Morocco’s Green March Legacy Highlighted at MEDays Forum as Experts Praise Sovereignty, Development Gains

Tangier, The Gulf Observer: International experts convening at the MEDays Forum in Tangier have highlighted Morocco’s remarkable transformation of its southern provinces over the past five decades, describing the shift from territorial dispute to internationally recognised sovereignty and accelerated development as a model for Africa.

During a panel titled “50 Years After the Green March: The Moroccan Sahara, From Sovereignty to Development & Growth,” speakers underscored the long-term strategic vision that has guided Morocco’s approach since the historic 1975 Green March.

Green March: A Strategic Turning Point

Former UN adviser and Morocco World News co-founder Samir Bennis called the 1975 Green March a geopolitical “masterstroke” that reshaped regional dynamics during the Cold War. At a time when decolonisation rhetoric strengthened liberation movements, Morocco faced strong opposition from Spain and Algeria, who aligned—despite differing motives—to block Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.

Bennis noted that the peaceful mobilisation of 350,000 Moroccan civilians compelled Spain to sign the Madrid Agreement on November 14, 1975, enabling Morocco to recover its southern provinces without armed confrontation.

He also highlighted the importance of the 2007 Autonomy Plan, rooted in a 1998 American suggestion, which reoriented diplomatic discussions at the UN Security Council. This shift culminated in Resolution 2440 (2018), which acknowledged the Moroccan plan as the only “serious and credible” basis for resolving the conflict. The adoption of Resolution 2797 reflects the continued consolidation of support, he added.

African Diplomats Praise Morocco’s Diplomatic Path

Former Comoros Foreign Minister Fahmi Saïd Ibrahim El Maceli hailed Morocco’s diplomacy as an African model, asserting that the Autonomy Plan is the only logical framework for resolving what he termed a “manufactured dispute.”

He cited three non-negotiable principles upheld by King Mohammed VI—sovereignty, institutions and the monarchy, and Islam—as pillars grounding Morocco’s approach. Morocco’s long-standing nationhood, he said, invalidates doubts about its territorial integrity.

Similarly, former Liberian Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley emphasised the link between sovereignty and development. Liberia was the second country to open a consulate in the Moroccan Sahara, he noted, adding that advancements in education, youth policies and economic opportunities demonstrate how the region has been transformed over fifty years. He also outlined deepening bilateral cooperation with Morocco across agriculture, mining, logistics and port infrastructure.

Former Malawian Foreign Minister Francis Kasaila recalled Malawi’s 2016 shift from recognising the SADR to establishing ties with Morocco, crediting Morocco’s diplomatic engagement for helping Southern African countries better understand the history of the dispute. He said the UN’s evolving stance on autonomy strengthens African stability by reducing the likelihood of separatist conflicts.

Geopolitical Context and Modern Development Vision

Diplomacy specialist Roudani Charkaoui situated the Green March within the complex geopolitical environment of 1975—defined by the Middle East crisis, the oil shock, US withdrawal from Vietnam and Europe’s economic strain. Amid these pressures, King Hassan II pursued a visionary, peaceful liberation of Moroccan territory.

Charkaoui added that King Mohammed VI has continued this strategic trajectory through the New Development Model for the southern provinces, which aims to position the region as a continental hub and promote enhanced Atlantic connectivity for Sahel countries.

From Dispute to Development

Speakers agreed that Morocco has succeeded in transforming its southern provinces from a contested zone into a platform for regional development, supported by a growing international consensus endorsing Moroccan sovereignty.

The panel concluded that fifty years after the Green March, Morocco’s combination of diplomatic strategy, political stability and economic investment has produced a development model increasingly recognised across Africa and the international community.