King Mohammed VI pays tribute to the Royal Armed Forces on the 69th anniversary of their creation
On the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the FAR, addressed an ‘Order of the Day’ to officers, non-commissioned officers and personnel of all ranks on Wednesday, in which he paid tribute to the commitment, loyalty and sacrifice of the members of this national institution.
In his message, the monarch began by recalling the historical origins of the Armed Forces, paying tribute to the late King Mohammed V, founder of the modern Moroccan army, as well as to King Hassan II, who consolidated its professionalisation and structure, making it a key pillar of the Kingdom's stability, security and development.
The King stressed that this anniversary represents a solemn occasion to express the deep gratitude and renewed confidence of the Moroccan State and people in the women and men who make up the various branches of the army: the land, naval and air forces and the Royal Gendarmerie. He particularly praised their dedication to defending the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and protecting its borders and sovereignty in an increasingly complex international context.
Mohammed VI also stressed the need to strengthen the strategic and operational capabilities of the FAR in the face of new security challenges, including cross-border risks and regional instability. In this regard, he pointed out that ‘arming oneself with wisdom, vigilance and knowledge’ is an imperative need in a constantly changing world.
The king also praised the crucial role played by the FAR beyond the military sphere, highlighting its active participation in humanitarian actions, especially in emergency situations such as natural disasters and health crises. These missions, he said, reflect the ethical commitment and solidarity of the Armed Forces, underpinned by rigorous organisation and consolidated operational experience.
The royal message also emphasised the progress made in compulsory military service, relaunched by Morocco in recent years. The monarch described it as a ‘strategic national project’ that enables Moroccan youth to acquire discipline, multidisciplinary training and better integration into the labour market, thereby strengthening the country's social and economic fabric.
At the international level, the king highlighted Morocco's active contribution to peacekeeping missions under the mandate of the United Nations, with the participation of military contingents, medical and technical personnel in areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. This involvement, he said, reflects the Kingdom's firm commitment to the values of peace, cooperation and international solidarity.
With regard to internal capacity building, the monarch reaffirmed the priority of investing in military human capital by improving working conditions, providing ongoing training and strengthening social, sporting and cultural infrastructure in barracks. ‘Soldiers are the cornerstone of the effective use of modern defence systems and technologies,’ he said.
The king also reiterated his willingness to advance the industrialisation of the national defence sector as a key pillar of sovereignty and strategic self-sufficiency. In this regard, he highlighted the legal framework adopted to attract domestic and foreign investment, with a view to consolidating the country's technological independence in the field of defence.
In the final part of his message, the Supreme Commander called on the Armed Forces to continue to fulfil their duty with discipline, honour and vigilance, reaffirming their attachment to the values and symbols of the nation, including the late sovereigns Mohamed V and Hassan II, as well as those who gave their lives for their country.
The message concluded with a prayer for the success of the FAR in fulfilling its noble mission, under the eternal emblem of the Kingdom of Morocco: ‘God, Country, King’.
Below is the full text of King Mohammed VI's speech:
‘Praise be to God, and prayers and blessings be upon the Prophet, his family and his companions.
Officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel,
The Royal Armed Forces and, with them, the entire Moroccan people today celebrate the 69th anniversary of their creation, a renewed national occasion to remember, with greater gratitude and deference, the memory of their founder who laid the first foundations, the Father of the Nation, Our grandfather, the late King Mohammed V, may God sanctify his soul, and his comrade-in-arms, our August father, the late King Hassan II, may God have him in His glory, who ensured that the foundations of our Armed Forces were consolidated, equipped, trained and qualified so that they could fully carry out the missions entrusted to them.
This anniversary, so dear to us, will remain one of the notable milestones in the history of our homeland, which we, as Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, celebrate with pride, reiterating to you, all ranks combined, officers, non-commissioned officers and warrant officers, women and men, and all branches combined, land, air, navy and Royal Gendarmerie, our immense benevolence and concern for the colossal efforts and enormous sacrifices you continue to make for the defence of the homeland and its territorial integrity.
In this context, we cannot fail to extend our greetings and express our consideration and pride to all members of our Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Security and Auxiliary Forces who watch over us, day and night, to guard our land, air and sea borders, as well as to the various units present in our Moroccan Sahara, for their dedication in fulfilling their sacred duty to protect the unity of the homeland and its security, giving full meaning to the values of solid cohesion that characterise all Moroccans in the defence of their primary national cause.
Officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel,
In expressing Our pride in Our Royal Armed Forces and their level of preparedness and permanent readiness to serve the Nation and its citizens, We salute the honourable efforts and noble actions, on a human and solidarity level, carried out by the military units in risk and natural disaster management, through interventions on the ground, rescue and relief operations, assistance activities and medical services, always marked by expertise, efficiency and good planning, in accordance with our high instructions in this regard.
We take this opportunity to salute the commendable achievements made in the context of military service, as a national project that offers young Moroccan men and women the opportunity to fulfil their national duty, drawing on the material and moral resources of the military institution, which enable them to imbibe the values of discipline, perseverance, endurance and self-sacrifice, in addition to training in various fields and specialities that enable them to enter the labour market and contribute to the revival of their country and society, proud of their identity, their Moroccan nationality, the history of their country and its glories, and loyal to their King and the constants of their nation.
In parallel with their defence, military and humanitarian missions, the Royal Armed Forces have maintained their commitment, acting with the same enthusiasm and determination, within the framework of United Nations peacekeeping operations, through the serious work carried out by our military contingents deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. This commitment is reinforced by the deployment of experienced technical and medical personnel in United Nations peacekeeping missions, thus contributing to the international influence of the Kingdom as a distinguished and reliable partner in supporting and maintaining international security and peace.
Officers, non-commissioned officers and warrant officers,
The rapid changes the world is undergoing, the growing challenges posed by the current situation and the unprecedented disruptions they are causing at regional and international level, as well as the resulting cross-border threats to security and crime, require that our Royal Armed Forces arm themselves first with wisdom and vigilance, as well as with in-depth knowledge, so that they can constantly adapt to these new developments and be constantly prepared to face them with insight, firmness and professionalism.
To support these changes, it was clear that His Majesty's attention should be focused, continuously and precisely, on the development and enrichment of military training programmes and on the improvement of scientific training courses, at both theoretical and practical levels, within our higher institutes and military training centres.
The tangible progress we have achieved today in equipping our Armed Forces with the latest generation of equipment and techniques has as its corollary a growing interest in the central role of the human element, which has always been at the heart of our priorities.
By guaranteeing their qualifications and providing them with excellent and comfortable working conditions that meet all the requirements of the professional life of members of the Royal Armed Forces, while providing all the necessary facilities for various sports and educational activities within the barracks and training centres, we will make our soldiers the best tool for achieving the effectiveness and efficiency required for the optimal use of the various defence equipment and systems.
Furthermore, with the same determination and commitment, we will continue to support military industry implementation programmes as one of the major national projects that we hold in high regard. In this regard, we have ensured that all the conditions are in place for the success of this project, in accordance with a forward-looking vision aimed at achieving defensive sovereignty, through the establishment of a favourable legal framework and significant incentive measures for Moroccan and foreign investors and partners to promote this vital project.
Officers, non-commissioned officers and warrant officers,
The preservation of the achievements we have attained requires us to continue our mobilisation, with the same determination and the same degree of loyalty, with a view to consolidating the strength and resilience of our Army, equipping it with efficient and operational resources, enabling its officers and personnel to improve their material and moral achievements, and providing and bringing the necessary social and medical services closer to their families and loved ones.
May God protect you, may you live up to the responsibility entrusted to you for the defence of the Fatherland and its sovereignty, upholding the principles of Our Nation and the heritage of Our Ancestors, and remaining faithful to your duty of loyalty and gratitude towards them, led by the late Sovereigns, His Majesty King Mohammed V and His Majesty King Hassan II. May God have you in His holy mercy, imploring the Almighty to welcome you into His vast paradise and reward you richly for your praiseworthy actions in the service of the Fatherland.
We pray to the Most High to also have in His holy mercy our brave martyrs who fell in the field of honour in defence of the integrity of the Fatherland, its greatness and its independence, so that He may assist you in your sacrifices in the service of your country, and guide your steps for the good of your homeland, remaining unfailingly attached to the duty of obedience and respect for your Supreme Leader and your eternal motto: God, Country, King.
