Royal Speeches: Commitments and Achievements

6 Nov 1999
New Vision
“We committed to addressing the Moroccan Sahara file with a new vision, enabling action with fairness, objectivity, and realism. Thus, while presiding over the meeting of the Royal Commission for Saharan Affairs, we gave our High instructions to allocate a financial envelope aimed at resolving the unemployment problem in these provinces, providing transportation facilities for students, and enabling the social integration of the disabled.”

6 Nov 2001
Goodwill
“We have ensured that Our attachment to the principles of dialogue, moderation, peace, and good neighborliness, and to recourse to the arbitration of international legality, constitutes the most appropriate path to definitively end the artificial conflict stirred around the legitimate recovery of our Southern provinces. Morocco has demonstrated goodwill and shown a clear and firm political determination to cooperate with the international community, in order to transcend the impasse that rendered the UN settlement plan inapplicable, due to the artificially erected obstacles by the enemies of our territorial integrity.”

6 Nov 2003
Preserve the Sovereignty of the Kingdom
“Morocco, strong in its national unanimity and its just cause, will remain prepared to fully contribute to any consensual, realistic, and definitive political solution, provided that it takes into account its legitimate right to preserve the sovereignty of the Kingdom, its national unity, and its territorial integrity, in respect and application of democratic principles. Any approach contrary to this imperative only strengthens national unanimity, but it also risks plunging the entire region into instability, instead of promoting cooperation to eradicate terrorism and extremism, which threaten the entire Mediterranean space.”

6 Nov 2007
Courageous Initiative
“Morocco, based on a consultative approach at local and national levels, and relying on unwavering unanimity, has strived to present a courageous initiative in favor of autonomy, an initiative that meets international standards, respects international legality, and takes into consideration the sociocultural specificities of the region. We have deployed positive efforts to give substance to this project, remaining driven by a responsible, bold, and realistic spirit. Combined with the broad international support gathered by our constructive initiative, these efforts have led to a new UN approach in the treatment of our fundamental national cause. It is a judicious approach that definitively sets aside all previous sterile plans.”

6 Nov 2009
No More Room for Ambiguity
“We affirm that there is no more room for ambiguity and duplicity: either the citizen is Moroccan, or they are not. The time of double games and evasion is over. The hour is for clarity and assumed duty. Either one is a patriot or a traitor. There is no middle ground between patriotism and betrayal. One cannot enjoy the rights of citizenship and deny them at the same time by conspiring with the enemies of the homeland. As for the adversaries of our territorial integrity and those who move in their orbit, they know better than others that the Sahara is a crucial cause for the Moroccan people, united around their Throne which is the depository and guarantor of its sovereignty, its national unity, and its territorial integrity.”

6 Nov 2010
The Hour of Truth
“The time of evasion where some could shirk their obligations is over. The hour of truth has come to unveil to the international community the horrors of repression, intimidation, humiliation, and torture inflicted on our compatriots in the Tindouf camps, in flagrant violation of the most elementary principles of international humanitarian law. Faced with this dramatic situation, Our faithful subjects in Tindouf, men and women, elderly and children, continue to courageously and with increasing vehemence express their growing opposition to repression and tyranny. Proof is that, despite the constraints of the stifling blockade imposed on them, they are massively returning to their homeland, Morocco, spontaneously aligning with the Autonomy Initiative and the spirit of the advanced regionalization project.”

6 Nov 2011
Consolidate the Unitary Spirit
“We commemorate today the 36th anniversary of the Green March, in a national context marked by our country’s entry into a new constitutional era that consolidates its unitary spirit and strengthens our specific model in terms of democracy and development. Strong in the profound reforms undertaken by Morocco, and in the positive responsiveness of our country to ongoing changes, we are today more confident and more determined to pursue this constantly renewed march. It is, indeed, about consolidating the territorial integrity of our country, strengthening the rule of law and institutions, and rooting good governance in all regions of the Kingdom. The primary beneficiaries of these advances are our Saharan provinces and their faithful sons, to whom the new Constitution reserves new and substantial democratic gains. It thus enshrines Hassani as one of the constituent elements of the united Moroccan cultural identity, and assigns the State the responsibility of ensuring its protection and development. It also makes advanced regionalization the pathway to good governance for these provinces.”

6 Nov 2013
Model of Regional Development
“We intend to finalize the elaboration and implementation of the regional development model for our Southern provinces (…)
It is not a mere proposal of palliative solutions for an emergency situation, nor isolated projects disconnected from one another, but rather an integrated developmental vision, based on an objective analysis of the actual situation in our Southern provinces, with the aim of laying the foundational bases of an integrated, long-term policy in various domains. This model, We want it to be multidimensional, founded on attachment to the values of work and effort, merit and equal opportunity, a model oriented toward the future, where women and youth occupy a special place.”

6 Nov 2014
Morocco Will Remain in its Sahara
“The Sahara affair is not only the cause of the Sahrawis. The Sahara is the affair of all Moroccans. And, as I said in a previous speech: The Sahara is a question of existence and not a question of borders. Morocco will remain in its Sahara, and the Sahara will remain in its Morocco until the end of time (…).
Everyone knows in what state the Sahara was before 1975. To those who ignore or feign ignorance of the truth, I offer these few facts: since the recovery of our Sahara, for every dirham of the region’s revenues, Morocco invests 7 dirhams in its Sahara, within the framework of solidarity between its regions and between the children of the united Homeland. As for the human development indicators in the region, they were, in 1975, 6% lower than in the northern regions of Morocco, and 51% lower than the national average in Spain. Today, these indicators in the Southern provinces far exceed the average of other regions of the Kingdom. That is why I say, and with full responsibility: Enough mystification about an alleged exploitation by Morocco of the region’s riches!”

6 Nov 2015
No Distinction Between Regions
“Morocco rejects any adventure with uncertain, potentially dangerous consequences, or any other hollow proposal serving no other purpose than to torpedo the positive dynamic initiated by the Autonomy Initiative. Morocco will also oppose hostile campaigns targeting Moroccan economic products, with the same sense of sacrifice and the same commitment it demonstrates in political and security domains to defend its unity and its sacred values. For those who, in violation of international law, wish to boycott these products, they are free to do so. But, they will have to assume the consequences of their decisions. Morocco has the right to open the door to its partners, States and global companies, to benefit from the investment opportunities that the region will offer thanks to the major projects to be launched. Since We make no distinction between the northern and southern regions of the Kingdom, there is for Us no difference between the tomatoes of Agadir and those of Dakhla, the sardines of Larache and those of Boujdour, and the phosphate of Khouribga and that of Boucraa.”

6 Nov 2016
Regain Its Natural Place
“Addressing you today, on the occasion of the forty-first anniversary of the Green March, from the city of Dakar, capital of the sister Republic of Senegal, I know that you will not be surprised by such a decision. Indeed, Senegal was among the States that participated in this national epic, alongside other African and Arab countries. This country so dear to us has always been at the forefront of defenders of the territorial integrity and the higher interests of the Kingdom. (…)
Morocco’s reintegration into the African Union is not a tactical decision, nor did it obey conjunctural calculations. It is rather the logical outcome of an in-depth reflection. And when we announce our return, we ask no one’s permission to obtain our legitimate right. In any case, Morocco is back to regain its natural place.”

6 Nov 2018
Direct and Frank Dialogue
“In all clarity and with full responsibility, I declare today Morocco’s readiness for direct and frank dialogue with sister Algeria, to overcome the conjunctural and objective disagreements that hinder the development of our relations. To this end, I propose to our brothers in Algeria the creation of a joint political mechanism for dialogue and consultation. The level of representation within this structure, its format, its nature are to be agreed upon by mutual consent. Morocco is open to any possible proposals and initiatives emanating from Algeria to defuse the deadlock in which relations between the two brotherly neighboring countries find themselves. By virtue of its mandate, this mechanism must commit to examining all bilateral issues, with frankness, objectivity, sincerity, and good faith, without conditions or exceptions, according to an open agenda.”

6 Nov 2021
Put an End to Provocations
“We must salute our Royal Armed Forces who, on November 13, 2020, restored the free movement of persons and goods at the Guerguerat crossing point, linking the two brotherly countries, Morocco and Mauritania. This firm, peaceful action put an end to the provocations and aggressions whose gravity for the security and stability of the region Morocco had already signaled to the international community.
In an equally constructive manner, we appreciate seeing the concrete support enjoyed by our just cause grow and amplify. In this regard, the sovereign decision of the United States of America to recognize the full and entire sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara is a source of pride for Us (…). Moreover, the decision of more than twenty-four countries to open a consulate in Laâyoune or Dakhla confirms the broad support enjoyed by the Moroccan position, especially within the Arab-African environment of our country.”

6 Nov 2023
Space of African Scope
“If, through its Mediterranean facade, Morocco is firmly anchored to Europe, its Atlantic side, for its part, opens to it a complete access to Africa and a window to the American space. This is why we are determined to undertake a national upgrading of the coastline, including the Atlantic facade of the Moroccan Sahara. We are also committed to ensuring that this geopolitical space undergoes a structuring of African scope. Our wish is for the Atlantic facade to become a great place of human communion, a pole of economic integration, a hub of continental and international influence. For this, by successfully completing the large-scale projects launched there, we ensure to equip our Southern provinces with the services and infrastructures indispensable to their economic development.”