Moroccan Monarch Highlights Strong Economy, Social Solidarity, and Diplomatic Engagement in National Address
Image: via AP
King Mohammed VI marked the 26th anniversary of his accession to the throne with a powerful and forward-looking Throne Speech, reaffirming Morocco's economic resilience, commitment to territorial equity, and regional diplomacy.
Delivered on July 29, the 2025 address was structured around three strategic priorities: consolidating Morocco's economic development model, promoting integrated territorial development to reduce disparities, and affirming a diplomacy of regional openness.
Opening with an optimistic assessment of Morocco's economy, the King emphasised its steady performance despite global economic pressures and years of drought.
'The national economy has maintained a substantial and steady growth rate in recent years,' he stated, highlighting the nation's capacity to navigate crises while preserving macroeconomic stability. The King credited the country's industrial momentum, noting a significant increase in exports since 2014, especially in high-value global trades.
This industrial revival aligns with long-term policies like the Industrial Acceleration Plan (2014–2020) and the National Industrial Acceleration Strategy (2021–2030), reflecting Morocco's goal to position itself as a rising industrial power within global value chains.
However, economic development, he stressed, must be inclusive.
'I will not be satisfied unless this development translates into improved living conditions for citizens across all regions,' the monarch declared. He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as poverty and social vulnerability in some areas and called for greater spatial justice.'
There is no place today or in the future for a Morocco that moves at two speeds,' said King Mohammed VI, underlining the urgency of reducing regional disparities.
He urged the government to prioritise direct support for families in need and invest in integrated territorial development, ensuring that economic gains benefit all Moroccan citizens equally.
In a compelling diplomatic segment, the King renewed his commitment to regional cooperation and peaceful resolution of tensions, especially with Algeria.
Reaffirming Morocco's long-standing 'outstretched hand' policy, he voiced openness to sincere, fraternal dialogue.'As King of Morocco, my position is clear and constant: the Algerian people are a brotherly people,' he stated.
'We are united by deep-rooted historical and human ties… I have always been keen to extend the hand of fellowship to our brothers in Algeria.'
On the Western Sahara issue, King Mohammed VI reiterated Morocco's firm yet conciliatory stance. He advocated for a 'compromise solution with no winner and no loser' that preserves the dignity of all involved.
The King took the opportunity to thank the United Kingdom and Portugal for their support of Morocco's Autonomy Initiative, which he described as the only realistic and credible solution to the Sahara conflict.
This message followed a decade of growing international backing for Morocco's autonomy plan, which has seen endorsement from major players including the United States, France, Spain, and other global partners.
As Morocco continues to assert itself economically and diplomatically, the 2025 Throne Speech reinforced a clear message: progress must be both inclusive and cooperative, grounded in national unity and regional partnership.
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19 hours ago
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Moroccan Monarch Highlights Strong Economy, Social Solidarity, and Diplomatic Engagement in National Address
Morocco's King Mohammed VI, centre, accompanied by his son Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, left, and brother Prince Moulay Rashid. Picture: Moroccan Royal Palace . Image: via AP King Mohammed VI marked the 26th anniversary of his accession to the throne with a powerful and forward-looking Throne Speech, reaffirming Morocco's economic resilience, commitment to territorial equity, and regional diplomacy. Delivered on July 29, the 2025 address was structured around three strategic priorities: consolidating Morocco's economic development model, promoting integrated territorial development to reduce disparities, and affirming a diplomacy of regional openness. Opening with an optimistic assessment of Morocco's economy, the King emphasised its steady performance despite global economic pressures and years of drought. 'The national economy has maintained a substantial and steady growth rate in recent years,' he stated, highlighting the nation's capacity to navigate crises while preserving macroeconomic stability. The King credited the country's industrial momentum, noting a significant increase in exports since 2014, especially in high-value global trades. This industrial revival aligns with long-term policies like the Industrial Acceleration Plan (2014–2020) and the National Industrial Acceleration Strategy (2021–2030), reflecting Morocco's goal to position itself as a rising industrial power within global value chains. However, economic development, he stressed, must be inclusive. 'I will not be satisfied unless this development translates into improved living conditions for citizens across all regions,' the monarch declared. He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as poverty and social vulnerability in some areas and called for greater spatial justice.' There is no place today or in the future for a Morocco that moves at two speeds,' said King Mohammed VI, underlining the urgency of reducing regional disparities. He urged the government to prioritise direct support for families in need and invest in integrated territorial development, ensuring that economic gains benefit all Moroccan citizens equally. In a compelling diplomatic segment, the King renewed his commitment to regional cooperation and peaceful resolution of tensions, especially with Algeria. Reaffirming Morocco's long-standing 'outstretched hand' policy, he voiced openness to sincere, fraternal dialogue.'As King of Morocco, my position is clear and constant: the Algerian people are a brotherly people,' he stated. 'We are united by deep-rooted historical and human ties… I have always been keen to extend the hand of fellowship to our brothers in Algeria.' On the Western Sahara issue, King Mohammed VI reiterated Morocco's firm yet conciliatory stance. He advocated for a 'compromise solution with no winner and no loser' that preserves the dignity of all involved. The King took the opportunity to thank the United Kingdom and Portugal for their support of Morocco's Autonomy Initiative, which he described as the only realistic and credible solution to the Sahara conflict. This message followed a decade of growing international backing for Morocco's autonomy plan, which has seen endorsement from major players including the United States, France, Spain, and other global partners. As Morocco continues to assert itself economically and diplomatically, the 2025 Throne Speech reinforced a clear message: progress must be both inclusive and cooperative, grounded in national unity and regional partnership.
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6 days ago
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Zuma's endorsement of Moroccan occupation sparks renewed debate on Western Sahara's future
More and more countries — and former SA president Jacob Zuma — are backing Rabat's plan for autonomy for Western Sahara. Former South African president Jacob Zuma's visit to Morocco and endorsement of its continued occupation of Western Sahara as an autonomous region, have rekindled debate about this contentious and ongoing issue. Zuma, who now heads the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party, met Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat last week. Zuma formed MK just before South Africa's national elections last year, as the then-governing ANC was moving to expel him. MK raked in 15% of the vote, contributing to the ANC losing its majority for the first time since 1994. MK cited a long list of explanations for abandoning the cause of Sahrawi independence, which Zuma espoused as president and the ANC still vigorously champions. MK's reasons included pan-Africanism, anti-colonialist solidarity, traditional leadership, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The anti-colonial argument was ironic given that the ANC views Morocco's claim over Western Sahara as colonialism and supports UN efforts to hold a referendum on the issue. Despite the rhetoric, most of Zuma and Morocco's critics — including MK's former secretary-general Floyd Shivambu and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula — suspect Zuma and MK sold out for money or other material gain. That is certainly credible given Zuma's history of corruption and State Capture while president. Those same critics believe material interests are the main reason Rabat has been making steady progress in switching the allegiance of international and African states. 'With Morocco's typical use of money, I am not surprised by Zuma's move,' a retired South African diplomat told ISS Today. 'He has fallen into Morocco's strategic campaign to get African countries to endorse its plan. 'In effect, Zuma's endorsement changes nothing but causes confusion, which I guess is part of Morocco's intention.' 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Mr Zuma and his party, like any political entity, operate as non-state actors.' It is difficult to assess how many states back Morocco's autonomy position. But support is growing internationally with the US, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE — and, just this week — Portugal backing Morocco. In Africa the tally is murkier, though experts and media reports suggest Morocco is gaining ground. They indicate it now has around 23 supporters — most in West Africa, versus about 18 countries — mainly in southern Africa, backing Western Sahara independence or at least the right to a referendum on the issue. Significant victory Morocco was reported to have scored a significant victory in May when Kenya, which had hitherto firmly supported the SADR's right to self-determination, expressed its support for Morocco's autonomy plan. Ghana did the same in June. However, the Polisario Front that governs the SADR has also won a few points. This year, its major champion Algeria twice defeated Morocco for African Union (AU) positions, both as AU deputy chair and in retaining North Africa's seat on the Peace and Security Council. Nonetheless, the former South African diplomat said he was surprised by Kenya and Ghana's recent switch. He added that 'countries would have to think deeply and decide whether they would want to undermine African unity, which is one of the foundational principles of the AU'. Liesl Louw-Vaudran, AU expert at the International Crisis Group, says Morocco has made gradual progress in its campaign for recognition of its autonomy position, globally and in Africa. 'And I think Kenya is a very important country, continentally, at the UN and in the AU.' She also believes Rabat has succeeded in neutralising the issue in Africa. In 2018, shortly after Morocco rejoined the AU, Louw-Vaudran and Christian Ani wrote that the AU's decision to largely leave the Western Sahara issue to the UN had been 'a big win for Morocco, which believes the AU-led efforts are biased'. Louw-Vaudran told ISS Today this week that since then, Western Sahara was no longer discussed as a crisis within the AU, including in its Peace and Security Council. 'South Africa… and some other countries are still trying to support Western Sahara, but it's no longer such a huge emotional, explosive issue, because Morocco really is, apart from South Africa, achieving its goal to stifle any debate about the Western Sahara within the AU. It has got more and more countries siding with it, like Kenya now.' Louw-Vaudran said that despite rumours that Morocco would launch a campaign to get the SADR expelled from the AU, it hasn't happened. With strong opposition from the likes of South Africa and Algeria, 'it would be very, very difficult'. 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But in Zuma's case, it appears that in an increasingly transactional, self-interested world, many countries and others are backing Morocco's plan because it has something concrete to offer — from fertilisers to tourism, fisheries and renewable energies. SADR by comparison, sadly, does not. DM
TimesLIVE
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Last week, former president Jacob Zuma quietly travelled to Morocco, where he declared support — albeit in his capacity as MK Party president — for the country's colonial domination over the people of Western Sahara. During a televised meeting with a delegation of the Moroccan government, with the South African flag as a crucial backdrop, Zuma said Morocco must retain sovereignty over Western Sahara. The MK Party, through Zuma's comrade and nephew Magasela Mzobe, announced a policy position aimed at bringing about a practical solution to the long-standing conflict over Western Sahara's independence. 'While taking into account the growing international and continental support that the Moroccan autonomy proposal has gained over the past couple of years, our party believes that this proposal allows for significant local governance by the people of the Sahara region, while (also) ensuring that Morocco retains its crucial sovereignty over the Sahara region. 'This approach offers a balanced path forward that promotes both stability, peace and development in the region. We call on the international community to support Morocco's autonomy plan as a possible effective way to ensure peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Western Sahara. Our party recognises this historical and legal context that underpins Morocco's claim to Western Sahara and views that Morocco's effort to reclaim its full territorial integrity aligns with our commitment to preserving the sovereignty and the unity of the African state,' Mzobe said on behalf of Zuma. This statement has obviously triggered a lot of emotion for many in South Africa, none more so than the ANC — a party with which Zuma has been fighting tooth and nail to regain his membership. Not long after the televised address, the ANC released a statement condemning the use of the national flag as part of the theatrics. 'This reckless and provocative act constitutes a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs. It is a dangerous attempt to delegitimise our constitutional order and discredit the authority of a democratically elected government. The inclusion of our national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign powers is not only misleading but also part of a broader agenda of foreign interference,' the ANC wrote. The ANC called out Zuma as being shameful, betraying its historical mission and showing his true colours. The recently ousted secretary-general of the MK Party, Floyd Shivambu, felt vindicated after having accused the Moroccan government of trying to buy Zuma's support by offering money in exchange for support for its actions in Western Sahara. The ANC during the Zuma years resolved to intensify the call for the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, with a view to enable these countries and people to effectively exercise sovereignty. In the AU, South Africa has frequently raised concerns about Morocco's admission to the body. Some may call the former statesman a sellout, but to others, this came as no surprise. In 2004, during the Thabo Mbeki era, the Moroccan government recalled its ambassador from South Africa when the then-president recognised the Western Sahara. Zuma, shortly before his exit from office in 2017, publicly went against the ANC position, resetting relations with the North African country. In an interview with the City Press at the time, Zuma said: 'Morocco is an African nation and we need to have relations with them ... We never had problems with them anyway; they were the first to withdraw diplomatic relations ... They [Morocco] felt that even if we differ on the Western Sahara issues, the two countries should have a relationship.' Despite this deviation from established ANC policy, the party cowered under pressure, standing behind its president as it had done by protecting Zuma one scandal after another. Reacting to Zuma at the time, the ANC said there was no ANC policy to isolate Morocco. Whether Zuma's recent actions are, if Shivambu is believed, a consequence of transactional politics or are merely aligned with his historical views which run counter to ANC policy, will be hard to ascertain. What is clear though is that Zuma has been consistent in his flip-flopping. We should have seen it coming. If Zuma could defy the ANC by setting up meetings with the Moroccans as its president, what would prevent him from further solidifying that relationship with his own MK Party stokvel? What must worry us is the patent abuse of the South African flag, our national symbol. Whether this is because of 30 pieces of silver is neither here nor there. Zuma is free to pursue whatever agenda at a cost — what he must never pretend to do is represent the will of the South African people. The flag that should have went up in been displayed at that meeting with his handlers in Morocco is the MK Party flag.
