Morocco Faces Sixth Night of Protests Amid Rising Anger

RABAT: On Thursday, Morocco was bracing for a sixth consecutive night of protests as frustration over inequality, corruption, and poor public services spilled into the streets. The unrest turned deadly a day earlier, when three people were killed during clashes in the southern city of Agadir.

Anger over inequality and priorities:

The protests, led mostly by young people, have been driven by outrage at what many see as misplaced government priorities. Morocco is investing billions in stadiums and infrastructure for the Africa Cup of Nations next month and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while basic services such as healthcare remain under strain.

Chants like “We don’t want the World Cup, health is a priority” and “We have stadiums, but what about hospitals?” have echoed across the country. The anger was further inflamed last month after reports that eight pregnant women died at a public hospital in Agadir.

Prime Minister calls for dialogue:

In his first address since the unrest began, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch expressed willingness to talk with demonstrators. He acknowledged the tragic loss of life during Wednesday night’s protests. He called the events “regrettable” and stressed that the government was ready to “engage in dialogue” and “respond to the protesters’ demands.”

The Interior Ministry said all three who died in Agadir were trying to storm a local law enforcement station. Earlier, authorities claimed two protesters were shot after wielding “bladed weapons” during the attempt.

The role of GenZ 212:

Much of the mobilisation has come from GenZ 212, a group formed on the messaging app Discord. The group, which now has over 150,000 members, has been calling for peaceful action.

It announced more demonstrations for Thursday evening, pledging they would be a “civilised and responsible expression of our demands.” The group insists it rejects violence, even as clashes and vandalism have marred some gatherings.

Still, hundreds have been arrested since the protests began. Authorities report that more than 400 people have been detained, with nearly 300 security personnel injured. 

Over 80 public and private institutions were vandalised, and more than 400 vehicles, both government and privately owned, damaged.

Violence and Vandalism:

While many rallies have remained peaceful, others turned violent. In Sidi Bibi, near Agadir, protesters torched offices of the local commune headquarters. In Sale, north of Rabat, hooded demonstrators burned two police cars and a bank branch.

Local resident Hicham Madani stressed that these acts were not carried out by the main protest organisers. He said, “The young people I saw vandalising and breaking things in Sale have nothing to do with GenZ 212. They are young thugs who came with the intention of vandalising.”

Despite these incidents, GenZ 212 continues to urge restraint. The group said, “We reject all forms of violence, vandalism or rioting.”

Calls for change:

On Wednesday, for the first time since the unrest began, authorities allowed authorised rallies in cities such as Tangier, Tetouan, and Casablanca. Protesters demanded “the fall of corruption”, as well as “freedom, dignity and social justice.” Some even called for Prime Minister Akhannouch to step down.

Interestingly, while the group rejects corruption and certain political parties, it also declared its loyalty to Morocco’s monarchy, saying it maintains “love for the homeland and king Mohamed VI.”