Ilyas El Omari

While demonstrations in the Rif denounced delays in development projects, El Omari, the regional president and PAM Secretary-General, resigned shortly after severe royal criticism of the political class.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the 2015 regional elections, Ilyas El Omari was elected president of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region. Amid the political conflict with PAM, PJD officials maintained that he had obtained the presidency by exploiting PAM's influence within the Interior Ministry to change local coalitions.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

Under El Omari, PAM was portrayed as a party close to the palace and the PJD's main adversary; the 2016 campaign was accompanied by fierce mutual accusations.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Directly implicated

PJD officials implied that El Omari was involved in irregular financial transactions during the confrontation with PAM.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

While PAM's number two and subsequently Secretary-General, as well as regional president, Ilyas El Omari launched and chaired a press group bringing together several publications. Observers raised concerns about potential confusion between his political duties and management of a media group.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Directly implicated

PAM and the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region announced a $100 million social project funding agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Islamic Development Bank. Both institutions subsequently denied that such an agreement had been signed or that a Moroccan project had been confirmed.

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated