Rabat – Lahcen Sekkouri, Morocco’s ex-Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sports under the Benkirane government passed away on Tuesday morning aged over 69 years old.
Sources say he passed away in his home in Harhoura after a battle with illness.
His body is expected to be transported later today to his birthplace, Sefrou, where the funeral and prayer will be held.
Sekkouri was a leading figure in the Popular Movement party, holding many positions throughout different ministries and administrations.
After obtaining a graduate degree in political science, Sekkouri studied at the French Institute of Administrative Sciences and trained in Development Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, according to his biography on the Ministry of Youth’s website.
Sekkouri assumed several positions in different ministries. He was a human resources manager at the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly in the Water and Forests department, before becoming an advisor to Mohand Laenser during his time as Minister of the Interior.
With his expertise in bureaucracy and administrative sciences, the deceased politician was also a professor in the subjects at the National School for Administration, organizing training courses at various institutions across Morocco.
Sekkouri held the position of Minister of Youth from October 2015, when he was appointed by King Mohammed VI, until October 2016, after he was elected to the House of Representatives.
Read also: Ministry of Youth to Settle Situation of Unpaid Assistants
