Mbarek Bekkay
Mbarek Bekkay (Arabic: مبارك البكاي; April 18, 1907 in Berkane, Morocco – April 12, 1961) was the Prime Minister of Morocco between December 7, 1955 and April 15, 1958. Bekkay held the rank of colonel in the French army. Biography. Mbarek Bekkay was born to the Berber Béni-Snassen tribe in 1907. He attended the Military School of Dar El Beida, the present military academy of Meknes, from which he went out to lieutenant and joined the French army. He served excellently in World War II and rose to lieutenant colonel rank. He had the honor to sign the  act of independence of Morocco on March 2, 1956 with Christian Pineau representing France, and April 7 with Martin Artajo representing Spain. He resigned as Prime Minister during the May 1958 crisis, which was created by the refusal to allow the People's Movement Party. Confronted with "recurrent health problems", he died in Rabat on April 12, 1961 - 45 days after King Mohammed V - and was buried in his hometown.