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King Mohammed VI names Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Morocco's first woman prime minister
Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, MoroccoPublished 30 Sep 2026
!["Offizielle Residenz des Königs von Marokko". 03](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:"Offizielle_Residenz_des_Königs_von_Marokko"._03.jpg)
Holger Uwe Schmitt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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Fatima Zahra El Mansouri named as Morocco's first female prime minister
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
King Mohammed VI chose El Mansouri over football chief Fouzi Lekjaa.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, but most power remains with the king.
Before the announcement, El Mansouri was asked whether prayer sections for women and men would change at Friday and Eid ceremonies the king attends.
El Mansouri called King Mohammed VI the biggest advocate for women in Morocco.
El Mansouri called King Mohammed VI the holder of wisdom.
El Mansouri continued her legal studies in the United States, specializing in business and corporate law.
In the past, naming a prime minister was largely a formality because most parties had a single secretary general.
It is not clear which party PAM will work with, after falling out with the National Rally of Independents that led the outgoing government.
The PJD rebound was buoyed by the return of former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane.
Opinion
El Mansouri has rarely spoken publicly about women's rights or gender inequality, including debates on banning polygamy and equal inheritance.
Truly historic: Morocco's king appoints first woman prime minister
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
El Mansouri said in a televised address that her appointment was truly historic.
El Mansouri said the appointment is a source of pride for her and for all Moroccan women.
The appointment came four days after the election results were announced.
The Federation of the Democratic Left said it will remain in the opposition.
As housing minister, El Mansouri's portfolio included direct housing support, urban-planning reforms, and rehousing people affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.
Opinion
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Who is Fatima El Mansouri, Morocco's first woman prime minister?
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
Turnout was down from 50 percent in 2021.
El Mansouri's family has roots in the Rhamna region near Marrakesh.
An OECD biography says El Mansouri was educated in French schools in Marrakesh.
In 2026 El Mansouri headed PAM during the election campaign.
In July 2025 El Mansouri faced allegations of a conflict of interest over the 2023 sale of family land near Marrakesh.
El Mansouri denied wrongdoing and said the land was inherited and the sale had no connection to her government post.
Morocco's High Commission for Planning said unemployment among ages 15 to 24 rose from 36.7 percent in 2024 to 37.2 percent in 2025.
The allegations circulated in leaked documents attributed to the hacker group Jabaroot.
Opinion
Economic pressures are likely to be central to El Mansouri's tenure.
Who Is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Morocco's First Woman Head of Government?
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
El Mansouri succeeds Aziz Akhannouch of the RNI as head of government.
PAM, the RNI, and Istiqlal together hold 228 seats.
El Mansouri said the result reflected citizens' trust after 18 years of work.
In 2014 Forbes placed El Mansouri at the top of its list of Africa's 20 most influential young women.
PAM has pledged average annual growth of 5 percent.
El Mansouri was named a Young Global Leader in 2014.
El Mansouri said negotiations had not yet begun.
Demonstrators chanted that they want hospitals, not just stadiums.
PAM has pledged inflation of 2 percent.
That attempt to enter Ceuta left dozens dead.
The PJD ran on a platform opposing Morocco's deepening ties with Israel, formalized in the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Abdelilah Benkirane said a PAM-led coalition was tainted by fraud.
Turnout in 2007 stood at 36.8 percent.
Abdelilah Benkirane called the PJD result a victory.
Observers called the outcome fairly predictable.
Observers noted that PAM did not win a landslide despite the resources it deployed.
Opinion
The election unfolded against wide public frustration.
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri set to be Morocco's first female PM
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
The incoming administration will oversee a 20 billion dollar infrastructure push ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Morocco is pouring investment into stadiums, railways, and other infrastructure.
Morocco aims to double economic output per capita by 2035.
Fouzi Lekjaa, a budget minister and head of the football federation, boosted PAM during the campaign.
Opinion
The election result is unlikely to shift Morocco's political balance in a significant way.
The government is expected to pursue economic policies aimed at youth discontent.
Morocco appoints first woman as head of government
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
El Mansouri said consultations would begin with her party and other political forces to form the cabinet.
El Mansouri said the government would propose practical and realistic solutions, particularly for young people.
El Mansouri said she hopes the government will live up to the aspirations of the king and the Moroccan people.
Opinion
The new government faces economic and social challenges, including employment and young people's prospects.
King Mohammed VI appoints Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first female head of government
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
No unique facts.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
Morocco's king appoints the country's first-ever female prime minister
Published 29 Sep 2026 accessed 30 Sep 2026
Facts
El Mansouri has made young Moroccans a central focus of her platform and promised to restore hope.
El Mansouri said young people are going through a crisis and that the party must give them answers.
El Mansouri said the party wants to restore young people's hope through concrete solutions, not only speeches.
El Mansouri is also to carry forward the government's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
Opinion
El Mansouri will be expected to tackle unemployment, the cost of living, and social disparities weighing on young people.
El Mansouri's experience as PAM's national coordinator could help her form that coalition.