Rabat — After Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, Morocco has now witnessed a new wave of youth-led protests against corruption and what demonstrators describe as the government’s misuse of public resources.
According to international media reports, the demonstrations began peacefully but intensified after police attempted to disperse crowds with force. On Tuesday, three more people were killed in the town of Laqlia, near Agadir, raising the death toll to seven.
Protest leaders accused security forces of using live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators, while the Interior Ministry claimed that some protesters tried to seize weapons from the police. More than 1,000 people have been detained, and hundreds remain hospitalized with injuries.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has offered dialogue with protest representatives, but the unrest shows little sign of slowing.
The movement is largely driven by a previously unknown youth collective called GenZ 212, which has been mobilizing supporters through TikTok, Instagram, and Discord. Demonstrators criticize the government for investing billions in stadiums and infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup while neglecting schools and hospitals.
One of the slogans that has gained popularity among protesters is: “The stadiums are built, but where are the hospitals?”
Analysts note that Morocco’s uprising echoes similar youth-led movements in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where public anger over corruption and governance crises triggered major political shifts.
