Paris: As part of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Kingdom’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the Green March, and in tribute to the historic recognition stated on October 31 by the UN Security Council in favor of the Initiative for Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, Professor Bahija Simou, Director of the Royal Archives of Morocco, gave a lecture titled “The Path to Independence” at the Maison du Maroc in Paris, attended by a large audience of students and members of the Moroccan community. After presenting the central role of the late His Majesty King Mohammed V in the struggle for independence, Simou discussed the main historical and political milestones that shaped this journey, from his resistance to the Berber dahir, through his positions during World War II, up to the Anfa Conference and the Tangier Speech, then the period of exile and the Revolution of the King and the People that led to his return all the way to the proclamation of Morocco’s independence in 1956.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, she also discussed the post-independence period, marked by the gradual recovery of Southern provinces, starting with the visit of the late His Majesty King Mohammed V to Mahamid El Ghizlane, followed by the return of Tarfaya in 1958, then the city of Sidi Ifni in 1969.
The historian then highlighted the epic Green March initiated by the late Sovereign, emphasizing its historical and legal dimensions based on the “bay’a” system. She also referred to the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Morocco, presenting the issue of the recovery of these territories before the UN, then before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The Director of the Royal Archives then highlighted the momentum of national unity under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as well as the major achievements accomplished both nationally and in Southern provinces in particular. She stressed that the decision taken on October 31 by the Security Council, confirming the Initiative for Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, is but the crowning achievement of efforts undertaken by the Sovereign over a quarter of a century, reconciling major structural projects and profound reforms.
Simou said that the vote on October 31, 2025, is “a decisive confirmation of the legitimacy of the national cause, a recognition of Morocco’s stature under the leadership of His Majesty the King, and a testament to the Sovereign’s eminent status on the international stage,” emphasizing that this decision represents “a decisive leap” in the Kingdom’s contemporary history.
She concluded that “while the Green March illustrated the wisdom and foresight of the late His Majesty King Hassan II, the completion of the process of territorial unity under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI portrays a renewed vision and an exceptional strategy on the basis of an advanced phase of enshrining national unity and sovereignty.”