Rabat, July 9 -- Mbarka Bouaida, an experienced politician, was elected president of the southeast region Guelmim-Oued Noun Friday, July 5. The election makes Bouaida the first woman elected as a regional leader in the history of Morocco's regional elections which began in 2015.

Bouaida's party, the National Rally of Independents (RNI), described her election as "historic."

She now faces the issue of settling long-standing disputes between the region's RNI party and Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) party, but said she is aware of the challenges and is committed to "starting a new era" in the region.

Disagreements between the parties ultimately led to a suspension of the region's council in May 2018. A special delegation has han...