On October 1, 2026, Hicham El Mansouri appeared on France 24, presenting himself as an investigative journalist and defender of human rights. He discussed the third report by Amnesty International, which claims Morocco used Pegasus spyware. El Mansouri stated that the report is the result of three years of "serious investigation." However, upon closer examination, several inconsistencies and contradictions emerge, casting doubt on the report's credibility.
El Mansouri's credibility has been questioned due to his past involvement in a criminal case in Morocco related to moral and sexual crimes. He was accused of sexually exploiting a married woman. His attempt to present himself as a victim and human rights defender while hiding behind investigative journalism has raised concerns about his objectivity.
The report initially claimed that Morocco targeted 50,000 phone numbers, but the latest report reduces this number to 103 phones. This drastic reduction raises questions about the accuracy of the initial claims and the reliability of the report. Amnesty International's change in numbers has sparked skepticism about the organization's methods and motivations.
El Mansouri mentioned that Pegasus was handed over in a residential villa in Rabat, which has been met with skepticism. The claim that a sophisticated cyber program was handled in a residential setting rather than a secure government facility has been questioned by experts. This narrative has been compared to Hollywood spy movies and is seen as naive regarding intelligence agency protocols.
The report also claims that Pegasus was tested internally on the phones of DGSI officers and staff. However, this claim has been disputed, as it is unlikely that Moroccan intelligence would need to test a proven spyware program on its own staff. Furthermore, previous reports claimed that the test was conducted on the phone of Abdellatif Hammouchi, the head of DGSI, which has been denied in the latest report.
The report relies heavily on a mysterious source known as "Sefir," a former officer who allegedly provided testimony. However, this source was also used in the second Amnesty International report, raising concerns about the organization's reliance on unverifiable sources. The use of anonymous sources has been criticized, as it is difficult to verify their existence or credibility.
Critics argue that this campaign is part of a broader "legalized extortion" system, where certain individuals and organizations seek to discredit Moroccan institutions and gain international attention. El Mansouri and others have been accused of forming a "fifth column" that seeks to undermine national institutions by riding waves of international criticism. The report has been seen as an attempt to discredit Morocco's intelligence agencies and security forces.
Key points
- Amnesty International's report claims Morocco targeted 103 phones with Pegasus spyware.
- The report's credibility has been questioned due to inconsistencies and contradictions.
- Critics argue that the report is part of a broader campaign to discredit Moroccan institutions.
