Gen Z protests in Morocco: 3 killed, 1,000 arrested

In Agadir city, 3 youths died from police firing. Meanwhile, more than a thousand people were arrested. 354 people were injured, most of whom were security personnel. According to the ministry, approximately 70% of the protesters were minors.

The Moroccan government is spending approximately 8.8 lakh crore rupees (around 10 billion dollars) for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. At the same time, there is a severe shortage of facilities in government hospitals in the country.

The movement, which began on social media platforms like TikTok and Discord, gained further support last Sunday after the arrests of protesters. Among those arrested were Moroccan star goalkeeper Yacine Bounou and popular rapper El Grande Toto.

Violent protests escalated on Wednesday. Protests also took place in the capital, Rabat, the main commercial city of Casablanca, and the port city of Tangier. Local media reported that violence also broke out in the tourist hub of Marrakech, where protesters set a police station on fire.

Interior Ministry spokesman Rashid al-Khelfi said 409 people were detained across Morocco following the unrest. More than 260 police officers and 20 protesters were injured, and 40 police vehicles and 20 private cars were set on fire.

The uprising follows massive youth-led demonstrations last month in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Madagascar. In Nepal, the protests forced the prime minister to resign, while in Madagascar, the president dissolved his government in an attempt to pacify protesters.

This youth-led protest movement is being called GenZ 212.

212 is Morocco's international telephone dialing code. When calling someone in Morocco from abroad, prefix the number with +212.

Like Nepal, Morocco's youth protests lack a single leader. People are rallying through social media. The unemployment rate in Morocco is 12.8%, with youth unemployment reaching 35.8% and 19% among graduates.

Morocco has one doctor for every 1,430 people, which is two and a half times lower than the global average (590). Eight women died at Agadir's Hassan-2 Hospital, which has been dubbed the "Death Hospital."