What King Mohammed VI’s 25-year reign means for Morocco

Would that King Charles III, or the other remaining constitutional monarchs that reside in Europe, east Asia and other parts of the World had an official ‘Throne Day’ or ‘feast of the throne’ each year, where they dedicate a popular public holiday and deliver what is effectively an annual report, wouldn’t their lives be a little easier and might they also be a little more popular?  

On 30^th July, Morocco will have its annual ‘Throne Day’, although this one comes with the added piquancy of an anniversary – the 25^th to be precise – of HM King Mohammed VI who was crowned a quarter of a century ago. Reigning monarchs are rare now in Africa, with neighboring Libya and Egypt now republics. Only Lesotho and Eswatini (previously Swaziland) in Southern Africa keep the tradition alive. But what marks these countries out from many of their immediate neighbors is a degree of continuity and stability that others must often envy. 

‘Throne Day’ is however a relatively recent official date in the calendar of the people of Morocco. The first celebration held was in 1933 in honour of Sultan Mohammed V. Morocco’s ancient small Jewish community has never forgotten the Sultan’s brave role during the Second World war. For during the period of the French protectorate, Sultan Mohammed V refused to sign off on Vichy France’s plan to ghettoize and deport Morocco's quarter of a million Jews to German concentration camps and, in an act of defiance, insisted on inviting all the rabbis of Morocco to his 1941 throne celebrations.

During ‘Throne Day’ or the ‘feast of the throne’, the King delivers an annual speech to the nation. And during this day's celebration there is a centuries old tradition known as Bey'a, which is a communion between the King and the Moroccan people It's a ceremony of annual allegiance where representatives and dignitaries from all over Morocco come to the ceremony in the royal palace to renew their oath of allegiance.

Today, moreover, Morocco is seen as a modern monarchy, focused on the future and it is increasingly a leader in the renewable energy space. NOOR, the solar power plant in Ouarzazate is just another reminder of the King’s long-term vision to place Morocco at the forefront of green energy, prompting one columnist to dub him "the Sun King." 

Although at various times during his reign, there have been challenges, the King has sought to act on them. Since ascending the throne, King Mohammed has instituted and consolidated a range of social, democratic and economic reforms to improve the lives of Moroccans and strengthen the Kingdom’s institutions. The King’s reign has seen him tackling issues of poverty, improving foreign relations and instigating a number of political reforms that have reduced his own powers and strengthened the Moroccan parliament. 

In February 2004, he enacted a new family code, known as the ‘Mudawana’, which granted women more rights. King Mohammed also created the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, which was tasked with looking back at the reign of King Hassan II, to provide a voice to help people reconcile with the past, where errors had been made. It was essentially to allow people to talk freely and to get rewarded in concrete ways by the state. The memory of the belated King Hassan is still highly respected in the country and especially by his son; evidenced recently by naming the world’s biggest football stadium, being built right now in Casablanca, to welcome the 2030 world cup finals, the "King Hassan II stadium".

In 2011, the King went even further; he proposed constitutional changes which included amendments to further reduce his political powers, devolve power to the regions, strengthen the authority of the country's parliament, and ultimately consolidate democracy in Morocco. The Constitution was subsequently adopted by a national referendum. The political model under his reign has put democracy at its heart. If we look back to the elections in 2011, Islamists came to power and they left with the elections in 2021, in what is seen as a great testament to the ongoing democratic process. 

Under King Mohammed VI, who is now 60, Morocco has seen improved levels of prosperity. The monarch’s long-term vision to boost the country’s economy has culminated in a “new deal” similar to Roosevelt in the U.S. with huge projects such as the Tanger Med port which was a game changer for the entire Mediterranean. He has also initiated infrastructure development in high-speed trains and opened up new industries such as automotive, aviation and battery power. The goal was to open the country to new markets, new revenues, and more jobs, which has resulted in higher incomes for Moroccans.

The King’s vision for a more prosperous Morocco has positioned the country as a regional leader across many industrial sectors, but most importantly, the tourism industry has been allowed to prosper due to the safety and security that Morocco now enjoys. It recently ranked as one of the safest places in the world. Everyone is made welcome in Morocco which boasts an incredible mix of cultures as a Muslim, African and Arab country with so many places to visit and things to do.

Throughout his quarter-century reign, the country has become an attractive hub for investment, with investments to the economy more than doubling since his ascent to the throne. 

So, Tuesday will be a milestone for the King and for Morocco, and with the overarching lesson that a good example is one for others also to follow. 

*Kieran Baker is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist who has started up various networks including Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg TV Africa and TRT World.