Securing the kingdom: How Morocco’s DGSN became a model of modern policing

Since its establishment in 1956, Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security (DGSN) has been the institutional backbone of public order. But it is under the tenure of Abdellatif Hammouchi—who has led the organization for a decade—that the DGSN has emerged as a quietly transformative force not just for the country’s internal security, but for its international standing.

Hammouchi’s leadership has been marked by the pursuit of a distinctly modern form of law enforcement: intelligence-led, tech-savvy, and globally connected. By integrating artificial intelligence, biometric identification systems, and predictive surveillance tools, the DGSN has turned Morocco into a hub of security innovation in North Africa. Drones patrol high-risk areas; criminal databases are digitized and synchronized across regions. The DGSN command centers of Casablanca and Rabat would not look out of place in Western Europe.

More than technological flair, it is strategy that distinguishes Hammouchi’s approach. The DGSN has prioritized institutional integration, coordinating seamlessly with the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ)—Morocco’s answer to the FBI—and ensuring rapid, legally sound responses to domestic and transnational threats. The fruits are visible: over 200 terrorist cells dismantled and thousands of arrests made over two decades, with an impressive record of preventing attacks before they occur. 

This operational success underpins broader gains. Morocco’s ability to project itself as a stable, secure partner in an otherwise volatile region has enhanced its geopolitical clout—and helped attract foreign investment. Security is a precondition for tourism, infrastructure development and innovation hubs like the Rabat Technopolis. The DGSN, in effect, has laid the groundwork for the country’s economic ambitions.

Equally notable is Morocco’s role as an exporter of security expertise. It co-chairs the Global Counterterrorism Forum and is a linchpin in the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Its collaboration with European Interpol agencies is especially tight—vital, given Morocco’s geographical role as a corridor to Europe. Moroccan intelligence has helped foil plots as far afield as Belgium and France. 

Critics of Moroccan policing often cite the need for increased transparency and safeguards. Yet Hammouchi has shown a knack for coupling state strength with institutional reform. The DGSN’s commitment to community policing, human rights training, and gender inclusion reflects a subtle but meaningful evolution in its philosophy. 

As global security threats grow more diffuse and complex, Morocco’s DGSN—under Hammouchi’s careful stewardship—offers a blueprint for effective, future-ready policing. Other nations, African and beyond, would do well to take note.

*Lonzo Cook is a journalist and writer. He spent two decades at CNN in a series of senior editorial and management roles including leading breaking news operations across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. He currently works as a senior communications strategist, partnering with corporations and executives to develop integrated communication strategies to connect with audiences in our fast paced, ever changing engagement landscape.