Moroccan nationals in New York, United States of America (USA) and their friends and associates from other countries of the world came together on Saturday, November 8, 2025 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Green March of 1975, when 350, 000 unarmed patriots marched in defiance of Spain to lay claim to what was then known as Spanish Sahara.
Effectively mobilized by the then King of the Kingdom of Morocco, His Majesty King Hassan II, the volunteers in a spectacular show of courage, unwavering resolve and unity, undertook the unprecedented great Green March which forced the Spaniards to relinquish control of the territory that is today known as the Moroccan Sahara.
Mr. Ait Bihi Mohamed, the Consul General of the North African country, while addressing the joyful crowd of flag-waving Moroccans and their guests at the golden jubilee celebration of the Green March in New York, which was put together by members of the civil society, in collaboration with the Consulate General, said that the March was “one of the most inspiring and unifying moments in Morocco’s modern history, and an enduring symbol of national unity and collective determination.”
He stressed that the epic March was not only historic, peaceful and visionary, but was “a message to the world that the will of a united people can overcome any boundary, and that true sovereignty is rooted in unity, peace, and justice.” He noted that on that glorious occasion 50 years ago, King Hassan 11 “transformed faith into strength, and unity into victory.”
According to Consul General Mohamed, 50 years after that memorable event, Morocco is still celebrating the victory, especially as the “United Nations Security Council has recently reaffirmed that the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative under Morocco’s sovereignty is the only realistic and credible solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara,” a diplomatic achievement, which, he said, “reflects the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and Morocco’s unwavering commitment as a reliable partner for peace, security, and development.”
It was, indeed, a joyful and colorful celebration in New York, marked by recollections of the momentous occasion 50 years earlier, when millions of patriots rushed forward to volunteer to join the great Green March, far more than the 350, 000 volunteers that the Monarch had requested, resulting in balloting to chose who would make the celebrated March.
Awards were given out to Moroccan nationals who have distinguished themselves in different areas of endeavor, including Professor Abdeslem El Idrissi of the College of Staten Island (CSI), City University of New York (CUNY), who was recently listed among Stanford University’s 2025 World’s Top 2% Most Influential Scientists, and Artist Rachid Jouida. There was also an art exhibition, by Artist Jouida, as well as other presentations that added spice to the program.
Besides the who-is-who in the Moroccan community that attended the event, there were also American scholars, as well as Diplomats and journalists from other African countries, all of who congratulated the government and people of Morocco on the 50th anniversary of the pacesetting Green March, and expressed best wishes for the future progress of the Kingdom.
