Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Middle East) by nepotism", referring to a 17 July 2009 cable. The cable stated, "Corruption in the inner circle is growing." Another from 23 June 2008 said "corruption in Tunisia is getting worse". "The New York Times" suggested the cables about corruption were one of the reasons behind the overthrow of president Ben Ali in the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests. According to Robert Godec, the US Ambassador to Tunisia, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, and his government have "lost touch with the Tunisian people". Furthermore, they "tolerate no advice of criticism whether domestic or international". Godec also reports that "[even]
Mohammed El Alaoui Mohammed El Alaoui "Sharif" Sidi Mohammed Alaoui (, born 7 July 1974 in Tangiers) is an Alaouite sharif and the current Chamberlain () of king Mohammed VI. He is reportedly a very close friend of the monarch, in addition to being his distant Alaouite cousin. Sharif Sidi Mohammed Alaoui is the son of "Sharif Moulay Zine El Abidine Alaoui" (Alaouite sharif and diplomat) and "Sharifa Lalla Oum Keltoum Alaoui". His mother Lalla Oum Keltoum is the daughter of "Prince Moulay El Hassan ben El Mehdi, the son of Sultan Mohammed IV (r. 1859-1873) and "Princess Lalla Fatima Zohra Azizia", the