عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Morocco’s Former Socialist Prime Minister Dies at 96

Moroccan former Prime Minister, Abderrahmane el-Youssoufi (AFP)
Moroccan former Prime Minister, Abderrahmane el-Youssoufi (AFP)
TT
TT

Morocco’s Former Socialist Prime Minister Dies at 96

Moroccan former Prime Minister, Abderrahmane el-Youssoufi (AFP)
Moroccan former Prime Minister, Abderrahmane el-Youssoufi (AFP)

Moroccan former Prime Minister and socialist leader Abderrahmane el-Youssoufi died on Friday in Casablanca at the age of 96 following a prolonged illness.

Youssoufi was known for being the first opposition figure to peacefully join the authority when he led Morocco’s government of “consensual succession” between 1998 and 2002 during King Hassan II’s ruling.

First Secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Driss Lachgar, announced with great sorrow the death of Youssoufi to all federations and the general public.

For his part, Prime Minister Saad-Eddine el-Othmani described Youssoufi as a “political and national leader".

Othmani tweeted that he received the news of Youssoufi’s death with great sadness, offering his sincere condolences to his family and the whole nation.

Throughout his life, the late PM was greatly appreciated by the royal palace and the various Moroccan political circles.

Several politicians and activists paid tribute to the iconic man who had dedicated his life to defending Morocco’s working class and fighting for human rights.

Youssoufi was born in Tangier on March 8, 1924, and joined the national movement and became a member of the Independence Party at only the age of 19, as he fought for a free Morocco.

Between 1959 and 1965, Youssoufi was the editor-in-chief of the Attahrir newspaper, and served as Secretary-General of the USFP between 1995 and 2002.

In 2003, Youssoufi withdrew from politics after King Mohammed VI appointed technocrat Driss Jettou as prime minister, despite USFP winning the elections.

Youssoufi warned it was “contrary to the democratic methodology.”

Even after he retired from politics, Youssoufi remained in contact with King Mohammed VI, who kept inviting him to royal events and some official meetings with common friends or even the King’s family.

In March 2018, Youssoufi published his memoirs which details his political career, including the resistance and the country’s post-independence era.

The book features Youssoufi’s speeches and interviews and traces his long political life, his years of struggle in the national movements, including The National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP), and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, in addition to his alternating participation and withdrawal from politics.

Last July, during the 20th anniversary of his coronation, King Mohammed VI honored Youssoufi by naming the 2019 cohort of graduating military recruits after him.

“I have decided to name this year’s Group of Graduates after Mr. Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who shares with my late father, His Majesty King Hassan II, and with me, the same unwavering principles: Love for the homeland and a strong commitment to the nation’s sacred values, to the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and the defense of its best interests,” announced King Mohammed VI.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
TT
TT

As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.