September 8, 2023, a day that will sadly remain engraved in the dark annals of the history of the Kingdom of Morocco, since a terrible earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale violently shook, or rather, devastated the Haouz region and surrounding areas, causing thousands of human casualties and countless material damages.
The facts are there, and one cannot hide the visible distress and turmoil of an entire nation faced with devastation, leading the entire population to take to the roads to save their fellow citizens.
Allow me, however, not to linger on the painful details related to this catastrophe, as national, local, and international media , regardless of their political affiliations, have already covered them in a professional manner for some, and sometimes even in an ‘’over- emotionall » manner for others.
The main purpose, therefore, of this humble and unpretentious article, is to shed light on the crucial question of the sovereignty of the state, a concept that was raised during this crisis situation.
Indeed, there is no need to recount certain facts surrounding the deep and inextricable bone of contention between two partner states, namely Morocco and France, whose controversy has been brewing for several months around thorny issues, criticisms, and denigrations that have only fueled tensions between the two countries.
There is no denying and considering the current situation and international timing, the question of state sovereignty naturally arose, since Morocco, represented by its monarch His Majesty Mohammed VI and its people, found themselves in the viewfinder (to say the least) of a desperate French press, thirsty for sensationalism, suffering from a certain lack of media buzz, and above all, seeking to restore its lost splendour.
To this skillfully orchestrated media campaign by the giants of a left-wing caviar press (or lumpfish eggs, given the crisis, hhh), was added the relentless determination of a President who repeatedly called for participation in the relief efforts for the victims of Haouz, calls that fell on deaf ears because it is the sovereign state of Morocco, and Morocco alone, that has the authority to seek external aid.
Indeed, what do we mean by the question of state sovereignty and how is it violated by another country?
In an attempt to shed light on this issue surrounding the question, it would be wise to quote a clear definition of sovereignty from the renowned French jurist Raymond Carré de Malberg, who defined sovereignty as: « The supreme character of a fully independent power, particularly the state power’’ in his well-known book entitled: Contribution to the general theory of the State(1920).
Therefore, and regarding King Mohammed VI as the supreme leader of the state, it is clear that he is the primary interlocutor to whom one should address and submit proposals for aid. This is because he remains, despite the bitterness of certain detractors, the enduring and sole guarantor of the institutions of a united and indivisible nation, acting freely without the constraint of external norms that do not meet the country’s expectations.
Thus, Morocco has the full authority to make decisions regarding its own sovereignty and to determine the course of action that best serves its interests, without interference from other countries. It is crucial to respect the sovereignty of states and to refrain from any attempts to undermine or violate it.
The feudal times, governed by systems based on « serfdom » and the dialectic of « lord-vassal, » are now outdated and obsolete.
Like many emerging African countries, Morocco has chosen to embark on the path of innovation, creativity, moderation, and mediation, becoming a role model, creating emulation among many countries, and proudly raising the banner where solidarity rhymes with positivity. In these troubled and somewhat opaque times, the focus should be on cultural rapprochement and the resolution of global problems, rather than on discord that only leads to futile dialogues and a potentially irreversibly chaotic situation.
A WORD TO THE WISE IS ENOUGH !
MYRIEM CHERKAOUI
BUSINESS ENGLISH PROFESSOR
ISITT
TANGIER
