The Director of the Royal Archives of Morocco, Bahija Simou, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for her contribution to the promotion of heritage and Moroccan-Italian cultural dialogue.
The insignia were presented to Simou by the Italy's Ambassador to Morocco Armando Barucco, on behalf of the President, on the occasion of Italy’s National Day celebration.
According to Barucco, this prestigious award—of which only ten are awarded each year—pays tribute to a remarkable and exceptional contribution to the promotion of Moroccan historical heritage, as well as to the significant development of scientific and cultural exchanges between Morocco and Italy.
An internationally recognized historian, Simou has distinguished herself through her rigorous work on political and diplomatic relations between Morocco and Italy, as evidenced by numerous landmark publications.
As a member of the Strategic Council of the Italian foundation Leonardo MedOr, Simou plays a key role in Euro-Mediterranean academic forums, actively working to preserve collective memory.
On this occasion, she praised "the strong symbolism" of this award, emphasizing that her research on Italy highlights "the geopolitical importance of both Morocco and Italy within the Euro-Mediterranean space."
She also recalled the historical depth of bilateral relations, which date back to the 12th century. After Italian unification, Morocco adopted a friendly stance toward Italy, which, following Morocco’s independence, became one of the Kingdom’s first economic partners. Italy was also the first European country visited by the late His Majesty Mohammed V.
Simou noted that this award "does not only crown a personal journey, but also affirms a commitment to a living, inclusive history—one that resists oblivion and brings to light memories long kept in the shadows."
(MAP: 04 June 2025)
