New evidence links Morocco to Pegasus spying on French officials
A group of mainly European news outlets is threatening to disrupt cordial relations between France and Morocco as new details about Rabat’s alleged spying resurface in a major investigation.
New evidence seems to suggest that the Kingdom of Morocco systematically used the Israeli-developed Pegasus spyware to target French citizens and high-ranking government officials, according to an investigation coordinated by Forbidden Stories and Radio France’s investigation unit and 16 other media outlets, published on July 16, 2026. Despite years of denial from Rabat, this latest reporting challenges the kingdom’s defence. It is bolstered by new testimonies from within the Moroccan security apparatus and internal French intelligence documentation.
The investigation centres on the 2021 findings involving Sébastien Lecornu, the then-Minister of Overseas France. Technical analysis conducted by the ANSSI (National Cybersecurity Agency of France) and supervised by the DGSI (Internal Intelligence) confirmed that Lecornu’s iPhone XS showed clear “indicators of compromise,” pointing to potential targeting by the software. This was not an isolated incident. In fact, approximately 1,000 French phone numbers were identified as potential targets. These include those of prominent journalists and government ministers such as Florence Parly, Jean-Michel Blanquer, and Emmanuelle Wargon.
According to “Safir,” a whistleblower and former agent of the Moroccan General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), the kingdom began using Pegasus in 2017. He described the software as “the monster’s weapon”. It was used primarily to manufacture compromising dossiers against journalists and human rights activists when traditional surveillance methods proved insufficient. The investigation also reveals that Morocco avoided purchasing the software directly from the Israeli firm NSO. Instead, they used intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates to acquire Pegasus, a move designed to hide the kingdom’s involvement and avoid direct attribution.
Since 2022, French magistrate Serge Tournaire has led the inquiry, yet he has faced total non-cooperation from both Moroccan and Israeli authorities. This judicial stalemate is complicated by diplomacy. Relations between France and Morocco were very difficult after the 2021 spying revelations. Trust broke down, and it was reported that President Emmanuel Macron was so frustrated that he allegedly described the security methods as those of ‘thugs’ during a phone call. Since then, however, both countries have moved past these issues and reconciled. This was underscored by Emmanuel Macron’s October 2024 decision to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The geopolitical shift has left many French victims of the spyware feeling abandoned, as the French state prioritises ties with Rabat over accountability for cyber-espionage. Interestingly, the report also notes that the French DGSI itself had previously explored acquiring Pegasus. However, it was ultimately vetoed by President Macron due to sovereignty and reputational concerns.
Maghrebi.org, Radio France.
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