Rabat, July 1, 2025 – In a significant diplomatic shift, Morocco is preparing to reopen its embassy in Damascus after more than a decade of closure, marking a potential warming of ties with Syria following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. The move comes as Rabat seeks to bolster international recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara, with Syria emerging as a key target for diplomatic engagement.

A Step Toward Normalization

Morocco closed its embassy in Syria in 2012, following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war and the Arab League’s suspension of Damascus over its violent crackdown on protests. However, with Assad’s regime ousted and a new government in place, several Arab states have gradually restored relations with Syria. Morocco now appears to be following suit.

A Syrian delegation recently visited Rabat to inspect the Syrian embassy, which has been shuttered since Morocco expelled Syrian diplomats in 2012. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has reportedly expressed interest in visiting Morocco, though Rabat has yet to formally respond to the proposal.

Western Sahara: A Key Motivator

Analysts suggest that Morocco’s push for Syrian recognition of its claim over Western Sahara is a driving factor behind the diplomatic outreach. Rabat has been aggressively courting nations to back its autonomy plan for the disputed territory, which is also claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

“Syria’s stance on Western Sahara could be crucial for Morocco,” said Samira El-Masri, a North Africa geopolitical analyst. “If Damascus officially endorses Morocco’s sovereignty, it could encourage other holdout nations to follow suit.”

Syria had previously supported the Polisario Front during Assad’s rule, aligning with Algeria and Iran. However, the new Syrian government, seeking international rehabilitation, may be open to shifting its position in exchange for economic and diplomatic support from Morocco.

Regional Implications

Morocco’s move could further strain its already tense relations with Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front and a longtime rival. Algeria, which restored ties with Syria in 2023, may view Rabat’s overtures to Damascus as an attempt to outmaneuver it diplomatically.

The reopening of Morocco’s embassy in Syria would also align with broader regional trends, as Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have already reintegrated Syria into the Arab fold. However, Western nations remain cautious, with the U.S. and EU maintaining sanctions on Syria over human rights concerns.

Next Steps

While no official timeline has been announced for the embassy’s reopening, diplomatic sources indicate that both sides are moving swiftly. A state visit by President Al-Sharaa to Morocco could solidify the new chapter in bilateral relations—provided Rabat extends the invitation.

As Morocco continues its diplomatic offensive on Western Sahara, its re-engagement with Syria may prove to be a strategic win—or a new flashpoint in North Africa’s ongoing geopolitical rivalries.

Washington, D.C. — June 27, 2025
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced new legislation aimed at designating the Polisario Front, the armed separatist group operating in Western Sahara, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under U.S. law. The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, underscores growing concerns over the group’s alleged ties to Iran, Hezbollah, and other destabilizing actors in the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

The bill, officially titled the “Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act” (H.R. 4119), was introduced on June 24, 2025, by Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) and co-sponsored by Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). If passed, the legislation would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to review and report on whether the Polisario Front meets the legal criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

“The Polisario is a Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco—a U.S. ally for over two centuries,” said Rep. Wilson in a public statement.

Strategic and Regional Implications

The bill’s introduction comes amid renewed geopolitical tensions in North and West Africa, where the Polisario Front has waged a decades-long campaign for independence in Western Sahara—a region Morocco considers an integral part of its sovereign territory. The U.S. formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory in 2020 as part of a broader diplomatic agreement.

According to U.S. lawmakers supporting the bill, the Polisario Front has received military training, funding, and drone technology from Iran and its proxies, raising alarms about the potential for increased terrorist activity and instability in the region. Intelligence assessments cited by congressional sources suggest the group may be aligning with transnational militant networks, threatening U.S. allies and economic interests in North Africa.

What the Bill Proposes

If enacted, the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act would:

• Mandate the U.S. State Department to investigate and formally evaluate the group’s activities under the FTO criteria.
• Authorize the imposition of financial sanctions, including asset freezes and restrictions on transactions involving U.S. entities.
• Bar entry into the United States for individuals affiliated with the Polisario Front.
• Criminalize material support to the group under U.S. anti-terrorism statutes.

Legal analysts note that such a designation would significantly limit the Polisario Front’s international financial activities and would deter third-party nations and organizations from providing support.

Regional Response and Diplomatic Context

The proposed legislation is expected to bolster U.S.–Morocco relations, as Rabat has long pressed for stronger Western action against the Polisario Front, which it views as an Iranian-backed separatist movement threatening national security. Morocco has also accused Algeria—a key backer of the Polisario—of facilitating arms transfers and safe haven operations.

In response to the bill’s introduction, Moroccan officials and international advocacy groups have welcomed the move, emphasizing the need to counter state-sponsored proxy conflicts in the region.

However, human rights organizations caution that any shift in U.S. policy should also consider the humanitarian situation of Sahrawi refugees in camps in Tindouf, Algeria, and ensure that diplomatic pathways toward peaceful conflict resolution remain viable.

Next Steps in Congress

As of this week, the bill has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee for further review. It must pass both chambers of Congress before being presented to the President for signature. Ultimately, any FTO designation requires final approval by the U.S. Secretary of State, in coordination with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

If passed, this would mark the first time the United States formally designates the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, a major shift in its long-standing approach to the Western Sahara dispute.

Contact:
For more information, please refer to the full bill on Congress.gov (H.R. 4119) or visit the official websites of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Morocco’s National Social Security Fund (CNSS) has fallen victim to a significant cyberattack, exposing sensitive personal and corporate data, with some reports estimating the breach may impact nearly 2 million individuals and 500,000 companies. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, April 8, also targeted the Ministry of Employment, though their incident appears to be less severe.

While CNSS initially described the breach as “partial,” independent reports from Le Canard Libéré and La Quotidienne.ma suggest the scale could be far greater, with leaked data including contact information, salary declarations, and identities of managers and employees from major Moroccan institutions such as the Royal Holding Company Siger, Crédit Agricole Bank, and even the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat.

⚠️ What Was Leaked?

The compromised information reportedly includes:

• Names and contact details
• Salary records and declarations
• Organizational roles
• Data from high-profile entities

However, CNSS officials have urged the public to treat leaked information with caution, stating that some content circulating on social media is either false, incomplete, or taken out of context.

🧑‍💻 Who’s Behind the Attack?

Only one source, Le Canard Libéré, has pointed to a possible perpetrator: an Algerian hacker group called “Jebaroot”, allegedly retaliating for a prior breach of the Algerian Press Service’s (APSX) Twitter account. This claim remains unverified by other media outlets and Moroccan authorities, highlighting the difficulty in attributing cyberattacks with certainty.

🔐 CNSS Response & Public Warning

In response to the attack, CNSS:

• Activated emergency cybersecurity protocols
• Partnered with national security authorities
• Temporarily restricted access to certain online services
• Issued urgent public warnings

The CNSS has advised all insured individuals to:

• Change their passwords regularly
• Avoid sharing personal data via unsolicited calls, texts, or emails
• Verify communications only via their official website: www.cnss.ma

They also warned that spreading fake or leaked data may lead to legal consequences, as authorities are investigating and may pursue criminal charges.

🧾 Legal and Institutional Ramifications

The National Data Protection Authority (CNDP) has opened its doors to victims seeking to file complaints. Meanwhile, CNSS has launched an internal probe and referred the case to the judiciary, underlining the seriousness of the incident.

Le Canard Libéré raised concerns over the CNSS’s digital infrastructure, calling it “expensive but underperforming”, and questioned whether sufficient safeguards were in place to protect national data assets.

📉 Wider Implications

This breach could have ripple effects across Morocco:

• Professional secrecy compromised
• Salary leaks may disrupt competition or prompt social unrest
• Public trust in digital institutions at risk

The incident is being called by some analysts “Morocco’s first cyber war,” underlining how digital threats are becoming matters of national security.

🛡️ Final Takeaway

This attack is a stark reminder that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a national, economic, and societal priority. With sensitive data now at risk, the public is urged to remain vigilant and institutions must reassess their digital defense strategies.

“What’s needed is not just better firewalls,” said one analyst, “but a fundamental shift in how we protect, manage, and respond to cyber threats in a connected world.”