Oufkir’s motives behind the coup were unclear. According to some, similarly to the plotters of the 1971 Moroccan coup attempt, Oufkir did it to oppose the perceived corruption of the monarchy. Alternatively, it could have been due to him fearing that Hassan II intended to remove him as he believed that Hassan attempted to assassinate him in a helicopter accident in Agadir in May 1972. Hassan possibly was suspicious of Oufkir believing he was implicated in the 1971 coup attempt.[44] Seeing the harsh punishment against his former colleagues and friends like the televised execution of ten of the leading plotters caused relations between Hassan and Oufkir to deteriorate.[5] Furthermore, Oufkir felt threatened by the appointment of Ahmed Dlimi as the new head of national security.[2] According to Amekrane, Oufkir, in a meeting in late November 1971, spoke about “the physical elimination of the sovereign” expressing concern about contacts between the palace and the political opposition warning how “uncontrolled elements” could seize power with the help of outside forces and stressing how the armed forces were the guarantee of stability.[41] Oufkir disliked how the king attempted to seek rapprochement with the opposition.[36] An additional reason that could have provoked the coup was the rampant crony capitalism within Hassan II’s inner circle which restricted Morocco’s economic progress.[45]
The Story of General Mohamed Oufkir…See more
