Our Objectives


 A Friendly Relationship Moroccan American Community

For over two hundred years, the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco have enjoyed a close and friendly relationship. Morocco was one of the first countries to accord reorganization to the new American Republic when it allowed American ships access to Moroccan ports in 1777. The same year of the outbreak of the American revolution in 1787, the United States adopted its constitution and the two Nations signed the treaty of Peace and Friendship in Marrakech. It was renewed for an indefinite term in 1836.

WMC's Objectives

 To strengthen relations between all members of the Moroccan American community within the united States..

To enhance mutual understanding with other communities and the society at large.

To promote fellowship, harmony and rapport, not only among people of the Moroccan-American community, but also among members of the entire American society, regardless of race, sex, or religion

To Achieve these Objectives, the Washington Moroccan American Club shall:

Organize social, cultural, and sport events towards the promotion of our Moroccan cultural heritage.

Represent our cultural heritage in society through participation in local and national events.

Coordinate activities and cooperate with other groups and other organizations in the area as well as nationwide .

 

LONG-TIME FRIENDS: A HISTORY OF EARLY U.S.-MOROCCAN
RELATIONS 1777-1787
   

Morocco and the United States have a long history of friendly relations. This North African nation was one of the first states to seek diplomatic relations with America. In 1777, Sultan Sidi Muhammad Ben Abdullah, the most progressive of the Barbary leaders who ruled Morocco from 1757 to 1790, announced his desire for friendship with the United States. The Sultan's overture was part of a new policy he was implementing as a result of his recognition of the need to establish peaceful relations with the Christian powers and his desire to establish trade as a basic source of revenue. Faced with serious economic and political difficulties, he was searching for a new method of governing which required changes in his economy. Instead of relying on a standing professional army to collect taxes and enforce his authority, he wanted to establish state-controlled maritime trade as a new, more reliable, and regular source of income which would free him from dependency on the services of the standing army. The opening of his ports to America and other states was part of that new policy.

By issuing this declaration, Morocco became one of the first states to acknowledge publicly the independence of the American Republic.

On February 2O, l778, the sultan of Morocco reissued his December 20, 1777, declaration. American officials, however, only belatedly learned of the Sultan's full intentions. Nearly identical to the first, the February 20 declaration was again sent to all consuls and merchants in the ports of Tangier, Sale, and Mogador informing them the Sultan had opened his ports to Americans and nine other European States. Information about the Sultan's desire for friendly relations with the United States first reached Benjamin Franklin, one of the American commissioners in Paris, sometime in late April or early May 1778 from Etienne d'Audibert Caille, a French merchant of Sale. Appointed by the Sultan to serve as Consul for all the nations unrepresented in Morocco, Caille wrote on behalf of the Sultan to Franklin from Cadiz on April 14, 1778, offering to negotiate a treaty between Morocco and the United States on the same terms the Sultan had negotiated with other powers. When he did not receive a reply, Caille wrote Franklin a second letter sometime later that year or in early 1779. When Franklin wrote to the committee on Foreign Affairs in May 1779, he reported he had received two letters from a Frenchman who "offered to act as our Minister with the Emperor" and informed the American commissioner that "His Imperial Majesty wondered why we had never sent to thank him for being the first power on this side of the Atlantic that had acknowledged our independence and opened his ports to us." Franklin, who did not mention the dates of Caille's letters or when he had received them, added that he had ignored these letters because the French advised him that Caille was reputed to be untrustworthy. Franklin stated that the French King was willing to use his good offices with the Sultan whenever Congress desired a treaty and concluded, "whenever a treaty with the Emperor is intended, I suppose some of our naval stores will be an acceptable present and the expectation of continued supplies of such stores a powerful motive for entering into and continuing a friendship."

Why Morocco is a friend to USA

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The Kingdom of Morocco is the oldest strategic ally of the United States, having recognized the nation shortly after it declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776. The treaty of friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, which is still in force, was the first international treaty ratified by the American Congress, making Morocco America's oldest diplomatic partner.

Morocco places high value on its long-standing history of friendship and cooperation with the United States. It has been an invaluable partner in the wake of terrorist attacks on the United States. Its own commitment to progressive political and social development has also made the Kingdom an exemplary partner in the United States effort to promote and support political, economic and social reforms in the broader Middle East region. As it has in the past at critical moments, Morocco also continues to play a strategically important role in the effort to resolve the on-going conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Chief among the Center's objectives is to assist the Kingdom of Morocco to obtain American support for its efforts to construct a stable, progressive, democratic and economically dynamic region in North Africa. In pursuit of this broader strategic objective, the Center will focus a substantial amount of its resources and its activities on helping to facilitate a viable political solution to the longstanding issue of the Western Sahara.

 

Morocco - U.S. Relations

"We are delighted with our strategic partnership with the United States of America…and we are particularly keen to consolidate and diversify our partnership relations." H.E. King Mohammed VI, "Throne Day" Speech, 30 July 2004

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     King Mohammed VI and Hassan Samrhouni, Washington
 Moroccan American club, President and founder

During the American Revolution, so many American ships called at the port of Tangiers that the Continental Congress sought recognition from the "Emperor" of Morocco. This was accorded, in effect, in 1777, making Morocco the first country to recognize the fledging American republic. Negotiation of a formal treaty began in 1783, and resulted in the signing in 1786 of the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both future U.S. Presidents, were the American signatories.

During the American Civil War, Morocco reaffirmed its diplomatic alliance with the United States by assuring Washington that the Kingdom, "being a sincere friend of the American nation, would never air or give countenance to the [Confederate] insurgents."

The first international convention ever signed by the United States, the 1865 Spartel Lighthouse Treaty, dealt with a navigational aid erected on the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Treaty, ratified by Morocco, President Andrew Johnson and nine European heads of state, granted neutrality to the lighthouse with the condition that the ten naval powers signing the agreement assumed responsibility for its maintenance.

Around the turn of the 20th Century, as European colonizers gazed hungrily as Morocco’s resources and strategically located harbors, the United States strongly defended the Kingdom’s right to its continued sovereignty at the 1880 Madrid Conference and at the Algeciras Conference in 1906.

In 1912, after Morocco became a protectorate of Spain and France, American diplomats called upon the European powers to exercise colonial rule that guaranteed racial and religious tolerance: "In short," the U.S. Consul in Tanger declared," fair play is what the United States asks for Morocco and all interested parties."

World War I - World War II

During World War I, Morocco was aligned with the Allied forces. In 1917 and 1918, Moroccan soldiers fought victoriously alongside U.S. Marines at Chateau Thierry, Mont Blanc and Soissons.

With France occupied by the Nazis during World War II, colonial French Morocco sided with the Axis Powers. When the Allies invaded Morocco on November 8, 1942, Moroccan defenders quickly yielded to the American and British invaders. Shortly after Morocco surrendered, President Franklin Roosevelt sent a message to Morocco’s King, H.E. Mohammed V, commending him on the "admirable spirit of cooperation that is animating you and your people in their relationships with the forces of my country. Our victory over the Germans will, I know, inaugurate a period of peace and prosperity, during which the Moroccan and French people of North Africa will flourish and thrive in a manner that befits its glorious past."

In what was to be the most pivotal meeting of Allied leaders during the World War II, President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Free French commander General Charles De Gaulle, met for four days in the Casablanca suburb of Anfa in January 1943 to discuss the war. During the Anfa Conference, the Allies agreed that the only acceptable outcome of the conflict was the "unconditional surrender" of the Axis forces. Roosevelt also conferred privately with King Mohammed V to assure him that the United States would support Morocco’s quest for independence.

 1956 - Present

When Morocco finally gained independence on March 2, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower sent a congratulatory message to King Mohammed V: "My government renews it wishes for the peace and prosperity of Morocco, and expresses its gratification that Morocco has freely chosen, as a sovereign nation, to continue in the path of its traditional friendships."

In November 1957, King Mohammed V traveled to Washington to pay an official call on President Eisenhower. Two years later, Eisenhower’s vice president, Richard Nixon, traveled to Rabat to meet with the King.

In 1961, H.E. King Hassan II, Mohammed V’s successor, made the first of several diplomatic visits to the United States to confer with President John F. Kennedy. King Hassan II would later journey to Washington to meet Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

 

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 President Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton, First lady and today's Secretary of States, and Hassan Samrhouni, Washington Moroccan American Club president  at funeral of the  Late King Hassan II

 

 

President Clinton personally flew to Rabat in July 1999 to attend King Hassan II’s funeral, and to meet the son who succeeded him, H.E. King Mohammed VI. One year later, King Mohammed VI made his first official visit to Washington.

 

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Washington Moroccan American Club
at the Late King Hassan II  Funural

In the 21st century, both countries have become close allies in the global war on terror. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Morocco shared valuable information with the United States about al Qaeda. Conversely, when Casablanca was the victim of terrorist bombings on May 16, 2003, the U.S. government offered Morocco – one of it oldest allies -- the full resources of its military and intelligence community. political and diplomatic, commercial and economic , military and security, and our common sense of purpose and commitment to economic reform and development that underscore the strength of the Moroccan-US relationship

 

political and diplomatic, commercial and economic , military and security, and our common sense of purpose and commitment to economic reform and development that underscore the strength of the Moroccan-US relationship

It is this extensive network of relations

 

BY SHERRILL B. WELLS
Office of the Historian -
United States Department of State

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President  George W Bush, Hassan Samrhouni,
Washington Moroccan American Club, President,
and James Baker, former secretary of Satates
 

 


Featured Articles

Defense Of Human Rights In Western Sahara-Morocco

Dear Senior Program Manager of Middle East and North Africa,
Katie Zoglin ,2325 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Sport TV Show by El Muhajer about the International Symposium on "Moroccan Sportsmen of the world, history and current issues

Participants in this event will include national and foreign sports historians, retired and active Moroccan athletes, specialized journalists, and representatives of national federations of various sports.

CCME to organise an International Symposium on "Moroccan Sportsmen of the world, history and current issues

CCME to organise an International Symposium
The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) is organizing on 24 and 25 July 2010 in Casablanca the International Symposium on "Moroccan Sportsmen of the world, history and current issues”. Participants in this event include national and foreign sports historians, retired and active Moroccan athletes, specialized journalists, and representatives of national federations of various sports.

Morocco religious tolerance'

Morocco, 'a rare beacon of religious tolerance'- US paper says
Washington

Assaadi Family on 2M Les Marocains D'Amerique

L'Amérique est pour certains la destination de rêve, une deuxième patrie pour d'autres. Le pays de l'Oncle Sam est le pays d'accueil pour des millions de personnes de différentes origines et cultures. Parmi eux, des Marocains. «Les Marocains d'Amérique» est allé à leur rencontre. Dans ce volet, nous découvrirons les portraits de Nacir Assaadi member actif de  Washington Moroccan Club

Hassan Samrhouni leading the Moroccan American Community by Alison Lake

Hassan Samrhouni: A bridge to Morocco

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A Moroccan emigre and business owner, Hassan Samrhouni has been a good-will ambassador in Washington D.C. for two decades. “We try to empower our community and teach them they can do anything," he says.

Les Marocains D'Amerique

Les Marocains d'Amérique

L'Amérique est pour certains la destination de rêve, une deuxième patrie pour d'autres. Le pays de l'Oncle Sam est le pays d'accueil pour des millions de personnes de différentes origines et cultures. Parmi eux, des Marocains. «Les Marocains d'Amérique» est allé à leur rencontre. Dans ce volet, nous découvrirons les portraits de Hassan Samrhouni et Saïd Ouadghiri.

WMC 20 /20: Women's empowerment in Morocco by Norman L. Greene

A provocative and fast-moving four-hour discussion of women's empowerment in Morocco, including "past and projected legal reforms affecting women's rights and on how best to empower Moroccan women to achieve social, economic, and political equality," was held in two separate panels before a packed room at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2010.

TOP TEN Reasons to Think of MOROCCO on Global Earth Day

Leading up to next week's 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the following are ten good reasons to keep Morocco in mind — and visit online or in person — to mark Global Earth Day.

It is my pleasure to extend congratulation to The Washington Moroccan American club, on the occasion of your 20th Anniversary. Mr. Andrian M. Fenty, Mayor, District of Columbia

 As Mayor of the District of Columbia, it is my pleasure to extend congratulation to The Washington Moroccan American club, on the occasion of your 20th Anniversary.

Ambassador Mr. Aziz Mekouar note to Washington Moroccan Club

It is my great pleasure to congratulate the Washington Moroccan American Club (WMAC) on its twentieth Anniversary.

On the footsteps of Zemmouri by Driss El Yazami, CCME- WMC 20/20

The celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Washington Moroccan American Club is an event in more ways than one. It owes its richness to the program prepared for the population of the U.S. capital, which reflects primarily the profound changes experienced by Morocco. On all fronts (gender, ethno-cultural pluralism, rule of law, etc...) Morocco has opted for the path of modernity and reform. The road is still long, but both Moroccan society and Moroccan government are forging their own history.

Happy Anniversary; with my best wishes for success in your initiative, which strengthens the position of those Moroccans living in the USA. HE Mohamed Ameur - WMC20

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the "Washington Moroccan American Club" on the occasion of its 20thth Anniversary.

Les "Hommes Bleus" s'invitent à Washington -Par Nadia Hachimi-

Les "Hommes Bleus" s'invitent à Washington

Washington- La place historique de "Dupont Circle" au nord-ouest de Washington s'est transformée, jeudi, en une grande scène musicale, avec à l'honneur les "Hommes Bleus" et le patrimoine culturel des provinces du sud du Royaume. En effet, cette place a agréablement surpris ses habitués avec une prestation musicale inédite du groupe de Guedra "Mnat Azaouan", venu spécialement de la région de Guelmim-Assa pour célébrer le 20-ème anniversaire du Washington Moroccan Club (WMC). 

Une rencontre à Washington met en exergue l'essor de la presse écrite au Maroc

Une rencontre à Washington met en exergue l'essor de la presse écrite au Maroc
Washington, 27/03/10 - Une rencontre sur le rôle des médias dans le développement du monde arabe, organisée vendredi à Washington, a mis en exergue l'essor que connaît la presse écrite au Maroc, grâce notamment aux nouvelles technologies de communication et d'information.

"La presse écrite au Maroc a connu une grande avancée qualitative et quantitative qui lui a permis de se développer de manière significative au cours des dernières années", a souligné Mohamed Dourrachad, consultant médiatique et ancien directeur adjoint d'Abou Dhabi TV, qui modérait cette rencontre organisée dans le cadre de la célébration du 20ème anniversaire du Washington Moroccan Club (WMC).

Pour M. Dourrachad, le développement de l'outil Internet au Maroc est à même de permettre une avancée considérable dans le domaine de l'information au Royaume, ainsi que pour ce qui est de la promotion de l'image du Maroc à l'étranger.

De son cô

Soirée de Gala à Washington pour marquer le 20ème anniversaire du WMC

Washington- Une soirée de Gala, marquée par une magnifique prestation de la troupe folklorique de Guedra "Mnat Azaouan" des provinces du sud, a été organisée, dimanche à Washington, pour célébrer le 20ème anniversaire du Washington Moroccan Club (WMC).

Mr Ahmed HAJJI, Directeur Général L'Agence pour la Promotion et le Developpement Economique et Social des Provinces du Sud -WMC20

Mr Ahmed HAJJI, Directeur Général L'Agence pour la Promotion et le Developpement Economique et Social des Provinces du Sud  

"It is for me a pleasure to wish a happy anniversary to the "Washington Moroccan American Club", and to congratulate you for the rich programs started for the celebration of its 20th anniversary. It is an initiative which can only be encouraged, being based on promoting  Morocco , the bilateral, US-Moroccan, relations  and our national cause. 

WMC 20/20 : Morocco's autonomy proposal complies with international practice, U.S. academic

WMC 20/20 Events :


Washington - Morocco's proposal to grant autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, complies with current international practice, U.S. academic and specialist of North Africa, William Zartman, said.     The principle of autonomy is a way of finding solutions to many conflicts around the world, Zartman told MAP.

Le Maroc à l'avant-garde dans la région arabe en matière de lutte contre la violence à l'égard des femmes(ONG)-WMC20

Washington- L'expérience marocaine en matière de lutte contre la violence à l'égard des femmes est "à l'avant-garde dans le monde arabe", a affirmé, Stephanie Willman Bordat, directrice résidente au Maroc de l'ong internationale "Global Rights".

Amazigh Culture in Spotlight at Conference in Washington -WMC20/20

La culture amazighe à l'honneur lors d'une rencontre à Washington
Washington, 19/03/10 - La culture et la langue amazighes ont été mises en exergue, vendredi, à Washington lors d'une rencontre organisée dans le cadre des activités célébrant le 20-ème anniversaire du Washington Moroccan Club.

All Articles

Defense Of Human Rights In Western Sahara-Morocco

Dear Senior Program Manager of Middle East and North Africa,
Katie Zoglin ,2325 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515