Mustapha Baitas condemns “criminal” cyberattacks against public institutions.
Cyberattacks on Moroccan Government Sites Condemned as "Criminal" by Minister
Mustapha Baitas, the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, has labeled the recent cyberattacks targeting the websites of the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, as well as the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), as "criminal".
During a press conference held on Thursday following the government council meeting, he emphasized that the affected institutions have responded swiftly by bolstering their digital infrastructures and mobilizing all available resources to strengthen their cybersecurity measures. He also noted that judicial authorities have been alerted.
Baitas stated that these attacks, occurring at a politically sensitive time, aim to undermine Morocco’s diplomatic advancements, particularly regarding the issue of the Sahara. He pointed to hostile parties as being responsible for the leak of certain CNSS data on social media.
The Minister drew a connection between these cyberattacks and the reaffirmation by the United States of its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. He reminded attendees that this historic support began under the administration of Donald Trump following a phone call with His Majesty King Mohammed VI in December 2020.
Baitas stressed that the increasing international recognition of Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the King, is troubling for some of the Kingdom’s adversaries, who are attempting to respond with hostile actions.
Finally, Baitas sought to reassure the public by indicating that several leaked documents are either falsified or taken out of context, as clarified in an official CNSS statement. He confirmed that the matter is currently in the hands of the judiciary to take necessary measures.
