RABAT — King Mohammed VI received the members of Morocco’s newly formed government at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Friday, as Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri begins her tenure as the country’s first woman Head of Government.
Among the ministers continuing in their positions is Abdellatif Ouahbi, who remains at the helm of the Ministry of Justice in El Mansouri’s government.
Ouahbi has served as Morocco’s Minister of Justice since October 2021, when he was appointed to the National Rally of Independents (RNI)-led government headed by former Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, bringing decades of experience as a lawyer, parliamentarian, and political party leader to the position.
Born on July 28, 1961, in Taroudant, Ouahbi built his career in the legal profession before entering government. He became a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in 2010 and served as its secretary-general from February 2020 to February 2024.
King Mohammed VI appointed Ouahbi as justice minister on October 7, 2021. He received a renewed appointment to the same position in October 2024.
From lawyer to government minister
Ouahbi has practiced law at the Rabat Bar since 1993. He studied law in Rabat and later worked as an assistant professor at Mohammed V University’s Souissi campus, teaching legal, economic, and social sciences.
He entered parliament in November 2011, representing the Taroudant-North constituency. From 2011 to 2014, he led the PAM parliamentary group in the House of Representatives. He then chaired the House’s Justice and Legislation Committee from 2014 to 2016.
Beyond politics and law, Ouahbi previously directed the daily newspaper Al Joumhour and the magazine Adala. His professional and civic affiliations have also included legal and human rights organizations in Morocco and abroad.
Family Code reform
One of the major files during Ouahbi’s tenure has been the reform of Morocco’s Family Code, known as the Moudawana.
Following King Mohammed VI’s call to review the legislation, the reform process involved consultations with political parties, institutions and civil society representatives. By December 2025, the Justice Ministry said it had prepared a draft amendment, but the text remained under government discussion and review. Key issues included guardianship, child custody, and marriage and divorce procedures.
The proposed changes have formed part of wider discussions about family law and the legal framework governing marriage and family relations in Morocco. The final outcome depends on the legislative process and the provisions ultimately approved.
Changes to Criminal and Civil Procedure
Ouahbi’s tenure has also included changes to criminal and civil procedure, as well as the organization of the judiciary.
Law No. 03.23, amending Morocco’s Criminal Procedure Code, entered into force on December 8, 2025. The Justice Ministry described the legislation as part of broader efforts to modernize the criminal justice system and strengthen procedural safeguards.
The civil justice system also underwent a legislative change with Law No. 58.25 on civil procedure. Following a Constitutional Court decision in August 2025 that found provisions of an earlier version unconstitutional, the government introduced a revised bill. Parliament subsequently approved the revised text, which was promulgated in February 2026. The new code entered into force in August 2026.
The legislation forms part of efforts to update court procedures and the rules governing civil litigation. Its implementation will shape how civil cases proceed through Morocco’s courts.
Another major reform during Ouahbi’s tenure was the adoption of Law No. 43.22 on alternative sentences.
Parliament approved the legislation in June 2024, and it entered into force on August 22, 2025. The law introduced alternatives to imprisonment for eligible offenses, subject to legal conditions and exclusions.
The alternatives include community service, electronic monitoring, restrictions on certain rights or the imposition of supervision and rehabilitation measures, and day-fines. The law was introduced as part of efforts to broaden sentencing options and address the effects of short prison sentences, including pressure on prison capacity.
Ouahbi’s tenure as justice minister has been marked by several controversies, including backlash over allegations of favoritism in the 2023 bar examination, criticism from judges over his remarks on judicial independence, and opposition from civil society groups to aspects of his criminal procedure reforms.
