Rabat – King Mohammed VI will deliver a speech this evening to mark the 49th anniversary of the Green March, announced the Ministry of the Royal Household today.
The speech will be broadcast live at 8:30 p.m. local time on national television and radio, continuing the tradition of addressing the nation on this significant day, which commemorates the peaceful march that solidified Morocco’s territorial claim to the Sahara region.
Initiated by King Hassan II in 1975, the Green March was a remarkable act of peaceful resistance and national unity. Over 350,000 unarmed Moroccan civilians, including children, crossed into the disputed Western Sahara, then under Spanish colonial rule, to assert Morocco’s claim over the region.
The march was a key step in the decolonization of the area, coming just weeks before Spain withdrew from the territory and leading to the eventual annexation of the Sahara by Morocco.
In addition to its historical and political impact, the significance of the Green March also lies in the peaceful nature of the demonstration. In his speech before the march, King Hassan II called on Moroccans to reclaim their ancestral land with unwavering faith and non-violence.
Carrying only flags and symbols of peace, the marchers conveyed Morocco’s resolve to assert its sovereignty over the Sahara without resorting to violence. For Moroccans, the Green March symbolizes a national triumph and is a reminder of the resilience and unity of the Moroccan people.
King Mohammed VI’s speech this year is expected to reflect on the legacy of the Green March and its ongoing importance to Morocco’s identity and sovereignty in the wake of the country’s diplomatic gains related to the Sahara.
