The Accession of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia to the United Nations in 1956
The
year 1956 marked a pivotal moment in both the history of North Africa
and the evolution of the United Nations as it navigated the rapidly
changing landscape of international relations in the post-World War II
era. The accession of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia
to the United Nations represented not merely administrative additions
to the world body's membership rolls, but significant symbolic victories
for the principles of self-determination and decolonization that were
gaining momentum across the globe. These accessions occurred during a
period of intense geopolitical tension, as the Cold War rivalry between
the United States and the Soviet Union complicated the process of
membership approval at the UN. The successful integration of these three
nations into the international community reflected a carefully
orchestrated diplomatic process that balanced competing interests while
acknowledging the inevitable shift toward postcolonial sovereignty. This
comprehensive analysis examines the complete historical context,
political dynamics, and procedural details surrounding the accession of
these three North African states, drawing on historical documents and
official records to reconstruct the events of this transformative year
in international diplomacy.
Historical Background and Colonial Context
The
mid-1950s represented a crucial transitional period in international
relations, characterized by the accelerating collapse of European
colonial empires and the emergence of newly independent states across
Africa and Asia. The United Nations, founded just a decade earlier in
1945, found itself at the center of this transformation, tasked with
balancing its commitment to international stability with the rising
demands for self-determination among colonized peoples. The
organization's membership policies became a battleground for competing
visions of global order, with the Western powers generally supporting a gradual, managed transition to independence, while the Soviet bloc
more enthusiastically championed immediate decolonization as a means of
gaining new allies in the Cold War. This geopolitical tension created a
complex environment for processing new membership applications, as
evidenced by the fact that from 1950 to 1955, Soviet vetoes in the
Security Council had prevented the admission of any new members until a
breakthrough "package deal" in 1955 allowed for the admission of sixteen
states simultaneously.
The colonial histories
of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia, though distinct in their particulars,
shared important commonalities that shaped their paths to independence
and subsequent international recognition. Morocco had been established
as a French protectorate with the signing of the Treaty of Fez in 1912,
though Spain also maintained control over certain northern regions and
the territory of Ifni. The French administration implemented significant
economic and infrastructure development while systematically
marginalizing traditional Moroccan institutions and the authority of the
sultan. During World War II, Moroccan nationalist sentiment gained
considerable momentum, encouraged in part by the Atlantic Charter's
endorsement of self-determination and by sympathetic signals from
American President Franklin Roosevelt, who in 1943 expressed support for
Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef in his quest for independence. From 1947
onward, the sultan deliberately distanced himself from the French
protectorate administration, championing the Arab League and supporting
the Istiqlal (Independence) Party, despite intense pressure from French
authorities, including General Alphonse Juin, who threatened to depose
him if he did not dissociate from nationalist elements.
Tunisia's
experience followed a similar trajectory, having become a French
protectorate in 1881 through the Treaty of Bardo. French administration
centralized power while maintaining the ceremonial role of the bey,
though actual authority resided firmly with the French resident-general.
The Neo Destour (New Constitution) Party, founded in 1934 by Habib
Bourguiba, emerged as the leading vehicle for Tunisian nationalism,
advocating systematically for independence rather than mere reforms.
During World War II, Tunisia became a battleground between Allied and
Axis forces, with the eventual Allied victory leading to the transfer of
authority to Free France in May 1943. The immediate deposition of
Moncef Bey on allegations of collaboration with Germans further inflamed
nationalist sentiments. The post-war period witnessed escalating
tensions, with France launching a crackdown on political leaders in 1952
that included Bourguiba's arrest, followed by a series of terrorist
attacks and reprisals that created conditions of near-civil conflict.
Sudan's colonial experience differed significantly from its North African counterparts, having been established as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium
in 1899, a unique arrangement that theoretically placed Sudan under
joint British and Egyptian administration but in practice ensured
British dominance. The Sudanese independence movement gained momentum
after World War II, complicated by competing visions regarding the
country's relationship with Egypt. Some factions favored union with
Egypt, while others advocated for complete independence, a division that
shaped the political landscape as negotiations advanced. The changing
political situation in Egypt itself, particularly the Free Officers
Revolution of 1952 that overthrew the monarchy, altered the dynamics of
the Sudan question, with the new Egyptian revolutionary government
eventually recognizing the principle of Sudanese self-determination.
The Path to Sovereignty
Morocco's Independence Struggle
Morocco's
journey to sovereignty intensified dramatically in 1953 when the French
administration, working in concert with conservative colonial interests
led by El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakech, orchestrated the exile of
Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef to Madagascar and replaced him with the more
pliable Ben Arafa. This provocative action transformed what had been a
political negotiation into a popular uprising, with nationalist groups
forming the Moroccan National Front and launching an escalating campaign
of demonstrations and attacks against French targets. The situation
deteriorated rapidly, with anti-French demonstrations in December 1952
repressed with significant bloodshed. The intensity of the resistance,
combined with growing international pressure—including the placement of
the Moroccan question on the UN agenda in December 1952 at the behest of
Arab states—convinced the French government of the necessity for a
political solution.
The
pivotal turning point came on November 6, 1955, when French Foreign
Minister Antoine Pinay and Mohammed Ben Youssef signed the La Celle-St-Cloud agreements,
which formally led to Moroccan independence and restored the sultan to
the throne as Mohammed V. This diplomatic breakthrough acknowledged
Morocco's right to sovereignty while establishing frameworks for
continued cooperation with France. Ten days after signing the
agreements, Mohammed V made his triumphal return to Rabat, marking the
symbolic rebirth of the Moroccan nation. Morocco officially gained
independence on March 2, 1956, following the signing of a joint
declaration in Paris that replaced the Treaty of Fez that had
established the protectorate in 1912. The restoration of the monarchy as
the central institution of the independent Moroccan state provided
crucial stability during the transition period and would shape the
country's political development for decades to follow.
Tunisia's Independence Struggle
Tunisia's
path to independence proceeded through a series of negotiated steps
rather than a single dramatic breakthrough. The internal autonomy
granted by French Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France on July 31, 1954,
represented a crucial intermediate stage, acknowledging Tunisian
self-government while maintaining French oversight in certain domains.
This compromise failed to satisfy the ambitions of Habib Bourguiba and
the Neo Destour Party, who continued to press for complete sovereignty.
The formation of the first government composed entirely of Tunisians on
September 17, 1955, created the institutional framework through which
Tunisians could demonstrate their capacity for self-rule.
The final negotiations between French and Tunisian representatives culminated in the March 20, 1956, agreement
that granted Tunisia full independence. This carefully orchestrated
transition allowed for the peaceful transfer of power while preserving
certain French economic and strategic interests, particularly regarding
military bases. The political maturity demonstrated by Tunisian leaders
during this process earned international respect and facilitated
subsequent recognition by other nations. Following independence,
elections resulted in a decisive victory for Neo Destour and established
Habib Bourguiba as the dominant figure in Tunisian politics, first as
prime minister and subsequently as president when the republic was
proclaimed in 1957. Bourguiba's modernizing vision and pro-Western
orientation would significantly influence Tunisia's international
positioning, including its approach to United Nations membership.
Sudan's Unique Path to Independence
Sudan's
transition to independence was distinctive, shaped by its unusual
constitutional status as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium. The critical
breakthrough came with the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of 1953,
which established a transitional period of self-government leading to
full self-determination. This agreement represented a compromise between
British interests in maintaining influence and Egyptian aspirations for
unity with Sudan, while ultimately prioritizing the right of the
Sudanese people to determine their own future. The agreement provided
for a Sudanese parliament and government with substantial authority,
while British and Egyptian officials gradually withdrew from
administrative roles.
The
parliamentary elections held in 1953 resulted in victory for the
National Unionist Party, which initially favored union with Egypt,
though its position would later evolve toward support for complete
independence. The successful experience of self-government during the
transitional period built confidence in Sudan's capacity for sovereignty
and diminished opposition to independence from within the political
class. On January 1, 1956, Sudan officially declared its independence,
becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to gain sovereignty
following World War II. This carefully managed transition, remarkable
for its relative peacefulness compared to other decolonization
struggles, positioned Sudan as a potential model for orderly transfer of
power and facilitated its rapid acceptance by the international
community.
The United Nations Admission Process
The admission of new members to the United Nations follows a carefully prescribed procedure outlined in Article 4 of the UN Charter,
which states that "Membership in the United Nations is open to all
other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the
present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and
willing to carry out these obligations." The process requires a dual
approval mechanism: first, the Security Council
must recommend the applicant state through a resolution that requires
at least nine affirmative votes from the fifteen Council members, with
no veto from any of the five permanent members (China, France, the
Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Following this
recommendation, the General Assembly must admit the state by a two-thirds majority vote of members present and voting.
This
procedural framework had become politically charged during the early
Cold War period, with membership applications often falling victim to
geopolitical rivalries. The period from 1950 to 1955 witnessed a virtual
freeze on UN expansion due to repeated Soviet vetoes of states aligned
with the West, and corresponding Western vetoes of Soviet-backed
applicants. This deadlock was finally broken in 1955 through what became
known as the "package deal,"
which allowed for the simultaneous admission of sixteen states
representing both blocs, establishing an important precedent for the
admission of multiple states together to avoid political blockages. This
breakthrough created the procedural template that would facilitate the
admission of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia the following year.
The
United States position regarding UN membership during this period was
articulated in internal documents that noted: "When Japan is prepared to
press its application for admission, the United States in consultation
with Japan should be prepared to initiate or support a proposal that the
Security Council be convened without delay to recommend admission of
Japan." This proactive approach to supporting aligned states reflected
the broader American strategy of expanding the community of nations
friendly to Western interests within UN structures. Meanwhile, the
Soviet position typically linked the admission of Western-aligned states
with that of Soviet-supported applicants, creating the complex
diplomatic mathematics that characterized membership negotiations during
this period.
Table: United Nations Security Council Membership Process in 1956
The UN Accession of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia in 1956
Security Council Consideration and Recommendation
The
applications of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia for United Nations
membership progressed through the Security Council with remarkable speed
and minimal opposition, especially when contrasted with the contentious
membership battles of the preceding years. This smooth passage
reflected both the undeniable legitimacy of their recently acquired
sovereignty and careful diplomatic preparation by the states supporting
their admission. According to historical documents from the U.S. State
Department, "Three applicants have been recommended for United Nations
membership by the Security Council since the Tenth Session of the
General Assembly—the Sudan, Morocco, and Tunisia." The specific Security
Council resolutions formally recommending each state for membership
were:
Sudan: Recommended through Security Council Resolution 112
Morocco: Recommended through Security Council Resolution 115 adopted on June 20, 1956
Tunisia: Recommended through Security Council Resolution 116
The
voting patterns on these resolutions demonstrated broad international
consensus, with Security Council Resolution 115 regarding Morocco
receiving 11 votes in favor, none against, and no abstentions,
reflecting the complete absence of opposition to Moroccan membership.
This unanimous support contrasted sharply with the divisive debates
surrounding other potential members at the time, such as Japan, the
Republic of Korea, and Vietnam, whose applications were repeatedly
vetoed by the Soviet Union. A U.S. position paper from November 1956
noted these continuing challenges: "Three other applicants found
qualified for admission to the United Nations by the General Assembly
remain outside the Organization because of Soviet vetos in the Security
Council. These are Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Viet-Nam." The
successful recommendation of the three North African states thus
occurred against the backdrop of ongoing membership controversies that
reflected the broader geopolitical fissures of the Cold War.
General Assembly Approval and Formal Admission
The General Assembly formally completed the admission process for all three nations on November 12, 1956,
during the first plenary meeting of the Eleventh Session of the General
Assembly. According to historical records, the Assembly "unanimously
adopted three separate draft resolutions, submitted by 23 nations,
admitting the Sudan, Morocco, and Tunisia, respectively, to membership."
This simultaneous but separate admission acknowledged the distinct
national identities and independent paths to sovereignty each state had
traversed, while grouping them together for administrative efficiency.
The sponsorship of their admission by twenty-three nations represented
broad cross-regional support and indicated the international legitimacy
conferred upon these newly independent states.
The official UN records confirm the specific dates of admission for each country:
Sudan: November 12, 1956
Morocco: November 12, 1956
Tunisia: November 12, 1956
This
formal admission granted each nation full participation rights in the
General Assembly, including voting privileges and the opportunity to
representation in various UN organs and specialized agencies. The timing
of their admission, at the opening of the new General Assembly session,
facilitated their immediate integration into the workings of the
organization during a period of intense international crisis, most
notably the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Uprising, both of which
dominated the agenda of the Eleventh Session.
Historical Significance and Immediate Impact
The
admission of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia to the United Nations in 1956
carried profound symbolic importance beyond the mere expansion of UN
membership rolls. These accessions represented the legitimization of decolonization
through the premier international institution, establishing a precedent
that would facilitate the admission of dozens of newly independent
states in the coming decade. Their successful integration into the
international system demonstrated that former colonies could assume
equal standing alongside established nations, fundamentally transforming
the character and composition of the United Nations itself.
The timing of their admission during the Suez Crisis,
which directly involved two permanent Security Council members (France
and the United Kingdom) attacking another UN member state (Egypt),
highlighted the complex political environment these new members were
entering. Their positions on this crisis, particularly Morocco and
Tunisia's solidarity with Egypt as Arab nations, immediately positioned
them within specific geopolitical blocs while demonstrating their
sovereignty in international affairs. Their votes and voices in General
Assembly debates on the crisis, particularly regarding the establishment
of the first United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), represented their
inaugural participation in the central peacekeeping function of the
world body.
From the perspective of the United Nations itself, the smooth admission of these states represented a procedural victory
and a temporary respite from the membership blockages that had
characterized the early Cold War period. A U.S. position paper from
November 1956 observed with satisfaction that "these three states were
admitted without difficulty at the opening plenary of the Eleventh
Session," contrasting this with the continued exclusion of other
candidates due to political vetos. This success established a template
for the admission of newly independent states that would be repeatedly
followed as decolonization accelerated, ultimately transforming the
United Nations from a predominantly Western-dominated institution to a
more truly global organization with substantially different priorities
and concerns.
Broader Historical Context and Legacy
The
accession of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia to the United Nations occurred
during a period of significant transformation in the international
system, as the organization struggled to adapt to the rapid pace of
decolonization while navigating the treacherous waters of Cold War
rivalry. The successful admission of these states established an
important procedural precedent
that would smooth the path for numerous other newly independent nations
in subsequent years, particularly as the "Year of Africa" in 1960 would
bring seventeen new African members to the UN. The efficient processing
of their applications demonstrated that the membership mechanism could
function effectively when geopolitical interests aligned, even as other
applications remained stalled due to superpower competition.
The contrasting fates of different membership applications during this period highlighted the political selectivity
of the admission process. While Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia gained
relatively easy entry, other candidates deemed qualified by the General
Assembly remained outside the organization. As documented in U.S. State
Department records from the time: "Three other applicants found
qualified for admission to the United Nations by the General Assembly
remain outside the Organization because of Soviet vetos in the Security
Council. These are Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Viet-Nam." This
selective admission reflected the complex calculus of Cold War politics,
wherein the superpowers routinely exchanged vetoes to block states
aligned with their adversaries while promoting the membership of
friendly governments.
The
long-term impact of these accessions on the United Nations itself
cannot be overstated. The influx of newly independent states from Africa
and Asia fundamentally altered the political dynamics
within the General Assembly, shifting attention toward development
issues, decolonization, and the rectification of global economic
inequalities. This transformation would find institutional expression
through the establishment of the UN Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) in 1964 and the formulation of the New International Economic
Order in the 1970s. Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia, as among the first
sub-Saharan and North African states to join the UN following the 1955
"package deal," thus served as pioneers in this dramatic reorientation
of the organization's priorities and concerns.
For the nations themselves, UN membership provided crucial international legitimacy
for their newly sovereign governments and access to diplomatic channels
that could support their development objectives and security concerns.
Each state would develop distinct patterns of engagement with the world
body: Tunisia under Bourguiba maintained generally pro-Western positions
while actively participating in peacekeeping missions; Morocco
leveraged its UN platform to advance its claims regarding the Western
Sahara; and Sudan navigated complex regional politics while dealing with
its own internal conflicts. Their individual trajectories within the UN
system reflected their unique national interests and geopolitical
orientations, while their collective presence contributed to the
emergence of the "Global South" as a meaningful political bloc within
international diplomacy.
Conclusion
The
accession of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia to the United Nations in 1956
represents far more than a simple administrative episode in the history
of the world organization. These events encapsulated the powerful
historical forces of decolonization, self-determination, and Cold War
competition that defined the mid-twentieth century international system.
The successful admission of these three North African states reflected
both the irresistible momentum of independence movements and the
capacity of the United Nations to adapt to a rapidly changing global
landscape, even amid significant geopolitical tensions.
For
the peoples of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia, UN membership represented a
crucial affirmation of their sovereign equality in the community of
nations, a symbolic culmination of their struggles for independence, and
a practical mechanism for advancing their interests on the global
stage. For the United Nations itself, these accessions marked the
beginning of a transformative expansion that would fundamentally alter
the organization's character, priorities, and operations in the coming
decades. The efficient processing of their applications amidst continued
membership blockages for other states demonstrated the complex
interplay of principle and power politics that has consistently
characterized international institutions.
The
story of these accessions thus provides a revealing window into a
pivotal moment of transition, as the international system grappled with
the dissolution of colonial empires and the emergence of a new world
order. The successful integration of Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia into
the United Nations established important precedents that would
facilitate the subsequent admission of dozens of newly independent
states, ultimately transforming the UN from a predominantly Western club
to a more truly universal organization. Their journey from
protectorates and condominiums to equal membership in the premier global
institution remains a powerful testament to the enduring appeal of
self-determination as a governing principle of international affairs,
even as the implementation of this principle continues to evolve in
response to changing global circumstances.
Photo from: Pixabay
