Rabat, Morocco — The recently established youth collective GenZ 212 has called for the resignation of Morocco’s government after six days of protests demanding better healthcare and educational services, which were marked by violence and the deaths of three people.
The demonstrations, organized by GenZ 212 since Saturday, follow protests that began in mid-September in several cities after the deaths of eight pregnant women undergoing cesarean sections in a state hospital in Agadir.
“The people want healthcare and education,” chanted dozens of protesters waving Moroccan flags in Agdal, a commercial district in the capital, Rabat. Similar gatherings were held in Casablanca, Marrakech, and Agadir. According to local media, the protests concluded peacefully.
GenZ 212, whose founders remain anonymous and which claims 150,000 members on Discord, describes itself as a “free youth” collective with no political affiliation. The group emphasized that it rejects all forms of violence and urged demonstrators to respect the peaceful nature of the movement.
Violence erupted across the country during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. According to the Ministry of Interior, three people were killed by gendarmes in “self-defense” during an attempted attack on a gendarmerie brigade in Lklija, near Agadir, in an effort to seize weapons and ammunition.
The collective issued a statement to King Mohammed VI, calling for the dissolution of the current government due to its failure to protect citizens’ constitutional rights and respond to social demands, as well as fair trials for those responsible for corruption.
Prime Minister Aziz Ahanouch confirmed the government’s readiness to respond to youth demands and expressed openness to dialogue.
Despite Morocco preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with ongoing infrastructure projects including new stadiums, high-speed rail expansions, and airport modernization, protesters insist, “We want hospitals, not just stadiums,” reflecting their continued call for urgent social investment.
GenZ 212 stresses that it acts “out of love for the country and the king”, in a nation facing deep inequalities both territorially and between public and private sectors, and has called for the release of all individuals detained during peaceful protests.
