Marrakech, Morocco – In a significant move to bolster national security and combat terrorism, Morocco's National Commission responsible for implementing UN Security Council sanctions, known as CNASNU, has officially added ten individuals to the country’s local terrorism list. This announcement was made on Monday and targets Moroccan nationals who are alleged to have connections with the Islamic State (also known as Daesh) and al-Qaeda's affiliate operating within the Sahel region.
The decision to expand the list was reached during a meeting held at the Ministry of Justice, presided over by Hicham Mellati, the head of CNASNU. The commission members unanimously approved the additions, ensuring adherence to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This decisive action follows a thorough evaluation which confirmed that the ten individuals in question met the established criteria for inclusion on the list.
As a result of this listing, all ten individuals are subjected to an immediate freeze of their assets, prohibited from engaging in any transactions, and face travel bans. The responsibility to enforce these measures lies with the individuals themselves, as well as any public institutions and legal entities operating under either public or private law.
The newly listed individuals exhibit a diverse range of operational backgrounds. For instance, Said Bellaagreb, born in Meknes on December 5, 1979, is identified as the deputy emir of ISIS’s Kirkuk province in Iraq. Additionally, three individuals are linked to activities in Syria, including Aziz Ait Ouzrou, who joined ISIS in the Syrian badia, and Abdellah El Moussaoui, who has been on the run since 2013 and is now based in Brazil, where he is wanted under a national and international warrant.
Moreover, Rida Laabas, who departed Morocco in 2017 towards Turkiye, has been associated with ISIS's migration and logistics committee and has previously been convicted for his involvement in planning terrorist acts. The commission also highlighted four individuals connected to ISIS operations in Somalia, including Karime Ahouda and Mohammed Anouar El Bakkali, both of whom have played significant leadership roles within the group’s Somalia faction.
In addition to ISIS affiliations, El Mahdi Regragi, born in Beni Mellal, has been recognized as a leader in the media division of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), al-Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel, while the tenth individual, Mustapha Dihani, is currently facing charges related to forming a gang to execute terrorist acts.
The legal foundation for this decision is robust, as the commission referenced Morocco’s anti-money laundering law and anti-terrorism legislation, along with pertinent UN Security Council resolutions. This strategic update aims to enhance coordination among relevant sectors, improve information-sharing mechanisms, and verify the identities of the individuals involved, all of which are crucial for mitigating the risks associated with terrorism financing and arms proliferation.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
