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.


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Riley