Morocco: Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri becomes the first female Head of Government

King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Head of Government on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, according to an official statement from the Royal Cabinet reported by RFI. This decision follows the victory of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in the legislative elections on September 23, where the party won 97 seats. This is a historic first for the kingdom, with a woman acceding to this position for the first time.

A lawyer by training, 50-year-old Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is a central figure in the PAM, which she joined upon its creation in 2008. Before this appointment, she served as the party's national coordinator and had been part of its collegiate leadership committee since 2024. Her political career is marked by solid experience, notably at the helm of the Marrakech city council, a city she has led since 2021 following an initial term served between 2009 and 2015.

The new Head of Government's commitment has also been reflected at the national level. A deputy for the Medina Sidi-Youssef constituency for ten years, she joined the outgoing government of Aziz Akhannouch in 2021. There, she served as Minister of National Land Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy, thereby consolidating her profile among the country's political leaders.

Now tasked with forming the new government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri must build a stable parliamentary majority. Her appointment, preferred over other figures in the party, highlights the recognition of her institutional experience. She thus begins a decisive mission for the conduct of Morocco's public affairs, with the immediate task of composing her ministerial team.

Our perspective

The accession of a woman to the head of the Moroccan government constitutes a strong symbolic step for political representation on the continent. By valuing skills and institutional experience, this appointment testifies to the evolution of power structures. For African women, this is an advancement that reinforces the demand for the full and complete participation of female citizens in the management of public affairs, an essential pillar of sovereignty and development.