Un long road of combat for the liberation of the country, with a solid resistance, coming from the people, with some emblematic figures who have marked history, such as Mohamed Zerktouni, Ahmed al-Hiba, Mouha Ou Hammou Zayani, Abdelkrim el-Khattabi and Assou Oubasslam, Houmman El Fetouaki, Chakib Arsalan, Mohamed Hassan El Ouazzani, Mohamed Lyazidi and so many other figures.
They carried the flag of freedom, which led to the independence of Morocco on November 18, 1956. The national movements which worked in the shadows then played a crucial role in the path to independence, after 44 years of colonization, which did a lot of harm to Morocco and which dealt a blow to its development.
However, these years of struggle have consolidated the links between the Monarchy and the people, who supported Sovereign Mohammed V and who served as a mobile foundation for France to leave Moroccan territories.
Everything started with the La Celle-Saint-Cloud declaration of December 6, 1955. The Government of the French Republic and His Majesty Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco, after several negotiations, ended up reaching an agreement and declared their willingness to give its full effect of the declaration of La Celle-Saint-Cloud of December 6, 1955.
“They note that following the evolution made by Morocco on the path of progress, the Treaty of Fez of March 30, 1912 no longer corresponds to the needs of modern life and can no longer govern Franco-Moroccan relations. ”, reads the statement. After this agreement, the Government of the French Republic solemnly confirms the recognition of the independence of Morocco.
This firstly emphasizes two important points: in particular diplomacy and an army, “as well as its desire to respect and enforce the integrity of Moroccan territory, guaranteed by international treaties.”
In this sense, the Government of the French Republic and His Majesty Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco, declare that the negotiations which have just opened in Paris between Morocco and France, sovereign and equal States, “are intended to conclude new agreements which will define the interdependence of the two countries in areas where their interests are common, which will thus organize their cooperation on the basis of freedom and equality, particularly in matters of defense, external relations, economy and culture, and which will guarantee the rights and freedoms of French people established in Morocco and Moroccans established in France, while respecting the sovereignty of the two States.
Following this signature, Morocco is an independent state which relies on solid institutional achievements, such as: legislative power which is exercised sovereignly by His Majesty the Sultan; His Majesty Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco, has a national army; France lends its assistance to Morocco for the constitution of this army; the management powers, hitherto reserved, will be transferred, the terms of which will be determined by mutual agreement; the Moroccan government is represented, with deliberative voice, on the franc zone committee, the central governing body of monetary policy for the entire franc zone. On the other hand, the guarantees enjoyed by French civil servants and agents serving in Morocco are maintained; the representative of the French Republic in Morocco bears the title of High Commissioner of France.
Once independence has been achieved, Morocco embarks on a series of reforms which will intensify with the arrival on the Throne of the late Hassan II, who will consolidate the achievements of independence and work to establish the Monarchy as unique guarantor of the uniqueness of the Kingdom.
A few decades later, with the advent of the reign of His Majesty Mohammed VI, Morocco took off and established itself in a dynamic of excellence which made the Kingdom one of the leading countries in Africa, in the Arab World and in its relations with the great world powers.
For 25 years, Morocco has become a key state in all areas, serving as a locomotive for the continent and a solid interlocutor with major international bodies.
Abdelhak Najib, journalist writer
