Skhirat (Arabic: الصخيرات) is a town in Morocco, located between the administrative capital Rabat and the economic centre of Casablanca. Within the past decade it has steadily developed; especially with high class beach properties.
Skhirat
الصخيرات | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Skhirat  Skhirat | |
| Coordinates: 33°51′0″N 7°01′48″W / 33.85000°N 7.03000°W | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| Prefecture | Skhirate-Témara |
| Area | |
• Total | 45 km2 (17 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Population (2014)[1] | |
• Total | 59,775 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (GMT) |
| Area code | 12050 |
| Website | https://skhirat.ma/ |
History
edit20th century
editLocated in Skhirat is the summer palace of the Moroccan King Mohammed VI, venue of a failed military coup against King Hassan II in July 1971. As Hassan II celebrated his 42nd birthday, nearly 250 dissenting Moroccan troops from Ahermoumou unsuccessfully stormed the palace. Following their failure, the alleged organizers of the rebellion were publicly executed.[2]
21st century
editSkhirat is home to the Mohammed VI International Conference Center (CIC Mohamed VI). The CIC was constructed in the early 2000s by Britannia Hotels, meeting the demand for dedicated infrastructure to "organize international conferences" in Morocco's major cities.[3]
In December 2015, the city again gained international notoriety as it became the host for the Skhirat agreement. This agreement, brokered by the major Libyan factions and the United Nations, came to fruition at the CIC Mohamed VI.[4]
References
edit- ^ "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014" (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "1971: Death for Moroccan rebel leaders". 1971-07-13. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ MATIN, LE. "Le Matin - Centre international de conférences Mohammed VI : un palais des congrès à Skhirat". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ Yaakoubi, Aziz El (2015-12-17). "Libyan factions sign U.N. deal to form unity government". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-02-20.