Charafat Afailal returned to Morocco’s government on October 16, 2026, as minister of energy, mines, and sustainable development, taking over the newly renamed portfolio from Leila Benali during a formal handover ceremony in Rabat.
The transition took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the ministry headquarters in Rabat, where officials gathered for the official handover between the incoming and outgoing ministers. The department, formerly styled as the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development under Benali, was officially renamed to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development.
Afailal returns to executive office eight years after her previous departure. She previously served as delegate minister in charge of water under Abdelilah Benkirane starting in October 2013, and subsequently as secretary of state for water in the government led by Saâdeddine El Othmani from April 2017 until August 2018, when her department was dissolved during a government restructuring proposed by the head of government and approved by King Mohammed VI.
Continuity and Strategic Priorities in the Energy Sector
During the handover ceremony, Afailal expressed gratitude for the royal confidence placed in her by King Mohammed VI. She emphasized her intention to maintain the momentum of ongoing projects while addressing the broader geopolitical and environmental pressures facing the country.
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To address all the challenges linked to the risks threatening our country, whether climate threats or geopolitical hazards that particularly impact the energy sector.
Charafat Afailal, Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development
The new minister also highlighted the country’s mineral wealth, stating that the administration aims to value rich mining resources as a primary driver for the national economy and as a tool to address spatial and social disparities.
Farewells and Administrative Transition
Outgoing minister Leila Benali used the transition event to thank public and private stakeholders who contributed to sustainability and energy transition projects over the past five years. Surrounded by dozens of ministry officials and senior staff, Benali made an emotional farewell, visibly moved as she parted ways with the teams with whom she collaborated during her tenure.
Afailal inherits a portfolio tied directly to national sovereignty across energy, water, and food supplies. Born in 1972 in Tétouan, her background includes training as a hydraulic engineer from the Mohammadia School of Engineers, where she graduated in 1997, alongside specialized studies in audit and management control at the Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration (ISCAE) between 2000 and 2001.
Professional Background and International Water Mandates
Before entering government as a minister, Afailal built an extensive technical and political resume. She worked as an environmental monitoring engineer at the National Center for Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN) from 1997 to 2002, before moving to the National Office for Drinking Water (ONEP), where she served as a studies and works engineer at the Water Quality Control Directorate from 2002 to 2004.
Politically active as a member of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), she was elected as an MP in 2011 and served as eighth vice-president of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. More recently, she served as a municipal counselor on the Tetouan municipal council from 2021 through 2026.
Her international engagement includes roles as an expert member of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, alongside advisory positions with UN-Water and the Water Policy Group.