Green March Day 2026 — Morocco

The Green March: history and symbolism

On November 6, 1975, at the call of King Hassan II, 350,000 Moroccan civilians — men, women and children — crossed the border into the Western Sahara in a historic peaceful march, carrying the Quran and Moroccan flags.

The geopolitical context of 1975

The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, was at the centre of complex international negotiations. The International Court of Justice had just issued an advisory opinion recognising legal ties of allegiance between the Saharan tribes and the Moroccan Crown. Hassan II used this ruling to justify the Green March.

• 350,000 civilians mobilised in under 3 weeks
• 35,000 soldiers in logistical support behind the marchers
• Each marcher carried a copy of the Quran and a Moroccan flag
• Duration: marchers stayed 3 days before being called back

The Madrid Accords: diplomatic victory

The success of the Green March was sealed by the Madrid Accords of November 14, 1975, signed by Spain, Morocco and Mauritania. Spain agreed to withdraw from the Western Sahara and transfer administration to Morocco and Mauritania. The Green March remains the enduring symbol of Moroccan national unity and King Hassan II's political wisdom.

Green March Day 2026, 2027, 2028

• 2026: Friday November 6 — automatic 3-day weekend
• 2027: Saturday November 6 — 3-day weekend
• 2028: Monday November 6 — 3-day weekend (Sat–Sun–Mon)