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| Fouad Ali El Himma | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fouad Ali El Himma |
| Birth date | 1962 |
| Birth place | Belghazi |
| Nationality | Morocco |
| Occupation | Politician, Advisor |
| Known for | Advisor to Mohammed VI of Morocco |
Fouad Ali El Himma is a Moroccan political figure and longtime close associate of Mohammed VI of Morocco. He has been a prominent organizer, political strategist, and entrepreneur linked to several influential institutions including the Authenticity and Modernity Party. El Himma's career spans roles in the Interior Ministry, party politics, and private sector ventures, attracting attention from regional media and international observers.
Born in 1962 in Belghazi, El Himma grew up in Marrakesh-adjacent regions with early ties to notable Moroccan families and networks connected to Alaouite circles. He attended secondary school in Rabat and pursued higher studies that brought him into contact with future Moroccan elites from institutions similar to Mohammed V University and staff tied to the Royal Palace. During this period he formed associations with future figures linked to the Ministry of the Interior, the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, and cadres who later populated parties such as Istiqlal Party and National Rally of Independents.
El Himma entered Moroccan public life through positions adjacent to the Interior Ministry and the royal administration, collaborating with officials from Rabat Prefecture and provincial governors appointed under policies shaped by the Monarchy. In the 1990s and 2000s he acted as an organizer and intermediary between palace circles and political formations including Socialist Union of Popular Forces, Popular Movement (Morocco), and parliamentary groups in the House of Representatives. After the accession of Mohammed VI of Morocco in 1999 he became part of a cohort of advisors who engaged with regional institutions such as the African Union delegations and international partners like French diplomatic missions and delegations from the European Union.
El Himma is widely described as a close friend and advisor to Mohammed VI of Morocco, sharing longstanding personal and political ties with members of the Royal Cabinet and senior palace aides. His proximity has intersected with figures from the Royal Armed Forces leadership, the Moroccan diaspora networks in France and Belgium, and corporate actors linked to the Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc. Observers from outlets covering Middle East politics and analysts at institutions such as Chatham House and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have noted his role in informal mediation between the Crown and parties like the Istiqlal Party and Authenticity and Modernity Party.
El Himma is credited with founding and supporting the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in the late 2000s, engaging political operatives from groups such as Union Constitutionnelle, Popular Democratic Constitutional Movement, and regional notables formerly aligned with Alain Juppé-linked networks in France. The party positioned itself in contests against established parties including Istiqlal Party, Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and Justice and Development Party, competing in elections to the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives. PAM's campaign strategies involved coordination with municipal leaders in Casablanca, Tangier, and Rabat and outreach to civil society actors, trade unions, and business federations such as the CGEM.
El Himma's prominence has generated controversies involving allegations reported by Moroccan and international media about influence-peddling, opaque business dealings, and connections to security services such as the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance. Investigations and leaks in outlets covering North Africa politics have cited suspected links to companies registered in Tangier, Casablanca, and offshore jurisdictions frequently discussed in probes into political financing. Critics from parties including PJD and commentators in publications linked to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and The Guardian have raised questions about accountability, prompting discussions in parliamentary groups and civil organizations like Transparency International about governance and legal frameworks such as the Moroccan Constitution of 2011.
Outside politics, El Himma has been associated with business ventures in sectors connected to tourism around Agadir, real estate in Casablanca, and consulting activities tied to networks of entrepreneurs in Rabat. His personal circle reportedly includes figures from French-Moroccan business communities, members of the Alaouite extended network, and former classmates who later joined institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. El Himma maintains residences linked to urban districts in Rabat and seasonal properties near Marrakesh and engages with charitable initiatives that intersect with foundations patronized by the Royal Family.
Category:Moroccan politicians Category:1962 births Category:Living people