Algerian platforms target Morocco in cyber war with media facade

Algerian media platforms are reportedly engaged in an intensive campaign against Morocco, leveraging the migration crisis that emerged at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on July 30. The alleged objective extends beyond reporting on border issues, aiming instead to tarnish Morocco's image, sow doubt about its institutional stability, and use the migration situation as a tool in the ongoing narrative war between the two countries.

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The goal does not stop at following the developments of migration, but extends to distorting Morocco's image, questioning the stability of its institutions, and trying to exploit the event to influence its internal situation.

Analysis of digital and media activities, particularly in recent weeks, suggests a strategy of weaponizing migration issues. Images and footage of migrants and minors are reportedly being used within a broader political context to depict Morocco as a country in internal turmoil. This tactic transforms a complex social and security issue into a means of media and political pressure.

Key players identified in this digital storm include the account @ahafsidz and the platform "Algérie-Focus" (@algztedz). Their activities are seen as integral to the campaign, with "Algérie-Focus" allegedly disseminating visual materials and articles that construct a negative narrative about Morocco. Simultaneously, accounts like @ahafsidz are reportedly pushing a more aggressive and mobilizing discourse, indicating a division of labor between platforms providing media content and accounts amplifying it for more inflammatory purposes.

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This is a deployment that transforms the migration crisis from a complex social and security file into a tool of media and political pressure.

The crisis has reportedly revealed a shift in Algerian media discourse, moving from external criticism of Morocco to direct attempts to influence its internal affairs. Accounts and platforms are said to be exploiting the emotional impact of migration scenes to harshly judge the Moroccan state and its institutions, using terms like "repression" and "failure." This effort aims to broaden the narrative from a localized border event to a comprehensive critique of Morocco's overall situation.

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The most dangerous aspect revealed by the recent Ceuta crisis is the shift of part of the Algerian media discourse from focusing on Morocco's image abroad to attempting to directly influence the internal situation.

Furthermore, some platforms are accused of going beyond commentary and reposting, actively promoting calls for demonstrations within Morocco, even suggesting specific dates like August 9. Slogans urging "uprising" and channeling the anger surrounding migration scenes into political action have reportedly emerged. This suggests that the engagement with the migration file has, in some instances, moved beyond sympathy for migrants or criticism of crisis management towards attempts to mobilize the Moroccan public.

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This behavior reveals that the handling of the file was not limited to sympathy for migrants or criticism of crisis management, but rather moved in some cases towards trying to exploit it to mobilize the Moroccan street.