Aziz Mekouar

Aziz Mekouar (; 13 November 1950 – ) was a Moroccan diplomat who served as ambassador to China from 2018 until his death in 2026. He had previously served as ambassador to the United States (2002–2011, making him the longest serving Moroccan ambassador in Washington), Italy and the Order of Malta (1999–2002), Portugal (1993–1999), and Angola (1985–1993). He was appointed in 2016 by the Mohammed VI of Morocco on the Steering Committee as Ambassador to Multilateral Negotiations of COP22. He is the longest serving Moroccan ambassador, the longest serving Moroccan ambassador in Washington, and the only one to have been appointed to six different mandates.

Mekouar also served as Independent Chairman of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and as a special adviser to the Presidency at the Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE), as well as a board member at the Bank of Africa.

Background Aziz Mekouar was a member of the highly aristocratic Mekouar , which includes historical figures such as Hajj Taoudi Mekouar (died 1189), Hajj Mohamed Mekouar (died 1263), and Hajj Haddou Mekouar (died 1232) who founded a rich lineage of prominent figures in government and business throughout the history of the country, and who were granted 'Dahir' privileges from several dynasties of sultans.

He was the grandson of the Moroccan nationalist Hajj (1892–1988), who is best known for being the first person to sign the from the French, a ceremony which took place in the Mekouar Palace in Fes. He was the great-great-grandson of Hajj Ahmed Mekouar (1819–1886), Honorary Consul of Great-Britain and owner of a sugar and textile trade conglomerate with France and the United Kingdom, and the great-grandnephew of Minister of Foreign Affairs Hajj Mohammed Mekouar. Aziz was the son of Hajj Tahar Mekouar, who served as ambassador in Lisbon and Rome then as Diplomatic Chief of Protocol to King Hassan II, and Hajjah Aïcha Benjelloun. Through his mother, he is the grandson of the past minister of Finance and minister of Justice Abdelkader Benjelloun, and the cousin of business magnate Othman Benjelloun.

Mekouar was married to Italian aristocrat, Marquise Maria Felice Cittadini Cesi, and had one son.

He was a member of several clubs, such as the Metropolitan Club in Washington DC and the Chevy Chase Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Mekouar's death was announced on 4 April 2026.

Education Mekouar attended the Lycée Français Chateaubriand in Rome, the Lycée Français Charles Lepierre in Lisbon, followed by his preparatory classes at Lycée Louis le Grand, and obtained a graduate degree from HEC Paris in 1974.

He was later an independent advisor and consultant for a number of different companies.

Interfaith activities As ambassador Mekouar made outreach to Jewish and evangelical Christians one of his priorities, he helped organise numerous events promoting Christian-Muslim understanding. Permanent representative of Morocco to the International Bureau for Information Technology (1978–1985).

Publications Thesis on Fisheries and their contribution to the development of Argentina (1973). Studies on "Asia-Dollar" and its future impact on the development of Southeast Asia (1974). 30 years of Italian Domestic Policy (1983). 30 years of Italian Foreign Policy (1983).

Decorations Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Portugal. Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ (Portugal). Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Italy.