Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Moroccan people will proudly commemorate the 49th anniversary of the announcement by His Majesty the late King Hassan II, may he rest in peace, of the organization of the triumphant Green March. This event marks a pivotal step in the process of reclaiming the southern provinces and achieving territorial unity.
This unique peaceful march allowed the Moroccan people to liberate part of their occupied land, complete national independence, and achieve territorial unity.
On October 16, 1975, the late King Hassan II announced the organization of the Green March, a groundbreaking event in the history of decolonization, aimed at reclaiming a land that was inherently Moroccan, where its inhabitants shared a bond of allegiance with the Moroccan sultans.
This announcement coincided with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which confirmed this historical reality and legitimized Morocco’s claims to recover its occupied territories.
The court emphasized that this part of the Kingdom was never an empty land, acknowledging the legal ties and allegiance between Moroccan sultans and the Saharan tribes, thus affirming the legitimacy of Morocco’s claims.
This recognition marked the beginning of the movement to reclaim territories from colonial rule. On October 16, 1975, His Majesty King Hassan II declared the Green March, which stunned the world with its peaceful nature.
The Green March, launched on November 6, 1975, embodied the principles of Moroccans’ attachment to their land and the unity between the people and the throne, serving as an example of rejecting violence and embracing the values of peace.
The Green March paved the way for the development of the southern provinces of the Kingdom, with a national mobilization aimed at overcoming the remnants of the colonial period and enabling these regions to join the country’s development path.
To achieve this, large-scale development projects were launched, prioritizing the well-being of citizens, leading to a profound transformation in the southern provinces.
Today, with the positive momentum surrounding the Moroccan Sahara issue, which is based on consolidating Morocco’s sovereignty over its land and growing support for the autonomy initiative, more countries recognize Morocco’s historical rights over its Sahara.
In this regard, Morocco has secured the recognition of influential countries like the United States, France, and Spain. Simultaneously, the autonomy initiative is seen as the sole basis for a final resolution of the conflict, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, gaining broad support from countries worldwide.
His Majesty the King emphasized in his speech to Parliament that these countries support the economic, social, and cultural development process occurring in the Moroccan Sahara, strengthening its position as a hub between Morocco and its African roots.
He added that they place the Sahara at the heart of strategic continental initiatives launched by Morocco, such as the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, the Atlantic African States initiative, and facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean.
His Majesty also affirmed that the progress achieved in resolving this issue, along with the economic and social development of the southern provinces, was thanks to the solidarity of all Moroccans and their combined efforts to solidify national and territorial unity.
The triumphant Green March remains a historic moment of profound significance, symbolizing the united struggle of the Moroccan people and their King to complete territorial unity, inspiring future generations to build a new, thriving Morocco with a prominent role among nations.
