Morocco Protests Demand Social Justice and Fight Corruption

Protesters demand urgent reforms in health and education, creation of decent jobs and a fight against corruption

In the streets of Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and other Moroccan cities, thousands of young people have taken to the streets over the past two days to demand structural improvements in the health and education systems. Organized through social media, the demonstrations “represent a cry of indignation against youth precariousness, rampant unemployment and endemic corruption,” according to dissenting sources in Morocco.

A Neglected Youth

The spark for these protests lies in the chronic crisis of Morocco’s public services.

• Health sector: The collapse is stark. The Hassan II Hospital in Agadir has recently been the scene of tragedies, including the death of six pregnant women in September due to inadequate care. Some patients are abandoned at the doors of medical centers. Two years after the devastating 2023 earthquake, thousands of families still live in makeshift camps without basic medical access.

• Education sector: Schools suffer from outdated infrastructure, insufficient teachers, and a youth unemployment rate that reaches 36.7 % among 15‑ to 24‑year‑olds, approaching 50 % in some segments.

The mobilizations are organized by the collective “Genz212,” a non‑political, non‑union initiative. They called for protests on 27 and 28 September in multiple cities. On social media, the slogan “We don’t want a World Cup, we want hospitals” has gone viral, criticizing the prioritization of events like the 2030 World Cup over basic population needs.

Social Justice and an End to Corruption

The demands are clear:

• Urgent reforms in health and education to guarantee equitable access.
• Creation of decent employment opportunities for young people.
• A robust fight against corruption at all levels of government.

In Tangier and Tetouan, demonstrators chanted slogans against the rising cost of living and gentrification, calling for “equitable access to medical care” and real job opportunities.

“We want Morocco to be in a better situation and for citizens to be treated as human beings, not as it is now where the country moves at two speeds,” said an anonymous 19‑year‑old to EFE, fearing retaliation.