Street business: youth in Morocco demand resignation of the government

Mass protests have not subsided in Morocco for the 11th day. The actions initiated by the youth associations GenZ 212 and Morocco Youth Voice covered the largest cities of the country. Initially, the participants demanded reforms in education and healthcare, the fight against corruption and unemployment, but soon calls for the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Aziz Akhennoush were added to this list. Clashes with police have already resulted in casualties and hundreds of injuries, causing international concern. Experts interviewed by Izvestia believe that the protests reflect a deep crisis of trust in the political elite and the growing polarization within Moroccan society.

Teenagers took to the streets

The demonstrators in Morocco explain their actions by serious problems in the social sphere. The protests were initiated by the anonymous collective GenZ 212, which published an appeal on the Discord platform, listing healthcare, education and corruption among the main problems. Recent reports of the deaths of eight pregnant women in a public hospital in Agadir have increased discontent.

A week after the protests began, GenZ 212 activists began demanding the resignation of the Ahennoush government. One of the mass marches took place in front of the Parliament building on Mohammed V Avenue in Rabat. The union assured that the protests would be peaceful, urging participants to act with discipline, respect citizens and security forces, and avoid violence and vandalism.

But according to media reports, the actions were accompanied by clashes with the police: at least three people were killed, hundreds were injured, and more than 400 participants were detained. International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concern about the use of excessive force.

Moroccan political analyst Kareh Abu Salem, in a conversation with Izvestia, noted that the current protests have become the largest since 2011, when actions were held in the country as part of the Arab Spring. According to him, the current wave is characterized by a more organized nature and new means of communication — the protesters use the Discord platform, which allows for better coordination of actions.

"The demands of young people are in many ways a continuation of previous requests for education, healthcare and labor policy reforms," the expert explains. — But today the level of discontent has increased. The protesters demand not only the resignation of the government of Aziz Akhennoush, but also the dissolution of parliament, and some even the liquidation of parties that, in their opinion, have lost touch with the people.

Abu Salem cannot yet predict the consequences of the protests. In his opinion, the decisive word will remain with King Mohammed VI, who will deliver an address at the opening of the new parliamentary convocation on Friday. "All the attention is now focused on his speech, which is expected to provide political solutions," he said.

The expert believes that "the level of trust in the government and political parties is extremely low." According to him, the monarch himself had previously openly stated his disappointment in the effectiveness of the parties, which only increased skepticism among citizens.

— The Prime Minister and the ministers, instead of seeking dialogue, made a number of harsh statements that only added fuel to the fire. All this has increased the feeling of a gap between the government and society," Abu Salem added.

The healthcare system in the kingdom is in deep crisis, despite GDP growth. According to WHO, there are only 7.7 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants in the country, far below the recommended rate of 23. Hospitals are overloaded (especially in regions like Agadir and Al—Hauz after the 2023 earthquake), equipment is outdated, and access to services depends on income: the poor are forced to rely on public clinics with queues and shortages. medicines.

The unemployment rate remains high, especially among young people, which has become one of the key triggers of the protests. According to the latest data for October 2025, the overall unemployment rate is about 12.8%. This reflects systemic problems: about 1.6 million unemployed in a country with a population of 37-38 million.

The opposition has no leader

On October 2, Prime Minister Ahennoush said that the government was "responding positively to the demands of young people" and was ready for dialogue. According to him, "a discussion—based approach is the only way to solve problems and accelerate the implementation of public policy."

Abdel Karim Amengai, a lecturer at the Institute of Higher Studies in Doha, notes that the protesters can be divided into two groups: the first is made up of middle—class people, the second is teenagers from the suburbs.

— It is unclear who represents the leadership of the movement, with whom it is possible to conduct a dialogue, — the expert told Izvestia. — This is a challenge for the government.

In the current conditions, dialogue between the protesters and the government is impossible, said Rachid Lazrak, a professor at the Center for North African Studies.

— There will be no dialogue while the protests continue. The purpose of the demonstrations is to send a message, and it has already been received," he said in an interview with Izvestia.

According to the expert, the main difficulty now lies in the fact that the movement does not have a clear structure and recognized leaders with whom the authorities could negotiate.

On October 2, Interior Ministry spokesman Rashid al-Khalfi reported that protesters had tried to storm security buildings to seize weapons, as well as administrative offices.

Abdel Karim Amengai notes that distrust of the political elite in Morocco has been accumulating for many years, starting in the mid-2000s. And the current Prime Minister has only contributed to the further polarization of society over the past five years. According to him, earlier, Achennoush, for example, said that a number of Moroccans need "re-education." This caused acute discontent among citizens, he stressed.

At the same time, thousands of people took to the streets of Rabat in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, protesting against the ongoing war and normalization of relations with Israel. The march, which took place along one of the main streets of the capital, was accompanied by slogans for opening safe corridors for Gazans and ending the massacre, as well as raising the flags of Palestine and Morocco.

The protests in Morocco, which began due to the health crisis, pose serious challenges for the authorities. The government of Aziz Ahannoush, accused of corruption and incorrect priorities, is facing demands for his resignation, which could undermine his authority before the 2026 elections. Harsh repression, including the use of force, is increasing public discontent and international criticism, threatening the country's image ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, experts say.

At the same time, the Moroccan events fit into a broader trend: youth protests are becoming an increasingly visible and persistent phenomenon not only in the Arab world, but also beyond its borders. Similar processes are already being observed in Peru and Nepal, where young people are also taking to the streets demanding change and justice.