Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has made history after becoming the first woman to serve as Morocco’s Prime Minister, marking a significant moment for women in African and Arab politics.
King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri as Morocco’s new Head of Government on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and tasked her with forming the country’s next government. Her appointment came days after Morocco’s parliamentary elections, in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the largest number of seats.
At 50, El Mansouri becomes only the second woman in the Arab world to head a government, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served as Prime Minister from 2021 to 2023.
Who Is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?
Born in Marrakech on January 3, 1976, El Mansouri is a lawyer by training and has built a political career spanning local government, parliament, and the national cabinet.
She studied private law at Mohammed V University in Rabat before earning a postgraduate qualification in business contract law from the University of Montpellier in France. She also studied Anglo-Saxon law at Pace University in the United States.
Before entering politics, El Mansouri worked as a lawyer specialising in land and real estate law and was registered with the Marrakech Bar from 2005.
Her political career began in the late 2000s. She joined the Movement for All Democrats in 2007 and became a founding member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party when it was established in 2008.
She Was Already Making History in Marrakech
El Mansouri first gained national attention after becoming mayor of Marrakech in 2009.
At just 33, she became the first woman to lead the municipal council of the Moroccan city, a position she held until 2015. She later returned as mayor following the 2021 local elections.
She also served as a member of Morocco’s House of Representatives and held senior positions within PAM, including president of the party’s National Council and, since 2024, coordinator of its collective leadership.
Her experience eventually took her into national government. In 2021, King Mohammed VI appointed her Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy, a position she held until her appointment as Prime Minister.
During her time in government, her portfolio included issues surrounding housing, urban development and the relocation of people affected by the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake.
Her Party Won the Most Seats
El Mansouri’s appointment followed Morocco’s September 23 parliamentary election.
PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, placing it ahead of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which won 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party, which won 65.
Under Morocco’s constitution, the King appoints the Head of Government from the political party that wins the largest number of seats in the parliamentary election.
However, PAM does not have enough seats to govern alone. El Mansouri will therefore need to negotiate with other political parties to form a coalition government.
The election itself recorded a nationwide turnout of about 38%, down from 50.86% in 2021.
A Historic Appointment Comes With Major Responsibilities
El Mansouri takes office at a particularly important time for Morocco.
One of the major responsibilities of her incoming government will be overseeing the country’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Billions of dollars are being invested in infrastructure and other projects ahead of the tournament.
Her government will also face economic and social challenges, including concerns around employment, wages, inflation and the cost of living.
Youth dissatisfaction has also become an important issue in Moroccan politics, following protests over concerns including healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
A New Chapter for Moroccan Women in Politics
El Mansouri’s rise represents a notable moment for women’s political representation in Morocco.
While Moroccan women have increasingly occupied senior political and institutional positions, no woman had previously headed the country’s government. The outgoing government had four female ministers.
Her appointment also gives Morocco only its second female head of government in the broader Arab world, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.
For El Mansouri, the journey from lawyer to Marrakech mayor, parliamentarian, government minister and now Prime Minister has placed her at the centre of a new chapter in Morocco’s political history.
The immediate task ahead, however, is practical: building a coalition and forming a government capable of addressing Morocco’s economic and social priorities while preparing the country for one of the biggest international sporting events in its history.
