SENIOR GOM OFFICIAL ON AQIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000473 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018 TAGS: PTER KISL XA MO SUBJECT: SENIOR GOM OFFICIAL ON AQIM REF: A. A. 07 RABAT 1105 ¶B. B. RABAT 171 ¶C. C. RABAT 398 ¶D. D. RABAT 400 ¶E. E. RABAT 422 Classified By: (C) Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for rea sons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: A senior Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs official noted May 13 that the Government of Moroccan perceived the regional terrorist threat as serious but manageable. He described the nature of terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Maghreb, estimating that the group contains between 800 and 1000 fighters, throughout the Maghreb, particularly in southern Algeria and regions beyond the border. He described Moroccan efforts to counter terrorism in Morocco, noting that while enforcement has been relatively successful, more needed to be done to promote education, moderate religious discourse and economic development. End Summary. Morocco,s Terrorist Problem -------------- ¶2. (C) On May 13, Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General of Bilateral Relations Ambassador Youssef Amrani hosted a group of National Defense University students for a discussion of Moroccan Foreign policy issues and engagement with the U.S. Among other issues (septel),Amrani related that terrorism is causing the government of Morocco (GOM) significant concern and has proved difficult to combat. Terrorist cells are decentralized and dispersed, making them difficult to contain (ref. E). The major terrorist group in the region, AQIM is taking advantage of the absence of strong central governments in the Sahel and the weak socio-economic position of the population in order to move in to desert and mountainous spaces mostly outside Morocco. Presently, the GOM estimates there are between 800 and 1000 fighters associated with AQIM in the region. ¶3. (C) Highlighting the recent success of Moroccan police and intelligence services (ref. B),Amrani admitted more needed to be done while reiterating GOM,s long-term approach to fighting terrorism. Amrani pointed to GOM efforts to increase educational opportunities, moderate religious teaching, promote democratic reforms and ameliorate the common Moroccan,s economic standing as positive approaches the GOM has taken to counter terrorism (for an overview of the extremist/terrorist situation in Morocco and the GOM,s response, see refs. C, D and E). ¶4. (C) In addition to internal reforms, Amrani stressed the importance of cooperation between the GOM and other governments in the region. Specifically highlighting Morocco,s difficult bilateral relationship with Algeria, Amrani stated that their counter terrorism cooperation may be the only field wherein the two governments are fully cooperating. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley