Gen Z leads protests in Morocco over education, healthcare

Violence spreads in Morocco as youths clash with police, loot shops, and torch banks, cars in cities

Masked youths clashed with security forces and vandalized property in several Moroccan cities on Wednesday night, as anti-government protests calling for social justice reforms entered their fifth consecutive day.

The protests, which began Saturday with demands for better education and healthcare, have been organized online by a loosely formed, anonymous youth group calling itself GenZ 212. The group has mobilized supporters through TikTok, Instagram, and Discord.

Morocco’s unemployment rate stands at 12.8%, with youth unemployment at 35.8% and 19% among graduates, according to the national statistics agency. Inspired by similar youth-led protests abroad, GenZ 212’s Discord membership has surged from 3,000 last week to more than 130,000 today.

Authorities initially attempted to quell the rallies, but demonstrations escalated into widespread unrest on Tuesday night. Reuters images showed security forces encircling protesters and hauling them into vans. The Interior Ministry reported 263 security personnel and 23 civilians injured in Tuesday’s clashes.

Wave of youth anger

On Wednesday, violence spread to Salé, near Rabat, where youths hurled stones at police, looted shops, set banks ablaze, and torched police vehicles. In Tangier, young men clashed with security forces, while towns in the Souss region saw some of the most intense unrest.

In Sidi Bibi, masked youths burned the commune headquarters and blocked a main road. In Biougra, a bank was ransacked and shops damaged. "I was in the cafe watching PSG vs Real Madrid when young men began hurling stones. We stayed inside the closed cafe and kept watching," said local activist Abdeslam Chegri.

Read More: Heated words, aggressive stares and a brawl - KU student groups await verdict after clash

Earlier protests over poor hospital conditions in Agadir had sparked the wave of anger. In Taroudant, usually a quiet town, demonstrators clashed with police, attacked shops, and burned cars. By contrast, peaceful protests were held in Casablanca, Oujda, and Taza, where demonstrators called for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to resign and demanded an end to corruption.

While Morocco has seen recurring protests over economic grievances, this week’s unrest is the most violent since the 2016–2017 demonstrations in the northern Rif region. The Interior Ministry said it would uphold the right to protest within legal limits and pledged to respond with “restraint and self-control.”

On social media, GenZ 212 reiterated it rejected violence and was committed to peaceful protest, stating it had “no conflict with security forces, only with the government.”

Authorities said 409 people have been detained, with 193 facing trial—mostly on bail—on charges including arson, looting, and assaulting security forces.