Morocco commemorates 71st anniversary of Revolution of the King and the People

Morocco is commemorating this Tuesday August 20 the 71st anniversary of Revolution of the King and the People, an epic in the history of Morocco and a decisive step towards the recovery of the Kingdom’s independence.

This historic event serves, if need be, as a reminder of the Moroccan people’s unwavering determination to defend their country’s sovereignty and their unshakeable attachment to the Throne.

On August 20, 1953, the French colonial authorities forced the legitimate Sultan Mohammed V, as well as the Royal Family, to go into exile in Corsica and later in 1954 in Madagascar. Their scheme was to establish Ben Arafa as a puppet ruler and crack down on national resistance.

But it was without counting the staunch attachment of the people to the throne. Actually, as soon as the news about the ousting of the Sovereign was out, thousands of Moroccans took to the street across the country to voice their anger at the colonialists and rejection of their move against their king, the symbol of their unity.

Colonial authorities were expecting Moroccans to accept the fait accompli, but they were mistaken. On the contrary, their move boosted the mobilization of all the components of the Moroccan society, fanned their revolt, and galvanized their anticolonial actions.

Nationwide uprisings, strikes, and demonstrations heralded the beginning of national resistance that ultimately freed Morocco from the colonial yoke, the colonizers having realized that nothing can break the strong links binding the Moroccans and their king.

The Moroccan people’s resilience and unity ultimately prevailed.

On November 16, 1955, the fair and legitimate claims of both the people and the King were fulfilled with the triumphant return of the Sultan to his country and a year later, independence was proclaimed. This victory strengthened the monarchy’s role in the country’s development and launched the great project to build a new and modern Morocco.

This momentous moment in the history of the Kingdom, whose teachings continue to be relayed to the new generations, testifies to the patriotism of Moroccans and the strong links between the throne and the people, links that have always served as a bulwark, driving back enemies of the Nation, and a leverage to meet the challenges and fulfil the aspirations of Moroccans.

These same noble values embodied in the defense of the Nation and the sense of sacrifice continue to drive the Kingdom resolutely towards modernity, democracy, and development.

The drive to build modern Morocco and increase its civilizational influence, as a country strongly attached to the values of peace, brotherhood, solidarity and tolerance, is carried on under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, 71 years after the epic of the Revolution of the King and the people.

And as the nation looks to the future, it remains committed to the principles of democracy, unity, and sustainable development, guided by the legacy of the Revolution of the King and the People.