Gen Z Leads Violent Protests Across Moroccan Cities Over Education, Healthcare Reforms

Youth-led protests are ongoing in Morocco and Madagascar, fueled by frustrations over poor governance and demands for reforms in education, healthcare, and social justice. In Morocco, the GenZ 212 movement, mobilized through social media platforms like TikTok and Discord, has led demonstrations marked by both peaceful marches and violent clashes, including property damage and confrontations with security forces resulting in injuries and fatalities. Despite government attempts to quell the unrest, including violent responses, the movement has also initiated civic actions such as neighborhood street cleanups to promote community engagement. The Moroccan government, led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, has responded by offering dialogue to address grievances, while security forces report ongoing confrontations and casualties. In Madagascar, the Gen Z movement called a strategic withdrawal in the capital to preserve participants' health but protests continue in other regions, with the opposition aligning behind the youth demands. These youth movements highlight a broader pattern of young people across Africa using social media to demand government accountability and socioeconomic reforms.