فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat, Morocco — Morocco’s security role has evolved beyond protecting its borders and fighting terrorism within its national territory. The Moroccan intelligence agencies, represented by the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) and the General Directorate for Studies and Documentation (DGED), have risen to a leading position on the international stage, achieving strategic successes that make them major players in regional and global security equations.
Qualitative Security Partnerships and International Successes
The General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) has emerged as a trusted security partner internationally. In February 2021, the DGST received unprecedented praise from the FBI and CIA in recognition of the accurate intelligence it provided, which enabled the thwarting of an attack planned by a U.S. soldier on behalf of ISIS. This cooperation led to a strong security partnership, culminating in high-level visits by the heads of the FBI and CIA to Rabat in 2023.
On the African front, the General Directorate for Studies and Documentation (DGED) has reinforced its leadership role. It contributed to the elimination of the Boko Haram leader in Niger and successfully facilitated the release of European and African hostages, including the German Jörg Lange in 2022. In 2025, DGED played a pivotal role in freeing four Moroccan drivers kidnapped in Mali and helped secure the release of four French spies in Burkina Faso in 2024. Today, it continues its efforts to persuade Nigerien authorities to release their former president Mohamed Bazoum.
Morocco: A Geopolitical Bridge Between Africa and the Atlantic
Morocco’s role extends beyond security to diplomacy and strengthening dialogue channels with transitional regimes in the Sahel region. In April 2025, King Mohammed VI hosted foreign ministers of the Sahel Alliance countries (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso). This strategic initiative provides these countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean, with a possibility of Chad joining later. This move consolidates Morocco’s image as a pivotal power that links inland Africa to the Atlantic basin.
This growing presence received international acclaim, with French President Emmanuel Macron affirming in a speech before the Moroccan parliament in October 2024 that “the old view of Africa is no longer valid,” underscoring Rabat’s importance as a regional intermediary. On the other hand, some media and military circles in Spain have expressed concern about this increasing influence.
Future Challenges and Morocco’s International Standing
With discussions underway in the United States about relocating a specific African military command to Morocco, it is evident that Rabat stands as an indispensable strategic actor in the international security equation. Morocco has shown a unique ability to combine rigorous security measures with flexible diplomacy, making it a model in a turbulent regional environment.
This position transcends temporary security successes to become a strategic lever granting Morocco a central role in international stability networks. The pressing question today is: to what extent will Morocco be able to institutionalize and fortify this role in the face of upcoming geopolitical shifts in the Sahel and the Mediterranean?
