Morocco after Live Aid

Morocco is located at the westernmost point of North Africa and has a long history of independence in contrast to many of its neighbours. Morocco has a comparatively low poverty rate compared with other countries in Africa, yet hardship and poverty remain a daily reality for many Moroccans.  Rural areas lag a long way behind urban areas. Here, literacy, access to water, sanitation and healthcare are all low. SOS Children has been working in Morocco since the 1980s to help improve the outlook for vulnerable children and young people.

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Time Line

• 1956 Morocco stops being a French protectorate, following an upsurge of nationalist sentiment and Sultan Mohammed assumes the kingship in 1957.  Spain keeps its two coastal strongholds.

• 1961 King Mohammed dies and King Hassan II comes to power.
  

• 1963 First general elections.
  

• 1965 Following social unrest, King Hassan declares a state of emergency and subsequently suspends parliament.
  

• 1971 There is a failed attempt to depose king and create a republic.

• 1973 – The Polisario movement, whose goal is to create an independent state in Spanish Sahara, a territory south of Morocco controlled by Spain is established with Algerian support.

• 1976 Continuous fighting between Moroccan military and Polisario forces which becomes a large financial drain on the Moroccan state.

• 1983 As a result of political unrest and an economic crisis, the King cancels planned elections.
  

• 1985 SOS Children begins working in Morocco, establishing a Children’s Village at Ait-Ourir

• 1988 The Moroccan state re-opens diplomatic relations with Algeria. SOS Children open a second village, Imzouren, it’s nursery and primary school specialise in children with special needs.

• 1991 A UN-monitored ceasefire begins in Western Sahara, although the status of the area is yet to be decided. Many ceasefire violations occur. The deadlock regarding the territory is not broken for a further decade.

• 1998 Morocco's first opposition-led government wins elections.

• 1999 King Hassan II is succeeded by his son, Mohammed VI. A primary school is added to Children’s Village Ait-Ourir, it specialises in children with special needs.

• 2000 SOS Children’s Village Dar Bouazza opens on land donated by the Moroccan royal family.

• 2001 A Vocational Training Centre, focusing on agricultural skills, for disabled children and children with special needs opens

• 2003 Suicide bombers kill 40+ at several sites in Casablanca.

• 2004 An earthquake strikes the north. 500+ people die.

• 2005 A truth commission investigating human rights abuses during the rule of King Hassan II says 592 people were killed between 1956-99.
  

• 2006 El Jadida, a fourth SOS Children’s community opens.
  

• 2007 (April) More suicide bombings occur in Casablanca.
  

• 2007 (September) Parliamentary elections are won by the conservative Istiqlal party.

  

• 2008 SOS Children’s Village Agadir opens.
  

• 2011 (February) Thousands gather in cities across Morocco, they demand political reform and a new constitution limiting the king’s powers.
  

• 2011 (April) A bomb attack kills 17 foreigners.
  

• 2011 (July) King Mohammed wins a landslide victory in a referendum on a reformed constitution he proposed. His aim is to placate the protestors of the "Arab Spring". However this is not enough and demonstrators call for even deeper reforms.
  

• 2011 (November) Parliamentary elections are held and the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) wins.
  

• 2012 (January)  New coalition headed by PJD leader Abdelilah Benkirane assumes the leadership of the country.

• 2012 (May) Tens of thousands take part in a rally in Casablanca organised by the trade unions it is the largest protest since the new government took office and the people accuse Prime Minister Benkirane of failing to deliver his promised reforms.A UN Development Programme Report announces that Morocco's life expectancy at birth has risen by 14.7 years from the level it was in 1980.