The role played by the security and intelligence apparatus in any state is indispensable, especially during sudden crises that countries face. These crises require proactive readings to produce necessary tactics to eliminate threats to the security of states and societies through gathering, protecting, and disseminating information. The Kingdom of Morocco is no exception in this security and intelligence context.
What distinguishes Morocco’s security and intelligence field is its experience and uniqueness, which has become a model emulated worldwide. The Moroccan security and intelligence role prominently emerged after Abdellatif Hammouchi assumed the position of Director of National Territory Surveillance and then General Director of National Security. What added qualitative development to Moroccan intelligence security was Hammouchi’s significant experience, particularly in countering terrorism, due to his familiarity with the intense political conflicts of the 1980s and 1990s, both within Morocco and abroad.
Hammouchi developed a comprehensive view of Islamic movements, both moderate and radical, as well as leftist movements in their reformist and radical forms. He also gained insight into international policies revolving around the conflict between the Eastern and Western blocs. He followed student gatherings where political and ideological debates were intense, allowing him to form a comprehensive view of political and ideological discourses and become well-versed in understanding Islamic groups of all currents.
This was the beginning for Abdellatif Hammouchi before he joined the ranks of the General Directorate of National Territory Surveillance in 1993. He gained significant experience, especially during the terrorist events Morocco experienced in 1994. He was then promoted to Excellent Police Commissioner in 1997, Regional General Commissioner in 2001, General Controller in 2004, and General Security Wali in 2006.
Throughout these stages, Hammouchi developed political acumen that made him well-informed about Moroccan political movements and their methods of operation, as well as an expert in terrorist cells.
The role played by Abdellatif Hammouchi in developing Morocco’s security and intelligence field shows clear results both domestically and internationally. While most countries suffer from terrorist attacks, Morocco remains resilient thanks to its security and intelligence apparatus. It has remained impenetrable to terrorist groups attempting to destabilize countries. When these groups reach Morocco, they collide with the safety valve and solid pillar protecting the state and Moroccan society. This has made terrorist cells extremely wary of Moroccan security and its strong intelligence apparatus led by Abdellatif Hammouchi, knowing well that they are not dealing with an ordinary man performing his job mechanically, but a man with extensive knowledge in politics, ideology, and diplomacy.
Reality proves this through the foiling of any terrorist group attacks within Morocco and the swift and precise capture of the most hardened terrorists, unparalleled on a global scale.
This pioneering role of Moroccan intelligence security has extended its influence beyond Morocco, prompting many major countries to seek cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of security and intelligence, including the United States, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, most Gulf countries, and African nations. This leading experience of Moroccan intelligence security under Abdellatif Hammouchi’s leadership has brought this apparatus to global prominence, earning trust and respect worldwide. This has led global media to draw attention to Morocco through its security and intelligence apparatus, and various countries to seek Morocco’s assistance in solving issues that concern them, especially in dismantling terrorist cells that threaten global security and peace.
Given what Abdellatif Hammouchi has achieved in the security and intelligence apparatus, he remains the right man for this period of intensifying terrorist attacks on a global scale.
