King Mohammed VI Appoints New Government Led by Mansouri

Rabat (GNP): King Mohammed VI of Morocco presided over the ceremony appointing the members of the new government at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Friday, October 16, 2026. The cabinet is headed by Prime Minister Fatima Zahra Mansouri.

The government was formed after the parliamentary elections held on September 23. Those elections produced new political arrangements that led to Mansouri’s appointment as Prime Minister.

The royal process began on September 29, when the King tasked her with forming the government. She was received at the Royal Palace on October 14, where she briefed him on the stages of putting the team together.

The final lineup combines continuity with change. Abdelouafi Laftit stays on as Minister of the Interior, and Nasser Bourita continues as Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad. Abdellatif Ouahbi heads the Ministry of Justice, and Ahmed Toufiq the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

The main change comes in the economic portfolio. Faouzi Lekjaa takes the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He previously served as president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and as Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget.

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Mansouri said she was honoured by the King’s appointment of the ministers. She said the government brings together competent individuals known for their expertise and stands out for its significant representation of women and youth.

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She described the coalition as a working group of four political parties with common referentials and converging programmes, which she said had worked together in the past from different standpoints. She added that the government will act in line with the royal guidelines in the Throne Speech and the opening of Parliament, to develop an ambitious programme that meets citizens’ expectations and tackles major challenges.

The programme will be presented before the two Houses of Parliament, she said, and will be carried out through public policies with a positive impact on society. The government starts work amid economic and social challenges and hopes for development and better public services, and it is expected to set its practical priorities in the next phase. Mansouri said, “These parties represent a harmonious majority with a unified vision and a joint action program.”