A wave of Gen Z-led protests is sweeping across Morocco, with young people demanding urgent reforms to public health and education. Organised online by the group 'Gen Z Two One Two' via platforms like TikTok and Discord, the demonstrations entered their third day in cities including Rabat and Casablanca, leading to dozens of arrests as security forces cracked down on peaceful gatherings. Protesters are condemning the government for prioritizing massive spending on international sporting events—such as co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations—over essential public services. This discontent has been fuelled by recent tragedies, including reports of eight pregnant women dying at a public hospital in Agadir. Both human rights bodies and opposition parties have condemned the crackdown, viewing it as an assault on the right to free expression, while public frustration over social inequalities—mirroring youth-led movements in other African nations—continues to rise.
