Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has made history as Morocco’s first woman Prime Minister, becoming only the second woman in the Arab world to lead a government.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri as head of government on September 29, 2026, following parliamentary elections in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone in Morocco’s political history. She follows Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who became the Arab world’s first female prime minister when she was appointed in October 2021 and served until August 2023.
El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer by training and has held several senior political positions. She previously served as mayor of Marrakech and as Morocco’s Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy.
She first became mayor of Marrakech in 2009, making her the first woman to lead the major Moroccan city. She returned to the position following the 2021 local elections. She has also served multiple terms as a member of Morocco’s House of Representatives.
El Mansouri joined PAM when the party was established in 2008 and rose through its leadership. In 2024, she became part of the party’s collective leadership. PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in Morocco’s September 23 parliamentary election, placing it ahead of the National Rally of Independents, which won 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party, which secured 65.
The result means El Mansouri will need to build a coalition because PAM does not have the 198 seats required for a parliamentary majority. The Moroccan Constitution requires the king to appoint the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in legislative elections.
Her immediate task will therefore be to negotiate the formation of a new government. PAM has indicated that it is prepared to work with other political parties, while some opposition parties have said they intend to remain outside the governing coalition.
El Mansouri takes office at a time when Morocco faces several economic and social challenges, including concerns over employment, purchasing power and public services. The new government will also oversee major preparations and investment associated with the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Her appointment also adds a new chapter to Morocco’s evolving role for women in public life. The outgoing government included four women ministers, while El Mansouri herself has already held prominent elected and ministerial positions before becoming the country’s first woman to head the government.
With El Mansouri now tasked with forming the next government, Morocco becomes only the second Arab country to have a woman serve as prime minister. Her appointment places her alongside Tunisia’s Najla Bouden in a small but growing list of women who have reached the highest level of executive government leadership in the Arab world.
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