Allegations of an operation by Algerian secret services to create a separatist movement in the Rif region of Morocco have surfaced on social media, causing a stir among young Moroccans. The claims were confirmed by a well-known Algerian YouTuber, who provided a slightly different version of events, wrote Algerian Journalist Hichem Aboud on Wednesday in Altalayar.
The controversy involves three unemployed young Moroccans living in Europe, identified as Mohsen Errifi, Saïd Barça, and Ahmed Soltane. They are at the center of a scandal involving the DGDSE (General Directorate of External Security) led by Major General Djebbar M’henna, as reported by Aboud.
Aboud revealed that one of the three is a political exile who had previously served a short prison sentence for participating in the events of Al-Hoceima in February 2017, and who frequently travels to Algeria. Allegedly, he was approached by Algerian Secret Services, which promised him help and assistance via a YouTuber without revealing their true intentions. Saïd Barça reportedly played along to secure a significant amount of money, and subsequently enlisted his friends to provide the impression of leading a genuine separatist movement advocating for the independence of the Rif region and the establishment of a Rif republic.
The situation escalated when the three young men were invited to make statements on the government channel AI 24, Algeria Internationale, and requested funding of 250,000 euros for a demonstration in Madrid and for other activities, according to the Algerian YouTuber. The Algerians responded by denying any involvement of their secret services and accused the Moroccans of making demands for money, leading to a flurry of accusations.
First, the three Moroccans turned on each other, all revolving around issues of money. Then, the Algerians responded through the YouTuber, who gave his version of events, denying any involvement of Algerian secret services. He claimed to be acting alone on behalf of his channel, without specifying whether it was his YouTube channel or AI 24. However, he spoke as a representative of a group, using “we” when stating “We do not give them money” and “We offered them hotel accommodation…”
This scandal comes after the failure of an operation to kidnap and assassinate an Algerian journalist in France and the dismantling of a criminal network acting on behalf of Algerian DGDSE services, exposing deficiencies within the intelligence network.