Education and Early Career
Born on 27 May 1969 in Taounate, Morocco, Nasser Bourita graduated from the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences in Rabat. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in public law (international relations) in 1991, followed by a postgraduate certificate in international relations in 1993, and a higher diploma in public international law in 1995.
Diplomatic Career
A career diplomat, Mr Bourita began his journey at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992. He successively held several positions, including:
- First Secretary at the Moroccan Embassy in Vienna (1995–2002)
- Head of the UN Main Organs Department (2002)
- Adviser to the Moroccan Mission to the European Communities in Brussels (2002–2003)
- Head of the United Nations Division (2003–2006)
- Director of the United Nations and International Organisations (2006–2009)
- Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009)
- Ambassador, Director General of Multilateral Relations and Global Cooperation (2009–2011)
- Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2011–2016)
On 6 February 2016, he was appointed Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On 5 April 2017, His Majesty King Mohammed VI appointed Nasser Bourita Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. On 9 October 2019, he was reappointed with an expanded portfolio, including African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad. He was reappointed once again on 7 October 2021.
Major Diplomatic Achievements
1. Normalisation of Relations with Israel
Mr Bourita is regarded as one of the key architects of the normalisation agreement between Morocco and Israel, signed in December 2020. This agreement coincided with the United States’ recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
2. Mediation in Libya
Under Mr Bourita’s leadership, Morocco played a central role in inter-Libyan negotiations, notably by hosting the Skhirat talks. He emphasised that “Libya is not a diplomatic business opportunity,” calling instead for a Libyan-led solution to the country’s crisis.
3. Strengthening Relations with the United States
Ties between Morocco and the United States have deepened, marked by regular diplomatic exchanges and joint events, such as the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh in 2022.
Mr Nasser Bourita is widely recognised for his pragmatic diplomacy and unwavering commitment to defending Morocco’s interests on the international stage.
