Morocco’s King Awarded Highest Distinction of International Organization of la Francophonie

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has been awarded the Order of La Pléiade, the highest honorary order of the International Organization of la Francophonie, in recognition of his determining role in promoting the values of dialogue and tolerance.
The Monarch was handed the decoration on Wednesday by President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, Aubin Minaku Ndjalandjoko, who was received, along a delegation of the Africa Regional Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), in the Royal Palace in Fez, the Royal Office said in a statement.
The Africa Regional Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie held its session in Rabat this May 22-24.
The awarding of this honorary order of La Francophonie and dialogue of cultures translates appreciation of the Monarch’s actions at the national and international levels to enhance the civilizational heritage of humanity. The decoration also recognizes his commitment and initiatives that have anchored and consolidated the vocation of Morocco as a land of coexistence and cultural diversity, the Royal Office statement said.
This highest distinction of the APF is also a tribute to the Monarch’s endeavors to establish a modern State where the rule of law prevails.

The APF President, Aubin Minaku Ndjalandjoko, hailed, in an address on the occasion, the King’s “humanistic initiatives” in the service of the ideals of cooperation and friendship between peoples in general and in the Francophonie region in particular.
He hailed the tremendous progress scored by Morocco and the Moroccan society between 1963 (the first Moroccan Constitution having been adopted in December 1962) and 2011, date of the referendum on constitutional reforms, insisting on the prevalence of the rule of law in the country.
“The space for the exercise of individual freedoms has expanded, the principle of equality between men and women is a reality on the move, political pluralism is being consolidated, and participatory democracy is in motion, so much so that any Moroccan citizen can address to the Parliament a petition on a specific issue of daily life,” he underlined.
Aubin Minaku Ndjalandjoko, who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, paid tribute to the King’s unwavering commitment towards Africa and to his laudable actions across the continent, saying that the large number of delegations, which took part in the Africa Regional Assembly, evidences recognition of this commitment.
The order of La Pléiade recognizes people who particularly distinguish themselves in the service of the organization’s ideals of cooperation and friendship.