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Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi Al Karkari in support of the Moroccan Sahara
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
و الصلاة و السلام على أشرف المرسلين
و على اله و اصحابه أجمعين
On Wednesday 16 December, Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari was presented with the prestigious Africanity Trophy by the President of the Africanity Trophy Foundation, Mr Nasrallah Belkhayate, on the occasion of the first African Summit held in Marrakech.
Under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), this high distinction is awarded to personalities who mark, through their actions and commitment, the pride, success and dignity of Africans in the world, by contributing to the development of Africa in the human, social, cultural, spiritual, economic and sporting fields.
The prize was thus awarded to the Shaykh of the Karkariya Zawiya for his central role in carrying out large-scale humanitarian projects throughout Africa, projects for which many Africans are grateful to him and have expressed their gratitude to him, as well as to the Kingdom of Morocco.
A few days after the presentation of this Prize, and under the aegis of the Africanity Trophy Foundation, Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari was invited on a journey to the heart of the Moroccan Sahara.
He therefore flew to the southern provinces of Morocco with a delegation made up of officials of the Foundation, including its President, as well as members of the blessed Zawiya of the city of Agadir. These provinces are well known to the Shaykh, since he travelled across them on foot during his famous ten-year wandering.
Led by a patriotic spirit and the duty of setting an example, the Shaykh wishes to take advantage of this journey to affirm the historical Moroccan identity of the provinces of the Moroccan Sahara. He also wishes to deliver a message of peace, love and fraternity to the populations of the south, but also to the neighbouring countries, which are brother countries, namely Algeria and Mauritania.
The journey began in the capital of the Souss, the city of Agadir, where the delegation landed on Sunday evening. After spending the night there, the group headed south and crossed several important cities such as Tiznit and Guelmim, before continuing on to the province of Assa-Zag, the gateway to the Moroccan Sahara.
There the delegation was warmly welcomed by the Governor of this province, Mr Youssef Khayer, and his team. He invited the group to lunch to discuss the regional situation, then invited the Shaykh to visit the border town of al-Mahbes.
The very next day – Tuesday 29 December – the delegation took the road to this famous town. It is sadly famous because it was the scene of a war between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the Polisario Front in 1985. It is also famous as the junction point between three countries: Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. That is why Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari stopped there to perform a prayer followed by long invocations. He beseeched Allah to make this region a zone of peace, love and fraternity between the brother countries whose meeting point it is.
The inhabitants of the town of al-Mahbes welcomed the Shaykh and his delegation with great joy. The Moroccans of the region were deeply touched by the Foundation’s initiative and by the much-appreciated visit of Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari. They took advantage of this exceptional visit to invite the whole delegation to lunch.
After enjoying a good tajine together, as is his habit, the Shaykh closed the meal with great invocations. He invoked Allah to preserve the Sahara and to preserve its Moroccan identity so that the region may always remain under the authority of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He also invoked for the Moroccan sovereign, that Allah may come to his aid in his difficult office and protect him from all harm, him and the royal family.
This visit to the southern provinces now continues in the direction of the city of Laayoune. There the delegation is to meet the BMCE, which expressed the wish to welcome and invite them. This journey is to conclude in the city of Dakhla, in the far south of the country, where the delegation is awaited by the political officials of the region.
This initiative of the Africanity Trophy Foundation and the Karkariya Zawiya is for the moment meeting with real success among the local populations. Moroccans are deeply touched by the support of the Shaykh and the official delegation for the cause of the Moroccan Sahara, a cause supported by all Moroccans.
We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Mr Youssef Khayer, Governor of the province of Assa-Zag, and his team for the welcome he gave the delegation, the quality of his hospitality and his support in the territory of Assa-Zag.
We ask Allah to bless this spiritual journey and to grant the whole delegation well-being, comfort and security against all harm, and may peace and blessings be upon the best of creation, our Master Muhammad, and upon his family, his blessed descendants and his noble companions.