Belkhir El Farouk

Belkhir El Farouk
بلخير الفاروق ⴱⵍⵅⵉⵔ ⵍⴼⴰⵔⵓⵇ
Belkhir El Farouk in 2022
Inspector General of the Armed Forces
In office 15 September 2021 – 22 April 2023
Preceded by	Abdelfattah Louarak
Succeeded by	Mohammed Berrid
Commander of the Southern Zone
In office January 2017 – 22 April 2023
Preceded by	Bouchaib Arroub
Succeeded by	Mohammed Berrid
Personal details
Born	1948 (age 76–77) Id Bouchini, Mirleft, Morocco
Children	3
Military service
Allegiance	Morocco
Branch/service	Royal Moroccan Army
Rank	General de Corps d'Armée
Battles/wars	Western Sahara War Guerguerat crisis

Belkhir El Farouk (Arabic: بلخير الفاروق, Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴱⵍⵅⵉⵔ ⵍⴼⴰⵔⵓⵇ; born 1948) is a Moroccan military general.

He was appointed as Inspector General by King Mohammed VI in 2021, replacing Abdelfattah Louarak, having previously been appointed Commander of the Southern Military Zone in 2019.[1][2][3] He was replaced by Mohammed Berrid on April 22, 2023 after asking to be relieved of his duties for health reasons.[4][5]

Early life

Belkhir El Farouk was born in the village of Id Bouchini, near Mirleft, in 1948.[1][6] He was born into the Shilha Ait Baâmran [fr] tribal confederation.[6] He graduated from the Meknes Royal Military Academy in 1972 with the rank of second lieutenant.[7] El Farouk obtained a Diploma of Higher Military Defense Studies in France.[8]

Military career

El Farouk had held several positions of military responsibility, notably in the 13th Infantry Battalion, the 4th [fr] and 6th Motorized Infantry Regiment [fr], the Headquarters Battalion, the 1st Skiers Battalion, the 10th Motorized Infantry Brigade, 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 3rd Headquarters Company, and Headquarters and Theater Support Battalions.[8]

In 2006, he was appointed head of the 3rd office of the Royal Armed Forces' general staff.[1] He was appointed Commander in Chief of the Southern Military Zone by King Mohammed VI in 2017.[1] El Farouk led the military intervention to take control of a border crossing in Guerguerat, leading to the 2020–2023 Western Saharan clashes.[1]

El Farouk was named Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces by King Mohammed VI on 15 September 2021, replacing Abdelfattah Louarak.[3]

On 22 April 2023, El Farouk was replaced by Mohammed Berrid as Inspector General by King Mohammed VI.[9][10][11]

Personal life

El Farouk is married and has three children.[1][8]

Decorations

• Commander of the Order of the Throne[8]

References

1. Kozlowski, Nina (2021-09-22). "Belkhir El Farouk : dix choses à savoir sur le nouveau numéro 2 de l'armée". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2022-09-14.
2. "Le roi Mohammed VI nomme le général de corps d'armée Belkhir El Farouk inspecteur général des FAR". TelQuel (in French). Retrieved 2022-10-02.
3. "Morocco names Lieutenant General Belkhir El-Farouk as new army commander". Al Arabiya English. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
4. "Qui est le général Berrid, le nouvel inspecteur général des FAR?". www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma (in French). Retrieved 2023-04-23.
5. "Le Roi Mohammed VI nomme Mohammed Berrid à la tête des Forces Armées Royales". Hespress Français - Actualités du Maroc (in French). 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
6. "من يكون الجنرال بلخير الذي عينه الملك مفتشا عاما للقوات المسلحة الملكية" [Who is General Belkhir, who was appointed by the King as Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces?]. Al Akhbar (in Arabic). 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
7. El Kanabi, Mohamed Jaouad (2021-09-16). "Le Général Belkhir El Farouk, le bon Inspecteur à la bonne place". Hespress (in French). Retrieved 2022-10-05.
8. "Portrait du nouvel Inspecteur Général des FAR Belkhir El Farouk". Les Eco (in French). 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
9. "Mohammed VI remplace Belkhir El Farouk par Mohammed Berrid à la tête des FAR". Le Desk (in French). Retrieved 2023-04-22.
10. Sahnouni, Mariya. "Mohammed Berrid Named Inspector General of Morocco's Armed Forces". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
11. "الملك يعين بريظ مفتشا عاما للجيش". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-22.