Morocco names Fatima El Mansouri its first female prime minister

Morocco's King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first female prime minister on Tuesday, September 28, 2026, directing her to form a new government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 seats in the September 23 parliamentary election. The National Rally of Independents came second with 66 seats and the Istiqlal Party third with 65 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives, meaning El Mansouri must negotiate a coalition. The 50-year-old lawyer previously served as mayor of Marrakech and as minister for national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy. Her appointment makes her the second woman to hold the post of prime minister in the Arab world, after Tunisia's Najla Bouden.

For Nigerians, the milestone signals progress for women's leadership across Africa and may encourage greater participation in politics and public service. Morocco is a key African Union member and will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, so its political stability and policy direction can influence regional cooperation, trade and sports-related opportunities that affect Nigeria.

What does this breakthrough suggest about the possibilities for women in Nigerian governance, and what steps could be taken to support similar progress at home?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/30/morocco-appoints-first-female-prime-minister/