Mohammed VI of Morocco

King Mohammed VI a.k.a. King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan was born in Rabat, Morocco on August 21, 1963. Before becoming king, he held the title of crown prince. He was enthroned July 23, 1999, hours after the death of his father King Hassan II. The young King soon became known as a moderniser who brought about a constitutional monarchy. Mohammed VI first created Morocco's office of prime minister.

Shortly after he took the throne, he addressed his nation via television, promising to take on poverty and corruption, while creating jobs and improving Morocco's human rights record. Mohammed VI is generally opposed by Islamist conservatives. His support for political pluralism has angered some fundamentalists.