Mohammed V University, the oldest modern university in Morocco, was founded in Rabat in 1957 and inaugurated two years later by the late King Mohammed V. It also has the distinction of being the mother of Moroccan universities. Over the years Mohammed V University established branches in other cities such as Casablanca, Fes, Kenitra, Tangiers, and Tetouan which eventually became independent universities in 1975. A turning point in the history of Mohammed V University was 1993 when it was split into two independent universities, Mohammed V-Agdal University (UM5A) and Mohammed V-Souissi University (UM5S).