Morocco links cyberattacks to Sahara diplomatic gains
The Moroccan government has blamed recent cyberattacks on two national institutions on so-called “hostile actors,” linking the incidents to the increasing diplomatic gains Morocco has achieved in the long-standing Sahara dispute, reports the Moroccan government friendly Hespress.
During a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting on April 10th, Government Spokesperson and Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament, Mustapha Baitas, confirmed that the official websites of the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, as well as the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), were compromised earlier in the week.
Baitas stated that the cyberattacks led to the unauthorised publication of sensitive CNSS-related data on social media.
He categorised the breaches as “criminal acts,” and noted that such digital attacks are becoming more frequent globally, targeting both government entities and public institutions.
Some of the data that surfaced online had been manipulated or taken out of context, Baitas added.
In response, the CNSS has formally alerted the appropriate judicial authorities, who are now expected to pursue legal action against those responsible.
The timing of the cyberattacks, Baitas pointed out, coincided with the United States’ recent reaffirmation of its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara region—a move he described as a “significant diplomatic victory,” reinstating the diplomatic gains Morocco have received in the Sahara dispute.
He highlighted that this support builds upon the 2020 decision made under then-President Donald Trump, who confirmed the US position in a direct communication with King Mohammed VI.
“This American recognition further consolidates the historical position of the US administration on the national cause,” Baitas declared, portraying the cyberattacks as an attempt to “undermine Morocco’s diplomatic successes.”
He further emphasised that Morocco’s enhanced global standing under the leadership of King Mohammed VI has caused discomfort among the country’s detractors, who are increasingly resorting to underhanded tactics.
In the wake of the breach, Moroccan authorities have moved swiftly to bolster digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity measures, aiming to thwart any future threats to national institutions.
Hespress. Maghrebi
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