Fatima Zahra Mansouri: A Leader for Women in Government

Rabat – Since her entry into politics in 2008, Fatima Zahra Mansouri has been a trailblazer for women in Morocco’s political landscape, first becoming the first female mayor of Marrakech, and eventually securing a position as Minister of National Territory Planning, Urbanism, Housing and Urban Policy.

Being only the second female mayor in Morocco’s history, Mansouri’s career is full of milestones and important achievements that have set her apart in the world of government — both on a local and national scale.

Between law and politics

Born in Marrakech in 1976, Mansouri was brought up by her father Abderrahman Mansouri, former Pasha of Marrakech and Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Inspired by his remarkable career, Mansouri had always aspired to enter the legal field and become a lawyer.

After studying law at the University of Montpellier in France, she went on to do just that — specializing in real estate law and joining her father’s office in Marrakech.

After joining the Marrakech Association of Lawyers in 2005, Mansouri set her eyes on politics. She joined the “Movement for All Democrats,” which aimed to build a foundation for modern democracy and restore people’s faith in politics.

In 2008, she joined the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in its infancy, eventually rising through the ranks and becoming the party’s president in 2015.

She was elected Mayor of Marrakech in 2009, becoming the city’s first ever female mayor, and only the second one in the history of Morocco, following Asmaa Chaâbi who presided over Essaouira between 2003 and 2009.

She reprised her Mayor position in 2021, after PJD’s Mohamed Larbi Belcaid occupied it between 2015 and 2021.

On a national level, Mansouri was elected to Morocco’s Parliament in 2011, a position she has kept after being re-elected in the 2016 and 2021 elections.

A month after her party, the RNI, won Morocco’s latest general elections in September of last year, she was appointed Minister of National Territory Planning, Urbanism, Housing and Urban Policy within the Aziz Akhannouch-led government.

As Mayor of Marrakech, Mansouri has so far put in place about 448 development plans, 270 of which were unanimously approved. The projects led to the construction or modernization of various entertainment and communal centers, revitalizing the city’s infrastructure and cultural scene.

In addition to all of this, she studied Anglosaxon business law at New York University, and is a member of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF).

She also presides over the Association of French Law Students and “Al Muniya” Association for Preserving Heritage.

A trailblazer for Moroccan women

Mansouri was honored by Forbes as one of 20 young powerful African women in 2014.

She had “significantly cut down on graft” as Mayor of Marrakech, wrote the American magazine, crediting her with introducing accountability, transparency, and efficiency to the city’s 96-member council.

One particularly notable achievement for Mansouri was being selected in 2014, at the start of her political career, to join the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.

With her recent appointment as minister, Mansouri continues to lead the way as a leader in the political realm. As her ministerial portfolio includes urban planning and housing policy, Mansouri surely hopes to rise to the challenge of her new office by utilizing the expertise she has gained in real estate law and urban planning both in her experience as a lawyer and as a mayor of a major city.

Politics has always been a difficult field to get into for women. They continue to be underrepresented in legislative bodies all over the world, even more so in Arab countries.

For Mansouri to make it not only to the national stage of politics and decision making, but to also be recognized regionally and internationally by organizations like Forbes and the World Economic Forum, is therefore an impressive achievement.

Women have to face several barriers when trying to run for public office, taking on every element of society, from the media to academia and more. But the presence of women like Mansouri in Moroccan politics will undoubtedly create a path for other aspiring female leaders in the country.

Studies have shown that when women are active in local or national governments, other women feel more skilled and interested to get involved in politics. So while the road to political office and the ensuing public visibility is still somewhat thorny for women, the increasing presence of trailblazers will no doubt make the journey easier and less intimidating for young women with political aspirations.