Hamidou Laanigri

1939

Meknès

Laanigri was often accused of acts of torture in relation to the detention of Islamist activists after the 2003 Casablanca bombing and in connection with the secret Temara interrogation centre In 1956 Laanigri started his career in the military as a Corporal working with general Driss Benomar—who is also from Meknes. Benomar sent Laanigri first to the military training school of Ahermoumou and then to the Officers School of Dar al-Bayda (Officers academy of Meknes), graduating with the rank of Second lieutenant (sous-lieutenant). He was deployed in Zag in 1960 and for a few months in Agadir. In 1962 he joined the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie a year later and was posted to Tangiers and then Kenitra. In 1977 while a Colonel at the Gendarmerie he headed the military unit that was deployed to Zair to help Mobutu quell a rebellion. In 1979 he was sent to the United Arab Emirates as a security instructor, returning to Morocco only in 1989. In September 1999 he was promoted by Mohammed VI to head the Department of Science and Technology (Direction de Surveillance du Térriotoire) as a replacement for Driss Basri. He was recommended by General Kadiri because he hated Islamists. In September 2006 he left the Department of Science and Technology and was appointed as the General Inspector of the Auxiliary Forces. In late 2012 it was rumoured that he has retired, however in January 2014 he was reported as being the head of this paramilitary unit Laanigri was the instigator of the Groupes urbains de sécurité (nickname Croatia) which were disbanded after he left the police directorate. In September 2011, Laanigri survived a road accident.

Hamidou Laanigri Edit Profile

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Career

Laanigri was often accused of acts of torture in relation to the detention of Islamist activists after the 2003 Casablanca bombing and in connection with the secret Temara interrogation centre

In 1956 Laanigri started his career in the military as a Corporal working with general Driss Benomar—who is also from Meknes. Benomar sent Laanigri first to the military training school of Ahermoumou and then to the Officers School of Dar al-Bayda (Officers academy of Meknes), graduating with the rank of Second lieutenant (sous-lieutenant). He was deployed in Zag in 1960 and for a few months in Agadir.

In 1962 he joined the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie a year later and was posted to Tangiers and then Kenitra.

In 1977 while a Colonel at the Gendarmerie he headed the military unit that was deployed to Zair to help Mobutu quell a rebellion. In 1979 he was sent to the United Arab Emirates as a security instructor, returning to Morocco only in 1989.

In September 1999 he was promoted by Mohammed VI to head the Department of Science and Technology (Direction de Surveillance du Térriotoire) as a replacement for Driss Basri. He was recommended by General Kadiri because he hated Islamists.

In September 2006 he left the Department of Science and Technology and was appointed as the General Inspector of the Auxiliary Forces.

In late 2012 it was rumoured that he has retired, however in January 2014 he was reported as being the head of this paramilitary unit Laanigri was the instigator of the Groupes urbains de sécurité (nickname Croatia) which were disbanded after he left the police directorate. In September 2011, Laanigri survived a road accident.

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