History arrived in Rabat on 29 September. Morocco’s first female prime minister, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, was appointed by King Mohammed VI after her party topped the 23 September election. Yet the celebration comes with real pressure from several directions.
A historic win, with limits
The 50-year-old lawyer and former Marrakech mayor leads the Authenticity and Modernity Party, which won 97 seats in the 395-seat House of Representatives. That is far short of a majority, so she must build a coalition. She is only the second woman to lead an Arab government, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.
This is central to Morocco politics: the country is a constitutional monarchy in which the king keeps sweeping power over foreign policy and defence. Her government will oversee the final stretch of a $20 billion drive to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.
Between the Moroccan monarchy and religious leaders
Religion is where the tension shows. At a press conference, she was asked whether changes would be needed for Friday and Eid prayers attended by the king, where men and women pray in separate sections. She did not answer directly and instead praised the king as the biggest advocate for women. Meanwhile, the Islamist PJD, led by former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane, rebounded from 13 seats to 54 and said it would stay in opposition. Religious leaders and conservatives will be watching her closely.
What this means for women’s rights
For supporters, her appointment is a landmark for women in Moroccan politics. Some Moroccans argue that a symbolic first matters less than what follows, such as changes to family law, workplace protections and political representation. Others warn against expecting too much from a coalition leader whose room to manoeuvre is tight.
Across Africa, where women remain underrepresented in top office, many will follow her tenure closely. Her success or struggle will show how far women’s rights can advance within a system built around a powerful throne.
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