Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has entered Morocco’s political history as the first woman to be appointed Head of Government, marking a new chapter in women’s representation at the highest level of executive authority.
On September 29, 2026, His Majesty King Mohammed VI received El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat and appointed her, in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution, as Head of Government, entrusting her with forming the new government. The appointment was announced by the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery.
El Mansouri, coordinator of the collective leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, reached the position following Morocco’s September 23 legislative elections, in which her party secured the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.
Her appointment follows a political career spanning legal practice, local government, parliamentary work, ministerial responsibilities and party leadership.
From Law to Public Life
Born in 1976 in Marrakech, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri studied law before pursuing further training in France and the United States. She subsequently returned to Morocco and began practising law.
She later entered political life and became one of the prominent figures within the Authenticity and Modernity Party.
One of the defining stages of her career came in 2009, when she was elected Mayor of Marrakech, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the city.
Her experience in local government was followed by a broader national political role. She became a member of the House of Representatives and returned to lead the Marrakech City Council in 2021.
That same year, she joined the government as Minister of National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy. Official Moroccan government sources document her tenure in the ministry, while government institutions have used the same English designation for the portfolio.
Her work at the ministry brought her into the centre of national policies relating to housing, territorial planning, urban development and city policy.
A Prominent Role in the Authenticity and Modernity Party
Alongside her local and governmental responsibilities, El Mansouri strengthened her position within the Authenticity and Modernity Party and became a member of its collective leadership.
Her political career has combined several areas of public service: local administration in Marrakech, parliamentary work and responsibility for a ministerial portfolio covering national territory planning, land planning, housing and city policy.
Her government work also included issues related to housing support, urban development and the planning and rehabilitation of cities, areas that placed her at the centre of discussions surrounding housing and urban policy in Morocco.
A Historic Appointment
El Mansouri’s appointment as Head of Government represents a first in Morocco’s political history, as no woman had previously held the position.
The official Moroccan government portal identifies the position as the Head of Government, while the Royal announcement confirms that King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri to the post under Article 47 of the Constitution and tasked her with forming the new government.
Her appointment brings her career from law and local government to the highest level of executive leadership, following her previous roles as Mayor of Marrakech, member of the House of Representatives, Minister of National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy, and coordinator of the collective leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party.
