Aziz Akhannouch
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| Aziz Akhannouch | |
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| Name | Aziz Akhannouch |
| Native name | عزيز أخنوش |
| Birth date | 1961 |
| Birth place | Tafraout, Tiznit Province, Morocco |
| Nationality | Moroccan |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Alma mater | Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine |
| Known for | Business leadership, Political leadership |
Aziz Akhannouch is a Moroccan businessman and politician who has served as Prime Minister of Morocco and leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI). He is noted for his role in the Moroccan agriculture sector through the multinational group he controls and for his influence in national politics, including cabinet leadership and participation in international forums such as the United Nations General Assembly and the African Union. His career intersects with major Moroccan institutions, regional diplomacy, and private-sector conglomerates active across North Africa, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Early life and education
Akhannouch was born in Tafraout in Tiznit Province, Souss-Massa region. He studied at the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine in Rabat, where he trained in agronomy alongside contemporaries associated with Moroccan agricultural policy and rural development programs linked to institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institut agronomique et vétérinaire Hassan II. His formative years connected him with regional leaders from Agadir and networks spanning Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakesh.
Business career
Akhannouch is founder and chief executive of a conglomerate historically rooted in the agricultural and fertilizer industries, with ties to companies operating in the fertilizer trade with counterparts in Spain, France, Portugal, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. His group expanded into sectors including energy, banking, retail, and media, interacting commercially with entities such as OCP Group, Royal Air Maroc, BMCE Bank, Attijariwafa Bank, and multinational partners like TotalEnergies, Repsol, BP, and Vitol. He served on corporate boards and industry associations connected to the Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc and participated in international business forums including the World Economic Forum and the Africa CEO Forum.
Political career
Akhannouch entered formal politics as a member of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), a party co-founded with figures linked to Moroccan modernization initiatives and technocratic cabinets associated with leaders such as Abbas El Fassi, Abdelilah Benkirane, and Saadeddine Othmani. He held ministerial posts in cabinets under monarch Mohammed VI, notably as Minister of Agriculture, where he worked with agencies like the Office National du Conseil Agricole and initiatives aligned with the Plan Maroc Vert. His parliamentary activity involved constituencies in the Souss-Massa region and coordination with regional councils and prefectures in interactions with the Royal Cabinet and the Ministry of Interior.
Premiership and government policies
Following electoral gains by the National Rally of Independents in a national election, Akhannouch became Prime Minister, forming a coalition government with parties such as the Istiqlal Party and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). His premiership has engaged with diplomatic partners including the European Union, United States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the African Union on issues like foreign investment, trade agreements with the European Union–Morocco Association Agreement, and participation in multilateral summits such as the COP conferences. His cabinet appointments involved ministers from ministries including Interior, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, and Energy and Mines, pursuing policy priorities stated in government program documents presented to the Parliament of Morocco.
Economic and social initiatives
As Prime Minister and former Minister of Agriculture, Akhannouch promoted initiatives tied to the Plan Maroc Vert legacy, rural development, irrigation projects, public-private partnerships with firms like OCP Group and international development agencies such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. His government emphasized industrialization strategies, investment promotion through agencies comparable to the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE), tourism promotion linked to destinations like Marrakesh, Agadir, and Casablanca, and social programs addressing employment, healthcare, and housing in coordination with ministries and social partners including trade unions and employer federations.
Controversies and criticisms
Akhannouch's dual role as a leading businessman and senior politician has prompted scrutiny from domestic media outlets, opposition parties, civil society organizations, and international watchdogs regarding conflicts of interest, transparency, and asset declarations similar to debates involving figures in countries such as France, Italy, and Spain. Critics have raised questions about procurement processes, regulatory influence affecting sectors like fertilizers and fuel, and the relationship between political office and private holdings. His administration faced public protests and parliamentary questions tied to economic grievances, cost-of-living concerns, and reforms debated by opposition groups and civil society movements inspired by regional episodes in Tunisia and Algeria.
Personal life and honours
Akhannouch is married and has family ties rooted in the Souss-Massa region; his social profile intersects with members of the Moroccan business community, royal circles, and international delegations. He has received national recognitions and participated in state ceremonies presided over by Mohammed VI; his engagements include bilateral visits with heads of state from France, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and Senegal, and attendance at multilateral events such as the United Nations General Assembly and COP27. His honors and awards reflect both business leadership and public service roles common among senior figures in Moroccan public life.
Category:Moroccan politicians Category:Moroccan businesspeople Category:Prime Ministers of Morocco