The “Atlas Hacks” group published today the sixth episode of a series of audio leaks and messages attributed to Mahdi Hijawi, a former employee dismissed from the external intelligence agency (General Directorate of Studies and Documentation – La DGED), and the TikToker Hicham Girando residing in Canada.
The new episode included phone conversations and messages via the “WhatsApp” application, which contained insults and direct allegations against the royal institution and the Crown Prince, in addition to plans to launch campaigns of doubt via social media targeting the Director General of National Security, Abdellatif Hammouchi.
According to the leak, Mahdi Hijawi spoke confidently about a “prominent event” expected in the upcoming month of August, saying: “In month 8, there will be a spectacle.” The conversation also included direct insults to King Mohammed VI, especially in the context of his presiding over the Eid al-Adha prayer.
Hijawi confirmed in the same context that he had “a source in every region and institution,” pledging to “grind” one of the officials.
In parallel, the two men discussed the activities of the Director General of National Security, Abdellatif Hammouchi, noting his prominent appearance in international forums and his role in combating crime and terrorism both inside and outside Morocco. They began, according to the leak, to plan a campaign of allegations via social media platforms aimed at undermining national security and questioning Hammouchi’s role, accusing him of committing violations.
The conversations also addressed a figure they described as “the honorable man,” referring to Dr. Mustafa Aziz, head of the “Morocco of Tomorrow” movement, whom they praised and described as having provided “great services” to Morocco and the Sahara issue.
Reminder of the Content of the Five Previous Leaks
The previous episodes of the “Atlas Hacks” leaks series, which began to be published weeks ago, form a connected series that gradually revealed the nature of the relationship between Mahdi Hijawi and Hicham Girando, highlighting the role of the former as a main guide for the campaigns.
- The first episodes revealed the beginning of the secret communication between the two since early 2024, showing Hijawi in the position of “godfather” or guide, while Girando appears as an executor of instructions through videos and posts on social media.
- The third episode focused on Hijawi’s direct instructions to Girando to launch a systematic campaign against Mohammed Yassine Mansouri, Director of the General Directorate of Studies and Documentation, and senior officials in the agency. It included suggestions that involved mocking the ages of the officials, as well as targeting a contractor from the city of Taza with accusations related to money laundering to Canada.
- The fourth episode showcased a detailed session for content preparation, where Hijawi dictated word by word to Girando the titles, questions, images, and phrases needed in the videos directed against officials, including targeting the image of Abdellatif Hammouchi and Yassine Mansouri. The episode also included directives to highlight what Hijawi described as Mansouri’s “failure” over 25 years, focusing on issues of financial management and favoritism within the agency.
- The fifth episode revealed a series of extortion and pressure tactics adopted by the duo, targeting businessmen and figures, including Abu Zaiter’s partner, owner of “Auto House” (Mamon), with Hijawi directing the release of pressure videos.
The sixth episode comes to show a qualitative escalation in the discourse, moving the targeting from security and political officials directly to the royal institution, along with the announcement of future plans related to the month of August.
It is noted that Mahdi Hijawi, who has previously been portrayed in some platforms as a “defector” or “political victim,” is a long-ago dismissed employee from La DGED, and resides in Canada.
As for Hicham Girando, he is a TikTok activist residing in Canada. The successive leaks have sparked widespread controversy on Moroccan social media, amid astonishment at Canada’s leniency toward these practices that are unrelated to freedom of expression, after they turned into an organized criminal act aimed at extorting people and threatening their safety, as well as launching false propaganda campaigns against Morocco with the aim of destabilizing it.
