The historic contribution of Morocco under the reign of the late HM Mohammed V and the late HM Hassan II to the struggle of African countries against colonialism was underlined, Thursday in Rabat, on the occasion celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the African continent.

This anniversary, which this year coincided with the commemoration of Africa Day (May 25), was an opportunity for participants in a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, to dwell on the unifying role of the late HM Mohammed V during this decisive period, having mobilized the resources of the Kingdom immediately after its independence in 1956 in the service of the liberation movements of brotherly African countries, in an atmosphere of communion and pan-African solidarity.

In a speech on this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, underlined that “the founding reign of His Majesty Mohammed V – May God have him in His holy mercy – was in phase with the struggles for liberation, in Morocco and in Africa”.

“The late Sovereign – Father of the Nation – had also made the Kingdom a land of welcome and rallying for liberation movements and leaders of African independence”, he recalled, specifying that Berkane, in the Moroccan Oriental, was the sanctuary of the liberation movements of the most distant African countries. He recalled that Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel, Agostinho Neto, Amilcar Cabral – among others, had their quarters there.

“Heir and Companion in the struggle of His illustrious Father, the late His Majesty Hassan II – May God rest his soul – has, in turn, spared no effort in the service of the stability and independence of brotherly African countries”, continued the Minister, indicating that on several occasions, Moroccan soldiers fought alongside brotherly African countries, and shed their blood on their land, in the service of independence and the preservation of territorial integrity.

“The Founding Fathers of Pan-Africanism and the independence of Africa always knew that to move forward, Africa had to know where it came from”, he said, explaining that “this is why Morocco decided, to pay homage to this shared history and to our common destiny, to finalize one of the most important memorial sites of the period of African independence, by weaving the Ariadne’s thread between History and the Present which links the 54 States of the Continent. »

“We think, in fact, that it is important for Africa to reclaim its + Narrative +; to enhance its cultural heritage and maintain its collective identity”, he argued.

“To take part, Morocco has set up a series of memorial initiatives, intended to never let the flame of the memory of the struggles and common fights for the freedom and independence of our continent go out,” said noted Mr. Bourita.

Also speaking on this occasion, the High Commissioner for former resistance fighters and former members of the Liberation Army, Mustapha El Ktiri affirmed that history retains that the day after its independence, the Kingdom implemented the African dimension in through the pioneering project called for by the late HM King Mohammed V, by hosting the Casablanca Conference in January 1961 and creating the Casablanca Group to develop a common African policy, political unity and economic, political and societal integration under the sign of Pan-Africanism.

He stressed that this prospective vision of the late HM Mohammed V is based on the historical, commercial, spiritual, cultural and political capital of Morocco’s relations with many African countries which had just obtained their independence.

El Ktiri added that the late HM Hassan II continued to support this liberation project by supporting African countries in their struggle for independence, recalling in this sense that the Kingdom is one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has maintained its positions and principles towards the African continent, he continued, noting that the Sovereign, since His accession to the Throne of His glorious ancestors, has spared no no effort in signing conventions and partnerships with African countries and in establishing solid diplomatic and economic relations.

This ceremony, held in the presence of members of the government, as well as many ambassadors of countries accredited to the Kingdom, was marked by the screening of a documentary on “Morocco and the liberation movements in Africa”.

The participants in this event also attended the inauguration of the exhibition “Brothers in arms, from the fight for African independence to the oath of co-development” which displays, among other things, several shots by photographer Mohamed Maradji .

Source: Burkina Information Agency