Morocco, Jordan Sign Extradition Convention to Advance Judicial Cooperation

Marrakech – Morocco and Jordan signed an extradition convention on Friday in Rabat, adding a new legal instrument to the judicial cooperation between the two kingdoms.

Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and his Jordanian counterpart, Bassam Samir Chahada Al-Talhouni, put their names to the agreement. The text is meant to develop the legal and institutional mechanisms that govern cooperation between the two sides.

The convention sets a legal framework for extradition between Rabat and Amman. It lays out clear and effective procedures for handling extradition requests, in line with each party’s national legislation and legal obligations. The measure is designed to reinforce the fight against crime and to consolidate the rule of law.

The signing capped a round of talks between the two delegations. Those discussions covered ways to expand judicial cooperation, tighten coordination, and exchange expertise across areas tied to the justice system.

Ouahbi described the convention as “an important step in strengthening judicial cooperation” between the two countries. The agreement, he said, “reflects the shared will of the two countries to develop the legal and institutional frameworks” that govern that cooperation.

The minister also noted that the convention would strengthen coordination between the competent authorities of both states. He said it would “facilitate judicial cooperation in cases requiring close collaboration and joint action,” serving the efficiency of justice and reinforcing mutual trust between the two countries’ judicial and legal institutions.

Al-Talhouni, for his part, stressed the agreement’s importance in consolidating judicial and legal cooperation between Jordan and Morocco. He welcomed “the level of fraternal and distinguished relations” linking the two countries, and pointed to the value of pursuing further work on cooperation mechanisms and the exchange of expertise in areas of common interest.

The convention follows a broader push over the past year. In October 2025, Ouahbi and Al-Talhouni signed two accords in Amman covering mutual judicial and legal assistance in criminal matters and the transfer of sentenced persons.

Those accords were signed in the presence of Morocco’s ambassador to Jordan, Fouad Akhrif, and Hicham Mellati, director of criminal affairs, pardons, and crime monitoring at the Justice Ministry. They aimed to open new prospects for exchanging legal and judicial information and to support efforts against cross-border crime.

The Amman texts also sought to develop judicial cooperation mechanisms, ease investigation procedures, and organize the handover of wanted persons in line with national laws and international rules.

At the October ceremony, Ouahbi said the two accords reflected the will of both countries to give substance to the spirit of partnership between them. Al-Talhouni called the bilateral relations “historic and solid,” noting that they had deepened over the decades across various fields.