Generation Z 212 Leading Protests in Morocco Calls for Government Dismissal

SadaNews - The group leading the popular protests in Morocco called on Friday for the dismissal of the government, following a sixth night of demonstrations demanding improvements in health and educational services.

The "Generation Z 212" movement stated in a message addressed to King Mohammed VI, "We demand the dismissal of the current government for its failure to protect the constitutional rights of Moroccans and respond to their social demands."

Protests marked by peacefulness took place for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday, as young people answered the call from the "Generation Z 212" movement in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, and Marrakech, according to local media, demanding improvements in public services after a night that witnessed the killing of three individuals by security forces.

In the Agdal commercial district in the capital, dozens of young people gathered, some holding national flags and chanting slogans such as "We want hospitals, not just stadiums," and "The people want health and education," before dispersing peacefully. Hundreds gathered in similar protests in Casablanca, Agadir, and Marrakech, according to live broadcasts on Moroccan news websites, echoing similar slogans while emphasizing "peacefulness."

After hours of confirming the government's readiness for dialogue, some slogans targeted Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, demanding his departure. This is the second time authorities have allowed protests in response to calls from this youth group, which describes itself as "a space for discussion" on issues such as health, education, and combating corruption.

The protests come a day after the killing of three people by Moroccan security forces while attempting to storm a gendarmerie barracks in the south of the kingdom amid unprecedented violence that followed calls for demonstrations in cities that were not among those the movement had mobilized for.

On Thursday, the movement stated in a statement, "We affirm to public opinion and the authorities that our protests will be entirely peaceful, and we reject any form of violence, sabotage, or rioting." They also reiterated their demands, most notably "an education worthy of human dignity without disparities" and "healthcare for every citizen without exceptions."

While the movement does not disclose the identities of its members who meet every night to discuss and vote on Discord, State Secretary for Social Integration Abdel Jabbar Rashidi confirmed the "government’s readiness to transfer discussions about youth movements’ demands from the virtual world to dialogue within institutions."

The name of this movement combines "Generation Z," referring to the age group of its members born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the number 212, which is the international dialing code for the kingdom. It emerged following protests in Agadir in mid-September after the death of eight pregnant women at the local public hospital where they were admitted for cesarean sections. This event sparked a series of protests in other cities.

The kingdom, which will host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, and the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of 2025, has initiated major infrastructure projects: building new stadiums, expanding the high-speed train network, and modernizing several airports.

It has also launched several projects to build hospitals and increase the number of doctors, which are "insufficient to cover the shortages (deficits) suffered by the sector, especially in some regions," as clarified by Health Minister Amin Tahraoui in parliament on Wednesday evening.

Earlier on Thursday, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch expressed his sorrow over the killing of three people during the violence that affected several small Moroccan cities on Wednesday night. Akhannouch, in his first remarks since the protests began last Saturday, said, "Unfortunately, we have recorded the deaths of three individuals" in the aftermath of "the unfortunate events we witnessed over the past two days."

For his part, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Rashid Khalfi, clarified that the identities of the three deceased, who were killed by gendarmerie forces "in self-defense," were not disclosed while they attempted to "storm" a gendarmerie unit in the south of the country.

The attackers were trying to enter the center to seize "service ammunition and weapons," according to the authorities. He added that violence and rioting the previous day "unfortunately took on greater dimensions and more dangerous forms, with rioters engaging in attack operations using bladed weapons, storming and overwhelming state-owned buildings and security facilities." He affirmed the authorities' commitment "to ensuring public order and guaranteeing the exercise of rights and freedoms within their legitimate scope and the defined legal frameworks."

Wednesday's events left a shock in the generally calm kingdom and involved many minors. The movement calling for protests distanced itself from these events. In Salé, the twin city of Rabat, masked individuals set fire to two police cars and a bank branch without chanting any slogans.

In the aftermath of these events, one resident of the city, named Hicham Medani, said, "Those who caused the damage in Salé have no connection to the youth of Generation Z 212; they are rogues who came with the intention to commit destruction." The violence began on Tuesday night with initial clashes with security forces, particularly in Oujda (east) and Inzegan (south), resulting in injuries to around 300 people, mostly police, and the arrest of more than 400 individuals.

Since Saturday in Rabat, hundreds of young people have been detained, with most released, according to the Moroccan Association for Human Rights. It is anticipated that 134 individuals will soon be tried in the Moroccan capital, among whom six remain in custody.