Morocco: World Watches Burial and Succession in Morocco

25 July 1999
Africa News Service (Durham)

Washington — World leaders joined Moroccans today to mark the passing of the country's long-serving monarch, King Hassan II, whose strong-arm rule extended for 38 years.

The monarch, who was 70, died late Friday from a heart attack after being admitted to hospital with acute pneumonia. He had been in failing health for several years.

His eldest son, the crown prince, immediately succeeded his father, taking the title Mohammed VI.

The new king spent part of his day Sunday meeting world leaders gathered for the burial, including U.S. President Bill Clinton and French President Jacques Chirac. African presidents who traveled to Rabat include Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika. According to PANA, others in attendance were Mathieu Kerekou of Benin, Blaise Compaore of Burkina, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Henri Konan Bedie of Cote d'Ivoire,Gabon's Omar Bongo, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Lansana Conte of Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya of Mauritania, Senegal's Abdou Diouf and Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo.

Among the often-overlooked issues facing the new ruler is the future of Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony annexed by Hassan in 1973. A United Nations-supervised referendum to decide the territory's future has been repeatedly delayed by disagreements over voting procedures between Morocco and Polisario, the Saharan independence movement.

MORE: Morocco News | Western Sahara News | PANA RELATED SITES Moroccan Mourn Their King (Nando.net) Mohammed VI Takes the Throne (BBC News Online) Morocco Begins 40 Days Of Mourning (MSNBC) World leaders join Moroccans for king's funeral (CNN) Kingdom of Morocco Official announcement of the King's death (French) Official Web site (French, English, Arabic) Western Sahara Referendum Support Association

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