Fatima El Mansouri Becomes Morocco's First Woman Prime Minister

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, making her only the second woman in the Arab world to hold the position.

The Royal Palace announced the appointment on Tuesday, stating that Fatima, 50, who serves as urban planning minister and mayor of Marrakesh, has been tasked with forming a new government. Fatima said in a televised address her appointment was truly historic.

“For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government,” she said. “This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women.”

Fatima's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which is loyal to the monarchy, won the largest share of the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, in Morocco's elections, which were announced four days ago.

Key Highlights

• Fatima has become Morocco’s first woman prime minister
• Her party won the most parliamentary seats but needs coalition partners to form the government
• Fatima brings experience as Marrakesh mayor and urban planning minister

PAM was short of an outright majority with 198 seats and will have to form a coalition to form a government, something that will be Fatima's first hurdle.

Founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend of the king, in 2008, PAM has said it is ready to cooperate with everyone. But some, including the Justice and Development Party (PJD) and Federation of Democratic Left, have announced they will remain in the opposition.

This governing coalition will determine the investments of billions of dollars ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be the primary host of Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

After Tunis's Najla Bouden who became prime minister in October 2021 and held the office until August 2023, Fatima is the second woman to hold the role in the Arab world.

Fatima was born in Marrakesh in 1976 and studied law, with a diploma in advanced studies from the University of Montpellier, France, and a diploma in Anglo-Saxon business law from the New York University in the USA.

She had also been very early in local governance, elected mayor of Marrakesh in 2009, replacing the first woman to hold the job in the city, in 2009.

She was re-elected at the end of her first term to become the leader of the municipal council in Marrakesh after the elections of 2021. Additionally, she gained experience in the legislature, serving as a House of Representatives member on multiple occasions.

El Mansouri took up the role of Minister of the President and Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy in the national government in October 2021.

During her tenure, this portfolio was linked to a number of important files such as the direct housing support program, the changes related to urban planning and spatial development as well as the rehousing of victims of the Al Haouz earthquake.