Ahmed Osman (politician)

Ahmed Osman (أحمد عصمان; born 3 January 1930) is a Moroccan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Morocco between 2 November 1972, and 22 March 1979. He was the eighth prime minister of Morocco and served under king Hassan II.

Early life
Osman was born on 3 January 1930 in Oujda. He studied at the Collège Royal in Rabat with Hassan II. He studied law in Rabat college, where he obtained his license, and in Bordeaux, where he received the diplomas of higher studies in public law and of private law. He also founded the National Rally of Independents.

Career
Osman held many positions in the Government. He was Secretary General Ministry of National Defence (1959–1961), Ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany (1961–1962) and the United States (1967–1972), Under Secretary Ministry of Mines and Industry (1962–1964), President of the Moroccan General Navigation Company (1964–1967), Prime Minister (1972–1979), President of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) from 1977, and President of the House of Representatives (1984–1992).

Prime Minister of Morocco
Osman began his career as prime minister by a visit to France on diplomatic mission. On 3 December 1977, Osman met with President Jimmy Carter of the United States to deliver a personal message from the King, along with ambassador Abdelmajid Benjelloun. On 9 March 1978, Osman visited the Soviet Union, signing a long-term agreement between the USSR and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Soviet side.

Personal life
He was married to Princess Lalla Nuzha of Morocco, a sister of King Hassan II, from 1964 to her death in 1977. The couple had a son:


 * Moulay Nawfal Osman, who was born in 1966 and died in 1992.

From his second marriage, Ahmed had another son:


 * Ali Osman, who is married to Alia Sefrioui, daughter of Anas Sefrioui.

National honours

 * Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Throne.

Foreign honours

 * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom).
 * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (United Kingdom).
 * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, 1962).