Pegasus Scandal: Morocco Rocked by Shocking New Revelations, Makhzen Faces Overwhelming Backlash
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In the tumultuous aftermath of the worldwide Pegasus spyware scandal, Morocco stands at the center of a fierce storm of accusations and suspicion. Despite denials from the Moroccan government, an overwhelming tide of evidence and recent revelations casts an ominous shadow over the Makhzen’s involvement in the alarming proliferation of this surveillance tool, designed by the Zionist entity. Unveiled reports from Iberian press sources have not only deepened the gravity of the situation but also exposed a clandestine network of surveillance operations, further entangling Morocco in a web of covert activities.
One of the latest revelations centers around the email account [email protected], which has been linked to the Pegasus virus that infected the phones of Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. Surprisingly, this same account was found to have targeted pro-Sahrawi activist Claude Mangin, a French national who is also a French mayor, a Polisario Front diplomat, and a Moroccan journalist in exile in France. All these individuals share a common opposition to the Moroccan regime, as confirmed by Mangin in an interview with El Independiente.
The National Intelligence Center (CNI) admitted its inability to determine the identity behind this email account, leading the National Court to close the investigation due to insufficient evidence. When contacted, Claude Mangin reiterated her accusations against the Makhzen, leaving many questioning the extent of Moroccan involvement in these surveillance activities. Curiously, amidst this pivotal moment, Spanish justice has decided to close its investigation into the espionage case involving the mobile phone of Pedro Sanchez, the outgoing President of the Spanish Government. These actions raise eyebrows, especially considering the perceived close ties between Sanchez and the Moroccan regime.
Amnesty International’s investigation revealed that Mangin’s phone, belonging to the wife of a Sahrawi political prisoner in Morocco, was compromised in July 2021. Interestingly, the timing of these infections coincides with the attacks on Robles and Marlaska. The Defense official experienced four attacks in June 2021, while the Minister of the Interior’s personal phone was targeted twice during the same month. These attacks occurred during a period when Spain was dealing with a significant migration crisis along its border with Morocco, as approximately 10,000 migrants swam to Ceuta in just two days.
These recent developments, although not exhaustive, contribute to tightening the noose around the Makhzen. As the mounting evidence continues to emerge, the Moroccan government will soon face increasing pressure to address its involvement in these vicious activities. The need for accountability is growing, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation.
It is important to note that the Pegasus scandal is far from reaching its conclusion, and the world eagerly awaits further revelations. With the imminent arrival of a new government in Spain, there is a renewed hope that this sulfurous affair will be thoroughly investigated, and a more legalistic position will be adopted by Madrid concerning the decolonization of Western Sahara.
