Rabat – Habboub Cherkaoui, the chief of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), has renewed concerns regarding the absence of Algeria’s engagement in the international efforts against terrorism.
He warned that Algeria’s refusal to shoulder its responsibility in the regional and global fight against transnational terrorism may negatively impact both Morocco’s and the international community’s efforts against terrorism.
In a recent interview with state-owned media, the security official also deplored Algeria’s rejection of security cooperation against terrorism.
Algiers’ categorical refusal to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, which requires close international collaboration, negatively impacts the tireless efforts of “the Kingdom [of Morocco] and the international community in the fight against terrorism, a phenomenon that transcends borders,” the BCIJ chief warned.
Cherkaoui emphasized that Algeria’s reluctance weakens and undermines the efforts made against terror threats at both regional and international levels.
This is not the first time that the BCIJ official has warned against the absence of cooperation in the face of terrorism.
Morocco has long held that the lack of counter-terrorism cooperation threatens the security of the whole region, particularly in the Sahel.
Cherkaoui made similar remarks in March, emphasizing that regional security cooperation is a “sine qua non condition to destroy the threat” of terrorism
Abdelhak Khiame, the former chief of the BCIJ, made similar remarks when he deplored Algeria’s attitude after it “ignored” repeated warnings from Morocco on the fragile situation in the Sahel.
Several terrorism organizations, including ISIS and Al Qaeda, are active in the Sahel, where they have deeply destabilized countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Morocco’s counterterrorism approach
Cherkaoui recalled Morocco’s vigilance against terrorism, emphasizing the persistence of this threat both domestically and internationally.
Speaking of BCIJ’s efforts, Cherkaoui said that the counterterrorism unit was able to dismantle a total of 84 terrorists since its creation in 201.
“Since its creation in 2015, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations has succeeded in dismantling 84 terrorist cells, including 78 in connection with the Daesh organization and 6 others linked to the ideology of the nebula Al-Istihlal wal Faye, which legitimizes illicit activities to finance terrorist acts,” Cherkaoui emphasized.
BCIJ also arrested 1,357 individuals, including 14 women and 34 minors for their involvement in terrorism cases.
Cherkaoui emphasized that 137 individuals returning from combat zones were brought to justice. Of these, 115 returned from the Syrian-Iraqi conflict zones, 14 ex-members of ISIS in Libya, and eight others who have been extradited to Morocco as part of the coordination between the North African country and the US.
“These achievements are the fruit of close and active cooperation between the various national security services,” Cherkaoui emphasized.
The BCIJ head also emphasized Morocco’s proactive approach and leadership in the field of counterterrorism, saying that the country has established itself a leader in the global fight against terrorism.
“Morocco shares with its partners’ valuable data and information” to thwart the “implementation of terrorist projects.”
