Morocco Names First Female Head of Government

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appointed a 32-member government on Friday, naming Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as head of government and giving women seven cabinet positions. The administration took its oath at the Royal Palace in Rabat after parliamentary elections on September 23.

A new cabinet

The government combines experienced ministers with newcomers from political parties and technocratic backgrounds. Its stated goals are to speed up reforms and improve public services. The Royal Cabinet said nine ministers would stay in their posts, including Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq.

Fouzi Lekjaa became minister of economy, finance and public sector performance. He had served for years as minister delegate in charge of the budget, and political observers widely expected his promotion. In that role, Lekjaa prepared annual budgets, tracked their implementation and managed fiscal reforms.

His new duties include mobilizing resources, encouraging investment and financing social programs while maintaining macroeconomic stability. They also cover setting fiscal policies and keeping development priorities compatible with sustainable public finances. The appointment puts those duties in one ministerial portfolio.

Nizar Baraka remains minister of equipment and water. His portfolio now includes forests, previously part of the Agriculture Ministry. The announcement listed Baraka among the ministers staying in government, with broader responsibilities.

Women in government

El Mansouri is the country’s first female head of government. Six other women took ministerial or minister delegate posts. Their portfolios cover energy, social policy, parliamentary affairs, vocational training, housing and public administration.

Charafat Afailal became minister of energy, mines and sustainable development. Najwa Koukouss takes charge of family affairs, social development and equality. Kouloub Faitah was appointed minister delegate to the head of government, responsible for relations with parliament and civil society.

Madiha Khayr is now minister delegate for vocational training and qualification. She’ll work under the minister of national education, preschool education, vocational training and qualification. Fatima Saadi became minister delegate for housing and urban policy under the minister responsible for national territorial planning, urban development, housing and urban policy.

Aicha Kelaa takes charge of administrative reform as a minister delegate under the minister of artificial intelligence, digital transformation and administrative reform. Her appointment puts administrative reform within a wider portfolio that also includes artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

El Mansouri’s appointment and women’s wider representation have renewed debate about women’s participation in political leadership and government decision-making in Morocco. The appointments place women in several areas of government, while the cabinet keeps ministers in key posts and gives others expanded duties.