Moulay Ali Cherif University Celebrates the Moroccan Sahara and Ongoing Development

On the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the Green March, the pivotal event in completing the territorial unity of the Kingdom, the 28th session of "Moulay Ali Cherif University" convened at the cultural center in the city of Errachidia. The university is named after the ancestor of the Moroccan kings of the Alaouite dynasty, whose mausoleum was visited during the event.

Under the slogan "The Moroccan Sahara: Fifty Years of Construction and Development," the event discusses, with academic participation from various universities across the country, questions of history, the present, and the possibilities of autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. The speeches also commemorated the late head of the scientific committee of the event, Abdelhaq El Merini, who held positions including "Historian of the Kingdom" and "Official Spokesperson of the Royal Palace."

Mustafa El Chabi, acting head of the scientific committee of "Moulay Ali Cherif University," said, "The Green March (...) was a distinguished and unique event that shook diplomatic and military circles in most world capitals." On its fiftieth anniversary, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 2797, which clearly addresses the manufactured conflict and states that the most appropriate and practical solution "lies in granting the inhabitants of our southern provinces self-administration under Moroccan sovereignty."

El Chabi mentioned that "the mind and creator of the Green March" was the late King Hassan II, who firmly established Morocco's presence in its Sahara and "secured it from attacks by the Polisario mercenaries, teaching them and their followers unforgettable lessons in military strategy and war tactics."

Then came the era of King Mohammed VI, who "continued the journey and developed it, giving Morocco's primary cause an African and international dimension after the decision to return to the African Union," and the proposal of "autonomy," which "was accompanied by intensified trips to Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa to explain the essence of the conflict and gain the support of the largest number of countries for the Moroccan proposal. He knew how to convince influential countries, foremost among them the United States, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, not forgetting China and Russia," leading to the United States adopting Morocco's position in 2020, followed by major European countries in particular, and most sub-Saharan countries, alongside "development projects transforming the Moroccan Sahara into a developed economic hub linking Africa to Europe and improving the living conditions of the region's inhabitants," according to the same speaker.

Salah Eddine Abkari, acting Secretary-General of the Culture Sector, spoke on behalf of the Minister of Culture about "the wisdom of King Hassan II" and "the genius of his heir," marking 50 years since the Green March, which culminated "in the world's recognition of the legitimacy of Morocco's demands, the validity of its proposal, and the UN Security Council's resolution," with ongoing efforts for "the development of the Kingdom's southern provinces."

Said Zniber, Wali of the Drâa-Tafilalet region, referred to "fifty years of reclaiming the Kingdom's southern provinces, a major historical milestone embodying sincere popular will and a visionary royal perspective that made the Moroccan Sahara a strategic area for construction and development, consolidating territorial unity and enhancing stability." He added that "this session holds special importance because it places scientific and academic knowledge at the heart of the discussion, analyzing the developmental experience of the Moroccan Sahara, deepening the academic understanding of the issue, and the developmental and democratic path led by the King of the country; because today's challenge is no longer only defending a just national cause but also valuing development achievements and enhancing the Moroccan Sahara's prominence as a bridge for South-South cooperation and a lever for stability and development."

Abdelali Hajjioui, President of the Moulay Ali Cherif Community Council, noted that "the blessed lands of Tafilalet have consistently hosted this important historical event, affirming the continuation of historical and civilizational ties, and the steadfastness in the components of national identity and the Alaouite throne." He confirmed that "the scientific sessions of Moulay Ali Cherif University delve into the depths of our national history and allow the residents of Tafilalet and all Moroccans to benefit from exhibitions, films, and scientific research highlighting a highly important national topic, the Green March, and the fruits and results of royal diplomatic victories crowned by the royal decision declaring the national 'Unity Day.'"

Bahija Simo, Director of Royal Archives, also spoke about the recent UN Security Council resolution, describing it as "a decisive phase in present-day Morocco and a new stage in our national cause," adding:

"We cannot understand its dimensions without recalling a historical path that occupied a century of struggle for liberation and achieving territorial unity. The perspective of liberation and unity differed from one era to another, although the goal was the same."

The historian referred to three stages: the "struggle march for independence from 1927 to 1956; then the era of Mohammed Ben Youssef, one of the most important milestones in modern Moroccan history, as the Sultan's vision disturbed the French protectorate administration. He defended the unity of Moroccan society (...) linked freedom and liberation, exploited the context of World War II to participate and defend the unity of his country (...) and internationalized the Moroccan cause in Tangier in 1947, making his voice heard in the international city of Tangier where diplomats resided..."