Morocco’s first woman PM swept to power on promise to ‘restore hope’ for youth

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Morocco named Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister following her party’s leading performance in parliamentary elections, though coalition-building will be necessary due to the lack of a majority. Her leadership is expected to focus on tackling youth unemployment and social inequalities while preparing for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and advancing Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan.

Morocco appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, marking a historic moment in the Muslim kingdom. The 50-year-old lawyer and urban planning minister, who also serves as the mayor of Marrakesh, was named to the role by King Mohammed VI, a royal palace statement confirmed. El Mansouri’s centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the leading party in last week’s parliamentary elections but did not secure an outright majority, necessitating coalition-building to form a government.

El Mansouri, who has spent nearly two decades in politics, is expected to lead a government focused on addressing economic and social challenges, particularly those affecting young Moroccans. Rising unemployment, inflation, and social disparities have weighed heavily on the country’s youth, issues she pledged to tackle by providing “concrete solutions” to restore hope. Her appointment follows a period marked by significant social unrest among younger generations, including a Gen-Z protest movement demanding better health and education services, as well as a recent influx of young migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta that underscored underlying socioeconomic frustrations.

Born into a prominent Marrakesh family, El Mansouri entered politics through the Movement for All Democrats in 2008, an organization linked to royal advisor Fouad Ali El Himma that played a role in founding PAM. She made history in 2009 as the first woman mayor of Marrakesh and later served as minister of territorial planning and housing beginning in 2021. Known for her local political roots, she lost the Marrakesh mayoralty in 2015 but was reelected in 2021, strengthening her political profile ahead of her national appointment.

Morocco’s constitution mandates that the king appoint the prime minister from the party winning the most seats in parliamentary elections, a limitation introduced after the 2011 Arab Spring protests that curtailed royal prerogatives in government formation. Despite holding the highest authority, the king’s role now balances tradition with constitutional reforms aimed at greater political inclusivity.

El Mansouri faces several key tasks, including navigating coalition negotiations and preparing the country to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to drive significant investment and development. Her government will also be responsible for advancing Morocco’s autonomy plan concerning the disputed Western Sahara region, a longstanding and sensitive issue in the kingdom’s foreign policy.

As Morocco’s first female prime minister and the second in the Arab world after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, El Mansouri’s appointment is seen as both a symbolic and practical step in addressing the demands of a changing society confronting pressing economic challenges.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.