Mohammed VI appeals for seriousness to maintain the good level of development and propel Morocco into a new era
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, delivered the traditional annual speech on the occasion of the Feast of the Throne, which is celebrated on 30 July and which this year marks the 24th anniversary of his accession to the throne of the North African country.
Mohammed VI became King of Morocco in 1999, succeeding his father Hassan II, and has led a great era for Morocco with great achievements in various fields. Mohammed VI's goal over the years has been to promote Morocco's development to make it a more prosperous country in various sectors. After 24 years of his reign, the nation has experienced great economic, political, social and diplomatic progress.
In the economic sphere, Morocco's growth has been evident in this almost quarter of a century. This has been evident in initiatives such as the 1st Industry Day held in Casablanca, which showed all the progress made by the North African country in various sectors and the plan drawn up by the Moroccan state to continue developing the country industrially, and also the Investment Charter, which also demonstrates a solid national plan to promote investment in all regions of the territory.
In the political sphere, democracy has taken root in Morocco. Proof of this has been the great stability of the nation, with a succession of governments over the years through model electoral processes, the last of which led to the coming to power of the government led by Aziz Akhannouch in 2021, which is bringing great stability and progress to the country.
On the social front, Morocco's population is seeing improvements in living conditions in all regions and in areas such as health and administration.
On the diplomatic front, Morocco's achievements are remarkable. Among them is the wide acceptance by many important countries of Morocco's proposal to resolve the Saharawi problem, which is based on broad autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, respecting UN resolutions that would give the territory great room for manoeuvre and leave security and international policy issues in the hands of the Moroccan state. Relevant nations such as the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Spain have indicated that the Moroccan initiative for Western Sahara is the most serious and credible way to settle the Saharawi dispute. Morocco has established significant political and commercial relations with powers such as the United States and Israel by joining the famous Abraham Accords, under which several Arab countries established diplomatic relations with the Israeli state under US auspices with the aim of pacifying the Middle East and fostering greater economic and social development.
To continue on this path, King Mohammed VI called on everyone to be serious about facing future challenges and maintaining the good national course. "Moroccans are known above all for their seriousness and hard work. Indeed, today our development process has reached a level of advancement and maturity, which requires such seriousness, in order to propel it into a new stage, opening up broader horizons of reforms and great projects that Moroccans deserve," said the Moroccan monarch in the speech broadcast by the official Moroccan news agency MAP.
"What we are calling for is not an empty slogan, nor a mere figurative value, but rather an integrated concept that encompasses a set of practical principles and human values. In this sense, the more we are stimulated by seriousness, the more we will succeed in overcoming difficulties and meeting challenges," Mohammed VI stressed.
Seriousness was the term most emphasised by the King of Morocco to stimulate and encourage the Moroccan population to promote greater national development and to maintain the country's good line.
Mohammed VI compared this spirit of hard work and seriousness to the success achieved by Morocco at the last World Cup in Qatar, where the Moroccan national team reached the semi-finals, becoming the first African and Arab team to do so. "When the Moroccan youth are given the conditions and armed with seriousness and patriotism, they always manage to impress the world with great unprecedented achievements, such as the one achieved by the national team in the World Cup," explained Mohamed VI, who pointed out that if the necessary conditions are met and seriousness and hard work are applied, important objectives can be achieved.
The success of the World Cup in Qatar has further encouraged Morocco to present its candidacy to host the next World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal. Sport, and football in particular, is another of the sectors in which the Moroccan kingdom has evolved greatly under the leadership of Mohammed VI, who has opted for the development of football academies throughout the country, which are bearing fruit and promoting promising young players who are triumphing and proving their worth. "This is an unprecedented bid, which unites two continents and two civilisations, Africa and Europe, and unites the two shores of the Mediterranean Sea, carrying the ambitions and aspirations of the peoples of the region to achieve greater cooperation, communication and understanding," said the Alaouite monarch about the World Cup bid.
Mohammed VI also pointed out that seriousness is also manifested in the field of creativity and innovation that distinguishes Moroccan youth in different fields. The Moroccan monarch gave examples of this, such as "the production of the first Moroccan car of national manufacture, with national skills and Moroccan financing" or "the presentation of the first prototype of a hydrogen-powered car, developed by a young Moroccan".
These projects demonstrate "Moroccan genius and confidence in the potential and capabilities" of Moroccan youth, "encouraging them to make greater efforts and innovation, which will consolidate the Made in Morocco brand" and strengthen Morocco's position as a major investment destination, as Mohammed VI explained.
The King of Morocco also pointed out that national seriousness is also manifested when talking about national territorial integrity. "It is this seriousness and legitimacy that have led to the successive recognitions of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces, the latest of these being the recognition expressed by the State of Israel, in addition to the opening of consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla, and the increased support for the autonomy initiative," Mohammed VI pointed out.
The Moroccan monarch also spoke of investing more in improving national social protection and improving Morocco's situation in the face of serious problems such as the water supply affected by the country's drought.
The Moroccan king also took advantage of the national commemoration to announce the royal pardon for 2,052 people, some of whom are in detention and others released, sentenced by different courts in the Moroccan kingdom.
All this with the clear aim of continuing to strengthen the good bond between the monarchy and the Moroccan people, one of the key issues of this Throne Day, which is commemorated on 30 July in Morocco.
Full text of King Mohammed VI's speech:
Here follows the full text of the Royal speech:
"Praise be to God,
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Dear Citizens,
Almighty God has blessed our country with permanent interaction and spontaneous cohesion between the Throne and the people.
This has enabled Morocco to build a Nation-State, which is steeped in history.
I praise the Almighty for the help He has granted me and the success He has bestowed upon me, thus making it possible for us to make a great many achievements, and face up to difficulties and challenges.
Moroccans are known, by the Grace of the Almighty, for their honesty and optimism, for their tolerance and openness, and for the pride they take in their time-honored customs and their unified national identity.
And they are known, in particular, for their seriousness and dedication to work.
Today, as our development trajectory reaches a new stage of maturity, we need that seriousness to move on to a different level and open up new horizons with respect to the major reforms and large-scale projects Moroccans deserve.
Dear Citizens,
What I am calling for is not an empty slogan, nor is it a mere pronouncement to be taken at face value. Rather, it is an integrated concept rooted in a set of practical principles and human values.
The more we commit to seriousness, the more successful we shall be in overcoming difficulties and rising to challenges.
Whenever the conditions are right, and each time they commit to seriousness and to the spirit of patriotism, Moroccan youth always manage to dazzle the world with great, unprecedented accomplishments, and the feat of our national football team in the last World Cup is a case in point.
As acknowledged, both in Morocco and around the world, our sons provided some of the best illustrations of patriotism and unity, as well as family and community cohesion. They made me and the entire Moroccan people proud.
That same spirit guided my decision to make a joint bid with our friends, Spain and Portugal, to host the 2030 World Cup Finals, which I hope will be an historic event at all levels.
This is an unprecedented candidacy which brings together two continents - Africa and Europe - as well as two civilizations; a candidacy which unites the two shores of the Mediterranean and reflects the ambitions and aspirations of the peoples of the region for further cooperation, interaction and understanding.
Seriousness is also reflected by the creativity and innovation shown by Moroccan youth in various fields.
In this regard, I wish to commend, in particular, the manufacturing of the first Moroccan-made, locally produced and financed car, as well as the presentation of the first hydrogen-powered car prototype developed by a young Moroccan.
These projects attest to Moroccan genius and to the confidence in the energy and capabilities of our youth. Such achievements encourage our youth to work harder and be innovative. They also promote the "Made in Morocco" brand and strengthen our country's position as a hub for productive investment.
Seriousness also manifests itself in the way we deal with the question of our territorial integrity.
It is that seriousness, coupled with the legitimacy of our cause, which led to a series of decisions to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces - the latest being that of the State of Israel - as well as to open consulates in Laayun and Dakhla, not to mention the growing support for the Autonomy Initiative.
In keeping with the same sense of seriousness and resolve, I reaffirm Morocco's unwavering position regarding the just cause of Palestine and the legitimate right of our Palestinian brothers and sisters to set up their independent State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to make sure all peoples in the region enjoy security and stability.
Seriousness must remain our guiding beacon, in life as in work, and it should prevail in all sectors:
Seriousness in political, administrative and judicial affairs by serving the citizen, selecting qualified people, making sure the best interests of the nation and the citizens are prioritized, and rising above narrow considerations.
Seriousness should also prevail in the social field, especially in the areas of health, education, employment and housing.
The seriousness I am advocating also concerns economic stakeholders, as well as the investment, production and business sectors.
As the pillar of a full-fledged system, seriousness requires that managers and public office holders be held to account, and that the principles of good governance, hard work, merit and equal opportunity be upheld.
Dear Citizens,
The repercussions of the current global crisis, coupled with the successive droughts our country has faced, have contributed to an increase in the cost of living and a slowdown in economic growth.
Therefore, I have instructed the government to take the necessary measures to mitigate the negative effects of the current situation on the social segments and sectors that are most affected, and to make sure basic products are available on the market.
With the emergence, today, of some signs of a gradual easing of inflationary pressures at the global level, we are in great need of seriousness and confidence. We must also make the most of new opportunities to enhance the resilience of our economy and promote recovery.
With that in mind, I have launched the OCP Group green investment project and accelerated the implementation of the renewable energy agenda.
Following the meeting I chaired in this regard, the government prepared the "Morocco Offer" project in the field of green hydrogen.
I invite the government to speed up the implementation of this project, to make sure the requirements of quality are observed, to leverage our country's significant potential in this regard, and to meet the expectations of leading global investors in this promising field.
To complete the implementation of the social protection project, I expect the payment of social benefits to the families concerned to start at the end of this year, as planned.
I hope this direct income will contribute to improving the living conditions of millions of families and children, whose suffering I am sensitive to.
God willing, this measure will be a key component of our development and social model to preserve the dignity of our citizens.
As regards water resource management - a sector requiring greater commitment and vigilance - I have made sure a national water program for the period 2020-2027 is developed.
I call for strict monitoring of all implementation stages and stress that there will be zero tolerance for any form of mismanagement, or chaotic, irresponsible use of water resources.
Dear Citizens,
Given the disruptions affecting the global value system and frame of reference, and considering the repercussions of a number of overlapping crises, we really need to commit to seriousness in the original Moroccan acceptation of the term:
• Firstly: by adhering to religious and national values, and to our everlasting motto: God - the Homeland - the King;
• Secondly: by remaining steadfastly attached to our country’s national unity and territorial integrity;
• Thirdly: by preserving social and family bonds, which are conducive to a cohesive, solidarity-based society;
• Fourthly: by pressing ahead with our development agenda to achieve economic advancement and promote justice at social and territorial levels.
Dear Citizens,
My endeavors to serve the Moroccan people are not limited to domestic issues only. I am also keen to establish solid relations with sister nations and friendly countries, particularly our neighbors.
In recent months, many people have been wondering about Moroccan-Algerian relations. They are stable, and we look forward to seeing them improve.
In this regard, I should like to tell the leaders and people of our sister nation, Algeria, that no evil will ever be done to them, nor will any harm ever come to them from Morocco. I want them to know that we attach special importance to the bonds of affection, friendship, exchange and interaction between our peoples.
I pray to Almighty God for things to return to normality, and for the opening of borders between the two neighboring, sister countries and peoples.
Dear Citizens,
I should like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and pay tribute to all components of the Royal Armed Forces, the National Security Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Auxiliary Forces and the Emergency Services for their constant mobilization, under my leadership, to defend our homeland’s unity, security and stability.
I also pray to Almighty God for mercy and forgiveness for the nation’s righteous martyrs, particularly my revered grandfather, His late Majesty King Mohammed V, and my venerable father, His late Majesty King Hassan II – may they rest in peace.
There is no better way to conclude my address than with these words of the Almighty:
“As for those who believe and do good, We certainly never deny the reward of those who are best in deeds.” True is the Word of God.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh."
