Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Wednesday appointed Lieutenant General Belkhir El Farouk as the new Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) to replace outgoing Inspector General Abdelfattah Louarak, official news agency MAP reported.

The new top military commander was appointed to this post “due to his professionalism, and the high spirit of responsibility he has shown during the various missions entrusted to him,” said the agency quoting a statement by the Moroccan Palace.

Belkhir El Farouk will continue to carry out his mission as Commander of the South Zone of the North African country, the statement added.