Auxiliary Forces
| Auxiliary Forces | |
|---|---|
| القوات المساعدة Idwasen Imawwasen ⵉⴷⵡⴰⵙⴻⵏ ⵉⵎⴰⵡⵡⴰⵙⴻⵏ |
|
 |
|
| Leadership | |
| Commander |
Hamidou Laanigri (southern division) |
| Manpower | |
| Active personnel | 45,000 |
Hamidou Laanigri (southern division)
The Moroccan Auxiliary Forces (Berber: Idwasen Imawwasen or Imxazniyen; Arabic: القوات المساعدة Al-Quwwāt al-Musā`idah; French: Forces Auxiliaires Marocaines) is a paramilitary force following the command of the Ministry of the Interior, and supplements the military, Gendarmerie and police when needed. It also participated in military conflicts like the Western Sahara war.
Additionally, they contribute to maintaining order and they are also present as border watch, and are the main backup force for firefighters during forest fires. During the Years of Lead, custody facilities such as Tazmamart and Agdz were mainly operated by elements of the auxiliary forces.
The Auxiliary forces are a continuation of a low-rank military unit composed of Senegalese Tirailleurs and Goumiers, used by the French during the protectorate area, to repress Moroccans. Since the official French police patrolled only in the European area, this unit was responsible for maintaining order in the Moroccan neighbourhoods.
They are known colloquially as the mroud (a Berber word for a type of Grasshopper),mkhaznia (from Makhzen) or as imkhazniyn in Berber.
Auxiliary Forces' missions are to support security forces and the army, maintain public security, and participate in operational missions of territory defense.
After the Second World War, France is recovering from war and instead of releasing wounded goumiers or those who have reached retirement age, the French army preferred to redeploy them in a subsidiary body. They performed odd jobs and assisted regular troops when needed. Officially named the mokhaznis they are placed under the Ministry of Interior. Their missions were to suppress the various demonstrations and riots that have shook newly independent Morocco. In "time of peace," the mokhaznis provided security of official buildings and assisted in the delivery of mail in remote regions.
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Wikipedia