After a seemingly interminable wait that has dragged on for many months, the government reshuffle finally went ahead on 23 October. It did so after a somewhat false start. Firstly, on 19 October, King Mohamed VI appointed Minister of National Education, Preschools and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa (b.1958), as High Commissioner for Planning replacing Ahmed Lahlimi who has been in the post since 2003. This appointment, as well as a series of intense meetings between the coalition party leaders, unleashed expectations that a reshuffle was about to follow. So too did reports that those nominated to take up new government posts were contacted by their party leaders and told to make themselves ready to be appointed by the King. 

By 22 October, the scene therefore looked set for the reshuffle to go ahead. The upper House of Councillors was told on that day that it should start its weekly Tuesday session earlier than usual and that questions should be limited. This led to intense speculation that the reshuffle was going to take place that evening. The three coalition party leaders were reportedly waiting together in Istiqlal’s headquarters, expecting to be called by the King to attend the oath swearing ceremony for the new appointees. In the event, however, the call did not come. Some media outlets reported that the ceremony was postponed, although there was no official communication and no reason given. 

Then on the evening of 23 October, the King was finally ready and summoned the new government to the swearing in ceremony.

As anticipated, however, the changes were not far-reaching. Predictably, 14 minister delegates or deputy ministers, whose posts had been vacant since the formation of the government in 2021, were appointed, but only six ministers were changed. There was no rebalancing of the ruling coalition parties, with those departing being replaced by new appointees from the same parties, while the six sovereign posts — including the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, defence and Awqaf — remained unchanged. 

The main ones that were, included:

• The departure of the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, who was replaced by Azzeddine el-Midaoui, who like Miraoui is from the Parti Authenticité et Modernité (PAM). Miraoui was forced out because of the protests and strikes by medical and pharmaceutical students that have affected the higher education sector. 

• In a similar vein, Health and Social Protection Minister, Khalid Ait Taleb was forced out because of the strikes that have dogged the health sector, and was replaced by Amin Tahraoui.

• Two ministers from the Istiqlal party were changed; Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil was replaced by Abdessamad Kayouh (b.1966) who is a prominent figure in the party. Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Awatif Hayar, meanwhile was replaced by Madame Naima Ben Yahia. The two were ejected by Istiqlal for reasons related to the party’s internal dynamics, after they had both failed to be elected to the party’s new executive council in October (see below). Both the new appointees are members of Istiqlal. 

• Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, who is from the Rassemblement National des Indépendants (RNI) also lost his post, reportedly due to his mismanagement of the sector, and was replaced by Ahmed Bouari, also from the RNI. 

• Meanwhile Chakib Benmoussa was replaced as Minister of National Education, Preschools and Sports by leading RNI figure, businessman, Mohamed Saad Barada. The latter is very close to Akhannouch and in April 2020, was made a member of the board of Akhannouch’s company, Afriquia Gaz. His appointment raised a few eyebrows because he is an engineering graduate with limited political experience and expertise in the education sector 

In addition, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Gaitha Mezzour, who is from the PAM, was replaced by Amal Falah Zagroshni. Mehsen Jazouli, a minister delegate in charge of investment and public policy evaluation was also replaced by Karim Zaydan. 

As such, the big figures in the cabinet — including: Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi; Minister of Water and Equipment, Nizar Baraka; Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali; and Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui — all stayed in their posts. 

This reshuffle was more about changing a few faces and bringing in ministers delegate rather than any radical shake up. It does not signify any change of direction, or any rebalancing between the main parties. Rather, it looks as though Morocco’s politics will be very much business as usual throughout the rest of the government’s term.

The October 2024 issue of Morocco Focus also includes the following:

Foreign Relations

• ECJ rules against EU-Morocco trade deal…
• Implications

Politics

• Reshuffle finally goes ahead…
• Trouble between ruling coalition partners
• House of Councillors has a new leader…

Energy & Economy

• Draft budget is submitted to parliament…