Editing French protectorate in Morocco (section)

====Exile of Sultan Muhammad====
The general sympathy of the sultan for the nationalists had become evident by the end of the war, although he still hoped to see complete independence achieved gradually. By contrast, the residency, supported by French economic interests and vigorously backed by most of the colonists, adamantly refused to consider even reforms short of independence. Official intransigence contributed to increased animosity between the nationalists and the colonists and gradually widened the split between the sultan and the resident general.

Muhammad V and his family were transferred to [[Madagascar]] in January 1954. His replacement by the unpopular [[Mohammed Ben Aarafa]], whose reign was perceived as illegitimate, sparked active opposition to the French protectorate both from nationalists and those who saw the sultan as a religious leader.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6HKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA558|title=Heads of States and Governments Since 1945|last=Lentz|first=Harris M.|date=4 February 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134264902|pages=558|language=en}}</ref> By 1955, Ben Aarafa was pressured to abdicate. Consequently, Ben Aarafa fled to Tangier where he formally abdicated.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=La9hCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA67|title=North Africa (RLE Economy of the Middle East): Contemporary Politics and Economic Development|last1=Lawless|first1=Richard I.|last2=Findlay|first2=Allan|date=15 May 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317592983|pages=67|language=en}}</ref>

The French executed 6 Moroccan nationalists in Casablanca on 4 January 1955.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/middle-eastnorth-africapersian-gulf-region/francemorocco-1930-1956/|title=6. French Morocco (1912–1956)|website=uca.edu|language=en-US|access-date=21 March 2020}}</ref> The aggressions between the colonists and the nationalists increased from 19 August – 5 November 1955, and approximately 1,000 people died<ref name=":5" />

Facing a united Moroccan demand for the sultan’s return, a rising violence in Morocco, as well as the deteriorating situation in Algeria, Muhammad V returned from exile on 16 November 1955, and declared independence on 18 November 1955. In February 1956 he successfully negotiated with France to enforce the independence of Morocco, and in 1957 took the title of King.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}