Mohammed VI (Arabic: محمد السادس, romanized: Muḥammad as-sādis; born 21 August 1963) is the current King of Morocco. He is part of the 'Alawi dynasty, a royal family that has ruled Morocco for a long time. He became King on July 23, 1999, after his father, King Hassan II, passed away.

Mohammed VI is known for being a very wealthy monarch in Africa. He has many business interests in different parts of Morocco's economy. When he first became King, Mohammed VI started many changes to help Morocco. For example, he changed the family laws to give women more power.

In 2011, there were protests in Morocco, similar to others happening in Arab countries. People wanted more political and social changes. King Mohammed VI listened and introduced a new constitution with several important reforms. These changes were approved by the public in a vote on July 1, 2011.

Early Life and Education
Becoming King and Early Decisions
Changes Within Morocco
- 2011 Protests and New Constitution
- Recent Events
Western Sahara
Foreign Policy and International Relations
Business and Wealth
Family and Personal Life
- Health
Honours and Awards
- Moroccan Honours
- International Honours
Images for kids
See Also

Early Life and Education

Mohammed with his father King Hassan II in 1967 or 1968

Mohammed VI was born on August 21, 1963. He was the second child and the oldest son of Hassan II and his wife, Lalla Latifa. Because he was the oldest son, Mohammed became the heir apparent (the person next in line to the throne) from the day he was born.

His father wanted him to have a good religious and political education from a young age. When he was four, he started attending the Quranic school at the Royal Palace. Mohammed VI finished his primary and secondary studies at Collège Royal. He earned his first degree, a bachelor's degree in law, from Mohammed V University at Agdal in 1985. His research paper was about "the Arab-African Union and Morocco's Strategy in International Relations."

Prince Mohammed in 1989

He also studied at the Imperial College and University of Rabat. In 1985, he was made a Colonel Major in the Royal Moroccan Army. He worked as the Coordinator for the Royal Armed Forces until 1994. In 1987, he earned another degree in political sciences. In 1988, he trained in Brussels with Jacques Delors, who was the President of the European Commission at the time.

Mohammed VI earned his PhD in law with high honors in 1993 from the French University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. His thesis was about the relationship between the European Economic Community and the Maghreb region. In 1994, he was promoted to Major General in the military. That same year, he became the president of the High Council of Culture and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Moroccan Army.

Becoming King and Early Decisions

King Mohammed VI (right) talking to U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington on April 23, 2002

Mohammed VI (left) with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2004

Mohammed became King after his father's death on July 23, 1999. His official crowning ceremony happened a week later. In a speech on TV, he promised to fight poverty and corruption. He also promised to create jobs and improve human rights in Morocco.

Some of his early changes were not popular with very traditional religious groups. But he also made important decisions, like removing his father's strict interior minister, Driss Basri. He also appointed some of his former classmates to important government jobs. In February 2004, he introduced a new family law, called the Mudawana, which gave more rights and power to women.

In July 2004, Mohammed announced that Morocco would remove visa rules for people from Algeria. The Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, did the same for Moroccans in 2005. Mohammed also created the Equity and Reconciliation Commission. This group was tasked with looking into human rights problems that happened during his father's rule. Many people saw this as a step towards democracy.

Changes Within Morocco

2011 Protests and New Constitution

The 2011 Moroccan protests were led by a group called the 20 February Movement. People were mainly protesting against corruption and general unhappiness with politics. They were also affected by the global economic crisis. These protests were inspired by similar events in Tunisia and Egypt where leaders were overthrown. Protesters in Morocco asked for "urgent" political and social changes, including the King giving up some of his powers.

On March 9, 2011, King Mohammed VI gave a speech. He said that the parliament would get "new powers" to help it represent the people, make laws, and oversee the government. He also announced that the courts would become more independent from the King. He formed a committee of legal experts to write a new constitution by June 2011. On July 1, voters approved the new political changes proposed by the King in a public vote.

The new constitution included several important reforms:

Standard Moroccan Amazigh became an official national language, along with standard Arabic.
The state promised to protect the Hassaniya Arabic dialect and all parts of Moroccan culture.
The prime minister (now called "head of government") would lead the Council of Government, which plans the country's main policies. Before, the King held this position. The prime minister also gained the power to dissolve the parliament.
The King now has to choose the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats in the parliamentary elections. However, it can be any member of that winning party, not just the party's leader.
The King is no longer described as "sacred or holy," but his "integrity" (meaning his person) is "inviolable" (cannot be harmed).
Important government and diplomatic jobs (like ambassadors and leaders of state-owned companies) are now chosen by the prime minister and a council of ministers, which the King leads. Before, the King chose these people alone.
The parliament gained the power to grant amnesty (official pardons). Before, only the King had this power.
The King promised to make sure the court system is independent from the government and law-making bodies.
Women were guaranteed "civic and social" equality with men. Before, only "political equality" was guaranteed.
The King kept full control over the armed forces, the court system, religious matters, and foreign policy. He also kept the power to appoint and remove prime ministers.
In theory, all citizens gained freedom of thought, ideas, artistic expression, and creation. Before, only free speech and freedom of movement and association were guaranteed.

Recent Events

In January 2017, Morocco stopped the making, selling, and marketing of the burqa.

On December 20, 2022, Mohammed VI invited the Morocco national football team to a special event at the Royal Palace in Rabat. This was after they reached fourth place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He gave the team members the Order of the Throne award. In March 2023, he was invited by Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to receive CAF's outstanding achievement award. During the ceremony, a letter from King Mohammed VI was read. It announced that Morocco would join the Portugal–Spain 2030 FIFA World Cup bid as a co-host. This bid was approved by the FIFA Council in October.

In May 2023, Mohammed VI approved making Yennayer (Berber New Year) a national public holiday. In September 2023, after an earthquake hit the Marrakesh–Safi region, killing almost three thousand people, Mohammed VI visited hospitals to support victims. He also donated blood to help those in need. Following his instructions, the royal company Al Mada donated one billion dirhams (Moroccan money) for relief efforts in the areas affected by the earthquake.

Western Sahara

A souvenir stand in Marrakesh in 2022, with photos depicting Mohammed VI and the Guerguerat border post

The Western Sahara conflict is a long-running issue in Africa. Morocco believes that Western Sahara is a part of its own territory. This view was adopted after the 1975 Green March.

Mohammed VI visited Western Sahara in 2006 and 2015. In March 2006, the government created the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS). This group advises the King and defends Morocco's claim over Western Sahara. Its members are chosen by the King. CORCAS suggested a plan for Western Sahara to govern itself, but it would still remain under Moroccan rule.

The Polisario Front is the main group that opposes Morocco's claim. They want an independent Sahrawi state. Morocco and the Polisario Front agreed to a ceasefire in 1991. This agreement included setting up a United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINURSO). Its job was to oversee a possible vote on the future of Western Sahara. However, this vote has not happened yet.

In 2020, the conflict grew when Sahrawi protesters blocked a road connecting Guerguerat to sub-Saharan Africa. Morocco sent its military to reopen the road, which the Polisario Front said broke the 1991 ceasefire.

In 2021, Mohammed VI stated that the "Moroccanness of the Sahara" was an "undeniable fact." He said that Morocco was not negotiating over the territory, as the issue "never was - and never will be - on the negotiating table." In 2022, he said that the Western Sahara issue was how Morocco "looks at the world." He also asked other countries to "clarify their positions" on the conflict. This came as many countries supporting Morocco's view had opened consulates in the Western Saharan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla since late 2019. As of 2023, there were 28 such consulates. As of July 2023, the United States and Israel had officially recognized Morocco's control over the territory.

Foreign Policy and International Relations

Joint U.S.-Israeli delegation meeting with Mohammed VI during a visit to Rabat, December 22, 2020

Pedro Sánchez at a dinner with Mohammed and his entourage, 2022

Mohammed VI and his sister, Princess Lalla Meryem, visited the White House in Washington, D.C. in June 2000. They were guests of U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 2004, the Bush administration named Morocco a major non-NATO ally. The two countries later signed a free-trade agreement in 2006. This was the only one of its kind between the United States and an African country.

Mohammed VI increasingly focused on improving Morocco's relationships with other African countries. In July 2016, Mohammed VI spoke at the 27th African Union (AU) summit in Kigali. He asked for Morocco to be allowed back into the organization. Morocco had left the AU's earlier version, the Organisation of African Unity, in 1984. This was a protest against the admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Mohammed VI explained that Morocco left to "avoid the division of Africa." Morocco was accepted back into the African Union in January 2017.

Under his rule, Morocco also built partnerships with the Gulf Cooperation Council and other powerful countries like China and Russia. The goal was to have more diverse trade and foreign investments. This would reduce Morocco's traditional reliance on the European Union and other Western countries. Morocco offered to help solve the Libyan crisis and remained neutral in the Qatar diplomatic crisis.

Relations with neighboring Algeria remained difficult during his reign. Tensions increased in the 2020s, mainly because of the Israel–Morocco agreement and clashes at the Guerguerat border. In August 2021, Algeria accused Morocco of supporting a group it blamed for wildfires in northern Algeria. Algeria later ended its diplomatic relations with Morocco.

Morocco and Israel restarted diplomatic relations on December 10, 2020. This was part of an agreement that also involved the United States. At the same time, the U.S. recognized Morocco's control over Western Sahara. In June 2021, Mohammed VI congratulated Naftali Bennett on becoming Israel's prime minister. On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in November 2021, the King announced that Morocco would continue to push for new peace talks between Israel and Palestine. He asked both sides "to refrain from actions that obstruct the peace process."

In February 2023, Mohammed VI and his foreign minister Nasser Bourita visited Gabon. They met with its president Ali Bongo and donated 2,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the country. On December 4, 2023, Mohammed VI visited Dubai at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders signed a statement promising to develop "deep-rooted" relations between their countries.

Business and Wealth

Graphic detailing ownership of the palace-controlled holding the Société Nationale d'investissement as of June 2013

Mohammed VI is a leading businessman and banker in Morocco. In 2015, Forbes magazine estimated his wealth to be around US$5.7 billion. The Moroccan Royal Family has one of the largest fortunes in the world. Together, they own most of the shares in the Al Mada holding company. This company used to be called the Société Nationale d'Investissement (SNI). In 2013, it merged with another company, Omnium Nord Africain (ONA Group), to form a single large holding company.

Al Mada owns many important businesses in Morocco. These businesses work in different areas like:

Attijariwafa Bank (banking)
Managem (mining)
Onapar and SOMED (tourism and real estate)
Wafa Assurance (insurance)
Marjane (a chain of large supermarkets)
Wana-Inwi (telecommunications)
SONASID (steel production)
Lafarge Maroc (cement and building materials)
Sopriam (distributor of Peugeot and Citroën cars in Morocco)
Renault Maroc (distributor of Renault cars in Morocco)
Nareva (energy)

The company also owns many food-processing businesses. Between 2012 and 2013, the holding company sold some of its food businesses to foreign groups for about $1.37 billion. In March 2018, SNI changed its name to Al Mada.

Mohammed VI has been on every Moroccan dirham banknote since 2002.

Mohammed VI is also a major agricultural producer and land owner in Morocco. In Morocco, agriculture is not taxed. His personal company, SIGER, owns shares in a large agricultural group called Les domaines agricoles. This group was started by his father, Hassan II. In 2008, a magazine called Telquel estimated that Les domaines earned $157 million. They exported 170,000 tons of citrus fruits that year. The company officially owns 12,000 hectares of farmland. Chergui, a company that makes dairy products, is the most well-known brand of this group.

The daily cost to run his palace is reported to be $960,000. This amount is paid by the Moroccan state as part of a larger budget. Much of this money goes towards staff, clothes, and car repairs.

Family and Personal Life

Private mansion in Paris, property of Mohammed VI.

Mohammed VI with Crown Prince Hassan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, November 2018

Mohammed VI has three sisters: Princess Lalla Meryem, Princess Lalla Asma, and Princess Lalla Hasna. He also has one brother, Prince Moulay Rachid.

His engagement to Salma Bennani was announced on October 12, 2001. They married privately in Rabat on March 21, 2002. Their wedding celebration took place at the Dar al-Makhzen in Rabat on July 12 and 13, 2002. Salma Bennani became princess consort with the title of Her Royal Highness after their marriage. They have two children: Crown Prince Moulay Hassan (born May 8, 2003) and Princess Lalla Khadija (born February 28, 2007). The couple's divorce was announced on March 21, 2018.

Mohammed VI's birthday, August 21, is a public holiday in Morocco.

In 2020, Mohammed VI bought a mansion in Paris for €80 million from the Saudi royal family.

Health

Mohammed VI's health has been a topic of discussion both in Morocco and outside.

In 2017, he had a successful surgery in Paris to remove a growth from his left eye. In February 2018, he had a procedure to correct an irregular heart rate. Members of the royal family visited him during his recovery. In September 2019, the King was advised to rest for several days due to a lung infection. His son, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, represented him at a funeral. In June 2020, he had another procedure in Rabat to treat a recurring heart rhythm issue.

In June 2022, Mohammed VI tested positive for COVID-19. His personal doctor said he did not have symptoms and recommended "a period of rest for a few days." He made his first public appearance after recovering from COVID-19 on July 10, 2022, when he performed Eid al-Adha prayers.

Honours and Awards

Royal styles of King Mohammed VI of Morocco

Reference style	His Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty

Moroccan Honours

As King, Mohammed VI became the head of several national orders when he took the throne.

Grand Master of the Order of Muhammad (July 23, 1999)
Grand Master of the Order of the Throne (July 23, 1999)
Grand Master of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite (July 23, 1999)
Grand Master of the Order of the Independence Combat (July 23, 1999)
Grand Master of the Order of Fidelity (July 23, 1999)
Grand Master of the Order of Military Merit (July 23, 1999)

International Honours

Mohammed VI has received many honours and awards from different countries. Some of them are listed below.

Grand Officer of the Order of the Equatorial Star of Gabon (July 7, 1977)
Knight of the Collar of the Order of Civil Merit of Spain (June 2, 1979)
Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (October 27, 1980)
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III of Spain (June 23, 1986)
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic of Tunisia (August 1987)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (February 6, 1988)
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic of Italy (March 18, 1997)
Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz of Portugal (August 13, 1998)
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour of France (March 19, 2000)
Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali of Jordan (March 1, 2000)
Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic of Italy (April 11, 2000)
Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit of Mauritania (April 26, 2000)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Seventh of November of Tunisia (May 24, 2000)
Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (June 14, 2000)
Knight of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic of Spain (September 16, 2000)
Wissam of the Order of the Umayyads of Syria (April 9, 2001)
Extraordinary Grade of the Order of Merit of Lebanon (June 13, 2001)
First Class Medal of the Order of Abu Bakar Siddiq of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (June 29, 2001)
Grand Collar of the Order of al-Khalifa of Bahrain (July 28, 2001)
Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great of Kuwait (October 22, 2002)
Cordon of the Order of the Independence of Qatar (October 25, 2002)
Collar of the Order of the Nile of Egypt (October 28, 2002)
Grand Cross of the Order of Pakistan First Class (Nishan-e-Pakistan) of Pakistan (July 19, 2003)
Grand Cross of the Order of Valour of Cameroon (June 17, 2004)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Equatorial Star of Gabon (June 21, 2004)
Grand Cross of the National Order of Niger (June 24, 2004)
Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold of Belgium (October 5, 2004)
Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross of Brazil (November 26, 2004)
Medal of Honour of the Congress of Peru (December 1, 2004)
Collar of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile (December 3, 2004)
Grand Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin of Argentina (December 7, 2004)
Knight of Collar of the Order of Charles III of Spain (January 14, 2005)
Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle of Mexico (February 11, 2005)
Grand Cross of the Order of Burkinabé of Burkina Faso (March 1, 2005)
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum of Japan (November 28, 2005)
Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic of the Gambia (February 20, 2006)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Congo of the Republic of Congo (February 22, 2006)
Grand Cross of the Order of the National Hero of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Congo-Kinshasa (February 28, 2006)
Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars of Latvia (May 14, 2007)
Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (May 18, 2007)
Grand Collar of the Order of Independence of Equatorial Guinea (April 17, 2009)
Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion (2013)
Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit of Guinea (March 4, 2014)
Collar of the Order of the Republic of Tunisia (May 31, 2014)
Grand Cross of the National Order of the Ivory Coast (June 1, 2015)
Collar of the Order of Zayed (May 4, 2015)
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic of Serbia (2016)
Grand Cross of the National Order of Madagascar (November 21, 2016)
Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword of Portugal (June 28, 2016)
Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (February 17, 2017)
Grand Cross of the Order of La Pléiade (May 24, 2017)
Ellis Island Medal of Honor of the United States (May 14, 2019)
Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit of the United States (January 16, 2021)

Honorary Prizes:

On June 22, 2000, Mohammed VI received an honorary doctorate from George Washington University.
On May 19, 2022, Mohammed VI was given the Esquipulas Peace Prize by a group of legislative presidents from Central America and the Caribbean.
On March 14, 2023, Mohammed VI was given the President's Outstanding Achievement Award by CAF.

Images for kids

Joint U.S.-Israeli delegation meeting with Mohammed VI during a visit to Rabat, December 22, 2020
Pedro Sánchez at a dinner with Mohammed and his entourage, 2022

Mohammed VI of Morocco facts for kids

Contents