Member of the collective leadership of Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, who is also Morocco’s Minister of National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy and Mayor of Marrakesh has been named the country’s Prime Minister. She becomes the first female to be so named.

El Mansouri was elected as Morocco’s prime minister after her party won the most seats in the parliamentary elections held in the North African country.

King Mohammed VI named El Mansouri as the country’s prime minister on Tuesday and tasked her with forming a new government, the Royal Palace said in a statement.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, but the king retains significant powers. Under the constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the political party that wins the most seats in the house of representatives.

The 50-year-old attorney was previously the mayor of Marrakech before her appointment as prime minister. She is the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.

Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and a key figure in the king’s aligned Authenticity and Modernity Party (AMP), was El Mansouri’s strongest contender.

El Mansouri’s government will oversee the final stages of a $20-billion push to prepare Morocco for the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Portugal and ‌Spain.

She will also be tasked with implementing economic policies aimed at addressing widespread youth discontent, an issue highlighted by a mass border rush on the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July and deadly Gen-Z-led protests last year.

Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its referred visa category, ending the requirement for special clearance before they can obtain a visa.

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the development in a notice dated September 25 and shared on its official X handle on Monday.

The statement signed by Paul Mselle, chief spokesperson of the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, said the decision followed amendments published in government gazette No. 246 of 2026.

“With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals travelling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions and will follow standard visa application procedures through the official immigration online portal or designated entry points,” the statement reads.

A referred visa is required for nationals of certain countries who need special clearance from Tanzania’s commissioner general of immigration or the commissioner of immigration (Zanzibar) before a visa can be issued.

Applicants in the category are often advised to wait for approval before making travel arrangements, including booking flight tickets or accommodation.

Before the latest change, Nigeria was among the countries whose nationals were subject to the referred visa requirement.

Other countries currently listed under Tanzania’s referred visa category include Afghanistan, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The category also covers stateless persons and individuals with refugee status.

The removal means Nigerians travelling to Tanzania will now follow the country’s standard visa application process without the additional referral clearance.

Troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, have rescued a soldier who was recently abducted at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, NATC, Miango Range, in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The soldier, identified as Cpl. Amos Bala, was kidnapped on September 27, 2026, at the NATC Miango Range.

Report, quoting security expert,Zagazola Makama said the victim was released by his abductors at about 9:00 p.m. on September 28 following sustained pressure from troops conducting rescue operations in the area.

The soldier reportedly sustained injuries during his captivity and was immediately evacuated to the NATC Medical Centre for treatment.

He was subsequently treated and later rejoined his unit.

The development followed efforts of Sector 3 OPEP to locate the abducted soldier and secure his safe release.