Moussadek Mimoune, Moroccan Intelligence Agent: “Moroccan terrorists were behind the Marrakech bombings, Algeria had nothing to do with them”
Moussadek Mimoune is a former Moroccan diplomat, the worked as intelligence agent in Europe for his country Morocco. His secret code was MD 17347. He has kept silent for 15 years and kept secret the numerous missions he accomplished. In spite of the deterioration in his living conditions on account of a plot hatched against him by Army generals close to the Moroccan Royal Palace, this former agent now aged 64, has not joined the ranks of the opposition. He is currently living in a small hotel room in a Paris suburb with his small family made up of his wife and his three daughters. Moussadek Mimoune was in direct contact with Moroccan opponent Hicham El Mandari as part of an official infiltration mission. His version of El Mandari's assassination in Spain in 2004 has not as yet been heard by justice. Moussadek Mimoune has decided to break his costly silence by granting an exclusive interview to Echorouk.
- This witness of the “murky games” of the Makhzen is intent on publishing in the near future a book in which he will unveil several startling truths on numerous affairs.
- Echorouk : Could you tell us about the missions you have accomplished abroad as part of your work as Moroccan intelligence agent?
- Moussadek Mimoune : Yes, in fact I have fulfilled a lot of missions. For instance, I was able to infiltrate into the Polisario Front in 1981.
- At that time, I used to work in Rome (Italy). The Polisario Front was engaged in actions in collaboration with the Italian communist Party which arranged an encounter among them at the Leonard De Vinci hotel in the Italian capital.
- We had received an injunction from General Ahmed El Dilmi to infiltrate the meeting.
- The objective of such an operation was to know the real intentions of the Polisario Front towards Morocco
- Echorouk : Have you fulfilled other important missions overseas?
- Moussadek Mimoune : I fulfilled personal actions in 1989.
- I questioned Moroccans, Algerians and Egyptians arrested by French police. I discovered that there were people who had close links with certain mosques in France.
- These people were carrying out political actions against Morocco. They were extremist elements who used to listen to sermons by Imam or religious preacher Abdelhamid Kichk. One of my friends conveyed my information to this effect to the management of the territory surveillance (DST). Some days later, the head of the Moroccan DST, Abdellaziz Alabouche, contacted me and thanked me for the information I had supplied.
- Echorouk : What was the nature of the information you have supplied to the DST ?
- Moussadek Mimoune : As a matter of fact, I supplied a great deal of information, notably pertaining to Moroccans who were planning to introduce weapons into Morocco, as well as to five (5) Moroccans who were planning terrorist attacks in Moroccan territory.
- I duly conveyed in February 1993 to Abdellaziz Alabouche the name of these people and other relevant information about them.
- Echorouk : So, this happened as you said well before the attacks which targeted the Asni hotel of Marrakech on August 20th 1994 ?
- Moussadek Mimoune : Absolutly, well before these attacks.
- The suspected Moroccans on whom I supplied information to the DST were living in the 4000 housing compound of Aubervilliers in the Paris suburbs.
- It was precisely in that district where the persons involved in the Marrakech bombings were settled.
- Echorouk : So, why certain quarters in Morocco pointed an accusing finger at Algeria?
- Moussadek Mimoune : This is very puzzling. I found it strange and mysterious that they took into account the testimony of a person who presented himself as an Algerian intelligence agent. The latter alleged having supervised the attacks against the Asni hotel.
- Given my experience in the intelligence field, infiltration and the reliable information I had in my possession, I can assure you that the accusations against Algeria were baseless. Algeria had nothing to do with the Marrakech bombings.