Beni Mellal – Abdesselam Zenined, a former Moroccan minister and ambassador who dedicated over four decades to public service, died Wednesday in Rabat at the age of 92.
Born in 1934 in Ouezzane, he leaves behind a career that spanned government, diplomacy, and politics across some of the most consequential decades in Morocco’s modern history.
Zenined began his professional life in 1959 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He rose steadily through the ranks, serving as director of cabinet to Prime Minister Ahmed Bahnini between 1964 and 1966, then to Minister of State Mhamed Zghari.
In May 1967, he was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Information, a post he held until 1972.
His entry into government came in November 1974, when he was named Secretary of State to Prime Minister Ahmed Osman, responsible for General and Saharan Affairs.
He held that position until March 1979, when he was appointed Minister of Tourism. During that period, he also served as a member of parliament between 1977 and 1980.
One of the founding members of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party, Zenined was also entrusted with senior diplomatic missions. He served as Morocco’s ambassador to Baghdad from 1980 to 1985, to London from 1987 to 1991, and to Moscow from 1991 to 1996.
In September 2000, King Mohammed VI appointed him Minister of Transport and the Merchant Marine. He also held the post of Minister Delegate in charge of Maghreb, Arab, and Islamic World Affairs.
