Morocco’s Gen Z rises for reform and accountability

Refusing to let the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) overshadow their core grievances, Morocco’s Gen Z protesters returned to the streets on Saturday, reigniting their call for sweeping accountability and educational reform. The protests, organized under the digitally-driven “Gen Z 212” banner, resumed after an eight-day pause, with hundreds rallying across major cities, including Casablanca, Tangier, and potentially Fes, demonstrating the movement's persistent nationwide reach.

The immediate source of frustration is the government's spending priorities. Demonstrators chanted viral slogans like “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” and urged citizens to boycott matches at Morocco’s new venues, which are undergoing extensive, multi-billion-dollar renovations to host the AFCON in December 2025. This massive sports investment is seen as a direct neglect of failing public services, particularly in rural areas where the doctor-to-citizen ratio remains critically low.

At the political level, protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, accusing his government of corruption and public welfare neglect. Their anger intensified following King Mohammed VI’s recent parliamentary speech, which acknowledged national projects could progress alongside social programs a message protesters widely viewed as dismissive of their core grievances.

The education crisis

Education reform remains the movement's central pillar. Protesters decried the growing divide between public and private schooling, teacher shortages, and poor infrastructure. Since 2000, private university enrolment has surged sixfold, deepening societal inequality.

“We know the risks of arrest, but the alternative is silence and poverty for our children,” one anonymous organizer from Gen Z 212 stated, capturing the movement’s resolve. The grassroots collective, with over 200,000 members on Discord, is a formidable organizing force for Moroccan youth demanding a reimagined future prioritizing people over prestige.

However, the protests are fraught with risk. Earlier unrest, initially triggered by teacher strikes, led to three deaths and over 400 arrests, with 17 individuals recently sentenced to a combined 162 years for vandalism. A government spokesperson, defending the spending, maintained, "These investments are essential for future tourism and job creation. The government respects the right to protest but will ensure public order and safety."

A regional political analyst noted that the longevity of this digitally organized dissent poses a significant challenge: "This isn't a traditional opposition; it's a social media-fluent youth demanding systemic transparency. Their momentum suggests this movement is a serious, long-term threat to the established political order." Despite mounting risks and harsh sentences, Morocco’s Gen Z continues its push for justice and transparency.