Pre-Crisis Phase (March 2, 1956-October 20, 1958): Morocco formally achieved its independence from France on March 2, 1956. Sultan Mohammed V became King of Morocco in August 1957. Ahmed Balafrej formed a government as prime minister on May 12, 1958. Ali Yata, secretary general of the Communist Party of Morocco (CPM), was arrested on October 13, 1958.
Crisis Phase (October 21, 1958-October 16, 1960): Several military units and Rif tribesmen began a rebellion in the Tasa region beginning on October 21, 1958. Moulay Abdallah Ibrahim of the Independence Party (Parti de l’Istiqlal) formed a government as prime minister on December 24, 1958. The National Union of Popular Forces (Union Nationale des Forces Populaires – UNFP) was established by Mahdi Ben Barka in opposition to the government on September 6, 1959. The government suspended the Communist Party of Morocco (CPM) on September 14, 1959. Government troops suppressed the rebellion in the Tasa region on April 16, 1960.
Post-Crisis Phase (April 17, 1960-July 15, 1963): King Mohammed V dismissed Prime Minister Ibrahim on May 20, 1960, and he formed a government as prime minister on May 26, 1960. Municipal elections were held on May 29, 1960. The government agreed to accept military assistance (military aircraft) from the Soviet Union on November 15, 1960. King Mohammed V died on February 26, 1961, and his son was crowned King Hassan II on March 3, 1961. King Hassan II formed a government as prime minister on June 2, 1961. A new constitution, which provided for a bicameral legislature and prime minister, was approved in a referendum on December 7, 1962. Parliamentary elections were held on May 17, 1963, and the Front for the Defense of Constitutional Institutions (FDCI) won 69 out of 144 seats in the Chamber of Representatives.
Crisis Phase (July 16, 1963-July 24, 1970): The National Union of Popular Forces (Union Nationale des Forces Populaires – UNFP) boycotted the municipal elections after UNFP leaders were arrested on July 16, 1963. Municipal elections were held on July 28, 1963, and the Front for the Defense of Constitutional Institutions (FDCI) won a majority of the seats in the municipal councils. Hadj Ahmed Bahnini formed a government as prime minister on November 13, 1963. Government police fired on demonstrators in Khenigra on February 4, 1964, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. On March 14, 1964, eleven members of the UNFP were sentenced to death for treason. Government troops and rebels clashed near the border with Algeria on June 9, 1964, resulting in the deaths of nine rebels. The government captured fourteen rebels that had entered the country from Algeria between June 3 and July 3, 1964, and the rebels were executed on March 27, 1965. Government policemen suppressed demonstrations in Casablanca on March 23-25, 1965, resulting in the deaths of 103 civilians and six government policemen. Opposition members of the parliament boycotted the parliament on March 25, 1965. King Hassan II proclaimed a state-of-emergency, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament on June 7, 1965. King Hassan II formed a government as prime minister on June 8, 1965. Mehdi Ben Barka, opposition political leader, was murdered in Paris on October 28, 1965. Municipal elections were held on October 3, 1969. The UNFP and the Independence Party (Parti de l’Istiqlal) boycotted the municipal elections. Ahmed Laraki formed a government as prime minister on October 7, 1969. A new constitution providing for a unicameral parliament was approved in a referendum on July 24, 1970, and the government lifted the state-of-emergency on July 24, 1970.
Post-Crisis Phase (July 25, 1970-July 9, 1971): The National Union of Popular Forces (Union Nationale des Forces Populaires – UNFP) and the Independence Party (Parti de l’Istiqlal) formed the National Front (NF) in opposition to the government on August 1, 1970. Parliamentary elections were held on August 21-28, 1970, and supporters of King Hassan II won 219 out of 240 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The NF boycotted the parliamentary elections.
Crisis Phase (July 10, 1971-August 27, 1974): The government suppressed a military rebellion of 1,400 troops led by General Mohammed Medbuh and Colonel Mohammad Ababou on July 10-11, 1971, resulting in the deaths of some 260 individuals. The Libyan government expressed support for the military rebellion on July 10, 1971. Ten government military officers were executed for their involvement in the military rebellion on July 13, 1971. Muhammad Karim Lamrani formed a government as prime minister on August 6, 1971. A new constitution was approved by 99 percent of the voters in a referendum on March 1, 1972. Muhammad Karim Lamrani formed a transitional government as prime minister on April 12, 1972. The Moroccan government suppressed a military rebellion led by General Mohammed Oufkir on August 16-17, 1972, and General Oufkir committed suicide on August 17, 1972. On November 7, 1972, eleven military observers were sentenced to death for their involvement in the military rebellion, and the individuals were executed on January 13, 1973. Ahmed Osman formed a government as prime minister on November 19, 1972. The government suppressed a rebellion led by Mohammed Basri in southern Morocco on March 2-7, 1973. On August 30, 1973, sixteen individuals were sentenced to death for their involvement in the rebellion, and fifteen of the individuals were executed on November 1, 1973. On January 18, 1974, six individuals were sentenced to death for their involvement in the March 1973 rebellion. Ahmed Osman formed a government as prime minister on April 25, 1974. On August 27, 1974, seven individuals were executed for their involvement in the rebellion.
Post-Crisis Phase (August 28, 1974-June 19, 1981): Municipal elections were held in November 1976. Provincial elections were held in January 1977. Parliamentary elections were held on June 3 and June 21, 1977, and independent (pro-government) candidates won 140 out of 264 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The Independence Party (Parti de l’Istiqlal) won 49 seats in the Assembly of Representatives, and the People’s Movement (Mouvement Populaire – MP) won 44 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. Ahmed Osman formed a “national unity” government as prime minister on October 10, 1977. The National Assembly of Independents (Rassemblement National des Independants – RNI) headed by Prime Minister Osman was established on October 9, 1978. Prime Minister Osman resigned on March 21, 1979, and Maati Bouabid formed a government as prime minister on March 22, 1979. The Islamic Justice and Welfare Association (Al-Adl Wa Al-Ihssane) was established by Sheikh Abdeslam Yassine in 1980. The National Democratic Party (Parti National-Democrate – PND) was established in 1981.
Crisis Phase (June 20, 1981-September 13, 1996): Government troops fired on demonstrators in Casablanca and Oujda on June 20-21, 1981, resulting in the deaths of some 100 individuals. King Hassan II appointed Maati Bouabid as prime minister on November 5, 1981. The Constitutional Union (Union Constitutionnelle – UC) was established by Maati Bouabid in 1983. Local elections were held on June 10, 1983. Mohamed Karim Lamrani formed a “national unity” government as prime minister on November 30, 1983. Government police and demonstrators clashed in several cities in January 1984, resulting in the deaths of some 60 individuals. In March 1984, the International Federation of Human Rights (IFHR) sent a fact-finding mission headed by Admiral Antoine Saguinetti to investigate the January 1984 demonstrations. Thirteen Islamic fundamentalists, who were members of the Islamic Youth Movement (IYM) headed by Abdelkarim Mouti, were sentenced to death for treason on June 21, 1984. Parliamentary elections were held on September 14 and October 2, 1984, and the UC won 83 out of 206 contested seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The National Assembly of Independents (Rassemblement National des Independants – RNI) won 61 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. Prime Ministere Lamrani formed a coalition government on April 11, 1985. Fourteen Islamic fundamentalists, including Abdelkarim Mouti, were sentenced to death for treason on September 3, 1985. Thirty Islamic fundamentalists were sentenced to prison for subversion on October 24, 1985. Prime Minister Lamrani resigned, and Azzedine Laraki formed a government as prime minister on September 30, 1986. Sheikh Abdeslam Yassine was placed under house arrest near Rabat on December 30, 1989. Government troops and demonstrators clashed in Fez and other cities on December 14-15, 1990, resulting in the deaths of some 100 individuals. Opposition political parties, including the IP, NUFP, and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires – USFP), formed the Democratic Bloc (DB) in May 1992. Local elections were held on October 16, 1992. Pro-government political parties, including the MP, PND, and the UC, formed the National Entente (NE) in 1993. Parliamentary elections were held on June 25 and September 17, 1993, and the DB won 122 out of 333 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) sent five long-term observers and ten short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from June 9 to July 4, 1993. A new constitution, which provided for a bicameral legislature, was approved in a referendum on September 13, 1996. Some 300 individuals were killed during the crisis.
Post-Crisis Phase (September 14, 1996-May 15, 2003): Local elections were held on June 13, 1997. Parliamentary elections were held on November 14, 1997, and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires – USFP) won 57 out of 325 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The Constitutional Union (Union Constitutionelle – UC) won 50 seats in the Assembly of Representatives, and the National Rally of Independents (Rassemblement National des Independent – RNI) won 46 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. King Hassan II inaugurated the parliament on December 27, 1997. King Hassan II appointed Abderrahmane Youssoufi of the USFP as prime minister on February 4, 1998. Several political prisoners, including 17 prisoners released from Oukasha prison in Casablanca, were freed on October 13, 1998. King Hassan II died in July 1999, and he was succeeded by his son, Mohammad VI. Some 200,000 Muslims demonstrated in opposition to the government in Casablanca on March 12, 2000. Islamic opposition leader, Abdessalam Yassine, was released from house arrest in May 17, 2000. King Mohammed VI re-appointed Abderrahmane Youssoufi as prime minister on September 6, 2000. Several Islamists, including members of the groups Salafiya Jihadia and Takfir Wal Hidjra, were arrested in Casablanca and other cities in August 2002. Parliamentary elections were held on September 27, 2002, and the USFP won 50 out of 325 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The Independence Party (Parti d’Indpendence – PI) won 48 seats in the Assembly of Representatives, and the Justice and Development Party (Parti de la Justice et du Developpement – PJD) won 42 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. King Mohammed VI appointed Driss Jettou as prime minister on October 9, 2002.
Crisis Phase (May 16, 2003-November 29, 2011): Islamic extremists bombed several locations in Casablanca on May 16, 2003, resulting in the deaths of some 45 individuals (including 12 suicide-bombers). On July 12, 2003, ten alleged members of Salafiya Jihadia were sentenced to death for involvement in the Casablanca bombings. Twenty-one other members of the group were sentenced to prison terms. On August 19, 2003, four members of Salafiya Jihadia were sentenced to death for involvement in the Casablanca bombings. Local elections were held on September 12, 2003. The U.S. government announced additional military assistance for the government of Morocco on December 3, 2003. On November 11 2005, government police arrested 17 individuals for suspected Al Qaeda membership. Government police arrested 56 suspected members of Ansar al-Mahdi, including five former government soldiers, on September 1, 2006. On March 2, 2007, eight Islamists were sentenced to prison terms by a Moroccan court for plotting terrorist attacks. Government police conducted a security operation against suspected Islamic militants in Casablanca on April 10, 2007, resulting in the deaths of four militants and one government policeman. Two suicide bombers killed themselves in Casablanca on April 14, 2007. Parliamentary elections were held on September 7, 2007, and the Independence Party (Parti d’Indpendence – PI) won 52 out of 325 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The Justice and Development Party (Parti de la Justice et du Developpement – PJD) won 46 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent 52 observers from 19 countries to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 3 to September 8, 2007. King Mohammed VI appointed Abbas El Fassi as prime minister on September 19, 2007. The government outlawed the Islamist political party, al Badil al Hadari, on February 20, 2008. Nine Islamic militants escaped from the Kenitra prison near Rabat on April 8, 2008. Pro-democracy demonstrations took place in Casablanca, Rabat, and other cities in Morocco beginning on February 20, 2011. At least five individuals were killed during the demonstrations in Al Hoceima on February 20, 2011. On March 9, 2011, King Mohammed VI announced the formation of a commission to propose constitutional revisions. Government police clashed with protesters in Casablanca on March 13, 2011. Seventeen individuals, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in a bombing in Marrakech on April 28, 2011. The governments of France and the U.S. condemned the bombing. On June 17, 2011, King Mohammed VI proposed constitution reforms that would transfer some of his powers to the parliament and prime minister. Constitutional amendments, including a requirement that the King nominate a prime minister from the largest political party in the parliament, were approved in a referendum held on July 1, 2011. Thousands of individuals demonstrated in favor of democracy in Rabat on July 3, 2011. The new constitution went into effect on August 1, 2011. Some 3,000 individuals demonstrated against the government in Casablanca on September 18, 2011. On October 23, 2011, several thousand individuals demonstrated in support of a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Parliamentary elections were held on November 25, 2011, and the Justice and Development Party (Parti de la Justice et du Developpement – PJD) won 107 out of 395 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. The Independence Party (Parti d’Indpendence – PI) won 60 seats in the Assembly of Representatives. Three left-wing political parties, as well as the February 20th Movement, called for a boycott of the parliamentary elections. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) sent 20 observers to monitor the parliamentary elections on November 23-26, 2011. Abdelilah Benkirane, leader of the PJD, was appointed by King Mohammed VI as prime minister on November 29, 2011.
Post-Crisis Phase (November 30, 2011-present): Several thousand individuals demonstrated against the government in Casablanca on May 27, 2012. Government police clashed with protesters in Casablanca on July 22, 2012. The Independence Party (Parti d’Indpendence – PI) decided to withdraw from the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane on July 9, 2013.
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