Rhita Bennani, the ‘cornerstone’ of Ben Barka family, missing

Ben Barka’s family and those close to her nicknamed her “Mammo” or “Mammi”. Rhita Bennani’s widow Mahdi Ben BarkaShe died in Paris on the morning of June 26, 2024, surrounded by her children and her brother Ali. Her life was marked by the disappearance of her husband, a socialist politician, a Third World leader and the king’s main opponent. Hassan II Originally from Morocco, he was kidnapped from the Lipe Brewery in the French capital on October 29, 1965. Shortly before his death, he was preparing the Popular Unity Conference with Che Guevara From Asia, Africa and Latin America (the “three continents”).

The Independence Party and Moroccan Independence

Rhita Bennani’s fate is one of intense struggle to uncover the circumstances of her husband’s death and to uncover the identities of those involved in one of the most notorious political assassinations in history. Ben Barka Family Never obtained. “Rita Bennani’s primary wish was to find her husband’s body so that mourning could finally begin. That never happened and she was deeply disappointed. Delegation JA is a close family member.

Rhita Bennani, demure and resolute, was the pillar of the Ben Barka family. Born into an Arab-Andalusian family in the old medina of Rabat, she grew up in Morocco under French protection. The young girl from a traditional background had no access to a “modern” education and wore a veil and a burqa. His family frequented the family of Mehdi Ben Barka, who lived in the same neighborhood. The two young people got married in 1948. Rhita was 16 and Mehdi was 28. He was a mathematics teacher and was already a figure in the nationalist movement and a co-founder of it. Parties Member of Istiqlal and signatory of the Declaration of Independence (1944).

Mehdi Ben Barka, nicknamed “The Dynamo”, has always been focused on the political struggle, whether in Morocco or on tour abroad, in Istiqlal or abroad. Union of Socialist People’s Power (USFP). Despite this, he encouraged his illiterate wife to learn. He helped her learn French and encouraged her to remove her veil. Rhita Bennani experienced a kind of liberation through marriage. The couple was very modern, respected each other, and had four children: Bachir, Fawz, and twins Saad and Mansur. “Rita invested a lot in their education,” stressed a relative.

But she was not limited to the role of housewife. “She often accompanied her husband to political or diplomatic meetings. For example, Shta was present when Mahdi talked with Mao Zedong in 1959. At that time he was trying to ease tensions between China and Russia in order to strengthen the alliance of Third World countries. That’s why he was appointed chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Three Continents,” our source continued.

Under Nasser’s protection

Rita Bennani Mehdi Ben Barka had also suffered repression since the early 1950s, and soon after they married, French authorities exiled the activist deep into southern Morocco. He remained there for four years. She was eventually granted a three-month visit. Their daughter, Faz, was to be born soon. Loyal to her husband’s beliefs and a true ally, Rita lived with uncertainty and anxiety, fearing that something bad would happen to her.

In 1963, seven years after Morocco’s independence, Mehdi Ben Barka came to power on his own. this After being accused of “plotting against the monarchy” and escaping an attack, he went into exile. A year later, he was sentenced to death in absentia. His wife and children are still in Rabat. Their house was searched, looted, and then blocked. They were forced to leave their homeland again, but not together to avoid attracting attention. One pretended to see a doctor, the other pretended to travel, and both bought return tickets.

read: The Ben Barka affair was at the heart of Charles de Gaulle’s quarrel with Hassan II

After the transition to Zurich, In Switzerland, then in France, Ben Barka took refuge in Egypt, where Nasser Always on the move, Mehdi Ben Barka lived in this large Cairo house only twice before he disappeared in 1965, two days before his family learned of his disappearance through a newspaper.

Rhita Bennani then took on the role of head of the family. Despite the horrific blow, she would do everything to protect her children from trauma. She even rejected Egyptian citizenship and an offer of income from a friend to go to France. Install It is said that Jacques Chirac, the then mayor of the capital, facilitated his move and provided him with accommodation in the city of Paris. “She wanted her children to receive the best education,” explained a relative. Mission accomplished: all the siblings would follow in the footsteps of Mehdi Ben Barka, choosing mathematics and physics, achieving excellent academic results.

Meeting with Fuad Ali Shima

Most importantly, Rhita BennaniAbdulrahman Youssefa USFP luminary (who will be 1998 to 2002) and family friend lawyer Maurice Buttin. His eldest son, Bachir Ben Barka, will take over.

In 1999, the family returned to Morocco for the first time. The emotions were there. In particular, she met with Fouad Ali Hima, an advisor to Mohammed VI. Rita Bennani was waiting for “clarification”, that is, the identities of the French and Moroccans who kidnapped and assassinated her husband would be revealed. But this clarification never came. Therefore, she never settled in her homeland, which she missed so much. She will be buried have Paris.