Morocco's king undergoes successful heart surgery

The 56-year-old monarch heads the Muslim world's longest-serving dynasty

Morocco's King Mohammed VI delivers a speech on July 29, 2019, to mark the 20th anniversary of his accession to the throne, as his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, right, and son Prince Moulay Hassan, leShow more

King Mohammed VI of Morocco underwent a successful heart surgery on Sunday in Rabat, according to state news agency Map.

The king was treated for a heart rhythm disorder known as an "atrial flutter", it said.

The 56-year-old underwent a similar surgery to normalise his heart rhythm two years ago in Paris. He had a recurrence of heart frequency problems so his doctors recommended new surgery, which was carried out on Sunday in the Royal Palace Clinic in the Moroccan capital, MAP reported.

King Mohammed VI has headed the Muslim world’s longest-serving dynasty since 1999, when his father Hassan II died after four decades of rule.

A member of the Alaouite dynasty, he came to power at the age of 35. During his reign, King Mohammed VI has presided over reforms meant to open up politics, though ultimate power still rests with the King in Morocco, which is a constitutional monarchy.

He inherited a kingdom facing considerable socioeconomic challenges, including high poverty and unemployment, implementing a series of social and economic reforms that saw Morocco’s GDP rise from $42 billion in 1999 to $110 billion by 2017.

Under his watch, Morocco has also been closely allied with the US in its fight against terrorism.