Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

In December, authorities dismantled a six-member cell in Fez, which was reportedly
recruiting individuals to join AQIM. The cell allegedly also planned to send some
members to AQIM training camps, who would then return to carry out attacks in
Morocco.
In December, authorities arrested six individuals in Marrakech for allegedly planning to
carry out terrorist attacks within the country.
Morocco continued to participate in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance
program, which helped enhance Moroccan counterterrorism capabilities by providing training in
cyber forensics, crime scene forensics, and executive leadership to both the national police and
gendarmes.
Countering Terrorist Finance: Morocco is a member of the Middle East and North Africa
Financial Action Task Force, a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body, and its
Financial Intelligence Unit is a member of the Egmont Group. Since February 2010, Morocco
has been publicly identified by the FATF as a jurisdiction with strategic anti-money
laundering/combating the financing of terrorism deficiencies. To address those deficiencies, it
developed an action plan with the FATF. Morocco continued to implement provisions created in
2011, including the extension of judicial authority to prosecute money laundering crimes
committed within the country and abroad, and the expansion of the list of people and
organizations obliged to report on suspicious financial activities. Following the adoption of the
2011 legislation, the FATF determined that Morocco has not criminalized terrorist financing in
line with the international standard, and has called upon Morocco to do so as soon as possible.
For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and
Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.
Regional and International Cooperation: Morocco maintained cooperative relationships with
European and African partners by sharing information, conducting joint operations, and
participating in military, security, and civilian capacity-building events. Morocco is a founding
member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and hosted the GCTF Rule of Law
Working Group meeting in February, which produced the Rabat Memorandum on Good
Practices for Effective Counterterrorism Practice in the Criminal Justice Sector. Morocco also
hosted a GCTF Workshop on Transnational Security Challenges in the South Atlantic in
October. Morocco is a member of the Global Initiative to Counter Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT)
and hosted a GICNT Implementation and Assessment Group meeting in February.
Morocco is a Mediterranean Dialogue partner of the EU’s Barcelona Process and a major non-
NATO ally. Morocco participates in multilateral peacekeeping operations on the continent as
well as in training exercises such as maritime-focused Phoenix Express, the Flintlock regional
security cooperation exercise, and special operations exercises. These engagements, coupled
with Morocco’s initiative to modernize its force through Foreign Military Sales, have
significantly enhanced border security and improved capabilities to counter illicit traffic and
terrorism. Morocco currently holds the rotating presidency of the 5+5 Defense Initiative, which
brings together five European and five North African countries to address security issues in the
Western Mediterranean. Morocco has also been active in the efforts of the Economic Community
of West African States to address the conflict in Northern Mali. These are important steps, yet
the lack of consistent cooperation among countries in the region remains a potential weakness
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