Ahmed Balafrej

Ahmed Balafrej (in Arab: rear RTL أحمدبلافرج) (born on May 1st 1908 with Reduction, Morocco - deceased in May 1990 of a long illness with Reduction)

was the historical founder of the Moroccan nationalist movement which brought to the Independence of the Kingdom in 1956. One of the founders, and first secretary of the Left Istiqlal, Prime Minister of the Morocco which it controlled of the May 12th 1958 with the December 2nd 1958, Foreign Minister of Morocco, it was one of those which worked with the construction of a modern constitutional monarchy for Morocco.

After secondary studies with the college Moulay Youssef de Rabat, Ahmed Balafrej prepares her baccalaureat with the French college of Reduction. In 1926, it creates the first cell of resistance to the French occupation.

After its inscription in control with the Sorbonne, and following an intense journalistic activity and Political, with Paris, and with some French friends, it will denounce the colonial policy of the France to the Morocco.

As of her return to Morocco, Ahmed Balafrej, having intelligently anticipated the process of decolonization which the victorious powers of Hitlerisme were inevitably going to engage after their victory over Germany, writes, and makes sign with her nationalist friends the Manifeste of independence and contibue with the foundation of the Parti Istiqlal in 1944.

It then will be stopped by the French authorities and will be exiled during one year in Corsica, as well as the future king of Morocco, Mohammed V. In 1947, at the conclusion of the historical speech of the sultan Mohammed V where it clearly expresses its will of Indépendance of Morocco, the French colonial lobby makes pressure to impose general June like " Resident general in Morocco ". Ahmed Balafrej thus decides to leave for a diplomatic campaign in Suisse, France and Spain in order to promote the Moroccan cause there.

After the assassination of the Tunisian leader Ferhat Hached in 1952, the party of Istiqlal is declared interdependent of the Tunisian claim for independence.

A wild repression is followed from there involving the arrest of practically all the leaders, frameworks and militants of the party of Istiqlal. Balafrej, gains the the United States to him to sensitize the international public opinion with the situation of the people of the the Maghreb. It defends before the general meeting of the United Nations the cause of Morocco Indépendant and contributes to the return of the sultan Mohammed V of sound Exil forced, thus opening the way with the negotiations which will bring to the declaration of Independence of the Kingdom of Morocco. In 1956, Ahmed Balafrej becomes first Mnistre of the Foreign affairs of the Kingdom of independent Morocco. Its first mission will be the negotiation with Spain of the release of Tarfaya.

In 1958, it is appointed Prime Minister to replace the first independent Moroccan government Bekkai.

One of its outstanding actions will be the promulgaton code of public freedoms and right of association, largely inspired by the French republican code on the matter.

Modernistic spirit, inspired as much by the thought of C.Arsalan as of J.Al Afghani, it could collect and integrate in its political combat the moral anti-colonial French rigor such as C.A.Julien, F.Mauriac, as much as the respect of French politicians of the time (E.Faure or P.Mendes France)

In 1962, it is named by Hassan II Foreign Minister. Of 1963 with 1972, as an staff representative of the King Hassan II, it represents the official policy of the Kingdom of Morocco to the international level.

In 1972, the arbitrary arrest, tortures and the imprisonment and the judgment of his/her son Anise, activist political anti monarchist, make it resign of all its official functions.

From this date, it is withdrawn from any political activity, and dies out in May 1990 with Rabat of the continuations of a long illness.

Family life

Mr. Balafrej had five children, a boy and four girls, among the first professors of medicine of Morocco. Me hamed Douiri, husband of one of his daughters, will be public Minister for Labor of the government Bekkai. Its grandson Adil Douiri, former minister for tourism.

Sources

Documentary on Ahmed Balafrej on the televised chain 2M

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