The Moroccan people celebrate Monday, with joy and pride, the 69th anniversary of Independence Day, a great day which crowned a long national struggle to defend the unity, sovereignty and constants of the country, at the favor of a perfect symbiosis between the Throne and the people.
Engraved in the annals of the history of the Kingdom and in the hearts of all Moroccans, Independence Day is an opportunity to recall the historical context of this grandiose event which marks the triumph of the common will of the Throne and the people , engaged side by side in a long-term battle to free the country from the colonial yoke and lay the foundations of an independent Morocco, with a bright future. A highlight of this national struggle for independence, the historic visit made by the father of the nation and hero of liberation, the late Mohammed V, to Tangier in April 1947, confirmed the attachment of Morocco, King and people, to its freedom, territorial integrity and identity.
One of the greatest achievements of the national movement was the shift, in the early 1930s, to political activism in order to revive patriotic sentiment among all layers of Moroccan society, particularly among the ranks of the youth. The national movement also worked to make the Moroccan cause known on the international scene, which threw into disarray the colonial authorities who responded with repressive measures aimed at nipping in the bud the independence project built in close coordination with the father of the nation, the late HM Mohammed V may God rest his soul.
Despite the exile imposed by the colonizer on the late HM Mohammed V and the Illustrious Royal Family, first in Corsica, then in Madagascar, the momentum of the national struggle did not weaken but, on the contrary, gave rise to a general uprising in all the towns and villages of Morocco.
The entire national territory has experienced numerous heroic battles and popular uprisings which embodied the resistance of the Moroccan people against foreign presence and colonial domination. It is worth mentioning, in this regard, the battles of El-Hri, Anoual, Bougafer, Djebel Baddou, Sidi Bou Othmane, as well as the uprising of the tribes of Aït Baâmrane, of the southern provinces. and other historical epics which saw the resistance inflict heavy defeats on the colonial forces.
The Revolution of the King and the People, on August 20, 1953, represents another moment of national cohesion and courageous struggle of the Moroccan people, united behind their Sovereign. For new generations, it is an opportunity to measure the extent of the sacrifices made by their ancestors so that the country could free itself from the colonial yoke and regain its independence. Upon his return from exile, on November 16, 1955, the late HM Mohammed V announced the end of the French protectorate and the beginning of the era of freedom and independence, calling it the passage of the “little struggle” (Al Jihad al-asghar) to the “great struggle” (Al Jihad al-akbar) and thus sealing the triumph of the Revolution of the King and the People.
A decisive turning point in the history of Morocco, independence represented a resounding victory which crowned the fierce and multifaceted struggle of an entire nation against the colonization imposed since March 30, 1912. A new era then began, marked by reforms launched by the late HM Mohammed V in all vital sectors, with the aim of building a modern Morocco and guaranteeing its territorial integrity.
On the path traced by His august father, the late HM Hassan II led the battle to complete the territorial unity of Morocco with the recovery of Sidi Ifni on June 30, 1969, followed by the recovery of the southern provinces thanks to the Green March , on November 6, 1975. At the same time, the late HM Hassan II devoted himself to building the rule of law and institutions and to the consolidation of democracy. Today, under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, Morocco is experiencing a dynamic of all-out modernization, with the priorities of defending the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, achieving development sustainable socio-economic which guarantees a dignified life for all citizens and the promotion of the human element as a pivot of economic and social policies. The celebration of Independence Day is an opportunity to revisit glorious pages of Moroccan history, punctuated by heroic acts and sacrifices in defense of the sacred values of the Nation. It is also an opportunity to learn the necessary lessons from this historic event in order to root the spirit of citizenship among the new generations called to engage in another struggle, just as fundamental, to preserve democratic achievements and consolidate the territorial integrity of the country.
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