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 aMoroccan military general.
He was appointed as Inspector General by KingMohammed VI in 2021, replacingAbdelfattah Louarak, having previously been appointed Commander of the Southern Military Zone in 2019.[1][2][3] He was replaced byMohammed Berrid on April 22, 2023 after asking to be relieved of his duties for health reasons.[4][5]
Belkhir El Farouk was born in the village of Id Bouchini, nearMirleft, in 1948.[1][6] He was born into theShilhaAit Baâmran [fr] tribal confederation.[6] He graduated from theMeknes 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]
El Farouk had held several positions of military responsibility, notably in the 13th Infantry Battalion, the4th [fr] and6th 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 the2020–2023 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 byMohammed Berrid as Inspector General by KingMohammed VI.[9][10][11]
El Farouk is married and has three children.[1][8]
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