Sale: The terrorist cell recently dismantled in several Moroccan cities was identified as a strategic initiative by the “Daesh wilaya in the Sahel” to establish a branch in Morocco, revealed Cherkaoui Habboub, Director of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) during a press briefing in Sale.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Habboub emphasized that the dismantling of this cell signifies more than just the arrest of several targets. It represents a thwarted attempt by the Sahel-based Daesh faction to expand its influence into Morocco. This cell was reportedly orchestrated by the Sahelian branch’s External Operations Committee, which had tasked its members with coordinating terrorist plots and transmitting orders for execution.
Habboub elaborated on the connections between the dismantled cell and terrorist organizations in the Sahel. Twelve suspects, aged between 18 and 40, have been arrested so far. The educational background of these individuals varied, with most having ceased formal education at secondary or primary levels. Socially, only two members of the cell were married with children, and many were employed in modest jobs.
The preliminary investigation uncovered close ties between the cell members and the External Operations Committee of the Sahelian Daesh branch, formerly led by Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui. It was revealed that the cell received approval from the Sahelian branch through a video recording that encouraged them to proceed with their operations.
Habboub pointed out that despite previous failed attempts by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and affiliated groups to establish a presence in Morocco, the dismantling of this cell-soon after the neutralization of another cell in Had Soualem-demonstrates Morocco’s ongoing vulnerability to terrorist threats from the Sahel region. He highlighted Morocco’s proactive stance in alerting the international community to the strategic importance of the African continent for al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
Moroccan security services have dismantled over 40 terrorist cells with links to the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, with some focused on training Moroccan fighters for terrorist activities. Habboub cited the dismantling of a Tangier cell in 2005, which had connections to Spain and the Sahel-Saharan zone, and the discovery of a weapons cache in the Errachidia region as examples of Morocco’s long-standing counter-terrorism efforts.
Habboub stressed the need to uncover any additional cross-border connections of the dismantled cell, noting that African branches of Daesh and similar groups are increasingly internationalizing their operations. This trend was underscored by the December 2024 attack by the Somali branch of Daesh on Puntland’s armed forces, involving foreign fighters, including two Moroccan suicide bombers.
The Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa remain hotspots for terrorist activities, facilitated by ethnic and tribal conflicts, political instability, and challenges faced by regional states in asserting authority. This environment poses a significant threat to North African and European countries, with terrorist leaders demonstrating adaptability to changing circumstances, Habboub concluded.