Republicanism in Morocco
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Republicanism |
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Morocco, currently a monarchy, has known some attempts to establish republican forms of government. Some of those attempts are continuing to this day:
- Morisco refugees from Andalusia formed in Salé and Rabat the Republic of Bou Regreg, a base for piracy (1627-1668).[1]
- Berber rebels in the Rif Region first established the Rif Republic (1921-1926) under Abd el-Krim against Spanish colonial rule, the state lasted until 1925 when the rebels tried to take the city of Fes, in a failed attempt to expand the republic into French Morocco.[2]
- In 1971 army cadets under General Madbouh and Colonel Ababuh attacked king Hassan II in the Shkirat palace.[3][4] A republic was proclaimed on Radio Rabat, was but suppressed by General Mohamed Oufkir. However, in 1972 Oufkir initiated his own coup d'état; the Air Force tried multiple times to bring down the king's airplane, attacked the Rabat airport and bombed the royal palace in Rabat. The coup ultimately failed.[5]
- During the 2011–2012 Moroccan protests, a few protesters chanted republican slogans. They were mainly from the Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane Islamist movement, the Ila al-Amam marxist group and some leftist streams. These slogans weren't repeated by the vast majority of the protesters.
Current republicanism in Morocco
[edit]Both inside and outside Morocco there are many active Moroccan anti-monarchy activists and dissidents in exile who openly criticise the monarchy or advocate for the creation of a "Republic of Morocco" and for the removal or toppling of the Moroccan monarchy through a popular revolution.
The Moroccan authorities continue to crack down on any movement or persons who advocate republicanism or question the legitimacy of the monarchy.[6][7][8][9] As a result, many Moroccan republicanists are active outside Morocco, in Europe or North America often with self-imposed exile.
Currently, the Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane Islamist movement, and Democratic Way marxist group are the main republicanist movements in Morocco.
References
[edit]- ^ Boussouf, Abdellah. "Captain John in Morocco: Pirate, Head of State, Migrant at Home". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ^ Wyrtzen, Jonathan (2016-02-19). Making Morocco: Colonial Intervention and the Politics of Identity. Cornell University Press. p. 183. ISBN 9781501704246. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "SOLDIERS ATTACK MOROCCAN PALACE; KING KEEPS POWER (Published 1971)". 1971-07-11. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ^ Alami, Aida. "Morocco's evolution from the 'years of lead' to today". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ^ "Morocco Puts 220 on Trial for Attempt on King Hassan's Life (Published 1972)". 1972-10-18. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ^ agencies, The New Arab & (2019-12-05). "Moroccan YouTuber arrested for 'public insults' after criticising king in viral anti-corruption video". english.alaraby.co.uk/. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Moroccan YouTuber, Moul Kaskita, Has Been Arrested for Insulting the King". OkayAfrica. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Moul Kaskita arrêté après une vidéo jugée "insultante" pour les Marocains". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Moroccan YouTubers forced to silence - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2021-12-04.