Aziz Akhannouch
Who was Aziz Akhannouch?
Current Prime Minister of Morocco since 2021 and leader of the National Rally of Independents party. He is also a prominent businessman with interests in the petroleum and agriculture sectors.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Aziz Akhannouch (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Aziz Akhannouch was born on August 16, 1961, in Tafraout, a small town in southern Morocco's Souss-Massa region. He studied abroad and got his degree from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada, a time that shaped his business skills and worldview. After returning to Morocco, he became deeply involved in the family business, eventually leading the Akwa Group, a large privately held conglomerate in North Africa with major interests in petroleum distribution and agriculture. His marriage to Salwa Idrissi, a well-known figure in Moroccan business and retail, strengthened his position among the country's economic elite.
Akhannouch entered politics as a member of the National Rally of Independents, a liberal party linked with Morocco's business community and its ties to the monarchy. In 2007, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, a position he held for fourteen years under several governments. During his time in this role, he implemented the Green Morocco Plan, a national strategy to modernize agriculture, boost productivity, and connect Moroccan farmers to international markets. The plan attracted significant foreign investment and transformed parts of the agricultural sector, though critics pointed out that its benefits often favored large agribusinesses over small farmers.
In September 2021, after the National Rally of Independents won a majority of seats in the legislative elections, King Mohammed VI appointed Akhannouch as Prime Minister of Morocco. His government was formed during a time of economic stress, with the country still recovering from COVID-19 disruptions. His administration has faced criticism over rising inflation, which reduced the purchasing power of ordinary Moroccans and led to public discontent. Social protests, some targeting Akhannouch personally due to his wealth, questioned the ability of a billionaire businessman to address working-class economic hardships.
His term has also seen concerns about press freedom and the handling of political dissent. Journalists and activists critical of the government have faced legal actions, drawing criticism from international human rights groups. These issues have given Akhannouch a complex public image, as he stands for Morocco's economic modernization goals and the challenges in a political system where business and government interests are closely linked. Despite these criticisms, he has continued to have the monarchy's support, which remains the central force in Moroccan politics.
Before Fame
Aziz Akhannouch grew up in Tafraout, a Berber town in the Anti-Atlas mountains known for its entrepreneurial spirit, where many locals have built business networks across Morocco and beyond. The Akhannouch family was part of this tradition, setting up business interests that became the Akwa Group. His upbringing connected him to Amazigh cultural identity and Morocco's growing modern economy.
He went to the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, where he learned about North American business practices and management during a time when Morocco was gradually opening its economy. After returning, he took on a larger role in the Akwa Group, transforming it from a regional petroleum distributor into a national conglomerate with various holdings. This business success built his reputation and served as the foundation for his political career.
Key Achievements
- Appointed Prime Minister of Morocco in September 2021 following the National Rally of Independents' victory in legislative elections
- Served as Minister of Agriculture for fourteen years, overseeing the implementation of the Green Morocco Plan to modernize the national agricultural sector
- Built and led the Akwa Group into one of the largest private conglomerates in North Africa, with major operations in energy, petroleum distribution, and related industries
- Led the National Rally of Independents to a first-place finish in the 2021 parliamentary elections, marking a significant realignment in Moroccan party politics
- Steered Morocco's post-pandemic economic recovery program as head of government during a period of complex regional and global economic instability
Did You Know?
- 01.Akhannouch is estimated to be one of the wealthiest individuals in Africa, with his fortune largely built through the Akwa Group's dominance in petroleum distribution across Morocco.
- 02.His wife, Salwa Idrissi, is the founder and owner of Marwa, one of Morocco's largest clothing retail chains, making the couple one of the most powerful business partnerships in the country.
- 03.He held the position of Minister of Agriculture for an unusually long fourteen consecutive years, serving under three different heads of government between 2007 and 2021.
- 04.Tafraout, his hometown, is historically known throughout Morocco for producing successful merchants, a cultural reputation so strong that 'Tafraoutis' became synonymous with commercial entrepreneurship in popular parlance.
- 05.During the 2021 election campaign, his name became associated with a viral social media boycott movement that had originally targeted his company's products years earlier over perceived monopolistic practices.