History : When King Hassan II left the Queen of England waiting for him under the sun

In a visit to Morocco, the Queen of England was angered by King Hassan II's tardiness. In a book by Robert Hardman, the details of this trip that was later named «the tour from hell», were revealed pointing out at a part of the sovereign’s personality.

October 23rd 1963 : When De Gaulle wanted Moroccans and Algerians to kill each other during the Sand War

On the 23rd of October 1963 Charles De Gaulle, head of the provisional government of the French Republic, and Alain Peyrefitte, the French Foreign Minister were discussing at the Elysee Palace the armed conflict between Morocco and Algeria, France’s two colonies. The border conflict between the two neighboring states lasted 4 months, 3 weeks and 5 days.

History : When American intellectuals chose Tangier as an exile

During the mid 50s, Tangier has hosted a number of artists, poets and intellectuals. Influenced by Paul Bowles, an American writer, members of the Beat Generation, came to the Northern city to get inspired, finish their projects and live the Moroccan dream. Flashback.

1987, when Muammar Gaddafi was planning to assassinate King Hassan II

On the 20th of October 2011, the Libyan President, revolutionary militant and political theorist was captured and killed by rebel militia from Misrata. A terrible ending for Muammar Gaddafi, who had planned in the past to assassinate Arab leaders. King Hassan II was also targeted by the Libyan colonel, who assigned the Palestinian terrorist, Abu Nidal to conduct the operation. Details.

The ancient city of Anfa, a forgotten chapter of Casablanca’s history 

Throughout the long centuries of history, the ancient city of Anfa survived foreign conquests. The coastal town known now as Casablanca was part of North Africa’s ancient history. Controlled by Berbers, Romans, and destroyed by the Portuguese, Anfa just like a phoenix, rose from its ashes to become Dar el Beida later on. 

History : When Morocco had its own Grand Prix

On the 19th of October 1958, the Kingdom of Morocco hosted a Formula One motor race known as the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix. Two years after gaining its independence, Morocco wanted to celebrate the new era by taking advantage of the race to shed light on the city of Casablanca. Flashback.

1965 : When Mehdi Ben Barka warned African leaders against Israel

On the 29th of October 1965, Mehdi Ben Barka was allegedly abducted in France by French police and never seen again. According to an article issued by the Time magazine entitled «the Murder of Ben Barka», the Moroccan politician’s disappearance involves Moroccan agents, the French intelligence agents and the Israeli Mossad.

16th of October 1975 : When the Green March brought King Hassan II and the opposition together

During the reign of Hassan II, the Green March was a turning point in history of the Moroccan political scene. The initiative, announced on the 16th of October 1975, had clearly strengthened the sovereign’s power. Consequently, the opposition in the country offered to engage in the democratic process by abandoning the armed struggle.

October 1963, when Jacqueline Kennedy visited Morocco one month before her husband’s assassination

In October 1963, the wife of the 35th US president arrived in Marrakech in one of her first private visits to Morocco. Jacqueline Kennedy’s trip to the Kingdom came just a month before her husband’s assassination and a few months after King Hassan II’s trip to Washington. Flashback.

When a British gang wanted to kidnap Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef

In 1953 and after being exiled to Madagascar by the French, a British gang was offered £ 250,000 to kidnap Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef. The gang had the best kidnapping plot that was later uncovered by the French authorities.