Background
He was born in 1916 at Fez into a prosperous family.
He was born in 1916 at Fez into a prosperous family.
His education began at Fez and continued at Rabat where he graduated in law.
After being a young judge at the Sherifian High Court in 1943 he was appointed to the Imperial College to teach the royal children. He became Director of the Imperial Cabinet in 1950 but was dismissed in February 1950 in the crisis following negotiations with the French. He returned to law as a judge at Meknes until December 1952 when he was exiled to southern Morocco.
Freed in 1954, he was appointed Secretary-General of the government by King Mohammed V. In December 1958 he was promoted Minister of Justice. Transferred to the Interior Ministry from November 1959 to March 1960, he returned to the Ministry of Justice from May to September 1960. He built up the Ministry of Administrative Affairs and was appointed first minister in June 1965.
He took over briefly as Minister of Defence on October 20, 1970. Then he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice in the government of Karim Lamrani formed on April 12, 1987. When he became Minister of State on November 19, 1972. his responsibilities as Secretary-General of the government went to a younger man, Abbes Kissi, who became Minister of Administrative Affairs.
Senior statesman who once taught King Hassan II at the Imperial College and who has often been an important link between the palace and political circles. In the key position of Secretary-General of the government for nearly 20 years he exercised a significant influence upon government policy.
A distinguished lawyer and an acknowledged expert on classical literature, he was a skilled negotiator with the French and occupied many important cabinet posts. As a man of style and charm he has served his King well in helping smooth over many difficulties.