi Mohamed Mahmoud El Chigar as representatives of the council within this inter-communal body.

During the second part of the session, the Grand Hall of the prefecture was dedicated to presenting sector-specific reports aimed at evaluating development programs and rehabilitation projects across the province. In this context, Mohamed Bidallah, the Provincial Director of the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, delivered a presentation on the “Schooling Support Services via Digitalization” program, highlighting the reliance on digital media to promote equal opportunities. For his part, Abdelhaq Boualdia, Head of the Legal Affairs, Communication, and Partnership Department, detailed the program’s indicators and its positive impact on improving success rates and facilitating local students’ access to higher institutes and medical schools.

Concurrently, Lalla Safia Joumani, the Provincial Delegate of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, reviewed the health situation in Smara and the outcomes of interventions carried out during the year 2025. She emphasized the shared responsibility between the delegation and elected councils to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve service quality, in line with the Royal project for healthcare system reform.

Furthermore, light was shed on the “Digital School” project by its supervisor, Iman El Wattar, who presented the results of the first cohort of beneficiaries, underscoring the project’s role in equipping youth with programming and modern technology skills to enhance their economic integration and prepare them for the job market and remote work.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, the Provincial Council unanimously approved the submission of four “advocacy” motions to various government departments to address the province’s pressing needs.

A first motion was directed to the Minister of the Interior, requesting urgent financial assistance for the Provincial Council to overcome its budget deficit and enable it to fulfill its development commitments to the population and local communes. A second motion was addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Protection to support the Smara Provincial Hospital Center with the necessary medical and nursing staff to address shortages in several medical specialties.

A third motion was sent to the same minister to support the “Al-Shifa Association” in Smara in recognition of its social role in caring for underprivileged patients. Lastly, a fourth motion was submitted to the Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports to reinforce the support allocated to the educational sector and improve schooling conditions in the province.

The ordinary session concluded with the reading of a message of loyalty and devotion addressed to His Majesty King Mohammed VI.