Maghreb Edition

Morocco: European Parliament to launch hearing on Morocco’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware, Morocco denies claimF



Posted On 9 February 2023

Number of times this article was read : 862

The North Africa Journal’s WhatsApp Group

The Moroccan parliament decried Wednesday an “unjust campaign” against it at the European Parliament ahead of a hearing in Brussels over the North African country’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware. The European Parliament is set to hear from experts, human rights defenders and journalists on Thursday on claims that Morocco had used the spyware against politicians and journalists — a claim denied by Rabat. Pegasus software, developed by Israeli firm NSO, can be used to access a phone’s messages and emails, look through photos, eavesdrop on calls, track the owner’s location and even film them with the camera.

Rachid Talbi Alami, speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, said “our country suffers hostile actions and attacks at the European Parliament, which have forced us to reevaluate our relations with it”. Last month, parliament voted unanimously to review ties with the European Parliament, accusing it of meddling after a resolution that urged the kingdom to respect press freedoms. Alami said on Wednesday the European “campaign continues with the announced debate over old allegations of espionage against the leaders of a European country”.

Morocco had sued in France over claims it used Pegasus software to spy on President Emmanuel Macron. The French courts ruled the lawsuits inadmissible. Olivier Baratelli, lawyer for Rabat in the case, told deputies on Thursday in a videocall that “Morocco has long been the victim of an international attempt at destabilisation. It has not ceased to denounce these unjust and fanciful accusations.” After the European resolution on freedom of the press, the parliament in Rabat unanimously decided to reconsider its relations with the European Parliament, and on Tuesday set up a committee to examine the issue.

AFP

Podcast: Development Without Aid: Power, Politics, and Local Resilience in the Global South$

A conversation with Dr. Kate Schecter, President and CEO of World Neighbors, on how community-led development works in practice across the Global South.

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of AfricaF

Egypt joined China’s expanded zero-tariff scheme on 1 May 2026, gaining duty-free access to the Chinese market alongside 52 other African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. The move eliminates tariffs that previously ran from 8 to 30 percent on key Egyptian exports, though the arrangement is a two-year preferential window through April 2028 rather than a permanent deal, and non-tariff barriers like rules of origin and phytosanitary standards still apply.

While its minorities are winning World Cup games, France is preparing to pivot to the far rightF

As France’s multiethnic World Cup squad marches toward the semifinals, the country’s 2027 presidential race is tilting hard right. Right-winger Marine Le Pen leads first-round polling and beats nearly every rival in hypothetical runoffs. With RN president Jordan Bardella waiting in the wings and Jean-Luc Mélenchon consolidating the left, France’s fractured center may not be able to stop either a far-right or hard-left runoff in 2027. Here is our take.

Egypt Clears $6.1 Billion Oil and Gas Arrears, Energy Sector Looks to Rebuild Investor TrustF

Egypt has fully paid the $6.1 billion in arrears it owed foreign oil and gas partners, ending a multi-year backlog tied to its foreign-currency crunch. With the debt paid down to zero by mid-2026, officials are pairing the settlement with new investment incentives and a push to revive onshore drilling, aiming to reverse years of declining crude output.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.