For the ninth consecutive night, young Moroccans have taken to the streets, demanding an end to corruption and systemic change in government. These protests, organized online by the anonymous group GenZ 212, have progressively spread across the country since they began on September 27. The movement has chiefly utilized social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Discord to mobilize participants and emphasize its peaceful nature.
On Sunday, a couple of hundred demonstrators assembled outside Parliament, loudly demanding “freedom, dignity, social justice,” while criticizing the pervasive corruption with chants like “the state is corrupt, you can smell corruption.” Similar scenes unfolded in Casablanca’s El Fida district and in Tetouan, where calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and the dissolution of Parliament were heard according to reports. While most protests have been peaceful, midweek demonstrations in smaller towns turned violent, tragically resulting in the deaths of three individuals in Lqliaa. Authorities cited “legitimate defence” when gendarmes confronted a Royal Gendarmerie post stormed by protestors. This incident has prompted Amnesty International to urge an independent investigation into the violent crackdown on protestors.
The GenZ 212 group has articulated its grievances, highlighting social inequalities, failing public services, high unemployment, and rampant corruption, especially in light of significant expenditures on the upcoming 2030 World Cup. A protestor in Rabat, speaking to a news outlet, emphasized the ongoing struggle for “citizens’ basic rights, including education and healthcare.”
State media reports indicate that Morocco’s Popular Movement Party has shown a willingness to engage positively with the protestors’ demands, while also denouncing acts of vandalism that occurred during some demonstrations. Furthermore, the political party has called for a new governance model aimed at reforming key systems such as education, training, and health. They advocate for the establishment of viable alternatives for sustainable employment and efficient regional development plans, particularly targeting rural and mountainous areas.
This youth-led movement reflects a growing dissatisfaction and impatience with the current state of governance, highlighting a national urgency for reform and accountability from Morocco’s leadership.