Morocco: The Tragedy of the Earthquake and the Wealth of its Commander

BY: Hana Saada 

ALGIERS– The recent devastating earthquake in Morocco has inflicted further hardship on the country’s already vulnerable population. This event, occurring in a region now characterized as a newly established Zionist colony, has presented a haunting portrayal of people trapped beneath the debris of their humble dwellings.

It appears as though destiny has turned its harsh gaze upon the Moroccan populace, who have been subjected to various afflictions, including child exploitation, human trafficking, drug trade, and terrorism financing. All the while, Europe seems to have indirectly benefited from these illicit activities, fostering an environment of trafficking, corruption, and espionage.

While there has been a global outpouring of solidarity for Morocco, notably from neighboring Algeria, there is an unsettling pattern of double standards prevalent within the political and media systems, particularly in France, when responding to disaster-stricken populations facing significant risks. To illustrate this, we need only recall the recent devastating floods that struck Libya, resulting in over 5,000 fatalities, 10,000 individuals missing, and the displacement of more than 30,000 people. Even in the face of such tragedies, it is evident that solidarity remains selective.

Comparatively, the Syrian and Turkish populations endured much greater losses during the earthquake of February 2023, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, which claimed over 56,000 lives. Surprisingly, this catastrophic event did not garner the same level of attention from the French media elite. Nonetheless, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, proclaimed it to be one of the most significant natural disasters of our era on February 9, 2023.

During this incident, we witnessed certain political maneuvers related to geopolitical matters, notably the expressions of solidarity from key figures within the palace establishment, who have a history of antagonizing Algeria, its people, and the People’s National Army (ANP). This unfortunate event has, to some extent, helped to identify those who stand against the interests of the people and those who harbor universal animosity. These individuals have long benefited from the exploitation of Moroccan women who carry heavy burdens, victims of inhumane treatment inflicted upon them for decades by the monarchical regime.

In addition to the reactions of French politicians and their various NGOs, who, as is customary, displayed hypocritical solidarity with the Moroccan people, we also witnessed enthusiastic support from terrorist groups like MAK and Rachad, as well as the subversive channels.

The world of Parisian entertainment, represented by figures like Patrick Simsit, Gad Elmaleh, and Jamel Debbouze, did not shy away from joining this wave of solidarity with a feudal and tribal monarchy that harbors and supports ruthless terrorists operating across African nations.

It is hard to ignore the opportunistic behavior of political figures both at home and abroad, who suddenly appeared in mourning after days of silence following a catastrophic event within the kingdom. Some purported humanitarian organizations called for the reopening of borders between Algeria and Morocco. While they urged Algerian authorities to establish humanitarian corridors, they conspicuously avoided addressing the French government to demand the seizure of the assets and wealth of the world’s fifth richest monarch, with a personal fortune estimated at $8.8 billion.

At the helm of Siger Holding, established in 2002 and led by Mounir Majidi, the personal secretary of Mohamed VI, and “Al Mada,” a royal investment fund with a focus on exploiting Africa, the Commander of the Faithful appears to enjoy immunity from scrutiny within the French political and media circles, all in the name of solidarity with their own people.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mohammed VI made a significant purchase, acquiring an extravagant mansion worth 80 million euros in the upscale Champ-de-Mars district of Paris in 2020. This mansion boasts an impressive 1,600 square meters of living space, out of a total of 3,000 square meters, including 1,400 square meters dedicated to parking. The acquisition was made through the company SCI Deschanel, in which Mohammed VI holds the majority of shares.

Known for his ownership of 34 castles in Morocco, Mohammed VI also inherited the Betz castle in the Oise, a sprawling 70-hectare estate, originally purchased by Hassan II in 1972. This castle serves as a favored vacation destination for Mohammed VI. While Hassan II had a pavilion built next to the castle, Mohammed VI opted to construct a boarding house for his racing horses in the vicinity. This village in Oise is under constant security surveillance due to the presence of Mohammed VI’s bodyguards. Furthermore, all castle employees are bound by confidentiality agreements that prohibit them from divulging any details about the monarch’s private life, possessions, or property. An anonymous contract worker stated in 2017, “I risk being dismissed if I so much as utter a word about the castle.”

Hailing from La Pointe-Denis in Gabon and a childhood friend of Ali Bongo, who was influential in France-Africa relations, Mohammed VI appears to be disheartened by the downfall of his “brother” who promised to support his interests in Gabon, particularly through Maroc Telecom, which holds a 51% stake in Gabon Telecom. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In June 2015, an article titled “The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, Secures a Lucrative Investment in Gabon” by Jean Michel Sylvain exposed Morocco’s control over Cim Gabon (via Moroccan agent Anas Sifrioui), Gabon Telecom, and UGB.

As the Moroccan people face turmoil following the September 2023 earthquake, there are calls to requisition the personal wealth of this exceedingly affluent global monarch to aid in their recovery. Paradoxically, the wealthiest individuals and opportunistic politicians, whose sole aim seems to be the destruction of the Algerian people, are eagerly bolstering the coffers of this immensely rich monarch, showing little solidarity with their own people.

Charlie Hebdo has criticized the “fortune” of the Commander of the Faithful, estimated at 6 billion dollars, for withholding this financial resource from his people, who are grappling with the aftermath of the disaster. Despite his notable absence and failure to offer condolences, he eventually called for assistance through a fund bearing his country’s name, selectively choosing countries that had previously sent relief and humanitarian teams to the disaster-stricken areas in the Marrakech region.

Charlie Hebdo highlighted the Commander’s “wealth” through its commentary

The French satirical publication didn’t miss the chance to mention the estimated $6 billion fortune of the Commander of the Faithful, who withholds this financial windfall from his people, leaving tens of thousands of Moroccan families affected by the disaster to suffer. Instead of expressing condolences to his people, he shamefully called for assistance hours later through a fund named after his country. Furthermore, he selectively accepted aid from countries that had shown their willingness to send relief teams and humanitarian assistance to the disaster-stricken areas in the Marrakech region.

The Absurd Blood Test Episode

Four days after the earthquake, which officially claimed 3,000 lives according to Moroccan authorities, a figure far from reflecting the true extent of the disaster as reported by on-site witnesses, the response to aid, medical care, housing, and food for the victims was slow and inadequate. The Commander of the Believers, who was unwell, bizarrely decided to stage a comical and surreal scene of taking a blood test for a patient suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that primarily affects the lungs but can impact any organ in the body.

King Mohammed VI was conspicuously absent from the tragedy scene. Moroccan television aired only a segment showing him in the company of high-ranking officers, leading a crisis meeting. Notably, when the devastating tremors struck Morocco, King Mohammed VI was not even in the country.