Morocco’s Youth Uprising: GenZ 212 Demands Government Overhaul

In its statement, the GenZ 212 collective has expressed its eight demands. First, it calls for the resignation of the government led by Aziz Akhannouch due to its "failure" in managing the social crisis. On Thursday, during the demonstrations in Casablanca, protesters set the tone by chanting the slogan: "Akhannouch, get out!" The movement also calls for legal proceedings against individuals found guilty of corruption, as well as the dissolution of political parties involved in fraud cases.

The GenZ 212 also demands the effective implementation of the principle of equality and non-discrimination, and the guarantee of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest. The collective also demands the immediate release of all political prisoners arrested during the protests, as well as the opening of an investigation into the deaths and arrests recorded during the recent youth protests in several cities of the kingdom. Another demand is that the young protesters call for the establishment of an accountability mechanism for the Akhannouch government.

Since Saturday, September 27, young Moroccans, at the initiative of GenZ 212, have stormed the streets to demand reforms in the education and health sectors. These peaceful demonstrations recorded in several cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Tetouan, Marrakech and Agadir, degenerated on Wednesday, resulting in the death of three people and the arrest of several protesters. Nearly 150 of them are being prosecuted in court, according to the presidency of the public prosecutor’s office.