CASABLANCA - Morocco has almost halved the number of its ministers in a government reshuffle but key ministries remained unchanged. The number of ministers and junior ministers was reduced from 41 to 23 in the second government reshuffle in less than two years. The tourism, housing, youth and culture, employment, justice and health ministers were changed but the interior, religious affairs, agriculture, energy, trade and industry and education ministers kept their posts in shifts announced October 9. The Constitutional Union party also got one portfolio with Hassan Abyaba as minister of culture, youth and sports and government spokesman. Political analyst Hafid Ezzahri said the presence of a significant number of technocrats in the new cabinet may intensify competition among its members.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 12, 2019 19:30 UTC