Morocco’s Ambassador to Argentina, Fares Yassir: The Moroccan Security Model Is Among the Most Effective in the World

During a conference titled “Morocco: Security Policy and Counterterrorism Strategy”, Fares Yassir stressed that this internationally recognized policy is based on a pragmatic approach that combines strict security measures, high-level intelligence capabilities and active international cooperation.

The Moroccan diplomat pointed out that the terrorist threat, whether political, ideological or religious, remains a constant challenge for states, which have the responsibility to ensure the protection and safety of their citizens.

After offering a detailed overview of the evolution of Moroccan state institutions throughout history, the ambassador explained that following the 1994 attacks and especially after the Casablanca attacks in 2003, the Kingdom adopted a comprehensive strategy that marked a turning point in the region.

He noted that Morocco’s counterterrorism model is structured around three complementary pillars:

The first pillar, Security, focuses on strengthening the legal framework (Law 03-03 on counterterrorism), improving coordination between key security services (DGST, DGSN, Royal Gendarmerie, DGED and the Armed Forces) and on decisive operations carried out by the BCIJ, often referred to as the Moroccan FBI, which has dismantled hundreds of terrorist cells before they could take action.

The second pillar, based on Religion, focuses on promoting a moderate Moroccan Islam, the training and supervision of imams and the exportation of this model to African and European countries as a tool against radicalization.

The third pillar, socioeconomic and preventive in nature, concerns human development programs aimed at reducing vulnerability and initiatives dedicated to reintegration and monitoring of individuals returning from conflict zones.

Thanks to this strategic framework, the ambassador stated, Morocco has strengthened its role as a key barrier against terrorism in the Maghreb and Sahel regions, maintaining one of the lowest levels of terrorist attacks when compared to neighboring states.

He highlighted that this model has resulted in numerous foiled plots, with hundreds of dismantled cells and more than 500 prevented terrorist operations recorded up to 2023.

Regarding international cooperation, the ambassador noted Morocco’s central role as a reliable actor in global security architecture and recalled its active participation in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, which Morocco co-chaired with the Netherlands.

Morocco also contributed to drafting the Hague Marrakech Memorandum, which has become a global reference for managing foreign terrorist fighters.

Other initiatives under this model of international cooperation include Morocco’s membership in the Global Coalition against Daesh, which held its ministerial meeting in Marrakech in 2022, and the opening in Rabat of the United Nations Office for Counterterrorism regional hub, now functioning as a continental training center.

The ambassador also highlighted Morocco’s excellent bilateral cooperation with Spain, France, the United States, Sahel countries and other European partners, based on continuous intelligence-sharing, border surveillance and the fight against interconnected criminal and terrorist networks.

Editorial team/le7tv