On May 13 in Rabat, Morocco’s Competition Council convened a key meeting with representatives from Bank Al-Maghrib, the Interbank Electronic Payment Center (CMI), shareholder banks, and their payment subsidiaries to assess how far they’ve come in implementing commitments made last October. The gathering was part of an ongoing review tied to Decision No. 152/D/2024, which mandates a series of structural and behavioral reforms designed to open up the electronic payments market.
The council’s focus was twofold: to measure progress on previously agreed reforms and to evaluate how well-prepared new players are as they enter the business of acquiring—processing card payments on behalf of merchants. Since May 1, these newly authorized companies have officially been allowed to offer their services, breaking the near-monopoly CMI has long held and ushering in a more competitive landscape.
Among the most significant commitments, CMI must transfer all of its existing merchant contracts related to card systems and online payment processing to the new market entrants within a year. Starting November 1, 2024, the organization will no longer be permitted to sign up new clients or solicit business in this domain.
CMI is also required to reinvent itself as a neutral technical platform—one that provides equal and fair access to all payment service providers under transparent pricing. On top of that, a compliance program aligned with competition law must be established, with clear assurances that service continuity won’t be compromised during the transition.
Meanwhile, the banks that own stakes in CMI have pledged to ensure the legal and financial independence of their acquisition-focused subsidiaries. Although they can promote these subsidiaries through their networks, they are prohibited from directly selling their services or limiting merchant choice in any way.
The Council recently received a preliminary report covering the period from November 2024 to April 2025. It praised the swift strides made toward a more diversified, multi-acquirer system, noting that service stability has been maintained during the changeover.
That said, full oversight will remain in place through November 1, 2025, to ensure all parties follow through on their obligations. The Council emphasized the need for continued commitment to fair competition, which it sees as essential for building a more open and dynamic card payment ecosystem.
