According to Spanish judicial and security sources, revealed that the secret tunnel linking Morocco to Ceuta was not only used for drug trafficking but also for smuggling weapons and migrants. This discovery highlights the deep complicity of the Moroccan regime in sustaining organized crime networks.

According to La Razón, the tunnel was part of a structured system that diversified its activities — from narcotics to human trafficking — exploiting weak border surveillance and the collusion of powerful actors. Investigations point to a Moroccan businessman, Mustafa Cheri Bouzi, nicknamed “King of Tunnels”, suspected of masterminding a complex underground infrastructure capable of moving up to eight tons per month of illicit goods.

These revelations raise serious doubts about the credibility of Moroccan border control and expose the extent to which smuggling has become entrenched under official negligence or complicity.

On April 21, 2026, the hashtag “Freedom for the Rif Protest Detainees” swept across social media platforms, reigniting one of Morocco’s most sensitive files. Human rights activists and campaigners, both inside and outside the country, launched a new international digital initiative under the banner “Prisoners’ Week”, aiming to remind the world that the issue of political detainees is far from over, and that solidarity remains alive despite the passing years.

The campaign relies on intense online engagement: publishing photos of detainees, sharing posts that recall their plight, and encouraging broad participation throughout the week. The goal is clear—apply pressure for their release and break the wall of silence that the authorities attempt to maintain.

The Moroccan Monarch, Mohammed VI

Among the voices joining this effort was Moroccan activist Mohamed Kandil, currently based in Iceland. On his official social media page, he wrote:

“I, Mohamed Kandil, blogger and independent human rights and political activist, join the call of the living conscience—‘Prisoners’ Week’—launched by free voices from inside and outside Morocco. It is a moral and human duty that cannot be delayed or bargained away.”

Kandil added that only free voices can break the wall of fear, expose injustice, and pave the way toward dignity and justice. For him, this campaign is not just symbolic solidarity but a clear stance: “There is no legitimacy for the repression of freedoms, and no future for a state built on prisons.”

It is worth recalling that on April 5, 2019, the Casablanca Court of Appeals upheld a 20-year prison sentence against activist Nasser Zefzafi, leader of the Rif Movement, along with final sentences ranging from one to twenty years for other detainees. Since his arrest in May 2017, Zefzafi has staged several hunger strikes to protest the harsh prison conditions and to demand freedom for himself and his fellow Rif detainees.

Libya is on the verge of adopting a unified national budget. Following an agreement signed between the two primary opposing factions—Tripoli, home to the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU), and Benghazi, represented by the House of Representatives supported by Marshal Haftar—the country is moving toward financial consolidation.

Facilitated by American mediation, the parliaments of both regions signed an accord to adopt a common budget. This represents a significant feat in a nation deeply divided since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, where political progress has remained stagnant despite numerous initiatives by the UN, the African Union, and neighboring countries.

After years of managing the war-torn country independently, the two camps recently succeeded in reunifying the Central Bank. This move ended the disruptions that plagued financial institutions due to political disputes between the East and West, effectively halting the fiscal crises that hindered regional governance.

Despite intensified political disagreements fueled by foreign interference, both parties managed to transcend their divisions to secure a minimum consensus on hydrocarbons. For years, Libyan oil was largely subject to smuggling despite various restrictions. This led to significant financial deficits and eroded the credibility of authorities who were unable to transparently manage energy exports.

Joint Oil Exports and Equitable Revenue Sharing

The camps of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (GNU) and Marshal Haftar have finally agreed to organize joint oil exports and ensure the equitable sharing of revenues. The unification of public spending, announced yesterday by the Tripoli government, appears to be the culmination of a long process of economic and financial rapprochement. “This step reflects real progress toward unifying fiscal policy and enhancing the management of public spending,” stated the Central Bank, noting that this is the first consensus on unified spending in Libya in over 13 years. The agreement was signed by Issa Al-Arebi (Benghazi) and Abdeljalil Al-Chawish (Tripoli).

Controlled exports have now reached 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), with ambitions to increase to 2 million bpd. Although Libya’s reserves are estimated at 48.4 billion barrels, the country has faced a deficit since 2011 due to political and security instability. With only $22 billion in revenue for Africa’s largest oil reserve, the Central Bank estimates a deficit of $9 billion.

Prime Minister Dbeibah thanked Massad Boulos, advisor to Donald Trump for Arab and African affairs, for his support in the mediation efforts. “This is a step full of promising signs, but the real test remains the serious commitment of all parties to translate this into concrete results for citizens in their daily lives,” Dbeibah stated. The challenge now for both camps, and the international community, is to accelerate the political process to establish elected institutions and end the legitimacy crisis.

Source: lalgerieaujourdhui.dz