National Union of Popular Forces
Encyclopedia
The National Union of Popular Forces (French language
, Union Nationale des Forces Populaires, UNFP) was founded in 1959 in Morocco
by Mehdi Ben Barka
and his entourage, because they found that the Istiqlal Party
- which had led the independence
struggle - wasn't radical enough.
Espousing socialist policies, the party took a strongly critical line towards the ruling monarchy
, and consequently faced severe police repression, led by interior minister general Mohamed Oufkir
. The UNFP had a diverse leadership: while Abderrahim Bouabid, and Abderrahmane Youssoufi
were considered moderates, Mohammed Basri was promoting armed struggle, and Ben Barka chose to oppose the rule from exile. When the Sand War
broke out between Morocco and Algeria in 1963, Ben Barka, then in Algeria, officially sided with Ahmed Ben Bella
's FLN
government. This was seen as high treason by the Moroccan government, and he was sentenced to death in absentia
. He later "disappeared" in exile
in France
, possibly on Oufkir's orders, in a case that remains a powerful if hotly debated symbol of the democratic struggle in Morocco.
The UNFP would later break apart again, with one wing restyling itself the Socialist Union of Popular Forces
(Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires, USFP), which survives still today as a centre-left party. In the elections of 1993 USFP and Istiqlal worked together and were both opposition
parties. Since 1998, the USFP is the main coalition party of the "Alternance government".
Abderrahmane Youssoufi
, one of the founders of the UNFP, and later the chairman of the USFP, who was once a political prisoner and condemned to death, in 1998 became head of government through elections. This — one of the first cases in modern Arab history of a head of government being selected from among the opposition — was viewed as a major breakthrough for Morocco's reform process.
A small group led by Abdellah Ibrahim maintained the UNFP denomination until his death in 2005; it boycotted all elections since 1972
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Union Nationale des Forces Populaires, UNFP) was founded in 1959 in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
by Mehdi Ben Barka
Mehdi Ben Barka
Mehdi Ben Barka was a Moroccan politician, head of the left-wing National Union of Popular Forces and secretary of the Tricontinental Conference...
and his entourage, because they found that the Istiqlal Party
Istiqlal Party
The Istiqlal or Independence Party is a political party in Morocco...
- which had led the independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
struggle - wasn't radical enough.
Espousing socialist policies, the party took a strongly critical line towards the ruling monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, and consequently faced severe police repression, led by interior minister general Mohamed Oufkir
Mohamed Oufkir
General Mohammad Oufkir was a Moroccan Berber politician.As the right hand man of king Hassan II in the 1960s and early 1970s, Oufkir led government supervision of politicians, unionists and the religious establishment...
. The UNFP had a diverse leadership: while Abderrahim Bouabid, and Abderrahmane Youssoufi
Abderrahmane Youssoufi
Abderrahmane Youssoufi is a Moroccan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Morocco from 1998 to 2002.-Early life:...
were considered moderates, Mohammed Basri was promoting armed struggle, and Ben Barka chose to oppose the rule from exile. When the Sand War
Sand War
The Sand War or Sands War occurred along the Algerian-Moroccan border in October 1963, and was a Moroccan attempt to claim the Tindouf and the Béchar areas that France had annexed to French Algeria a few decades earlier.- Background :...
broke out between Morocco and Algeria in 1963, Ben Barka, then in Algeria, officially sided with Ahmed Ben Bella
Ahmed Ben Bella
Mohamed Ahmed Ben Bella was a soldier and Algerian revolutionary, who became the first President of Algeria.-Youth:...
's FLN
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
government. This was seen as high treason by the Moroccan government, and he was sentenced to death in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
. He later "disappeared" in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, possibly on Oufkir's orders, in a case that remains a powerful if hotly debated symbol of the democratic struggle in Morocco.
The UNFP would later break apart again, with one wing restyling itself the Socialist Union of Popular Forces
Socialist Union of Popular Forces
The Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP, is a social democratic political party in Morocco...
(Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires, USFP), which survives still today as a centre-left party. In the elections of 1993 USFP and Istiqlal worked together and were both opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
parties. Since 1998, the USFP is the main coalition party of the "Alternance government".
Abderrahmane Youssoufi
Abderrahmane Youssoufi
Abderrahmane Youssoufi is a Moroccan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Morocco from 1998 to 2002.-Early life:...
, one of the founders of the UNFP, and later the chairman of the USFP, who was once a political prisoner and condemned to death, in 1998 became head of government through elections. This — one of the first cases in modern Arab history of a head of government being selected from among the opposition — was viewed as a major breakthrough for Morocco's reform process.
A small group led by Abdellah Ibrahim maintained the UNFP denomination until his death in 2005; it boycotted all elections since 1972