Morocco’s King Mohammed VI Delegates Defence Administration Powers to Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri
Marrakech, The Gulf Observer: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has delegated authority over the management of the National Defense Administration to Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, under a royal decree published in the country’s Official Gazette.
The decree, Dahir No. 1.26.92, dated October 21 and published in Official Gazette No. 7554 on October 22, authorizes El Mansouri to exercise the powers associated with managing the National Defense Administration in accordance with the laws in force. The delegation took effect on October 16.
The measure does not alter the King’s constitutional position as Supreme Commander of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). The decree specifies that El Mansouri exercises the delegated powers under the monarch’s authority, leaving supreme military command firmly with the King.
The arrangement concerns the administrative management of the National Defense Administration rather than a transfer of military command. The Royal Armed Forces therefore remain under the sovereign’s supreme authority.
The decree is based on Article 53 of Morocco’s Constitution, Organic Law No. 065.13 governing the organization of government work and the legal status of its members, and the 1972 royal decree establishing the National Defense Administration. El Mansouri countersigned the document in her capacity as head of government.
Under the measure, El Mansouri may further delegate certain powers to the minister delegate responsible for the National Defense Administration and to officials within the administration, allowing them to sign or endorse decisions falling within the scope of the delegation. However, decrees and regulatory decisions are excluded from this arrangement.
Any further delegation must comply with Article 10 of Organic Law No. 065.13 and Decree No. 2.22.81, issued in March 2023, concerning the delegation of authority and signature.
Abdeltif Loudyi currently serves as minister delegate responsible for the National Defense Administration.
The decree was published alongside two other royal decrees concerning Morocco’s new government, also dated October 21.
The first, Dahir No. 1.26.91, formally appointed the members of the government led by El Mansouri, with effect from October 16. King Mohammed VI had appointed her as head of government on October 1 under a separate decree.
The new government includes Loudyi as minister delegate responsible for the National Defense Administration, Nasser Bourita as foreign minister, Abdelouafi Laftit as interior minister, and Fouzi Lekjaa as minister of economy and finance.
The second decree, Dahir No. 1.26.93, removed Madiha Khayr from her position as minister delegate for vocational training, with the dismissal taking effect on October 18.
Together, the three decrees formalize the composition of the new government and clarify the administrative responsibilities associated with the National Defense Administration.
The development comes as Morocco plans to increase defence-related spending. The draft 2027 Finance Bill, presented to Parliament by Lekjaa, raises the ceiling for military procurement, maintenance and defence industry development to MAD 190.5 billion, equivalent to approximately $19.05 billion. This represents an increase of around 21.2 per cent compared with the previous year.
The latest arrangement also follows the King’s decision in May to appoint Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan as coordinator of the offices and services of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, a position the monarch himself had held since 1985, when he was crown prince.
The measures reflect the formal organization of responsibilities within Morocco’s new government while maintaining the King’s supreme authority over the country’s armed forces.
