Minister Madiha Khayr Dismissed After 2 Days on Government Request
King Mohammed VI dismissed Madiha Khayr on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from her post as Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, Preschool, Vocational Training, and Integration, in charge of Vocational Training and Integration. The sovereign’s decision approved a request submitted by Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.
A statement from the Royal Court, reported by the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) news agency, confirmed that the sovereign had received a request from the head of the executive to terminate Khayr’s ministerial duties.
According to the statement, the monarch granted the request pursuant to Article 47 of the Constitution, which governs the appointment of ministers and the termination of their official duties.
Article 47 of the Constitution provides that “the King may, on his own initiative and after consulting the Head of Government, terminate the functions of one or more members of the Government.” It further specifies that “the Head of Government may ask the King to terminate the functions of one or more members of the Government, following their individual or collective resignation.”
The dismissal came just two days after the inauguration of the new cabinet led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, which took place on Friday, October 16, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, during which Khayr was entrusted with the Vocational Training and Integration portfolio.
The move marks the first adjustment within the El Mansouri-led government since it took office. It directly affects the Vocational Training and Integration sector, which had recently been placed under the Ministry of National Education as part of the latest government restructuring.
The dismissal coincided with the leak of a June 2004 medical document attributed to Khayr, which was widely shared across social media and instant messaging platforms starting last Saturday, alongside press reports citing alleged prior judicial proceedings in Béni Mellal.
Specifically, several news outlets published details regarding a 2004 case involving Khayr. According to the reports, the dispute concerned complaints filed by jewellers regarding financial settlements and bank cheques.
Media reports indicated that the case had been subject to legal investigations and proceedings at the time, only to resurface publicly as soon as Khayr’s appointment to the government was made official, coinciding with the online circulation of the medical certificate.
However, the press reports did not include any official judicial documents verifying the full circumstances of the case or clarifying its final legal resolution. Nor did they provide formal evidence establishing a connection between the medical record and the legal proceedings cited by the media.
The circulation of these reports prompted mixed reactions. Several media outlets highlighted calls from civil society figures and human rights advocates demanding full transparency regarding the authenticity of the leaked documents, a thorough review of the case, and verification of the allegations to dispel speculation surrounding her appointment to government office.
Khayr entered the executive under the banner of the Istiqlal Party, backed by an extensive professional and administrative background. Her career included roles at the National Airports Authority (ONDA) and as Secretary General of the Mohammed VI International Academy of Civil Aviation, alongside an active political and parliamentary trajectory.
Her political career was also highlighted on October 8 by her appointment as head of the Istiqlal Parliamentary Group for Unity and Egalitarianism in the House of Representatives, following her election as an MP for the Béni Mellal constituency in the latest legislative elections.
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