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Rabat – Algeria’s government on July 22 has opened an investigation into the claims made in the Pegasus affair on the alleged Moroccan spying on Algeria. Statements from the country’s public prosecutor and the foreign ministry on the case made headlines in the Algerian press.
On Thursday, a statement from an Algerian public ordered the opening of a preliminary investigation into the “existence of a computer intelligence system” used to spy on Algerian citizens and public figures.
The statement echoed allegations made in the French media, speculating on the still unverified claims made in a report titled the “Pegasus project” produced by Amnesty International, Forbidden Stories and its media partners.
The Pegasus project alleges that several countries, among them Morocco, abused NSO’s malware program to spy on journalists, activists and public figures, including Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI. Morocco has denied any wrongdoing and challenged AI and Forbidden Stories to present tangible evidence supporting their uncorroborated claims.
In a separate statement, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described French media reporting as “professional,” despite Algeria having revoked press rights from France24 for its “unfriendly” coverage of Algeria’s elections.
In June, France 24 was banned from working in Algeria following its coverage of the Hirak movement, the elections and for shedding light on the arrest of journalists and activists.
Giving credence to French media reporting of the “Pegasus Project” Algeria’s prosecutor said that such acts, if proven, “would constitute offenses punished by Algerian legislation.”
Undermining Morocco’s territorial integrity and vilifying the monarchy has been the bedrock of Algeria’s foreign policy towards Morocco since its independence in 1962. True to their six-decade long hostility against Morocco, and angered by the diplomatic breakthroughs Morocco has achieved in recent years, Algerian officials made several statements where they attacked Morocco’s institutions and accused it of seeking to undermine Algeria’s strategic interests.
The Algerian government has been the key supporter of the Polisario group, a separatist movement that has received Algeria’s diplomatic, military, political, and financial support.
The country also regularly attempts to interfere in Morocco’s domestic affairs, including its sovereign decisions.
In December, Algeria lambasted Morocco for deciding to re-establish ties with Israel.
The Algerian government’s response stirred backlash and uproar after describing Morocco as zionists while making repeated anti-semitic claims.
Pro-government media, including Echourouk successfully provoked a public outcry in Morocco after producing a sarticial program to mock Morocco and its King.
The program caricatured the King and made controversial remarks against Morocco.
Moroccan officials condemned the act, emphasizing that Algeria’s regime has fought an online war against Morocco and its institutions.
Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani said earlier this year that Algeria’s hostile campaign is due to “the continuous successes in different levels, including the dossier of the Moroccan Sahara.”
