Rachad Bouhlal

Rachad Bouhlal (Arabic: رشاد بوهلال; born 26 August 1951 in Rabat) is a Moroccan diplomat.^[1] He has been the ambassador of Morocco to Japan since 22 December 2016,^[2] succeeding Samir Arrour. Prior to his assignment in Japan, he was also ambassador in the United States, in Germany, and in Benelux.

Rachad Bouhlal
Ambassador of Morocco to Japan
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 December 2016
Monarch	Mohammed VI
Preceded by	Samir Arrour
Ambassador of Morocco to United States
In office 6 December 2011 – 2016
Monarch	Mohammed VI
Preceded by	Aziz Mekouar
Succeeded by	Lalla Joumala Alaoui
Ambassador of Morocco to Germany
In office 2004–2011
Monarch	Mohammed VI
Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In office 1999–2004
Ambassador of Morocco to Belgium and Luxembourg
In office 1996–1999
Personal details
Born	(1951-08-26) 26 August 1951 (age 73) Rabat, Morocco
Alma mater	Rouen Business School
Occupation	Diplomat

He has been the ambassador of Morocco to the United States from 18 January 2012 to 2016, succeeding Aziz Mekouar.^[3]

Bouhlal attended the Mission laïque française secondary education establishment Lycée Descartes of Rabat, where graduated in 1970.^[4]

Controversy

In May 2014, it was revealed that Rachad Bouhlal tried to pressure the Project On Middle East Democracy (POMED) into stripping journalists Ali Anouzla and Aboubakr Jamai, founders of the now censored Lakome news site, of the journalistic award they had given them.^[5] Both independent journalists were renowned for their independence and criticism of the policies of Mohammed VI.

Honours

• Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown of Belgium.^[6]
• Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.^[6]