Moroccan media mourned the passing of former minister Mohamed Benaissa on Saturday, March 1, 2025, following a battle with illness. His decades-long career began in journalism before he transitioned into diplomacy and government service.
Benaissa, 88, who served as Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Culture, was admitted to the military hospital in Rabat last Sunday after his health deteriorated.
Although he distanced himself from politics in his later years, he remained deeply engaged in cultural affairs. He continued to serve as Secretary General of the Asilah Forum Foundation, which oversees the renowned Asilah International Cultural Season, one of the most prominent cultural events in the region.
The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award honoured the Asilah Forum Foundation with the Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award for its outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue.
In its statement, the award jury said: “The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation gave its Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award for the 17th edition (2020-2021) to the Asilah Forum Foundation for its cultural and enlightening role in enriching the intellectual landscape and fostering meaningful dialogue between cultures. Through its festivals and intellectual seasons, the Asilah Foundation has strengthened cross-cultural communication by bringing together thinkers, creators, politicians, academics, and knowledge makers from around the world.”
Throughout his career, Mohamed Benaissa held several key political and diplomatic positions, serving as Morocco’s Minister of Culture under the late King Hassan II and later as the country’s ambassador to Washington.
In 1999, just months before the passing of King Hassan II, Benaissa was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role he held until 2007. Reflecting on his early life in an interview, Benaissa shared insights into his education in Cairo and his long-standing passion for politics. He also recalled a unique experience from his youth—performing in theatre productions to finance his travels. He earned the equivalent of $45 per performance, just enough to cover the $42 ticket fare.
Although Benaissa arrived in Alexandria in 1954 to pursue his studies, the events following the Tripartite Aggression in Egypt led him to return to Morocco. He began his career as a presenter at Radio Africa Morocco in Tangier before returning to Egypt to complete his baccalaureate. After graduating, he went back to Morocco and resumed his work at the radio station.
In 1960, Benaissa was awarded a scholarship to study in Italy but chose not to attend. Instead, he traveled to Cairo to study journalism, where he later secured another scholarship that enabled him to continue his studies in the United States.
Benaissa completed his university studies in Minnesota before earning a master’s degree from Columbia University. He then joined the Moroccan Permanent Mission to the United Nations as a press attaché. During this time, he married an American woman, though their marriage later ended in separation.
