Today’s date marks the 22nd anniversary of King Hassan II’s death.
The Moroccan monarch was in power from 1961 until his death in 1999.
The late King was seen by many in Morocco as a celebrated diplomat, a charismatic Moroccan figure .
King Hassan II was 32 years old when he acceded to the throne following the untimely death of his father King Mohammed V at 51 years of age.
Hassan II made his first diplomatic steps in January 1943, during the Anfa Conference in the residential suburb of Casablanca, alongside Churchill and Franklin Roosvelt . He was thirteen at the time.
Hassan II’s 38 year reign over the Kingdom still shapes facets of Moroccan politics and society today. He adapted Morocco to the harsh realities of the post-colonial modern world, while preserving the country’s traditions and roots.
Hassan II was driven by the dream of recovering Moroccan territories lost during the colonial era. A quest he undertook as soon as he got to power. Morocco’s territorial integrity was strengthened during his reign, thanks to the recovery of three Moroccan territories taken away during colonization: Sidi Ifni in 1969, Saquia el Hamra in 1975 and finally Oued ed Dahab in 1979.
On November 6, 1975, King Hassan II of Morocco made a historic speech calling on the Moroccan people to undertake a long peaceful march south to liberate the Western Sahara from Spanish occupation.
The Green March was an unprecedented event in the history of the 20th century, which gathered 3.5 million volunteers from all over the country and put an end to Spanish colonial rule in the Sahara without the use of violence.
Hassan II also led Morocco through a ruthless global cold war. The Moroccan monarch took advantage of a series of regional and international crises to embolden the country’s strategic role in the region, as well as on the international scene.
Morocco became a bulwark against communism in the Maghreb and Arab World, as most countries in Africa were leaning towards the left after gaining independence from western empires.
King Hassan II also helped bring about the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He was involved in the subsequent agreements between the Palestine Liberation Organization, Jordan, and Israel.
Morocco’s current political stability is also a part of Hassan II’s legacy. As his reign coincided with the decolonization era in southern countries, most African neighbors did not stand the test of the skillfully orchestrated power vacuum left by their former colonizers.
King Hassan II’s funeral brought important delegations from all continents. World leaders, including former president of the US Bill Clinton, attended the funeral.
source/content : moroccoworldnews.com
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