Postage Stamps as witness of Morocco history
The Kingdom of Morocco is the most westerly of the North African countries known as the Maghreb – “the West”. It has Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, a rugged mountain interior and a history of independence not shared by its neighbours. Its culture is a blend of Arab, Berber, European and African influences.
Morocco was a French protectorate between 1912 and 1956. Since independence, Morocco has remained relatively stable and wields significant influence in both Africa and the Arab world. In 1975, Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. Since then it has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front.
Some key dates in Morocco’s history:
- 7th-8th Centuries – Arab invasion; Idris founds the first major Muslim dynasty.
- 11th-12th Centuries – Under first the Almoravid and then Almohad dynasties, Morocco dominates the Maghreb and much of Spain.
- 1549-1649 – Saadi dynasty rule Morocco and parts of west Africa.
- 1666 onwards – Alawi dynasty rule as Sultans of Morocco
- 1884 – Spain creates a protectorate in coastal areas of Morocco.
- 1904 – France and Spain carve out zones of influence.
- 1912 – Morocco becomes a French protectorate under the Treaty of Fez.
- 1921-6 – Tribal rebellion in Rif mountains is suppressed by French and Spanish troops.
- 1956 – End of French protectorate after unrest and strong nationalist sentiment. Spain keeps its two coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
- 1961 – Death of King Mohammed; King Hassan II comes to power.
- 1971 – Failed attempt to depose king and establish republic.
- 1973 – Polisario movement formed, aims to establish an independent state in Spanish Sahara, a territory south of Morocco controlled by Spain.
- 1975 – The Green March: King Hassan orders 350,000 civilian volunteers to cross into Spanish Sahara. Spain agrees to leave the area and to transfer it to joint Moroccan-Mauritanian control. Algeria objects and threatens military intervention. Moroccan forces enter and occupy the territory.
- 1976 – Moroccan and Algerian troops clash in Western Sahara. Algeria announces the formation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government-in-exile. Morocco and Mauritania divide-up Western Sahara. – Fighting starts between Moroccan military and Polisario forces.
- 1991 – UN-monitored ceasefire begins in Western Sahara, but the region’s status remains undecided.
- 2011 – Thousands of people rally in Rabat and other cities calling for political reform and a new constitution curbing the powers of the king.
- 2020 – President Donald Trump announces US officially recognizes Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara as part of the Israel-Morocco normalization agreement.
