Morocco’s Youth Uprising: GenZ 212 Demands Radical Reforms

In this statement, GenZ 212 has expressed its "national demands" - it refuses to use the word "claims". They can be summarized in seven points. The Moroccan youth collective calls for a radical reform of the education system that guarantees modern and free education, ensures equal opportunities, links training to the job market, and rehabilitates public schools. It demands a comprehensive reform of the health sector by increasing the budget, properly equipping hospitals, training qualified personnel, and guaranteeing dignified and fair access for all citizens. The movement advocates for an independent and integral justice system that ensures equality before the law, protects rights and freedoms, and puts an end to all forms of corruption or interference in the judicial system.

The movement calls for the creation of genuine employment opportunities for young people, by implementing bold policies, supporting small businesses, stimulating productive investment, and encouraging individual initiatives, as well as serious vocational training. It demands the sanitization of public and administrative institutions by fighting corruption and clientelism, strengthening the link between responsibility and accountability, and establishing real accountability for anyone who fails in their duties or abuses their position.

"GenZ 212" pleads for justice in the distribution of resources and territorial development, in order to ensure a balanced Morocco between cities and countryside, between the center and the regions, and to guarantee equity in projects, infrastructure, and public services. Finally, the movement calls for the involvement of young people in decision-making by opening the way for young talents to take on political and administrative responsibilities and allowing them to actively participate in the development of public policies and the construction of the future.

Since September 27, "Gen Z 212" has been organizing demonstrations in many Moroccan cities. The origin of these social unrest is the death at the public hospital in Agadir of eight pregnant women admitted for cesarean sections. The disturbances have resulted in 3 deaths and 400 injuries across the country. Isolated incidents of looting and arson have been reported in some cities. These disturbances are the most significant since the Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, which prompted King Mohammed VI to delegate some powers to Parliament. They are also the most violent since the 2016 protests in the Rif region.