DIPLOMACY
Besides being football giants, Morocco impacted on the globe through counter terrorism
The Kingdom of Morocco is well known for being the ultimate football destination in Africa, but also in the world. It is for this that the milestone and Centennial FIFA World Cup will hold in Morocco as well as Spain and Portugal.
Morocco which hosted many qualifying matches of other African countries in the preliminary competitions for the Africa Cup of Nations as well as that of 2022 and 2026 World Cup, will host back-to-back the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
As Morocco contributes to sports and healthy minds, so also is the kingdom contributing to making the world a safer place.
In the year passing by, the kingdom has contributed so much in counter-terrorism both at home and abroad.
In a world shattered, fractured and bereaved by the depth of mostly asymmetrical armed conflicts, the Kingdom of #Morocco is the only IR actor on the continent and in the world to equip itself with security, legal and operational mechanisms capable of holding back, containing and neutralizing the terrorist threat.
Indeed, from the buffer zone in the Moroccan Sahara, where #Polisario #terrorist attacks target civilians, to DR Congo, and hostage-taking in Mali, Africa remains a region heavily marked by the proliferation of terrorism. This threat results in the tragic loss of innocent lives on a daily basis, extending its impact to countries such as #Niger, #Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Nigeria.
That said, the Kingdom of Morocco has countered terrorism with effective intelligence services capable of locating any terrorist leader and freeing several hostages, proving unprecedented efficiency in freeing hostages and securing its territorial integrity.
In just one year, Morocco has contributed:
- In December 2022, to the release of 63-year-old German Jörg Lange, a member of a Berlin-based humanitarian organization, who was being held hostage by a jihadist group in Mali.
- In January 2023, at the dismantling of a cell affiliated to the Islamic State organization (#EI), made up of three suspects in Spain and Morocco during a joint security operation and one of the “extremist elements” was questioned by the special forces of the Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire (#DGST) in Chtouka Aït Baha.
- In March 2023, to intervention and interpellation procedures in separate and simultaneous operations, having targeted 3 individuals affiliated to Daech, aged between 19 and 28, in Souk El Arbaa du Gharb, Tétouan and Larache.
- In May 2023, to the dismantling of a Daech-affiliated terrorist cell consisting of three individuals in the north of the country.
- In May 2023, the two Moroccan cyclists, Abderrahmane Serhani and Driss Fatihi, kidnapped on April 1, 2023, by an armed group on the Niger-Burkinabe borders, were freed thanks to security coordination between Morocco and Nigeria.
- In August 2023, the release of Iulian Ghergut, a Romanian national held hostage in Burkina Faso by the Al-Qaeda affiliated group Al-Mourabitoune.
- In October 2023, to the dismantling of a terrorist group affiliated to the Islamic State that was about to attack the cities of Tangier, Tetouan and Inezgane ait melloul
- In November 2023, the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Johannis, awarded, by presidential decree dated November 6, 2023, to the Moroccan Intelligence Service, in the person of its Director General, Mr. Mohamed Yassine MANSOURI the decoration of the National Order “The Star of Romania” (rank of Grand Officer).
- In November 2023, a Moroccan drone eliminates Polisario terrorist leader Abdel Salam Ould Asouillem.
- In November 2023, Morocco arrests a man responsible for false bomb threats in Belgium.
- In December 2023, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) arrested an extremist in Farkhana, Nador region, in collaboration with the Spanish police. This security operation was carried out jointly with the General Commissariat for Information. The BCIJ reports to the Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST).
- In December 2023, to the dismantling of a cryptocurrency operation network affiliated to the Islamic State in several regions of Spain with the help of Morocco.
All in all, in the fight against terrorism, Morocco has emerged as a beacon of “coordination” and “synergy”. Like a harmonious orchestra, notable successes, such as the release of hostages and the dismantling of terrorist cells, bear witness to the collective strength in the quest for security.
This sincere, serious and collective effort strengthens Morocco’s position in the preservation of peace and stability in the world.
Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, has reaffirmed that the security and stability of Gulf Arab states are inseparable from Morocco’s own national security.
Speaking during an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the League of Arab States held on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attacks on Arab states, Bourita stressed that Morocco views any threat to Gulf countries as a direct threat to itself.
“What harms you harms us, and what affects us affects you,” Bourita said, reiterating Morocco’s long-standing commitment to the security of Gulf nations.
The meeting, attended remotely by the Moroccan minister, was convened to address what participants described as Iran’s aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab countries.
Bourita noted that Morocco’s position reflects the policy consistently articulated by King Mohammed VI, who has repeatedly emphasised solidarity with Gulf partners. He revealed that the Moroccan monarch recently held telephone conversations with leaders of Gulf states to express Morocco’s support for their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
The minister also recalled the king’s remarks during the Moroccan-Gulf Summit on April 20, 2016, where Mohammed VI declared that defending shared security among Arab nations is “not only a common duty but an indivisible one.”
During the emergency session, Bourita strongly condemned what he described as “brutal Iranian attacks” on Arab countries, calling them a blatant violation of their sovereignty and a serious threat to regional stability. Morocco, he said, stands in full solidarity with the affected states and supports any legitimate measures they deem necessary to safeguard their citizens and territories.
He further accused the Iranian regime of pursuing destabilizing policies across the region, alleging that Tehran seeks to create and support militias and groups loyal to it in order to undermine the stability and interests of neighboring countries.
Bourita urged Arab nations to strengthen unity and collective action through the League of Arab States as the most effective means of protecting regional security and safeguarding national sovereignty.
Concluding his remarks, the Moroccan foreign minister called for a unified Arab stance against actions that threaten regional stability and demanded the immediate cessation of Iranian attacks, saying such a move would open the door for diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation in the region.
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Mohammed VI has reaffirmed Morocco’s “full support and solidarity” with several Arab Gulf states following what he described as “blatant attacks” on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement issued Saturday by the Royal Cabinet, the Moroccan monarch disclosed that he held separate telephone conversations with key Gulf leaders, including Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates; Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia; and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
According to the Royal Cabinet, King Mohammed VI strongly condemned the attacks targeting the sovereignty of the “brotherly states” and reiterated Morocco’s readiness to stand by them in any legitimate measures they consider necessary to safeguard their security and ensure the safety of their citizens.
The statement underscored the “deep fraternal ties and enduring solidarity” binding Morocco to the Gulf nations, stressing that the security and stability of the Arab Gulf region are inseparable from Morocco’s own national security.
“Any infringement upon their integrity constitutes a serious and unacceptable aggression and a direct threat to regional stability,” the statement read.
Morocco has long maintained close political, economic and security ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with cooperation spanning investment, energy, defence and diplomatic coordination on regional issues.
Saturday’s high-level consultations signal Rabat’s intention to reinforce those alliances at a time of heightened regional tensions, while affirming its position that threats to Gulf states are viewed as threats to broader Arab and regional stability.
The Royal Cabinet did not provide further details on the nature of the attacks referenced in the conversations, but the statement reflects Morocco’s consistent diplomatic posture of collective Arab solidarity in times of crisis.
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On High Royal Instructions from Mohammed VI, the Moroccan government has rolled out a major aid and support programme valued at approximately $328 million (MAD 3 billion) to assist communities affected by exceptionally severe weather conditions over the past two months.
The extreme weather, which particularly impacted the Gharb plain and Loukkos regions, caused widespread flooding and large-scale displacement across several provinces.
According to a press release from the Office of the Head of Government, His Majesty, mindful of safeguarding citizens’ safety and improving their living conditions, directed authorities to implement an urgent and comprehensive response plan, alongside the necessary regulatory measures required in such circumstances.
In line with these instructions, the Head of Government issued a decree declaring the weather conditions a catastrophic event. The most affected communes in the provinces of Larache, Kénitra, Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane have officially been designated disaster areas.
The aid and support programme, equivalent to roughly $328 million, was designed following an in-depth field assessment and a detailed evaluation of the economic and social repercussions of the disaster.
The breakdown of the package includes:
- $85 million (MAD 775 million) for rehousing affected families, compensating for loss of income, rehabilitating damaged homes and small businesses, and reconstructing collapsed houses.
- $25 million (MAD 225 million) in in-kind assistance and reinforced emergency interventions to meet immediate and essential needs.
- $33 million (MAD 300 million) in targeted support for farmers and livestock breeders.
- $186 million (MAD 1.7 billion) allocated for the rehabilitation of roads, hydro-agricultural infrastructure and basic public service networks.
The statement further emphasised that the King has instructed the government to ensure the programme is executed in an exemplary, swift and responsible manner, enabling affected citizens to return to normal living conditions as quickly as possible.
Official figures indicate that the severe weather caused flooding across more than 110,000 hectares of land and displaced nearly 188,000 people in the four affected provinces.
The large-scale intervention underscores Morocco’s commitment to rapid recovery and long-term reconstruction following one of the most significant weather-related disruptions in recent years.
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