Morocco’s largest anti-government demonstrations in years entered their fifth night on Wednesday, leaving two people dead as anger over corruption, poverty, and failing public services continues to spread across the country. State media reported that police opened fire after a group of demonstrators attempted to storm a police station near Agadir. Protest organizers condemned what they described as “repressive security approaches” and called for restraint, urging the largely youth-driven protests to remain peaceful.
Dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” the movement has been galvanized by young Moroccans who accuse the government of prioritizing billion-dollar World Cup preparations over hospitals and schools. Demonstrators often chant: “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”—a reference to recent maternal deaths in public hospitals that have intensified public anger. The protests, organized via TikTok, Discord, and other platforms, have drawn comparisons to recent youth led uprisings in Nepal and Kenya.
An Associated Press reporter in Salé, near Rabat, described masked teenagers torching cars, smashing bank windows, and looting shops. Local media reported similar unrest in the southern towns of Inzegane and Aït Amira, as well as Oujda in the east, where a police vehicle rammed into demonstrators, injuring at least one. The Interior Ministry said 409 people had been arrested since protests began on Saturday, while 263 members of the security forces and 23 civilians were injured. Authorities also reported damage to 142 police vehicles and 20 private cars.
Amnesty International has urged Moroccan authorities to “address legitimate demands” for social and economic rights instead of relying on force. Officials deny that stadium projects for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 FIFA World Cup have come at the expense of public services, but critics argue the unrest reflects longstanding regional inequalities, youth unemployment, and deepening distrust in political institutions. Parliamentary elections set for 2026 are looming in the background, adding political weight to the government’s response. Despite the violence, protest organizers insist the demonstrations will continue until the government delivers meaningful reforms.
