King Mohammed VI Restructures Government in Morocco
On October 19, 2026, Morocco's King Mohammed VI made a significant decision regarding the new government led by Prime Minister Fatima-Zahra Mansouri by accepting her request to dismiss Madiha Khayir from her position as Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, Preschool, Vocational Training, and Qualification, just two days following her appointment. This development was revealed in an official communiqué from the Royal Cabinet, highlighting a backdrop of controversy surrounding Khayir's recent appointment, which coincided with the circulation of a document purportedly a medical certificate dating back to 2004.
The announcement from the Royal Cabinet stated that King Mohammed VI's acceptance of the Prime Minister's request was in accordance with Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution, although it did not elaborate on the specific reasons behind this decision. Local media outlets, including Al-Omq and Hespress, reported that the dismissal was prompted by the emergence of allegations tied to a previous judicial case concerning financial transactions and banking checks, which came to light shortly after Khayir's nomination.
In the days leading up to her dismissal, social media and messaging applications buzzed with claims about Khayir's health, backed by the circulated medical certificate. These claims reportedly coincided with the revival of accusations related to a former legal matter in Béni Mellal, a city in central Morocco, where complaints from jewelry merchants regarding financial dealings had previously surfaced. The certificate attributed to Khayir was purportedly among the documents presented during these legal proceedings.
Despite the intensity of the allegations, there has been no official confirmation regarding the authenticity of the circulated document or the status of the associated judicial processes. Furthermore, the Royal Cabinet has not established any direct connection between these allegations and the decision to relieve Khayir from her ministerial duties.
Prior to her dismissal, Khayir, a member of the Istiqlal Party representing the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, had been active in the Finance and Economic Development Commission before joining the new government. With her departure, the number of women in the new cabinet, which is historically led by a woman for the first time in Morocco, has decreased from seven to six, including the Prime Minister. Mansouri's coalition government comprises four parties: the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), the Istiqlal Party (PI), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), and the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS).
King Mohammed VI tasked Mansouri with forming a new government following her party's success in the legislative elections, where they secured 97 seats. The elections were held on September 23, and the final results were announced two days later.
As reported by aa.com.tr.
