Morocco: Prime Minister explains dismissal of Minister Madiha Kheir

Prime Minister Fatima Zahra Mansouri has addressed the dismissal of Delegate Minister Madiha Kheir, stating the decision followed the emergence of new documents and information raising suspicions regarding her ability to manage public funds. Mansouri clarified that while the minister's judicial record had been cleared in 2019, subsequent evidence necessitated an immediate request for dismissal to King Mohammed VI.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the move demonstrates decisiveness rather than government instability. She also defended another minister against conflict-of-interest allegations related to the automotive industry, noting his investments began in 2017 prior to his ministerial appointment.

In response to the controversy, intellectual Ahmed Assid criticized the political leadership, specifically the Istiqlal Party, for nominating the minister despite her background. Assid argued that the incident highlights structural flaws in the appointment process and a lack of rigorous vetting for competence and integrity, calling for institutional reforms to prevent nepotism and political favoritism.