Morocco Marks 20 Years Since King Hassan II’s Death, Reflecting on His 38-Year Rule

23 July 2019 – bySaid@Bladi · 1 min read

On July 23, 1999, the late King Hassan II passed away. Three-quarters of the people, who have known no king other than him, believed that Morocco would not survive his death. Hassan II had ruled the Shereefian Kingdom with an iron fist for 38 years before passing away suddenly.

The majority of those who knew Hassan II believed that he would not remain in power for long. Yet he had disproved all the forecasts, surviving even two military coups, led respectively by General Mohamed Medbouh and Colonel Mohammed Ababou in 1971, and in 1972 by General Mohamed Oufkir.

Several observers blame Hassan II for doing everything to save his throne instead of building Morocco. He was not interested in the economy because he was preoccupied with foreign policy, in which he was a master.

Here are some of his best quotes: