Abdela Kharbouch is the father of French Montana, whose real name is Karim Kharbouch, and his two younger brothers, Zack and Ayoub. Originally from Morocco, Abdela moved his family to New York in the mid-1990s before returning to Casablanca a few years later, leaving his wife and three sons in the United States.
His relationship with Karim drew public attention in 2012 when French Montana returned to Morocco and reunited with his father after approximately 14 years apart. The visit was also a first meeting between Abdela and his youngest son, Ayoub.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Abdela Kharbouch |
| Known for | Father of French Montana (Karim Kharbouch) |
| Children | Karim, Zack, and Ayoub Kharbouch |
| Family roots | Countryside outside Casablanca, Morocco |
| Relocation to the US | Moved with his family to the South Bronx |
| Return to Morocco | Returned approximately two to three years later |
| Documented reunion | Met Karim and Ayoub in Casablanca in 2012 |
Abdela Kharbouch’s Moroccan Roots and Family Background
Abdela came from a small rural community outside Casablanca, Morocco. Karim has described visiting his paternal grandparents in a village with only a few houses, a mosque, and no street lighting.
In an interview with Esquire Middle East, Karim recalled that his father regularly looked for ways to earn money. Abdela supported the household financially while Karim’s mother stayed home.
Karim described his father as someone who was constantly pursuing ways to improve his circumstances. Although he remembered Abdela being absent at times during his childhood, he also acknowledged that his father’s determination to earn money influenced his own outlook.
Karim believed he had inherited some of that determination from Abdela. His recollections provide a picture of his father’s approach to supporting the family, although Abdela’s exact occupation has not been publicly established.
Why Abdela Kharbouch Moved His Family to New York
During the mid-1990s, Abdela moved with his wife and two sons, Karim and Zack, from Morocco to the South Bronx in New York City.
The move was intended to provide better financial opportunities for the family. Karim, who had spent his childhood in Morocco, was approximately 13 or 14 years old when they relocated.
Adjusting to New York proved difficult. Karim spoke Arabic and French but did not speak English when he arrived. The language barrier complicated his education and made it difficult to communicate with classmates.
His mother faced similar challenges adapting to life in the United States.
Abdela’s financial plans also failed to develop as he had hoped. After approximately two to three years in New York, he decided to return to Morocco.
Why Did Abdela Leave French Montana and His Family?
Abdela returned to Casablanca because his plans in New York had not succeeded. According to Karim, his father wanted the entire family to accompany him back to Morocco.
Karim’s mother disagreed. She believed her children would have greater opportunities if they remained in the United States and refused to leave New York.
As a result, Abdela returned to Morocco without his wife and children.
His departure occurred around the time his youngest son, Ayoub, was born. Karim’s mother remained in New York to raise Karim, Zack, and Ayoub.
Accounts differ slightly about the timing of Abdela’s departure. A 2012 report in The FADER states that he spent approximately two years in New York. In a later Esquire Middle East interview, Karim recalled being 17 when his father left, suggesting a somewhat longer period.
Both accounts agree on the central circumstances: Abdela returned to Morocco after his plans in the United States failed, while his wife chose to remain in New York with their children.
These explanations come primarily from Karim’s recollections rather than a direct public account from Abdela.
How Abdela’s Departure Affected French Montana and His Brothers
Following Abdela’s departure, Karim assumed greater responsibility for supporting his mother and younger brothers.
The family faced financial difficulties, and his mother’s limited English made navigating everyday life more challenging.
Karim later explained that he felt responsible for looking after the household while still a teenager. He helped provide money and took on responsibilities normally associated with a parent.
His relationship with Abdela became distant during this period.
Reporting from 2012 stated that Karim had spoken to his father only once during the preceding 14 years. However, Karim also remembered occasional telephone calls from Morocco in which Abdela asked about the family.
Karim initially struggled with anger over his father’s departure. His perspective changed somewhat after becoming a father himself.
During his 2012 interview with The FADER, Karim explained that his own experiences with fatherhood had prompted him to reconsider some of the difficulties Abdela might have faced.
He did not dismiss the consequences of growing up without his father, but he began to view their separation with greater understanding.
Abdela Kharbouch’s Emotional Reunion with French Montana in 2012
One of the clearest documented events involving Abdela occurred in 2012, when Karim returned to Morocco with his youngest brother, Ayoub.
Karim had not informed Abdela about the trip. Although he intended to visit his father, he repeatedly postponed the meeting during his stay in Casablanca.
On the final evening, Karim decided to make the visit.
The brothers traveled to an apartment building in Hay El Farah, a working-class neighborhood of Casablanca, where Abdela was living.
Karim and Ayoub entered the building and went upstairs while the accompanying group waited outside. They eventually returned with Abdela.
The reporter described Abdela as visibly surprised and smiling as he greeted the visitors.
For Ayoub, the meeting carried particular significance because he had never previously met his father.
Inside the apartment, Ayoub discovered numerous photographs of himself and his brothers displayed on the walls. The photographs indicated that Abdela had kept pictures of his children throughout their years apart.
Karim and Abdela later spoke privately outside the building.
During their conversation, Karim asked whether his father was working. Abdela replied that he was not employed at the time.
Karim also arranged financial assistance for his father. The accompanying reporter witnessed money being prepared, and Karim later identified the amount as $10,000.
The Casablanca reunion was documented in The FADER’s September 2012 report, providing a rare firsthand account of Abdela and his sons meeting after their long separation.
Although the reunion brought them together, the report did not establish whether it led to regular contact or a lasting reconciliation.
What Happened to Abdela Kharbouch After the Reunion?
Abdela was living in Casablanca when Karim and Ayoub visited him in 2012. The meeting remains the most detailed publicly documented account of his later life.
Subsequent interviews with French Montana have continued to address the family’s experiences, particularly the responsibilities Karim assumed after his father’s departure.
However, Abdela’s current residence, employment, and relationship with his sons have not been reliably established through recent public reporting.
His story is closely connected to a major decision that changed his family’s circumstances. Abdela brought his family from Morocco to New York seeking financial opportunity, but returned to Casablanca when his plans did not succeed.
Years later, the 2012 reunion gave Karim and Ayoub an opportunity to reconnect with their father. For Ayoub, it was their first meeting; for Karim, it was a chance to revisit a relationship that had shaped much of his childhood and understanding of family responsibility.