The historic event of the Green March remains, forty-nine years later, a powerful national symbol of courage and unity for Morocco. This epic, orchestrated by His late Majesty King Hassan II, was much more than a simple peaceful march towards the Sahara: it embodied the determination of an entire people to reconquer their lands, which had long remained under Spanish domination, and to loudly assert and strong Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces.
The launch of this march on November 6, an act of historical and strategic foresight, allowed Morocco to reverse a situation of colonization that few believed it could put an end to. In a national and international context where Morocco was facing internal pressures and external skepticism, the royal speech of the late Hassan II announcing the Green March resonated like a call to destiny.
L’Green March announcement: act of faith, vision and victory of right
It was a daring bet, at a time when the future of the Saharan provinces remained hanging on the colonial maneuvers of Spain, determined to delay the inevitable. “It was necessary to recall the historical, legal and legitimate rights of the Kingdom over these territories,” explains Brahim Ballali Souieh. Faced with this impasse, the decision to mobilize the Moroccan people for a peaceful march represented much more than a symbolic act: it became the heart of a strategy in which history, legality and patriotism converged to challenge the occupier .
A decisive moment in this struggle for sovereignty was the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which recognized the existence of historical links between the Saharan tribes and the Alawite sultans. This recognition, although not binding, gave Morocco an undeniable legal basis.
“The late Hassan II used this opinion as a diplomatic weapon to encourage Spain to negotiate and give in peacefully,” comments Mr. Ballali Souieh. The announcement of the Green March followed this legal victory, transforming the demand into a peaceful mass demonstration where 350,000 Moroccans, carrying the national flag and the Koran, marched towards the South, proving their attachment to this ancestral land.
The impact of this march went beyond Morocco’s borders, attracting international attention and consolidating the Kingdom’s position on the diplomatic scene. This historic event marked the end of the Spanish occupation and the integration of these territories into the process of national development, thus marking the beginning of a new era for the southern provinces.
The Green March: bridge to the future
Forty-nine years later, the legacy of the Green March continues to live on in the development policies carried out in the Saharan provinces. This attachment to the territorial integrity of Morocco, established as a pillar of national identity, has made it possible to initiate large-scale infrastructure, health, education and economic development projects. “This commitment has transcended generations,” observes Mr. Ballali Souieh, emphasizing the importance of this event for every Moroccan citizen.
Economic, diplomatic and social successes multiply. The southern provinces, formerly neglected under colonization, are now at the heart of the royal development strategy. Thanks to the initiatives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has reoriented these regions towards the African continent, through flagship projects such as the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline. This ambition for continental integration anchors the southern provinces in an axis of pan-African cooperation, strengthening their role as a bridge between Morocco and Africa.
Today, the Green March is not just an annual commemoration; it represents a living flame of Moroccan unity and sovereignty. This historic march redrew the contours of Morocco, consolidating the territorial identity of the Kingdom and conferring on the Saharan provinces the status of a key region in international relations. With the support of powers like the United States, France and even Spain – a former colonial power – Morocco continues to consolidate its rights over the Sahara and write a story of diplomatic and economic success.
Through the royal vision and initiatives in favor of the development of the Saharan provinces, the Green March remains a pillar of national identity. The southern regions, integrated into the concert of African nations, bear witness to the perseverance of a Kingdom determined to defend its territory and offer a prosperous future to all its regions.
