Moroccan Foreign Intelligence… A Proactive Shield in the Heart of the African Sahel

By ALDAR/ Meryem Hafiani

In one of the most notable intelligence operations in recent years, the General Directorate for Studies and Documentation (DGED), the external arm of Moroccan intelligence, succeeded in freeing four Moroccan citizens who had been kidnapped by a terrorist organization in the Sahel region. This success came through close coordination with the National Security Agency of the Republic of Mali.

This operation is yet another link in a chain of intelligence successes that reaffirm Morocco’s intelligence services not only as a domestic power but as a trusted regional actor in the fields of security and counterterrorism.

The Sahel has become one of the most dangerous security hotspots in Africa, where cross-border extremist groups thrive amid weak local governments, the proliferation of weapons, and lack of development. Morocco chose years ago to actively engage in supporting the region’s countries with intelligence and security cooperation, fully aware that the stability of Africa’s interior is inseparable from Morocco’s own national security.

Cooperation with Mali stands as a model of this strategic orientation, with Rabat strengthening its partnership with Bamako through technical and intelligence support, as well as sharing expertise in combating armed groups. The operation to free the kidnapped Moroccan nationals was a tangible manifestation of this close coordination, following careful tracking of the movements of a group known as “Al-Kababiyah,” affiliated with what is known as ISIS in the region.

For more than a decade, Morocco’s foreign intelligence agency has followed a strategy based on proactive and quiet operations away from the spotlight, yet delivering concrete results. The DGED has helped dismantle terrorist cells and provided critical intelligence to international partners across Africa and Europe, in addition to its growing role in irregular migration and transnational organized crime.

What’s remarkable is that these operations do not merely protect Moroccan interests but also safeguard citizens of various nationalities, reinforcing Morocco’s credibility as a reliable ally in the global fight against terrorism.

Although intelligence work is conducted behind the scenes, its impact on regional and international security is undeniable. The more threats intensify, the more Morocco’s name emerges as a central player, possessing the human and technological capabilities needed to confront modern security complexities.

The operation to rescue the four hostages from the heart of the Sahel highlights the deep infiltration of Moroccan intelligence in a complex and dangerous environment, and its ability to build effective informational and operational networks even in remote areas beyond the reach of major global powers.

This operation sends a clear message: under the leadership of the DGED, Moroccan intelligence does not merely react to threats—it takes initiative and anticipates danger wherever it may be. In a region like the Sahel, where criminal interests intersect with terrorist agendas, Morocco’s coordination with regional countries remains an indispensable safeguard against mounting threats.