Morocco creates northern military zone to counter irregular migration, smuggling

Morocco created a new military zone, the northern region, to strengthen the Kingdom’s ability to fight smuggling and irregular migration.

During an official ceremony headed by Admiral Mustafa Alami, Inspector of the Royal Navy, and Brigade General Hassan Reda, the establishment of the Northern Military District of the Royal Armed Forces was officially announced.

The ceremony was attended by the governor of the Tangier-Tetouan-Hoceima region, governor of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture, Mohamed Mahdia, the general prosecutor of the King at the Court of Appeal in Hoceima, workers of the provinces of Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Ouazzane, Larache and Fahs Anjara, and officers from the operational sector in the North region.

The establishment of this zone comes with royal instructions, and aims to tackle the challenges facing the Kingdom, including irregular migration and activities related to drug smuggling.

Hoceima was chosen to be the headquarters, and the first commander of the northern military region, General HassanRida, was appointed to head it.

According to the Royal Armed Forces Journal, this area aims to increase coordination between the various military and local units in order to take quick and effective action in the face of challenges.

The establishment of the Northern Military District was accompanied by a significant development of the army’s structures in these regions.

The General Command of the Royal Armed Forces has provided all human and logistical capabilities to start work in this military region, especially with regard to operational coordination between units.

The establishment of the northern military region comes a few months after the establishment of the eastern military region, whose leadership is based in Errachidia, to join the southern military region, based in Agadir.

During the past months, General Muhammad Miqdad was appointed commander of the eastern region, a military official known in the army circles for having fought battles in the Moroccan desert, and was a high-ranking officer in the southern region.

Creating an eastern military region aims to generalise the defense system and military living in the southern region over the eastern region, that is, on the entire land borders of the Kingdom.

The purpose of creating this zone is to reduce cross-border crime, smuggling and irregular migration, and to strengthen the capabilities of defending the kingdom’s possession and territorial integrity.

This is the first time that Morocco is heading east and north to establish two integrated military regions, similar to those in the south.