Mohammed Ben Arafa was a Moroccan sultan installed by French colonial authorities in 1953 after the exile of Sultan Mohammed V. His brief reign, which lasted until 1955, was marked by widespread opposition and violence, as many Moroccans viewed him as a puppet of the French protectorate.
After Morocco regained independence in 1956, Ben Arafa lived in exile, primarily in France. He died in Nice on July 17, 1976. According to historical accounts, King Hassan II, the son of Mohammed V, refused to allow Ben Arafa's body to be buried in Morocco, citing his role in the colonial-era usurpation of the throne.
Ben Arafa was instead buried in the Muslim section of the cemetery in Nice, where his grave remains to this day. The decision underscored the lasting bitterness over his collaboration with French authorities during a pivotal period in Morocco's struggle for independence.
