Why did Abd el-Krim refuse to return to Morocco after Moroccan independence?

It is a common misconception that Abd el-Krim’s refusal to return to Morocco after its independence in 1956 was due to personal animosity toward the monarchy. In reality, his decision was based on a firm political principle regarding national sovereignty.

Despite receiving formal invitations from King Muhammad V and King Hassan II, Abd el-Krim maintained that he would not return to his homeland as long as any French or Spanish military presence remained within the country. He viewed the continued presence of foreign troops as a violation of true independence and refused to legitimize the situation by returning while those forces were still stationed there. He remained in Cairo, Egypt, until his death in 1963.12