Morocco appoints first female head of government

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri head of government, making her the first woman to lead the country's cabinet.

King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri head of government on Tuesday, tasking her with forming a new cabinet.
El Mansouri is the first woman to hold the premiership in Morocco's history.
Her Authenticity and Modernity Party won 97 seats in the September 23 legislative elections, ahead of the National Rally of Independents and Istiqlal.
El Mansouri, a lawyer, previously served as mayor of Marrakesh and as Morocco's housing and urban policy minister since 2021.
El Mansouri was appointed over football chief Fouzi Lekjaa.
She is the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world, after Tunisia's Najla Bouden.
Her party needs a coalition to reach a 198-seat threshold, and the Islamist PJD has ruled out partnership.
El Mansouri said her appointment as head of government is a message to all women in Morocco, expressing pride in being the first woman in the post.
She said consultations would begin within her party before talks with other parties, promising a program with realistic solutions for citizens, especially youth.
El Mansouri has served as coordinator of her Authenticity and Modernity Party since 2024, the sources said.
She was the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh in the city's history.
The new coalition will oversee investment allocations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.