Madrid Cancels Al Hoceima 1925 Centennial Event to Preserve Morocco Ties

Morocco World

11-03-2025

Doha – Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has ordered the cancellation of military ceremonies planned to commemorate the centennial of the 1925 Alhucemas Landing, in a move to maintain positive diplomatic relations with Morocco.
As reported by El Confidencial Digital, the Spanish Army had initially prepared a comprehensive celebration program for what they consider 'one of Spain's great contemporary military successes.' However, the plans were swiftly terminated following ministerial intervention.
This military operation signaled the return of the Spaniards to the Rif following their defeat at the Battle of Anoual on July 22, 1921.
This marked one of the darkest episodes of Spanish colonialism in Morocco, where Spanish and French forces launched a massive assault on Al Hoceima in 1925 to crush the Rif resistance movement led by Abdelkrim el-Khattabi.
This operation marked the return of the Spaniards to the Rif following their defeat at the Battle of Anoual on July 22, 1921.
Around 13,000 Spanish troops, backed by 160 aircraft, alongside three battleships, and multiple naval vessels, launched a brutal maritime attack against 9,000 Moroccan resistance fighters defending their homeland.
Military sources revealed to El Confidencial Digital that 'the minister ordered to halt any act of remembrance of this military operation.' The sources articulated that the decision aimed to 'avoid any act that would anger or disturb Morocco.'
The Spanish Army and defense staff had allocated funds for organizing various events to mark what they describe as the first major joint operation between the army, navy and air force.
General José Agustín Carreras, head of the Alfonso XIII Brigade II of the Legion, had declared in the recent issue of 'La Legión' magazine that the Alhucemas Landing centenary would be among the 'important institutional events' for 2025.
When questioned about the commemorative plans, the army headquarters provided a terse response, stating that 'the Centenary of the Alhucemas Landing is not a specific Army anniversary.'
The State Major of Defense (EMAD) similarly disclosed that their only planned activity would be 'producing a monograph about the Alhucemas landing.'
Furthermore, the Spanish Institute of Military History and Culture projected the Fifth Centenary of the Battle of Pavia (1525) as their main historical commemoration for 2025, avoiding mention of the Alhucemas anniversary.
The operation site includes the Al Hoceima rock and the islands of Tierra and Mar, which Morocco considers as inseparable parts of its national territory under Spanish occupation since 1560, along with other occupied territories in North Africa such as Ceuta and Melilla.
These territories, which Spain refers to as 'Plazas de Soberanía' (Places of Sovereignty), remain at the center of Morocco's pursuit of full territorial integrity towards the completion of its decolonization process.
El Confidencial Digital pointed out that previous anniversaries of the Alhucemas Landing have been marked only by isolated celebrations.
The Ceuta Sea Company commemorated their Naval Medal award for participation in the landing in 2020, while Melilla's Regular Forces Group 52 marked their creation anniversary in 2023.
Spain strives to prevent further diplomatic blunders
The decision reflects Spain's careful diplomatic approach toward Morocco, in order to preserve bilateral ties that have been put in jeopardy in the past. This relationship faced a serious crisis in May 2021 when Spain secretly arranged to hospitalize Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali for COVID-19 treatment.
Ghali, who entered Spain using a false identity as 'Mohammed Ben Battouch,' was wanted in the European country on charges of war crimes, terrorism, and kidnapping, based on lawsuits filed by Spanish families and Sahrawis who alleged torture in Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to accept Ghali without notifying Morocco — one of Spain's principal trading partners — about the arrangement with Algeria severely strained bilateral relations.
However, relations improved markedly in March 2022 when the prime minister notably shifted Spain's position on Western Sahara, backing Morocco's autonomy proposal. Tags: Morocco Spain relations