Independence day : Why do Moroccans celebrate the 18 of November ?

Although the kingdom was proclaimed an independent state on the 2nd of March, every year; Moroccans celebrate independence on the 18th of November. The latter commemorates King Mohammed V accession to the throne and his notorious speech delivered to announce the end of the French control.

King Mohammed VI pardons 783 people on Independence Manifesto Day

Ahmed Boukmakh, the teacher behind Morocco’s first Arabic-language textbooks

After Morocco broke free from the French, Ahmed Boukmakh created a textbook series he dubbed «Iqrae». The latter was meant to revive the Arabic language in the kingdom after independence.

History : When the USA supported Morocco’s independence, honoring the 1836 treaty

When Morocco broke free from the French, the United States of America decided to strengthen diplomatic relations with Rabat. The country raised the level of its representation in the Kingdom and recognized the King’s sovereignty over Tangier.

The Anfa Conference : When Roosevelt and Churchill met in Casablanca to defeat the Axis powers

On the 14th of January 1943, three years before World War II, the U.S. President, Franklin Roosevelt decided to summon the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French generals Henri Giraud and Charles de Gaulle for an international conference in Casablanca. The famous Anfa conference lasted for 10 days and was marked by several military decisions. The Moroccan city was also home to a historical meeting between Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef and Franklin Roosevelt.

Andalusia : A far-left political formation demand the independence of a republic that includes the north of Morocco

Separatism in Spain is certainly more frequent in Catalonia than in other parts of the country. But surprisingly, a far-left political formation in the neighbouring country has promoted for «the Andalusian Republic», a territory that includes the north of Morocco.

Sahara or Catalonia, Morocco will never recognize unilateral declarations of independence

Mohamed Ajar, leader of Morocco’s resistance dies at 97

Catalan Independence : Spain moves to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy

The Spanish government is determined to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy, to restore the «constitutional order», according to Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the two major political parties in the country, Cuidadanos and PSOE, support article 155 of the constitution that allows Madrid to take over running of the region. Strangely, the two parties that have backed in the past the Polisario Front refuse to show Catalans the same kind of support.

Catalan Referendum : King Felipe VI calls for the unity and national sovereignty of Spain

Two days after the Catalan independence referendum, King Felipe VI of Spain accused the regional government of Catalonia of «violating the constitution» of the country and undermining «the harmony and coexistence in the Catalan society». On the other side of the Meditteranean, the king’s speech was welcomed by Moroccan officials as he insisted on unity and national sovereignty.