(Image Source: ANI)
Dozens of young demonstrators have marched through Moroccan cities in what were termed some of the nation's biggest antigovernment protests in years, calling for improved government services as well as an end to corruption.
Protesters have called for immediate investment in education and public health and decried what they perceive as misplaced priorities at the national level. The demonstrations in Morocco, organized by a street-level movement known as GenZ 212, widened to at least 11 cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, and Agadir.
Also Read: What is GenZ 212? From Discord Servers to Deadly Streets: Morocco’s New Generation of Activists
Authorities acted swiftly to quell the demonstrations, with the police stating close to 200 people have been arrested since Saturday. A video posted on the GenZ 212 Facebook page seemed to demonstrate police charging into crowds, grabbing demonstrators, and pushing a young woman into the back of a van. "Systematic violence against a group of youth who were peacefully demonstrating," Hakim Sikouk from the Moroccan Association for Human Rights informed AFP news agency. "Security forces reacted violently. We condemn these arrests and find it unacceptable to adopt a security mindset in dealing with the social demands of a group of youths."
Protests are sparked by years of deterioration in public services and overdue reforms in schools and the health service, analysts say. Last week, eight pregnant women died at a public hospital, causing widespread outrage. "Today we emerged to defend and demand the rights of my daughter," said one protester, whose identity was not disclosed, in a social media video posted online. "Of course, our time has come, but there has been no change. Just look around and see the oppressive police here today beating and arresting protesters," he added.
Many demonstrators have also criticized the government’s multibillion-dollar investment in football infrastructure as Morocco prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations next year and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Protesters say this contrasts sharply with what they describe as a crisis in public services. According to the World Health Organization, Morocco has fewer than eight doctors per 10,000 people, well below the recommended 25.
The GenZ 212 movement is just two weeks old but is already building momentum. It does not have leaders or official affiliation with the parties or unions, using instead social media sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Discord to organize its followers. "This is a decentralized, leaderless, and fluid organization, or let's say, network," said Mohammed Masbah, director of the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis. On its Facebook page, the group issued a call for "peaceful demonstrations to express popular demands related to health, education, and social justice."
