Nasser Bourita
ناصر بوريطة
Bourita in 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates
Assumed office
5 April 2017
MonarchMohammed VI
Prime MinisterSaadeddine Othmani
Aziz Akhannouch
Preceded bySalaheddine Mezouar
Personal details
Born (1969-05-27) 27 May 1969 (age 54)[1]
Taounate, Morocco
Alma materMohammed V University

Nasser Bourita (Arabic: ناصر بوريطة; born (1969-05-27)27 May 1969) is a Moroccan diplomat serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates since 5 April 2017.[2][3]

Education

Bourita was born in Taounate, Morocco.[4] In 1991, Bourita obtained his bachelor's degree in public law from the Mohammed V University in Rabat.[5]

Career

Bourita meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Rome in June 2021.

Bourita joined the Directorate of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat in 1992. From 1995 to 2002, he was the first secretary[6] at the Moroccan Embassy in Vienna.[7] In 2002, he was head of the United Nations Main Organs Department. In 2002, he was also appointed advisor to the Moroccan Mission to the European Communities in Brussels. From December 2003 to 2006, Bourita was head of Division of the UN.[4]

He was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in 2011 and then Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in 2016.[1] In 2017, Bourita was named Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Saadeddine Othmani.[8]

During his tenure, Morocco severed diplomatic relations with Iran over alleged support for the Polisario Front.[9] Bourita also frequently received letters of credence from foreign ambassadors.[10][11] In November 2018, he attended the inaugural Paris Peace Forum.[12]

On 7 October 2021, he was reappointed as head of Moroccan Foreign Affairs in the government of Aziz Akhannouch.[13]

On 29 October 2022, Bourita arrived in Algeria, to participate in the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers for the Arab League Council.[14][15] He also represented the king, at the 2022 Arab League summit and was welcomed by Abdelmadjid Tebboune.[16][17][18]

On 11 November 2022, Bourita attended the 5th Paris Peace Forum.[19][20] On 21 November 2022, Bourita met with the US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat.[21]

In March 2023, the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which formerly led government from 2011 to 2021, accused Bourita of "defending the zionist entity [Israel]... at a time the Israeli occupation continues its criminal aggression against our Palestinian brothers". The royal cabinet subsequently issued a statement rebuking the PJD, adding that Morocco's foreign policy was a prerogative of the king and would not be "subject to blackmail".[22][23]

On 11 October 2023, Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo, headed by Morocco, to discuss ways to stop the escalation in the Palestinian territories, and the targeting of civilians during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[24][25][26] This meeting was chaired by Nasser Bourita, by the request of Morocco and Palestine. Bourita spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, both discussed efforts to prevent a regional escalation and secure the release of hostages.[27] On 21 October, Bourita and other world leaders along with the United Nations took part in the Cairo peace summit to de-escalate the war.[28][29]

Personal life

Bourita is married and has two children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "King Mohammed VI Appoints Nasser Bourita as Minister Delegate to Foreign Minister". Morocco World News. 6 February 2016.
  2. ^ "SM le Roi nomme Nasser Bourita, ministre délégué auprès du ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération". Maghreb Arabe Presse.
  3. ^ "Mr. Nasser Bourita, New Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation". moroccoembassy.org.au.
  4. ^ a b "Nasser Bourita". www.berlinglobal.org. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Nasser Bourita: The Beating Heart of Moroccan Diplomacy". Morocco Jewish Times. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  6. ^ Lahsini, Chaima. "Le Monde Lauds King's 'Dream Team' as Morocco Returns to African Union". Morocco World News. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Diplomatica 42 by Fondation Diplomatique - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  8. ^ "King Mohammed VI Officially Appoints Saad Eddine Othmani's Government". Morocco World News. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Morocco cuts ties with Iran over Sahara dispute". Deutsche Welle. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Several Ambassadors Hand Over Copies of Credentials to FM". Maghreb Arabe Presse. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  11. ^ "New Ambassadors Present Copies of Their Credentials to Moroccan FM". Maghreb Arabe Presse. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  12. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (12 November 2018). "Bourita: 2,000 Moroccan Peacekeepers Serve with UN". Morocco World News. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Moroccan King Mohammed VI names new government of Aziz Akhannouch". Mena Affairs. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita arrives in Algeria". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  15. ^ Aamari, Oussama. "Moroccan FM Arrives in Algeria for Arab Ministerial Meeting". Morocco world news. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Naser Bourita leads Morocco's delegation in Arab summit". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  17. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa. "King Mohammed VI Will Not Attend Arab Summit Due to 'Regional Context'". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  18. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa. "Arab League: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune Welcomes Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita". Morocco world news. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  19. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa. "Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita Represents Morocco at Paris Peace Forum". Morocco World News. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  20. ^ "بوريطة يشارك في منتدى باريس للسلام". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  21. ^ Rahhou, Jihane. "Morocco's FM Receives US Ambassador to Morocco". Morocco World News. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  22. ^ Eljechtimi, Ahmed (13 March 2023). "Moroccan palace asks Islamist party to stop criticizing ties with Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Maroc-Israël : rappel à l'ordre du Palais après des critiques du PJD" (in French). Agence France-Presse. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023 – via Middle East Eye.
  24. ^ "Palestine-Israel war: Arab League's extraordinary FM Council begins in Cairo, presided by Morocco". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Arab foreign ministers hold emergency meeting to discuss Israeli attacks in Gaza". Middle East Monitor. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Arab League to meet for talks on Gaza". France 24. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  27. ^ Rabat, U. S. Embassy (12 October 2023). "Secretary Blinken's Call with Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Morocco. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  28. ^ "'Peace Summit' Kicks Off in Cairo with Morocco's Participation". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  29. ^ "World leaders in Cairo Peace Summit for a roadmap to end Gaza humanitarian traegdy". EgyptToday. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.

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