Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has become Morocco’s first woman to serve as Prime Minister, after King Mohammed VI appointed her on 29 September 2026 and tasked her with forming the country’s new government.

Formally known in Morocco as the Head of Government, El Mansouri’s appointment follows the 23 September parliamentary elections, in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives, the largest number secured by any party. Under Morocco’s Constitution, the King appoints the Head of Government from the party that wins the largest number of seats.  

The appointment marks a significant moment for women’s political representation in Morocco. El Mansouri is the country’s first woman to lead the government and the second woman to serve as a head of government in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who became Prime Minister in 2021.  

El Mansouri arrives at the role with extensive experience in local and national government. She has served twice as mayor of Marrakech and was Morocco’s Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Development, Housing and City Policy from 2021 to 2026. She has also been a member of Parliament and has held senior positions within PAM.  

From Law to National Leadership

Born in Marrakech on 3 January 1976, El Mansouri trained as a lawyer and specialises in land and property law. She has been registered with the Marrakech Bar since 2005.

Her academic background includes a private law degree from Mohammed V University in Rabat, a postgraduate degree in business contract law from the University of Montpellier in France, and a certificate in Anglo-Saxon law from Pace University in the United States.  

Her political career began in 2007 with the Movement of All Democrats. In 2008, she became a founding member of PAM.

In 2009, at the age of 33, El Mansouri became mayor of Marrakech, making her the first woman to hold the position. She remained in the role until 2015 and returned as mayor in 2021. She is currently listed as serving as president of Marrakech’s municipal council through 2027.  

Alongside her municipal career, El Mansouri served as a member of Parliament from 2011 to 2016 and again from 2016 to 2021.

Within PAM, she served as president of its National Council from 2015 to 2024. Since 2024, she has been one of the party’s three collective leaders, serving as coordinator of its collective leadership.  

Experience in Housing and Urban Development

Before becoming Head of Government, El Mansouri spent five years leading Morocco’s ministry responsible for national territory planning, urban development, housing and city policy.

Her ministerial tenure from 2021 to 2026 gave her responsibility for areas closely connected to Morocco’s urban growth, housing policy and development of its cities.  

Her experience in Marrakech also placed her at the centre of local government during a period of major development and international attention around the city.

Her profile has previously received international recognition. Morocco’s official biography notes that Forbes named her among the 20 most influential young women in Africa in 2014, and that she was selected as a Young Global Leader in the same year.  

A Government to Be Formed

El Mansouri’s appointment does not immediately establish a complete government. Her first task is to negotiate a coalition and propose a cabinet for royal approval.

PAM won 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 and Istiqlal with 65. The results mean PAM will need coalition partners to form a government.  

El Mansouri has indicated that she is prepared to negotiate without fixed coalition exclusions. During the election campaign, PAM had ruled out remaining in government with the RNI, but after the election El Mansouri said there would be no “red lines” in coalition talks.  

Her government will inherit a substantial economic and development agenda.

Among its major responsibilities will be overseeing the final preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Reuters estimates the country’s wider World Cup preparation programme at around $20 billion.  

The incoming government will also face pressure over employment, inflation and economic opportunities for younger Moroccans. Reuters reported that youth dissatisfaction has become an important political issue, alongside concerns around wages and the cost of living.  

A New Chapter for Women’s Representation

El Mansouri’s appointment marks a significant milestone for women’s representation in Morocco’s public life.

Her political career has taken her from municipal leadership in Marrakech to national government and, now, to the position of Head of Government. Her appointment makes her the first woman to lead Morocco’s government and the second woman to serve as a head of government in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.

The appointment comes as Morocco prepares for major international events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while continuing major economic, infrastructure and urban development programmes.

For El Mansouri, the immediate priority will be forming a coalition and establishing the new government. For Moroccan women, her appointment places a woman at the centre of national government leadership for the first time.