Spirit of the Manifesto of Independence Continues to Live in the Heart of All Moroccans – Ambassador –

Today, 78 years later, the spirit of the Manifesto of Independence continues to live in the heart of all Moroccans, says Morocco’s ambassador to South Africa, Youssef Amrani, noting that its values and legacy are continuously upheld by the Moroccans who have willingly chosen to never forget their past, while building the future of the country. The celebration of the 78th anniversary of the Manifesto of Independence, which was the first official step toward achieving Morocco’s Independence, later in 1956, holds a unique and particular meaning for the Moroccan Nation as it reflects on its longstanding history and unwavering commitment for cohesion, liberty and independence, the diplomat points out in an Op-ed published Tuesday by the South-African newspaper ‘The Star.’ The 11th of January is indeed a primordial date for Morocco and a political turning point in its history, the ambassador stresses, recalling that on this day in 1944, 66 men and women of the Moroccan National Movement came together in signing this manifesto thus claiming the full independence of the country and its territorial integrity. These leaders, representatives of the Moroccan society and of urban and rural communities,were in symbiotic alliance that centered around the Father of the Moroccan independence and one of the founding leaders of the Organization of African Unity, the late King Mohammed V, he underlines. Reflecting on this occasion is a vivid reminder that the meaning of freedom is deeply rooted in a nations’ collective consciousness, the ambassador says, adding that history is therefore a major part of a nation’s identities and Morocco, a 12 Centuries’ old State, knows what it takes to be a free, independent and a proud country. Solidarity and social Justice are deeply reflected in Morocco’s political DNA, namely a Kingdom of unity with a thousand years of history and culture, the ambassador underlines. On this righteous path, the year 2021 was a major milestone in the democratic process of the Kingdom, as the Moroccans were called to vote and they did so with an impressive turnout, taking into account that the ballot took place in the midst of the Covid crisis, Amrani points out. “This shows unequivocally that Morocco is advancing calmly and confidently on the path of inclusive and democratic national development,” the diplomat notes, adding that it is in this same spirit that the social and economical reforms undertaken since the early 2000have always placed the human at the center of every priority. “As an illustration, the crisis management of the pandemic undertaken by Morocco speaks a thousand words. These same noble values and the sense of sacrifice continue to embody the Kingdom’s pathway towards modernity and development under the humanistic, altruist and forward looking leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,” the diplomat underlines. In the same line, one of the challenges for Morocco in 2022 is to maintain the pace of economic recovery in a context marked by the impact of covid-19, Amrani says.  “It is a good indicator that Morocco’s GDP has grown by 6.3 % in 2021, in spite of the difficult international context,” he notes. “There is no doubt that the Independence Manifesto still carries a particular importance despite the decades that have passed since its presentation. This historic event carries several lessons that could be the key to resolving many of the pressing issues of the current stage thanks to the values and principles it has inscribed in the collective Moroccan identity,” the ambassador points out.