For the fifth consecutive night, anti-government demonstrators filled Morocco’s streets, demanding better public services. Violence escalated in the southern town of Leqliaa, where police reportedly opened fire in self-defense, killing two protesters, the first confirmed fatalities of the unrest. Authorities claim the victims attempted to seize police weapons, but no independent witnesses have corroborated the account. The deaths have intensified anger in a movement already spreading across the country.
Gen Z Protests Expose Corruption, Spark Violent Clashes Across Morocco’s Neglected Cities
The protests, dubbed the “Gen Z movement,” have been led largely by digitally connected youth without formal leadership. Demonstrators criticize widespread corruption and the government’s heavy investment in preparing for the 2030 World Cup while hospitals and schools remain severely underfunded. Slogans such as “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” capture the frustration of young Moroccans who feel excluded from the nation’s economic growth.
Despite organizers’ urging restraint, violence erupted in several cities after mass arrests and government crackdowns. In Sale, near the capital Rabat, masked teenagers torched cars, banks, and shops amid a lack of visible police presence. Similar unrest spread to neglected towns in Morocco’s east and south, where protesters hurled rocks, set vehicles ablaze, and clashed with security forces. Authorities reported 409 arrests, 263 injured law enforcement officers, and damage to over 160 vehicles, alongside dozens of civilian injuries.
Mass Arrests, Human Rights Warnings, and Youth-Led Protests Challenge Morocco’s Fragile Stability
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) reports that more than a thousand people have been detained, including minors. Local chapters and international groups like Amnesty International have urged authorities to respect civil rights and engage with youth demands instead of resorting to repression.
Amnesty warned that ignoring grievances around corruption, education, and healthcare risks deepening the crisis. The arrests, often filmed or carried out by plainclothes officers, have only further fueled outrage.
The protests have become one of Morocco’s largest grassroots movements in years, echoing similar youth-led unrest in other countries. Social media platforms like TikTok and Discord have amplified the protests, drawing support from cultural icons, including football star Yassine Bounou and rapper El Grande Toto.
As Morocco prepares to host major sporting events and heads toward parliamentary elections in 2026, the demonstrations highlight enduring regional inequalities and failing public services. The government has promised parliamentary discussions on healthcare reform, but for many Moroccans, trust in the state remains deeply shaken.
