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50th Anniversary: The Green March remembered by those who lived it
It was not merely a march to the south but a profound expression of Moroccan unity and patriotism. With the Quran in one hand and the national flag in the other, hundreds of thousands of citizens advanced with faith and conviction, determined to defend their national cause through peace and brotherhood.
Fifty years later, the Green March remains deeply engraved in Morocco’s collective memory as a moment of unity, faith, and national pride. Answering the call of the late King Hassan II, thousands of volunteers from across the Kingdom gathered in southern cities such as Agadir, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, and Tarfaya before the historic departure on November 6, 1975.
Houideg Mbarek, a participant from the Ait Oussa tribe, recalls the overwhelming joy and shared enthusiasm that marked the event. “We marched with our hearts full of faith, united from north to south, with no distinction between us. We were one people,” he told the Moroccan news agency MAP.
For him, the Green March was not just a political act but a living symbol of fraternity and shared purpose among all Moroccans.
Mohamed Azzi, who joined the march as a young volunteer, said he never hesitated to respond to his country’s call. “We knew that the Sahara was the backbone of Morocco and that it had to be recovered peacefully,” he explained. He remembers the people lining the roads, offering the marchers water and bread. “The March taught us that peace is stronger than war and that when a Moroccan believes in his cause, he never retreats,” he added.
Souaki Hassan, from Guelmim, left school to join the movement, driven by a genuine patriotic impulse. “There was an atmosphere of joy and solidarity. People came from all regions to participate — rich and poor, young and old, all together as Moroccans,” he recalled.
For these witnesses, the Green March was far more than a political initiative — it was a manifestation of faith, unity, and patriotism. Half a century later, they still speak of it with emotion, convinced that the spirit of unity continues to live on in Morocco’s younger generations.
The Green March, in many ways, never truly ended. It endures in the memory of those who lived it and in the steadfast will of a nation that remains united, from Tangier to Lagouira.