The Formation of Spanish and French Protectorates in Morocco
On November 27, 1912, Spain and France formalized their spheres of influence in Morocco through a treaty that resulted in the establishment of two distinct protectorates. Spain's protectorate comprised a narrow strip of land in northern Morocco, bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the south by the foothills of the Rif Mountains and the Uarga and Lucus rivers, to the east by the Muluya River, and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. This area covered approximately 24,000 square kilometers and was home to over one million inhabitants, predominantly Berbers, with significant cities like Tétouan, Larache, Nador, Alcazarquivir, and Arcila emerging as key urban centers.
While Spain aimed to regain its colonial prestige through Morocco, following devastating losses in 1898—including Cuba, the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico—the harsh realities of the early 20th century soon dashed those hopes. Throughout the first three decades of the century, Morocco became synonymous with national hemorrhage for Spain, as nearly 30,000 Spanish soldiers perished in various military confrontations aimed at establishing control over the territory.
Morocco's Role in the Spanish Civil War and Post-Colonial Developments
The Spanish protectorate in Morocco played a pivotal role during the Spanish Civil War by serving as a rallying point for military personnel stationed there, known as 'africanistas,' who were largely disillusioned with the policies of the Republican governments. It was in Morocco that Franco initiated his coup d'état on July 17, 1936, marking the onset of the Civil War (1936-1939), during which tens of thousands of Moroccan soldiers fought alongside the rebel factions.
During this tumultuous period, Franco established a personal and ceremonial cavalry guard in late January 1937, known as the Escuadrón de Escolta, popularly referred to as the Guardia Mora. This elite unit, composed of Moroccan cavalry soldiers, became an iconic symbol of the dictatorship and remained active until March 9, 1959, when a decree mandated its disbandment.
In the years following World War II, the gradual process of decolonization across Africa began to take shape, culminating in Morocco's independence on April 4, 1956. Sultan Mohamed V traveled to Madrid to finalize negotiations to end the Spanish protectorate, resulting in an agreement signed in the early hours of April 7 by Spanish Foreign Minister Martín Artajo and Moroccan Prime Minister Si Embarek El Bekkai.
However, following Morocco's independence, Mohamed V swiftly sought additional Spanish territories in the Maghreb, such as Ifni, a mere 1,500 square kilometers in size, leading to a conflict between Spain and the Alaouite Kingdom that lasted from November 1956 to June 1957. Ultimately, Ifni was ceded to Morocco on June 30, 1969.
Post-Ifni, Spain retained only the vast expanse of the Sahara, which represents half of its territorial area. In 1975, just days before Franco's death on November 20, King Hassan II of Morocco initiated the so-called "Green March," mobilizing approximately 300,000 people to assert control over the then-Spanish province of Western Sahara. On November 14, 1975, the Madrid Accords were signed, facilitating the decolonization of the Sahara, which was divided between Morocco and Mauritania. Shortly thereafter, on February 26, 1976, the Yema‘a, an assembly of tribal leaders, ratified this agreement, marking Spain's definitive withdrawal from its former African province.
Yet today, Western Sahara remains classified by the United Nations as a territory still in need of decolonization, with Spain considered the administering power. While the African Union acknowledges the existence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD), the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez, following the position established by former U.S. President Donald Trump at the end of his first term, endorsed in 2022 the autonomy plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty as the most "serious, credible, and realistic" basis for resolving the ongoing conflict.
As reported by elperiodicodearagon.com.
