Atif Tijani: Morocco’s youngest MP enters Parliament at 23

Tuesday 29 September 2026 - 11:42

At 23, Atif Tijani is entering Morocco’s House of Representatives with a distinction that sets him apart from the vast majority of his newly elected colleagues: he is the youngest member of the new Parliament.

Tijani won one of the three parliamentary seats allocated to the Ouarzazate constituency in the legislative elections held on September 23, 2026, running as the head of the Istiqlal Party list. Final results available for the constituency show him in second place, behind Iman Limaoui of the Authenticity and Modernity Party and ahead of Rachid El Kadi of the Justice and Development Party.

From Tazenakht to the national Parliament

Originally from the commune of Tazenakht in Ouarzazate Province, Tijani’s path to Parliament has been rooted largely in his home region.

He completed his secondary education at Al Khawarizmi High School, where he obtained a baccalaureate in physical sciences. He subsequently pursued studies related to business management and financial administration while becoming involved in local associative activities.

That combination of education and community engagement gradually brought him closer to the social and economic concerns affecting residents of Ouarzazate Province. In interviews published during the electoral campaign, Tijani presented his political involvement as an extension of this local experience rather than as a sudden move into public life.

A first electoral campaign at 23

Istiqlal selected Tijani, then 23, to lead its local list in Ouarzazate ahead of the September legislative vote. His candidacy was notable not only because of his age but also because it represented his first parliamentary election campaign. Istiqlal had previously listed him among its candidates for the Ouarzazate constituency.

The election ultimately gave him a seat in the House of Representatives. The Ouarzazate constituency elected three deputies, with Tijani securing the seat associated with Istiqlal after finishing second in the final count.

His result has placed the question of youth participation in Moroccan political institutions back into the spotlight, particularly as several younger candidates entered Parliament following the 2026 elections.

From criticism to public responsibility

Tijani has described his political decision as a move from observing and commenting on local issues to assuming direct institutional responsibility.

During the campaign, he emphasized the importance of understanding the realities faced by residents before attempting to address them through Parliament. His approach places considerable emphasis on direct contact with citizens, field visits and gathering information at the local level.

For the newly elected deputy, parliamentary representation is therefore not limited to participation in sessions in Rabat. He has argued that elected representatives need to remain connected to their constituencies and understand their concerns before turning them into parliamentary dossiers.

Ouarzazate issues on his parliamentary agenda

During his campaign, Tijani highlighted several local development concerns, including access to essential services, employment opportunities, infrastructure and the development of sports facilities. He also referred to the importance of supporting traditional crafts and creating better conditions for young people in the province.

His new position will give him access to the institutional mechanisms available to members of Parliament, including oral and written questions, committee work and scrutiny of public policies.

The transition from campaigning to parliamentary work will now require him to translate local concerns into issues that can be addressed through those constitutional and parliamentary instruments.

A young face in a five-year legislature

Tijani’s arrival comes as Morocco’s newly elected House of Representatives begins a new five-year legislative term. At 23, he joins an institution of 395 elected members, bringing a markedly younger profile to the parliamentary landscape.

His election does not, by itself, determine the impact he will have during the legislature. That will depend on his parliamentary activity, his participation in committees, his ability to follow local dossiers and the extent to which he maintains contact with citizens in Ouarzazate.

For now, however, his trajectory is already distinctive: from Tazenakht and local associative involvement to the national legislature, Atif Tijani has begun his political career at an age when many of his contemporaries are only starting their professional lives.