Tags: Morocco, Makhzen, DGST, crown prince, royal palace, monarchy,
Strategic Paper on the Conflict Between the Palace and the Makhzen in Morocco
Introduction
🔻 Morocco recently witnessed a short-lived leak published by the group Jabroot on its Telegram channel. The leak contained sensitive information implicating the DST inside the royal palace itself, including suspicions of attempts to target the Crown Prince by lacing his food with certain drugs. Although the post was deleted only minutes after its release, the mere appearance of such information reveals a dangerous level of internal conflict between the monarchy and its own security apparatus.
First: The Significance of the Leak and Its Swift Removal
🔹️ More of an internal message than a public disclosure – the publishing and quick deletion suggest that the intended audience was not the wider public but narrow circles within the system.
🔹️ Highly sensitive details – mentioning specific names and drugs such as Spironolactone points to accurate sources, while at the same time explaining why the information was erased so quickly to prevent wider circulation.
🔹️ An open turf war – the leak reflects an unprecedented conflict between the palace and the very agencies that are supposed to serve it, opening the door to scenarios of internal destabilization.
Second: Structural Shifts in the Palace–Makhzen Relationship
Traditionally, the stability of Morocco’s system has relied on the overlap of monarchy and Makhzen (security services, army, bureaucracy). Today, the Makhzen no longer appears to be a mere instrument in the hands of the king, but rather an autonomous power center that can act against the palace itself.
This development threatens to dismantle the myth of the “sacred monarchy” that has underpinned the regime’s legitimacy for decades.
Third: Hammouchi’s Intelligence and the “Made-to-Measure King”
The latest leaks suggest that the DGST, led by Abdellatif Hammouchi, is no longer satisfied with its traditional security roles but seeks to play a direct part in shaping the future of the throne.
The allegation of spiking the Crown Prince’s meals, whether accurate or not, reveals an attempt to weaken or control the presumed heir to King Mohammed VI.
This reflects the agency’s intent to create a “made-to-measure king” – a weak or controlled monarch who allows the Makhzen to hold the real power while the throne remains only a symbolic facade for domestic and foreign audiences.
Thus, the balance of power shifts from a historical arrangement in which the king was the “supreme Makhzen,” to a new situation where the security apparatus lays its hands on royal succession itself – a dangerous precedent that undermines the very essence of monarchy as an absolute system.
Fourth: Possible Scenarios
🔸️ The Security Services Swallow the Monarchy
Decision-making effectively shifts to the hands of intelligence and military chiefs, while the monarchy remains only as a symbolic cover.
🔸️ Internal Explosion and Rapid Collapse
The loss of trust between the palace and its agencies could trigger internal purges or a “white coup,” especially amid rising social and economic pressures.
🔸️ Limited Internal Re-arrangements
The king may attempt to reassert control through leadership changes within the agencies, but the depth of the rift makes lasting success unlikely.
Fifth: Regional and International Implications
Morocco has long been a key partner for the West on migration, security, and counter-terrorism. Any internal conflict between the palace and the Makhzen threatens to unravel this partnership and create a dangerous security vacuum in North Africa and the Sahel.
The international community must recognize that Morocco is no longer a stable, unified bloc but a fragmented structure on the verge of collapse.
Sixth: The Political Alternative – Toward a Federal Republic
With the traditional alliance between monarchy and Makhzen breaking apart, there is a need for an alternative project that ensures democratic stability.
The opposition abroad clearly advances the option of a federal republic, based on:
– Popular sovereignty as the sole source of legitimacy.
– Genuine separation of powers.
-Fair distribution of wealth and authority among regions.
-Ending the dominance of security services over political decision-making.
This model offers Morocco long-term stability, unlike the current system built on fragile internal and external alliances that are rapidly disintegrating.
📢 Despite being deleted, the leaks expose a structural crisis within Morocco’s regime between the monarchy and the Makhzen.
Conclusion & Recommendations
– The international community must treat Morocco not as a stable ally but as a country heading toward radical transformation.
-Supporting a transition toward a democratic federal republic is the only guarantee for genuine and sustainable stability in the region.
Qandyl Mohamed – Blogger, Moroccan Human Rights and Political Activist
#morocco #dgst #makhzen
