Morocco commemorates 73rd anniversary of Revolution of the King and the People

Morocco is commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People. The national observance marks the events of August 20, 1953, when French colonial authorities exiled Sultan Mohammed V and members of the royal family.

Rather than suppressing the independence movement, the exile intensified popular resistance and strengthened the bond between the monarchy and the Moroccan people. The struggle for sovereignty drew upon decades of prior armed resistance and political mobilization, including the 1930 opposition to the Berber Dahir and the 1944 Independence Manifesto.

Following the Sultan's return to Morocco on November 16, 1955, negotiations began that eventually ended the French protectorate and led to full independence in 1956. The annual commemoration honors this historic alliance and the country's journey toward national unity and territorial integrity.