Morocco’s Leadership Shake-up: New Walis Appointed Amid Protocol Scandal

Mohamed Faouzi has been promoted to wali of the Marrakech–Safi region, while Khalid Zerouali will lead the Fès–Meknès region, succeeding Farid Chourak and Mouad El Jamaï respectively. The latter were dismissed for protocol violations. They are accused of having supervised the slaughter of the Eid sheep, despite the clear royal instructions prohibiting any festive event on this occasion this year. This reshuffle is in line with Article 49 of the Constitution, which gives the King the prerogative to appoint walis and governors, on the proposal of the Head of Government and at the initiative of the Minister of the Interior, both at the central and territorial levels.

Who is Mohamed Faouzi? He is a graduate of the Mohammadia School of Engineers. He also pursued higher education at the Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration (ISCAE). Having become an experienced administrative executive in the field of territorial management, he has held several positions of responsibility since 2004, both in the field and at the central level: governor of the prefecture of Aïn Chock, then of Casablanca-Anfa, wali of Meknès–Tafilalet, then of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz and secretary general of the Ministry of the Interior. Last May, he was appointed Inspector General of Territorial Administration. Mohamed cut his teeth in the private sector within the ONA group, where he held management positions in the fields of mining and logistics.

As for Khalid Zerouali, he is an engineer by training, a graduate of the Mohammadia School of Engineers. Like Mohamed Faouzi, he began his career in the private sector. In 1994, he was appointed head of social affairs at the Omnium Nord-Africain company. He then joined the national airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) where he worked as a senior executive. In July 2003, he was promoted to governor, director of international cooperation at the Ministry of the Interior. In June 2005, he became governor, director of migration and border surveillance. In November 2010, he was appointed wali, director of migration and border surveillance within the same ministry.