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Marrakech – Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), declared that Moroccans have not forgotten Ceuta and Melilla, stating that their recovery remains a legitimate national right.
Speaking at a rally in Fez commemorating the 82nd anniversary of Morocco’s independence manifesto submission, Benkirane said this position does not call for war with Spain.
“We are still required to work diligently for the return of Ceuta and Melilla to the homeland,” Benkirane stated. He argued it is illogical for two African cities located on the borders of Tetouan and Nador to remain outside Moroccan sovereignty within a clear historical and sovereign context.
The PJD leader said this file has its own timing, asserting the demand follows historical logic and legitimacy rather than emotional reactions. “This file will have its time, whether some like it or hate it,” he said, indicating his conviction that time serves Morocco’s sovereign positions.
Benkirane connected this stance to Morocco’s historical resistance against foreign powers. He noted that Morocco’s heartland was never an easy target for foreign forces, citing Napoleon Bonaparte’s decision not to invade Morocco despite his military campaign to Cairo in 1798.
This reflected the prestige and status Morocco enjoyed, he argued, noting colonial ambitions targeted “the land of Al-Azhar but not the land of Al-Qarawiyyin.”
The political leader traced the transformation in colonial ambitions to mid-19th-century developments. He pointed to France’s occupation of Algeria in 1830, followed by the 1844 Isly battle, explaining that before this period, no foreign enemy had penetrated Morocco’s core territories.
Foreign presence was limited to some coastal ports and isolated positions, including El Jadida, Mehdia, Ceuta, and Melilla.
The period between 1844 and 1912 witnessed escalating French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese ambitions, Benkirane noted. Gradual infiltrations occurred in Chaouia and Oujda regions before the protectorate treaty was signed in 1912 during Sultan Moulay Abdelhafid’s reign, marking a new chapter in Morocco’s history.
History was never absent – its teaching was
Benkirane mentioned a neglected historical event – the first uprising in Fez immediately following the protectorate signing. He revealed learning about this revolt only through French sources.
The 1912 Fez riots, Benkirane referenced, are a major anti-colonial uprising that erupted shortly after the Treaty of Fez officially established the French protectorate over Morocco.
When the people of Fez and segments of the Moroccan army learned of the treaty, they viewed it as a betrayal and rose in revolt starting on April 17, 1912.
The unrest quickly spread through the city, with mutinous “askars” (military soldiers) and civilians attacking colonial targets and European quarters before French forces used artillery to suppress the rebellion over several days. The violence left hundreds of Moroccan Muslims, Jews, and Europeans dead and helped convince Sultan Moulay Abdelhafid to abdicate in favor of his brother Youssef.
Benkirane argued that this lack of awareness stems not from absent history but inadequate historical education, creating a knowledge gap between generations and their national trajectory.
The PJD official explained that France and Spain only entered Morocco after imposing the protectorate system.
He attributed this to Morocco’s unique political and social structure, which was not a centralized state in the modern sense but a society based on individual freedom and self-governance, where tribes managed their affairs independently while maintaining loyalty to the Sultan.
Morocco lacked a permanent army except during Sultan Moulay Ismail’s era, Benkirane observed. Defense occurred through mobilizing tribes and cities when needed.
He noted colonial powers understood that conquering Morocco by force meant confronting each tribe individually, which would have cost them significant losses given the Moroccan character that “does not accept humiliation or inferiority.”
PJD presents itself as continuity of Morocco’s national movement
Addressing the meaning of celebrating January 11, Morocco’s Independence Manifesto Day, Benkirane clarified that his party’s participation in commemorating the independence manifesto does not mean abandoning their political identity or merging with the Istiqlal Party.
“We consider ourselves a continuation of the righteous national movement that started from the beginning, and the righteous and sincere among them continue,” he stated, affirming that principles defended by national movement pioneers remain present in his party’s discourse and practice.
Benkirane expressed concern about the loss of national memory, lamenting that generations of Moroccans did not receive proper historical education in schools.
He argued that a significant part of awareness about Morocco’s history and resistance to colonialism remained absent or marginalized. “The problem is not the absence of history, but the absence of teaching it,” he said.
The PJD leader argued that Morocco today does not need “new independence” in the traditional political sense, but urgently requires “correction and reform of what should be reformed in this country.”
He warned that the path society is following is no longer the correct one, acknowledging infrastructure achievements while insisting this should not come at the expense of “reforming the human being.”
Critiques on consumerism, international interference
Benkirane also criticized what he described as Moroccan society’s drift toward excessive consumption and fascination with money. “Moroccans were not created to be mere consumers, but carriers of principles and values,” he declared.
He said consumption itself is not problematic, but becomes dangerous when it transforms into a lifestyle that destroys individuals and corrupts families.
Addressing contemporary challenges, Benkirane described current global disruptions caused by policies under US President Donald Trump, which destabilized international systems that previously maintained balance and stability.
He said the current phase requires greater internal cohesion among Moroccans, with people and monarchy in complete harmony while ignoring what he termed “disruptive and nihilistic voices.”
Regarding regional relations, Benkirane called for transcending conflict logic within the Arab and Islamic world. He said the current phase necessitates convergence and coordination, particularly with Algeria, distinguishing between the Algerian people who harbor affection for Moroccans and those who govern, expressing hope for relationship correction and border opening to serve regional peoples’ interests.
The political leader connected this social criticism to the Palestinian cause, expressing strong condemnation of Palestinian suffering and recalling his positions calling for “boycotting companies that cooperate with Zionists.” He stated that what is happening in Palestine today cannot be ignored, describing the treatment of children and civilians as unimaginable.
Benkirane defended the centrality of religion in public life, arguing that the slogan “God, Homeland, King” reflects the reality that God is the foundation upon which love of country and loyalty to the monarch are built. He said attempts to separate these elements or exclude the religious dimension from public sphere represent a danger to society’s balance.
The rally was jointly organized by the Justice and Development Party and the Unity and Democracy Party (PUD), sending a forceful message that Morocco’s decolonization remains unfinished, reaffirming the country’s uncompromising commitment to territorial integrity, historical sovereignty, and the dismantling of all lingering colonial constructs.
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