• Fatima Zahra El Mansouri becomes Morocco's first female prime minister.
• Her party, Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), won the most seats in recent elections.
• El Mansouri emphasizes addressing youth concerns amid socioeconomic challenges.
• She will need to form a coalition as PAM did not secure an outright majority.
• Her appointment marks a historic moment, being the second woman prime minister in the Arab world.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as the country's first female prime minister on September 29, 2026, after her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured the most seats in the parliamentary elections held earlier that month. This historic appointment positions El Mansouri as the second woman to assume such a role in the Arab world, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

At 50 years old, El Mansouri, a lawyer and former mayor of Marrakesh, expressed her pride in this new role, referring to it as "truly historic." She acknowledged that her leadership is not just a personal milestone but a significant event for all Moroccan women, stating, "This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women," according to Africa News and Le Monde.

El Mansouri’s PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives but will need to form a coalition government since it did not secure an outright majority. The party had previously been in opposition and will have to negotiate terms with other parties, including the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Istiqlal party, both of which finished behind PAM in the recent elections, reports Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

Amid ongoing economic and social challenges, El Mansouri has focused her platform on addressing youth unemployment and cost of living issues, promising to "restore hope" among young Moroccans. In light of recent crises, including a mass migration incident to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, she emphasized the need for “concrete solutions” to citizens' concerns, according to Africa News and Middle East Eye.

As the new prime minister, El Mansouri will be expected to oversee preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, working on investment policies pivotal for socio-economic enhancement and managing various pressing issues. Her administration's primary focus will also be to restore trust in the political landscape amid the backdrop of recent protests and allegations of electoral fraud within the elections process, according to Africa News and Africa News.