Political Influence in Moroccan Migration Crisis

The crisis of the mass influx of Moroccan migrants

towards Ceuta is no longer according to the Spanish newspaper" The Objective,"

just an issue related to irregular migration

or security laxity. Rather, it has turned into a window that reveals,

according to the newspaper, an intense power struggle

within the ruling circles in Morocco.

The newspaper, in a report titled" The Viceroy of Morocco: The Mastermind of the

Ceuta Invasion," pointed out that Mohammed VI's advisor and

close friend, Fouad Ali El Himma,

is behind the mass escape of tens of thousands of Moroccans towards Ceuta,

stressing that what happened falls within internal political calculations related to

rearranging the balance of power ahead of the legislative elections

scheduled for next September 23rd.

The report quotes Moroccan sources familiar with decision- making

circles in Rabat as saying that the Ceuta crisis represents the peak

of the power struggle within the royal palace, in a confrontation where

the interests of senior officials, security services, and economic elites overlap.

According to the newspaper,

this is reflected in the management of the migration file and

its use as a bargaining chip in the power struggle adding that Fouad Ali El Himma,

who is known in some circles as the' Viceroy,'

exploited the state of chaos in the migration file to demonstrate

his ability to control the key apparatuses of the state.

In mapping the web of influence within the Moroccan state, the newspaper confirms

that El Himma, who has served as the King's advisor since 2011,

has succeeded in the last two decades in weaving a vast

network of relationships extending to the intelligence services,

diplomatic institutions,

media, and territorial administrations, which, according to the report,

made him one of the most influential figures in decision- making within the Kingdom.

The newspaper goes even further, reporting that a large part of the appointment

mechanisms for senior positions, from governors and ambassadors

to senior security officials and heads of strategic institutions, practically passes

through the royal advisor, who, according to the same sources,

handles gathering reports, proposing appointments, and maintaining direct

communication channels with officials who owe him loyalty.

The report links this

rising influence to what it describes as the continuous decline in King Mohammed

VI's public appearances due to his health condition,

stating that this reality has allowed Fouad Ali El Himma

to expand his circle of influence within the royal institution, not only through

his proximity to the King, but also by building a system of loyalties capable

of enduring, regardless of changing governments or shifting

balances of power within official institutions.