King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, will preside over a religious vigil at the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat on Monday to mark the 28th anniversary of the death of the late King Hassan II, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol, and Chancellery announced.
The ceremony, corresponding to 9 Rabii II 1448 in the Islamic calendar, will be broadcast live on national radio and television starting at Maghrib prayers.
The commemoration recalls the reign of Hassan II, who ruled Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999 and played a central role in shaping the country’s modern political, economic, and diplomatic institutions.
Hassan II ascended the throne following the death of his father, King Mohammed V, and oversaw a period marked by major state-building projects, territorial developments, and the expansion of Morocco’s diplomatic engagement abroad.
Among the defining events of his reign was the Green March of November 6, 1975, when hundreds of thousands of Moroccans marched toward Western Sahara following a call from the monarch. His reign also saw Morocco regain Sidi Ifni from Spain in 1969 and Oued Eddahab in 1979.
Domestically, Hassan II made dam construction one of the central pillars of his development strategy. Launched in the 1960s, the policy sought to expand irrigated agriculture, strengthen water security, and reduce the country’s vulnerability to recurring droughts.
Morocco also underwent significant institutional and social changes during his 38-year reign, including the development of infrastructure, housing programs, and an evolving political system characterized by the gradual expansion of political pluralism.
Foreign policy formed another important part of Hassan II’s legacy. Morocco maintained close ties with Western partners while remaining active in Arab, Islamic, and African affairs.
The late monarch was involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict and Middle East peace process, while Morocco also participated in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of today’s African Union, and later the Arab Maghreb Union.
In 2022, Hassan II was posthumously awarded a Pan-African prize in Ethiopia recognizing his contribution to African independence movements and continental cooperation.
Monday’s ceremony will bring members of the royal family, officials and religious figures together in remembrance of a monarch whose nearly four decades on the throne coincided with a formative period in Morocco’s post-independence history.
MWN with MAP
