Moroccan Finance Minister: We Must Accelerate Economic Reforms and Provide Job Opportunities for Youth

SadaNews - The Moroccan Finance Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui stated that her country needs to accelerate the pace of economic reforms and provide more job opportunities for youth, describing the recent protests of Generation Z as a "wake-up call."

Alaoui added during a discussion session at the "Stimson Center" in Washington, where she is participating in meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund: "We cannot keep waiting for economic theories to bear fruit and provide jobs... jobs should come now."

Protests of Moroccan Youth

Morocco witnessed unrest last month that resulted in the death of three people and the arrest of hundreds more, in the worst wave of instability the country has experienced in over a decade. Protesters connected their anger to what they saw as excessive spending on hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup at the expense of basic services.

This anger reflects a wave of anti-government protests in other parts of Asia and Africa, including Madagascar, where a military unit seized power on Tuesday after weeks of violent protests.

Infographic: Youth unemployment rate in Morocco decreases by the end of Q2 2025

Alaoui stated that Morocco intends to start negotiations regarding salaries with university professors as part of a comprehensive plan to improve education and training, emphasizing that the country needs long-term reforms.

She added: "Every dirham we spend must provide as many new opportunities for youth as possible."

New Sit-ins in Morocco

For its part, the youth group known as "Gen Z 212" announced that it will resume its protests on Saturday by organizing sit-ins in several cities after temporarily halting them last week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, "Human Rights Watch" called on Morocco to respect the right to peaceful assembly and investigate the use of lethal force and alleged abuses against protesters by security forces.

The New York-based human rights organization noted that there are criminal cases against at least 270 individuals, including 39 children, along with prison sentences and fines issued against a number of protesters.

Moroccan authorities have not responded to requests for comments, while Hanan Salah, the director of the organization's Middle East and North Africa division, stated: "The government must listen to the demands of the protesters and replace repressive tactics with public engagement and comprehensive reforms."