Casablanca elections: leaked audio raises questions over alleged campaign tactics

Saturday 19 September 2026 - 10:30

A reported secret audio recording has stirred controversy around the electoral campaign in Casablanca, with allegations of a highly organized field operation involving financial incentives, voter mobilization and efforts targeting political rivals.

The recording was reported by Moroccan daily Assabah in its weekend edition of September 19–20, in a press review published by Le360 on September 18. According to the account, the conversation describes a campaign operation built around funding, voter-list information and coordinated activity on the ground.

The contents of the recording have not been independently authenticated in the material available for this article. The allegations should therefore be understood as claims attributed to the leaked recording and to Assabah, rather than established facts.

Financial incentives at the heart of the reported strategy

According to the newspaper's account, the alleged operation relied on dedicated financial allocations for people responsible for organizing and coordinating field activities.

The reported figures include payments of up to 1,000 dirhams for supervisors and direct coordinators, alongside daily allowances ranging from 100 to 200 dirhams for young people involved in voter mobilization and campaign activities.

The recording allegedly also refers to additional payments of as much as 300 dirhams per person if the campaign achieved its intended electoral objective.

According to Assabah, these payments were reportedly connected to checks involving national identity cards and electoral registration, with organizers allegedly seeking to verify the identities and electoral status of participants.

Alleged pressure on rival campaigns

The reported conversation also describes an alleged strategy directed at competing political campaigns.

Assabah says the recording contains instructions concerning rival campaign offices, including alleged efforts to shut down certain headquarters and remove campaign posters and banners. It also reportedly refers to establishing alternative campaign locations in an effort to strengthen control over targeted areas and increase electoral support.

Such allegations, if substantiated by competent authorities, could raise questions about compliance with Morocco's electoral rules and the conditions governing fair political competition.

The reported strategy was not limited to campaign workers. The newspaper describes logistical arrangements intended to coordinate youth networks and organize their movements through dedicated communication channels.

Legal issues and operational planning

The leaked discussion reportedly includes references to legal cases and files involving individuals known in the region. It also allegedly mentions legal interventions intended to address regulatory obstacles.

At the same time, the speaker reportedly emphasized the need to concentrate on securing votes while avoiding uncontrolled personal disputes or actions that could undermine the broader campaign strategy.

The account portrays the operation as highly structured, with different responsibilities assigned to coordinators and field teams and communication maintained through closed groups.

Confidentiality becomes a key element

Another notable aspect of the reported recording is its alleged emphasis on secrecy.

According to Assabah, participants were instructed to keep financial arrangements and operational details confidential and to avoid circulating paper or digital documents that could potentially serve as evidence.

The reported meeting concluded with preparations for the final logistical phase of the campaign, including the distribution of responsibilities and continued communication through private groups ahead of election day.

Questions over electoral integrity

The reported leak places campaign financing, voter mobilization and relations between competing political forces under renewed scrutiny in Casablanca.

However, the recording alone does not establish that the alleged plans were actually implemented, nor does the published account establish the identity of all participants or confirm the authenticity and full context of the audio.

Any determination concerning possible electoral violations would ultimately depend on verification of the recording, identification of the people involved and, where appropriate, findings by the competent authorities.