Morocco is facing its most intense wave of youth-led protests in years, as demonstrations demanding better education, healthcare, and an end to corruption entered their fourth day with violent clashes across several cities.
The protests, coordinated online by an anonymous group calling itself “GenZ 212,” have drawn thousands of young people to the streets of Rabat, Casablanca, Oujda, Tiznit, Inzegane, Ait Amira, and other towns.
The movement, which uses TikTok, Instagram, and Discord to mobilize, reflects growing frustration among Morocco’s youth over unemployment, poor services, and lack of political inclusion.
On Tuesday evening, violence escalated in the southern town of Ait Amira where protesters overturned police vehicles, set a bank on fire, and clashed with security forces. Similar scenes unfolded in Inzegane, where demonstrators torched cars and tried to storm a supermarket before being dispersed by police using water cannons.
In Oujda, a protester was seriously injured after being struck by a police vehicle, according to the state news agency MAP. In Rabat, dozens of youths were arrested as police moved in before chants could grow into mass rallies.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) reported that 37 young people had been granted bail but still faced investigations. Its Rabat chapter head, Hakim Saikuk, condemned the arrests as unconstitutional.
Separately, 24 protesters in Casablanca are under judicial review for blocking a highway earlier in the week.
Protesters’ chants included calls to end corruption, which they argue continues to block opportunities and reforms.
The government coalition issued a statement late Tuesday expressing readiness to engage in dialogue with young people “within institutions and public spaces to find realistic solutions.” The statement also praised the “balanced reaction” of security forces, though human rights groups and witnesses described the police response as heavy-handed.
The protests come at a time of rising economic strain in Morocco, with high youth unemployment, limited access to affordable healthcare, and underfunded schools. Analysts warn that unless genuine reforms are introduced, the country risks deeper unrest.
