Demonstrations led by Morocco’s youth have swept across more than a dozen cities for over a week, signaling a new chapter in the country’s political life. The movement, orchestrated by the anonymous, leaderless collective Gen Z 212, has managed to turn online frustration into a real-world force that authorities can no longer ignore. The protests, which began around September 27, 2025, have highlighted deep-seated grievances about corruption, economic hardship, and the government’s spending priorities, particularly as Morocco prepares to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Gen Z 212, named after Morocco’s country code, operates primarily through Discord, a platform popular with gamers and young people. With more than 180,000 members, the group has mobilized thousands to demand reforms to public health and education, an end to corruption, and the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. According to the Associated Press, the movement’s decentralized nature and use of digital tools have allowed it to bypass traditional institutions like political parties and unions, echoing similar youth-led uprisings in Madagascar, Kenya, Peru, and Nepal.
Morocco’s demographic landscape provides fertile ground for such a movement. Over half the population is under 35, and for Moroccans aged 15 to 24, unemployment has soared to 36%. A June 2025 Afrobarometer survey found that more than half of Moroccans under 35 have considered emigrating due to bleak prospects at home. Despite the country’s reputation as Africa’s most visited destination, many citizens face a daily reality marked by rising costs of living, stagnant wages, and inadequate public services.
The immediate spark for the latest wave of protests came in mid-September, when eight pregnant women died after being admitted for cesarean sections at a public hospital in Agadir. The tragedy, widely reported by AFP and local outlets, highlighted the chronic underfunding and staffing shortages in Morocco’s health system. In the words of protesters, “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”—a biting critique of the government’s decision to pour nearly $16 billion into new stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup, while basic services languish.
Morocco’s health sector statistics paint a stark picture: there are only 7.7 medical professionals per 10,000 inhabitants, with even fewer in the country’s southern and eastern regions, where protests have been especially heated. The public health system provides over 80% of care but accounts for just 40% of overall spending, with the remainder coming from private or out-of-pocket sources. Many communities, particularly outside Morocco’s tourist hotspots, contend with unpaved roads, overcrowded classrooms, and hospitals that lack doctors and essential supplies.
On October 4, 2025, Gen Z 212 marked its eighth consecutive day of protest, organizing rallies in 14 cities between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm local time. In Tetouan, hundreds chanted, “The people want an end to corruption,” and “Freedom, dignity and social justice,” as reported by local media. Casablanca’s crowds demanded, “The people want education and health,” while in Rabat, demonstrators gathered in front of parliament. The group’s founders remain anonymous, but their message is clear: Morocco’s youth want a say in the nation’s future, and they’re not willing to wait for traditional channels to deliver it.
Violence has marred some demonstrations. On September 29, police in the village of Lqliaa, near Agadir, killed three people who authorities say tried to storm a police station. Earlier, during the weekend of September 27-28, riot police arrested many demonstrators, with officials stating that most participants were minors and rights groups noting that many detainees were under 18. A police van injured a protester in Oujda, and elsewhere, law enforcement alternated between crackdowns and standing aside as rioters set cars ablaze and smashed storefronts.
Despite these incidents, Gen Z 212 insists on the nonviolent nature of its movement, and most recent protests have remained peaceful. The group’s demands have evolved, moving from broad calls for “freedom, dignity and social justice” to more concrete political requests. On October 2, Gen Z 212 published a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, urging him to dismiss the government and corrupt political parties, release detained protesters, and convene a government forum to hold officials accountable.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, a billionaire businessman who controls much of Morocco’s fuel sector, has found himself a particular target of the protests. Demonstrators accuse his administration of prioritizing spectacle over substance, citing controversial government contracts awarded to companies linked to Akhannouch and his associates. Health Minister Amine Tahraoui, a former business partner of the prime minister, has also faced criticism. Yet, both officials have signaled a willingness to engage with protesters. “The government launched a comprehensive plan from the beginning, and today we are accelerating its pace so that citizens can feel the improvements more clearly,” Tahraoui told Hespress on October 3.
Many Moroccans, however, remain skeptical. While stadiums rise in record time, promised improvements in health and education have yet to materialize. No official has suggested redirecting funds earmarked for the World Cup toward social services, deepening public frustration. The disconnect between high-profile investments and everyday hardship has led some to liken the government to a mafia, accusing it of serving business interests—including those of the royal family’s investment fund, Al Mada—over the needs of ordinary citizens, as reported by Jeune Afrique.
Former Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani, speaking at the Moroccan Liberal Party conference on October 4, described the current period as “difficult and delicate socially, politically, and nationally, whether related to human rights, citizen dignity, citizenship, or social justice.” He acknowledged that the demands of Gen Z 212 reflect those of most Moroccans and criticized the current government for failing to deliver on promises, especially regarding job creation and anti-corruption efforts. “The youth say there’s corruption—indeed, we have a corruption problem in our country. We must admit that,” El Othmani said, highlighting that 32 parliamentarians, most from the ruling coalition, are currently imprisoned on corruption charges.
El Othmani also praised the protests as a political message and an affirmation of the right to assembly and expression, but he cautioned against the violence and vandalism that have occurred, warning that “other circles entered along the way” and that Morocco’s enemies may seek to exploit the unrest.
For now, Morocco’s Gen Z movement stands as a testament to the power of digital organization and the persistence of youth-driven calls for change. Whether their demands will lead to meaningful reform remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: a new generation is making its voice heard, and the country’s leaders can no longer afford to look the other way.
