Morocco Marks 45th Anniversary of Green March, Pivotal Event in Sahara Liberation

Every year, Moroccans celebrate the day of the announcement of the "Green March" by King Hassan II. An event that changed the political life of the Kingdom and marked the beginning of the struggle for the recovery of the southern provinces. The late King Hassan II had announced on October 16, 1975 a great popular march. A march that led to the liberation of the southern provinces after the International Court of Justice in The Hague confirmed the existence of legal ties and allegiances between the Sultans of Morocco and the Sahrawi tribes. This confirmation came following a request made on December 13, 1974. "On October 16, the ICJ declared that the Sahara had never been ’terra nullius’ and that it had legal ties of allegiance" between this territory and Morocco.

In a historic speech delivered on October 16, King Hassan II invited a peaceful "Green March" which mobilized 350,000 Moroccans, including 10% women from across the Kingdom. Thus, on February 28, 1976, the Moroccan national flag was hoisted in Laâyoune. A date commemorated and celebrated by Morocco ever since.

Since then, the development of this part of the territory has been one of Morocco’s priorities. The province has been equipped with basic infrastructure to bring it closer to the Kingdom and its total liberation from the Spanish colonizer. The cities of the province are also a bridge linking the rest of Africa and Morocco.

King Mohammed VI has continued the momentum initiated by the late King Hassan II. He continues to carry out major projects in all areas of activity to ensure the development of the population of the provinces. With the commitment of Moroccans and especially of the province, the new development model of the provinces has been put in place.