Moroccan youth rise up against elites as anger mounts over misplaced priorities

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 02-10-2025

Morocco witnessed one of its largest waves of youth-led demonstrations in years this past weekend, as thousands of young people filled the streets of major cities to denounce government corruption, economic stagnation, and the neglect of basic public services. The protests, which erupted across at least eleven urban centers, exposed the frustration of an entire generation that sees the state investing heavily in prestige projects for international audiences, while the daily realities of ordinary Moroccans remain ignored.

In Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and other cities, demonstrators clashed with police, chanting slogans that captured the anger of ordinary citizens. “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” echoed through the crowds, a slogan that directly criticized the government’s heavy focus on sports infrastructure in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Morocco is pouring billions into building and renovating stadiums to co-host the tournament alongside Spain and Portugal. The government also plans to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. While these high-profile events are touted by officials as opportunities for global prestige, protesters see them as symbols of misplaced priorities, especially in a country still recovering from the devastating 2023 earthquake and struggling with deep inequalities.

The government’s spending stands in stark contrast with the collapsing health sector. Only weeks ago, public outrage boiled over when eight women died in childbirth at a public hospital in Agadir. For many Moroccans, the tragedy epitomized decades of neglect of healthcare and education.

Gen Z at the forefront

Unlike earlier protest movements led by unions or political parties, the new wave is decentralized and largely organized on social media. TikTok, Discord, and other platforms have become tools for mobilization, allowing Morocco’s younger generation, particularly those born between 1995 and 2010, to coordinate without traditional leadership structures.

Two youth initiatives, “Gen Z 212” and “Morocco Youth Voices,” have been prominent in calling for peaceful demonstrations, while emphasizing the need for responsible debate. Yet beneath their calls for calm lies a deep well of disillusionment.

“There is no hope,” said Youssef, a 27-year-old engineer protesting in Casablanca. “I don’t only want reforms in health and education, I want the entire system to change. We need better jobs, fair wages, lower prices, and a life with dignity.” Like many others, he refused to give his full name out of fear of reprisals.

This generational revolt reflects a wider global trend where youth, from Nepal to Latin America, have begun confronting entrenched elites over corruption, nepotism, and the lack of opportunities. Morocco’s Gen Z is part of this wave, unwilling to accept a future defined by poverty, emigration, or silence.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights reported dozens of arrests, with many detainees allegedly assaulted before being released. Protesters and rights groups say the arrests show the government’s intolerance for dissent and its tightening grip over freedom of expression.

Security forces, in both plainclothes and riot gear, broke up demonstrations in Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca. Images of young people being dragged into vans spread online, further fueling resentment.

Health system collapse at the center

Public anger has crystallized around Morocco’s fragile health system. According to World Health Organization data from 2023, the country has only 7.7 medical professionals per 10,000 people, far below the recommended 25. In Agadir, where anger is most acute, that number drops to just 4.4.

Faced with mounting criticism, Health Minister Amine Tahraoui dismissed the director of Agadir’s hospital along with several regional officials. But such measures have done little to address the systemic underfunding and lack of access faced by millions of Moroccans, especially in rural areas.

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, one of Morocco’s wealthiest businessmen and current mayor of Agadir, has defended his government’s record, insisting that reforms are underway and new hospitals are being built. Yet many see his reassurances as out of touch with reality. Critics argue that the billionaire prime minister, closely aligned with Western financial interests, represents a political class more concerned with international prestige than with the welfare of its own citizens.

Morocco’s crisis highlights a dilemma faced by many states under Western influence: prioritizing mega-projects that appeal to global institutions while neglecting the needs of ordinary citizens. The FIFA World Cup, like other international sporting spectacles, has long been used by governments as a tool of soft power, often at the expense of social investment.

For Washington and its allies, Morocco serves as a key partner in North Africa, celebrated for its “stability” while quietly suppressing domestic dissent. Yet this weekend’s protests show that beneath the surface, frustration is boiling over.

By contrast, multipolar powers like China, Russia, and India have emphasized investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and education across the Global South, offering an alternative model of development rooted in sovereignty and dignity rather than Western-imposed prestige projects. Many young Moroccans are increasingly aware of these contrasts, and their demands reflect a desire for a system that prioritizes people over spectacle.

A generation’s awakening

The so-called “Gen Z protests” may not have a clear leadership or single political program, but they mark a significant turning point. For the first time in years, Morocco’s youth are not just voicing dissatisfaction, they are organizing nationally, linking their struggles across cities and regions.

Whether this movement can endure government repression remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Morocco’s younger generation has sent a powerful message, they refuse to remain silent while hospitals crumble and billions are funneled into stadiums.

In the words of one protester: “We want life, not spectacle.”