Latest news with #Makhzen
El Chorouk
2 days ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
'Harraga'… The Moroccan Makhzen's Weapon for Blackmail in the Sahrawi Issue
The Moroccan Makhzen regime continues to use irregular migration as a weapon for political blackmail, directing thousands of migrants towards Spain whenever it wants to exert pressure to extract concessions, especially in the issue of Western Sahara, in complete disregard for international laws and a clear disdain for international norms and conventions. In this context, Sahrawi writer and political analyst, Taleb Ali Salem, said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper 'La Gaceta' that Morocco does not deal with migration as a social phenomenon that requires treatment, but rather employs it as a hybrid weapon in its political battles, replacing the logic of regional cooperation with a policy of threat and intimidation. He added that 'the Moroccan regime uses the migration card to create crises when it fails to extract concessions through official channels,' pointing out that these practices confirm that this regime 'does not hesitate to traffic in human beings as bargaining tools' and that what is happening 'is not a momentary event, but part of an integrated strategy adopted by the Makhzen for decades, based on transforming human suffering into a diplomatic pressure card.' For his part, Sahrawi human rights activist, Baba Ali Hasana, said in an article that the Moroccan regime exploits migrants, especially minors, as tools for political blackmail without any regard for their humanitarian situation or basic rights, adding that what happened in May 2021 constitutes a 'stark example' of this exploitation, where Morocco pushed more than 9,000 migrants, including about 1,500 minors, to cross the border into the city of Ceuta within 24 hours, in a move that 'was not spontaneous, but politically calculated.' He explained that the Moroccan authorities did not only open the borders, but later refused to take back the children, despite the efforts made by Spanish child welfare institutions, which placed the host country under a great legal and humanitarian burden, pointing out that the minors were held in temporary centers, some in unsuitable conditions, due to the sudden number and the pressure of the crisis, while Morocco remained silent, refusing to bear its responsibilities. Baba Ali Hasana stressed that this incident is not an exception, but rather falls within a systematic policy in which Rabat uses migrants as a pressure card, whenever it wants to create a crisis or convey political messages, adding: 'The Moroccan regime does not deal with migration as a humanitarian or social challenge, but as a tool within the negotiation and blackmail agenda, indifferent to the consequences of that on the lives of thousands of people.' In this context, Spanish researcher, Javier Ruiz, commented that Morocco manages a 'black market for migration,' pointing out that the Moroccan regime does not hesitate to create crises and employ vulnerable groups as pressure tools, disregarding international laws and international conventions, in a systematic behavior that reflects the nature of a power that sees human beings as a means to achieve its political interests, even if the price is trafficking in human dignity and the security of the entire region. According to testimonies from migrants and organizations such as 'Border Forensics,' 'Iridia,' and the 'Moroccan Association for Human Rights,' the Melilla massacre on June 24, 2022, was not a spontaneous result, but a planned operation in which the Moroccan Makhzen participated with prior coordination.
El Chorouk
22-07-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Morocco Obstructs the Realistic Solution to the Western Sahara Conflict
Morocco refuses to honour its commitments to implement a realistic and genuine solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, the Minister of Foreign and African Affairs of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Mohamed Yeslam Beissat, confirmed on Tuesday in Algiers. During a press conference at his country's embassy in Algeria, Beissat said that the Sahrawi Republic 'will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the beginning of next year, embodying the aspirations of the Sahrawi people for freedom, independence, and self-determination.' He emphasised that this constitutes 'tangible evidence of our people's steadfastness, patience, and determination to defend their legitimate right to freedom from occupation. It is further evidence that the only practical and acceptable solution is to respect the will of the Sahrawi people and the sovereignty of the Sahrawi Republic.' Beissat addressed the suffering of the Sahrawi people over the past 50 years due to Morocco's ongoing aggression, emphasising that the Makhzen 'lacks the sincere political will to implement a realistic and genuine solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, given its refusal to abide by the commitments it signed.' He explained that 'the Moroccan government's behaviour blatantly contradicts its statements. On the one hand, it claims to be seeking a solution, while on the other, it is escalating the war, intensifying repression, increasing the plunder of resources, and persisting in demonizing the Sahrawi people and their sole legitimate representative, the Polisario Front.' He emphasized that the Makhzen 'has no project' and that 'all it has now is a premeditated maneuver to waste time and delay the self-determination referendum, and with it, delay the date for peace, integration, development, and integration in the Maghreb and Africa.' He stressed that if Morocco 'truly wants a solution, the shortest path to that goal is to respect its signed and documented commitments and obligations, as contained in the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, all of which affirmed the legal nature of the conflict and the need to respect the will of the Sahrawi people.' He also called for the release of Sahrawi political prisoners in the occupation's prisons and an end to the policy of bribery and media disinformation exposed by several leaks and scandals, such as 'Moroccogate' in the European Parliament. The Sahrawi Minister affirmed that his country interacts positively with the efforts of the United Nations and with all good efforts that respect the legal nature of the conflict and are based on the principles and foundations of international law. However, it continues its legitimate struggle by all means to defend its national sovereignty and the internationally recognised rights of the Sahrawi people. Finally, Beissat praised Algeria's firm and supportive position on the Sahrawi cause and the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, as President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has recalled on several occasions. He expressed the Sahrawi Republic's deep gratitude for this support.
Ya Biladi
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Algerian media falsely claim U.S. Congress rejected Polisario terror designation bill
In a new episode of Algerian media disinformation, both state-owned and private outlets in Algeria have circulated a false report claiming that the U.S. Congress voted 98% against a bill proposing to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, framing it as a «resounding slap» to Morocco. Algerian media outlets amplified the claim, presenting it as a «diplomatic victory» for the Polisario Front. Some went further, describing it as proof of «growing awareness and support in the U.S. Congress for the just Sahrawi cause» and as evidence of the «isolation of the Moroccan occupation regime». ? #الكونغرس_الأمريكي humiliates the Makhzen: Bill against Polisario fails by 98% ?The Makhzen regime received another resounding slap in the halls of the U.S. Congress, after revealing a success rate of no more than 2% for bill H.R. 4119, which seeks to impose sanctions on the #البوليساريو. This bill, funded and promoted by… — Radio Algeria international إذاعة الجزائر الدولية (@radioalginter) July 8, 2025 The report was widely shared on social media by Polisario-aligned accounts and even posted by Radio Algeria International, which cited the supposed 98% «failure» rate of the bill H.R. 4119, introduced by Republican Representative Joe Wilson, aimed at imposing sanctions on the Polisario Front. But the bill was never even put to a vote The claim was not based on any official U.S. source, nor on reporting from any accredited media outlet. Instead, it was pulled from a non-governmental website, a private project developed by Joshua Tauberer and maintained with Amy West, neither of whom have ties to the U.S. government or Congress. The site clearly states that H.R. 4119 is in the earliest stage of the legislative process. It was introduced on June 24, 2025, and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee two days later. It has not been debated, discussed, nor scheduled for a vote in either the House or Senate. The «2% success rate» cited by the site is a statistical estimate based on historical patterns, not a vote outcome, nor a reflection of Congressional opposition to the bill. According to the U.S. legislative process, a bill must pass through several stages - committee consideration, House and Senate votes - before reaching the President for approval and enactment. None of these steps have occurred for H.R. 4119. This latest manipulation of information fits within a broader pattern of Algerian media efforts to reframe the Polisario Front's image in the face of dwindling international support. It also comes amid the steady growth in international recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, including formal acknowledgment by the United States, upheld across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
El Chorouk
11-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
UN Mandela Prize 2025: Makhzen's Nomination, A Moral and Political Farce
Moroccan human rights activists and journalists considered their country's nomination for the 2025 United Nations Nelson Mandela Human Rights Prize a 'moral and political scandal and an official whitewash of its dark criminal record.' They called for the nomination to be withdrawn to preserve the credibility of the UN international institution. In an article titled 'Morocco's Nomination for the Mandela Prize… When the Executioner Demands the Victim's Medal,' Moroccan blogger and human rights activist Mohamed Kandil said, 'Morocco's nomination for this prize is yet another farce added to the archive of official impudence of the Makhzen regime.' He added, 'When Morocco nominates itself for the Nelson Mandela Prize, it's as if the Makhzen is asking the world to believe that mass graves, secret prisons, and torture chambers are merely transient human rights violations.' He emphasised in this context that 'the National Council for Human Rights in Morocco, whose president, Amina Bouayach, was nominated for this prize, has become nothing more than a human rights polishing arm for the repressive apparatus. How can it now be presented to the world as the face of human rights in Morocco after all that it has done to the Rif movement, journalists, and political prisoners?' He emphasized that 'the Makhzen regime does not represent the people or the victims, but rather is merely a security institution adept at public relations at international forums.' He explained in this context that 'Amina Bouayach is neither an activist nor an independent woman, but rather a mere intelligence agent, recruited within the official propaganda network, called upon when necessary to endorse the crimes of the Makhzen state, distort the reports of international organizations, and cover up the various forms of torture in the country.' He asked sarcastically, 'Who's the Mandela that Morocco wants to emulate? Is he Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for defending dignity and freedom? Or the Mandela of the Makhzen, who imprisons activists on 27 fabricated charges in a 27-minute sham trial?' The Moroccan human rights activist believes that Morocco's nomination for this prize is a 'moral and political scandal,' adding, 'Awarding Morocco this prize is an official whitewash of a dark record and a slap in the face of every prisoner of conscience, every mother who lost her son under torture, and every Moroccan who was displaced or persecuted for daring to say no to injustice, tyranny, and corruption.' For his part, Moroccan writer and journalist Ali Lahrouchi wrote in an article that 'Morocco's nomination for this prize is an insult to United Nations institutions, as the Nelson Mandela Prize is a global recognition of human commitment to principles, values, and ethics, the prioritization of the public interest over personal interest, transcending vengeful thinking, and remaining patient and steadfast in adhering to principles…' Ali Lahrouchi asserted that Morocco 'is still living in the Middle Ages,' asking, 'What has changed in Morocco for Amina Bouayach to be nominated for the prize of Nelson Mandela, the courageous fighter?' In this regard, he emphasized that 'everyone who criticized, opposed, or commented on the backward practices in Morocco was subjected to assassination, kidnapping, torture, arrest, marginalization, and retaliation through the use and subjugation of all relevant institutions, starting with the intelligence, security, gendarmerie, judiciary, and prisons, to silence all voices opposing or criticizing the dictatorial policies pursued in Morocco.' Hence, he confirmed, 'Morocco's history is replete with all forms of human rights violations and abuses, and its mere nominating it for this prize is an insult to the freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.' He warns that Morocco's victory 'will be the last nail in the coffin of the United Nations and its institutions, which will never receive any respect.' In turn, human rights activist and former prisoner Saida el-Alami wondered, 'Morocco is submitting its nomination for the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Prize? What rights exactly, when Moroccan citizens enjoy no political, civil, or economic rights?' In her remarks, el-Alami addressed the suffering of the Moroccan people due to the Makhzen's policies in various sectors and their lack of the most basic rights that guarantee a decent life. She highlighted the worsening deterioration of human rights in the Kingdom, in light of the judiciary's use of retaliation against opponents, fabricating charges against human rights activists, and violating the rights of detainees in police stations and prison cells. The Moroccan human rights activist concluded her remarks by saying, 'I don't understand the basis on which Morocco was nominated for this prize. If Nelson Mandela were alive, he would have cancelled this award as long as the enemies of humanity continue to nominate it.'
Ya Biladi
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Power outage in Spain : Algerian media blame Morocco and contradict Pedro Sanchez
The Algerian media never miss an opportunity to exploit situations to accuse Morocco and hold it responsible for regional crises. Recently, these outlets rushed to promote a narrative alleging Morocco's involvement, alongside Israel, in a cyberattack that caused a power outage in Spain, claiming it was a «retaliatory response» to Madrid's support for the Palestinian people. However, these claims quickly lost credibility, especially after official statements from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who expressed gratitude to both Morocco and France for supplying electricity to southern and northern Spain during the crisis earlier last week. Despite this, the newspaper Echorouk, known for its proximity to the authorities, published an article refuting Sanchez's statements, claiming that «the Spanish refuted the lies of the Makhzen», and adding that «the Makhzen committed a scandal that made it a subject of ridicule and mockery in Spain: it officially announced, through its press, that it helped Spain and provided it with electricity during the the blackout». The article claimed that as soon as the news was released, a storm of mockery swept through the media and social networks, disproving the Moroccan claim and exposing its malicious intent. In an attempt to justify its claims, the newspaper published fabricated statistics, alleging that «Morocco has one of the worst electrical networks in the world, that half of its cities experience daily power outages and fluctuations, that a third of its population only uses electricity at night due to high bills, and that a quarter—especially in rural areas—do not have access to electricity, according to the World Energy Organization and the testimony of Moroccans themselves». The Algerian newspaper also cited an article by Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero, known for his hostility towards Morocco. Describing him as «the greatest Spanish journalist», the article further claimed that «the Moroccan grid was saved, not the other way around. The power outage required an immediate adjustment of the Moroccan electrical system, which was successfully implemented». Echorouk continued, claiming that the Spanish Prime Minister thanked the Makhzen for «imaginary assistance» in supplying Spain with electricity. Spanish commentators reportedly said: «Do not pay attention to what the Prime Minister said; he is more Moroccan than the King of the Makhzen». Spanish Media Confirms Morocco's Crucial Role Contrary to the claims of the Algerian media, major Spanish newspapers covered Morocco's support for Spain. El País reported, «Morocco, which usually relies on Spain to meet its growing electricity needs, mobilized up to 38% of its production capacity on Monday afternoon (April 28) to send energy, aiming to restart supplies cut off due to the power outage in southern Iberian Peninsula». El Independiente noted that at the time of the power outage, Morocco was «importing about 778 megawatts of electricity from the Spanish grid». It added: «In record time, Morocco managed to prevent its supply from dropping to zero, a rare incident that lasted for 12 hours and became a lifeline for the Iberian Peninsula». The newspaper explained that Morocco exported 5.45% of the electricity available in the Spanish market, generated from a mix of coal and natural gas. Spain and Morocco are connected by two electrical links with a capacity of 400 kilovolts and 1,400 megawatts, installed in 1998. A third link is scheduled for implementation in 2028. The Kingdom is also considering a connection with France and Mauritania. Morocco's Energy Independence Plans Morocco is actively seeking energy independence. Recently, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development launched a tender to develop national gas infrastructure, including the construction of Morocco's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Nador West Med port. The Kingdom is also pursuing the construction of an African Atlantic gas pipeline from Nigeria—a project that Algeria deems unfeasible—while promoting its own project to transport gas from Nigeria to the Mediterranean through Niger, despite strained relations with Niger, which have escalated to the point of recalling ambassadors. This media campaign is part of a broader pattern of repeated accusations by official or pro-government media in Algeria, targeting Morocco in every crisis or incident. The intensity of these media attacks increases whenever Morocco achieves diplomatic successes on the international stage, particularly regarding the Western Sahara conflict.
