At least two people were killed in Morocco after police opened fire on protesters in Lqliâa, near Agadir, late Wednesday, marking the first fatalities in a wave of youth-led demonstrations shaking the North African nation.
The unrest, driven largely by Gen Z activists, erupted on Saturday over anger at government spending priorities. Protesters accuse authorities of pouring billions into stadiums for the 2030 FIFA World Cup while hospitals and public services remain neglected.
The movement’s rallying cry, “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” has spread across Morocco, resonating with a generation grappling with high unemployment and corruption.
Authorities said officers were ‘forced to respond in self-defense’ when demonstrators attempted to storm a police station in Lqliâa. Witnesses reported heavy clashes and gunfire, despite earlier assurances from the interior ministry that peaceful protests would be respected. The violence has since spread to major cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakesh, where a police station was torched.
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Gen Z 212: The driving force
The protests are organized under the banner ‘GenZ 212’, referencing Morocco’s dialing code, with social media playing a central role. While loosely coordinated, organisers insist their goal is peaceful protest and have distanced themselves from rioting.
Morocco faces a severe jobs crisis: youth unemployment stands at 35.8%, nearly triple the national average of 12.8%. Even university graduates face a jobless rate of 19%.
Heavy toll: arrests and injuries
Interior ministry spokesperson Rachid El Khalfi confirmed more than 400 arrests since Saturday. At least 260 police officers and 20 demonstrators have been injured, while 40 police vehicles and 20 private cars were set on fire.
Morocco’s ruling coalition has pledged to open dialogue with protesters ‘within institutions and public spaces to find realistic solutions’. Officials praised the ‘measured response of security forces’, even as rights groups warned against excessive force.
For now, the protests show no signs of slowing, exposing deep frustration among Morocco’s young generation, who say they are denied jobs, dignity, and healthcare while the state prepares for the world’s biggest sporting event.
A global wave of youth uprisings
The crisis in Morocco echoes wider unrest across the globe. This year, youth-led protests toppled leaders in Nepal, sparked mass demonstrations in Indonesia and the Philippines. They also forced Madagascar’s president to dissolve his government.
