Morocco has made history with its first woman prime minister. But who is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, and what could her new role mean for the country?

Morocco has made history by appointing first woman Prime Minister Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri. The king of the country, Mohammed VI, appointed her to form the government following the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) victory in the September 23 parliament election. Morocco first woman prime minister El Mansouri is 50 years old, an experienced politician and a lawyer who has held the position of mayor of Marrakesh and Morocco’s minister of urbanism and housing.

A new chapter begins for Morocco

El Mansouri said her appointment was a historic moment for the country.

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

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri first entered local politics as mayor of Marrakesh in 2009 and later returned to the position after the 2021 elections. She has also served several terms in parliament. Her academic background includes law studies at the University of Montpellier in France and further studies in Anglo-Saxon business law at New York University.

Can she form a strong coalition?

Winning the election does not give PAM enough seats to govern alone. The party won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The National Rally of Independents, or RNI, won 66 seats, while Istiqlal secured 65. El Mansouri will now have to negotiate with other parties to build a coalition. PAM had earlier ruled out continuing its coalition with RNI, but her position later changed.

“We have turned the page,” she said, adding that there would be “no red lines” in the coalition talks. The Justice and Development Party, which won 54 seats, has said it will remain in opposition.

World Cup plans will be a major task

The new government will also have a major role in preparing Morocco for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Morocco will co-host the tournament with Portugal and Spain, with billions of dollars expected to be invested in infrastructure and related projects.

But the government will have issues at home to deal with as well. Inflation, wages, job creation and growing concerns among young people are expected to remain important priorities. Voter turnout was around 38%, down from about 50% in the previous election. That decline has put fresh attention on public trust in elected institutions.

What could El Mansouri’s government mean for Morocco?

As first woman PM in Morocco El Mansouri’s first challenge will be forming her cabinet and getting the government ready to work. After that, attention will turn to economic plans, employment, public services and preparations for the World Cup. And as Business Fortune observes, over the next few years, her government’s decisions could shape the country’s economic plans and major infrastructure projects, while her leadership could also mark a lasting change in the role of women at the highest levels of Moroccan government.

SOURCES: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/africa/morocco-woman-prime-minister-intl-latam https://news.sky.com/story/morocco-names-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-as-first-female-prime-minister-after-historic-election-victory-13593473 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/29/truly-historic-moroccos-king-appoints-first-woman-prime-minister