Morocco Opens New Military Base to Combat Illegal Immigration and Smuggling

The military base of Al Hoceima, the third in Morocco, was inaugurated on August 18 last, according to the new issue of the magazine of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) reported by EFE. Its installation is part of the High Instructions of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, to "reorganize the FAR units in order to overcome the challenges facing the kingdom, particularly irregular immigration and smuggling."

This new military base aims to "guarantee the inviolability of Morocco’s land, air and maritime borders in a total and constant manner, in good coordination of actions and convergence of efforts between the military units and the local authorities" in order to take "rapid and effective measures" along the coast, the same source specifies. It will allow the kingdom to have "the greater flexibility and freedom of action necessary to adapt to "emergency conditions" in the region extending from east of Al Hoceima to north of Moulay Bousselham (Rabat), it is added.

The new military base is under the direction of Brigadier General Hassane Erreda, who was installed in his duties at the headquarters of the first infantry battalion of the Al Hoceima Navy, in the presence of senior military and civilian officials. The installation of this base in the north of the kingdom follows the one established in the east in February, near the border with Algeria.