A young protester is taken into custody amid youth-led demonstrations calling for reforms in healthcare and education, which escalated into violence in Sale, Morocco, on Wednesday.
Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP
Rabat, Morocco – For the fifth consecutive evening, Moroccan streets swelled with anti-government protesters on Wednesday, as demonstrations over deteriorating public services spiraled into fatal clashes. In the southern town of Leqliaa, police reportedly fired in self-defense, resulting in two deaths.
Located roughly 500 kilometers (312 miles) south of Rabat, Leqliaa witnessed the first casualties amid growing frustration nationwide regarding government priorities and public welfare.
According to Morocco’s official news outlet MAP, local officials described the deceased as “troublemakers” who were shot while allegedly attempting to seize police firearms. However, no eyewitness accounts have confirmed this narrative, and further information remains scarce.
Originating from a decentralized, digitally connected youth movement, these protests have caught many by surprise, evolving into some of the largest demonstrations Morocco has seen in recent years. Despite lacking official permits, the unrest has spread to multiple cities by midweek.
Participants, often referred to as the “Gen Z protests,” voice their discontent over systemic corruption. Their slogans and placards highlight the contrast between lavish investments in preparations for the 2030 World Cup and the chronic underfunding of essential services like education and healthcare.
Young activists participate in a rally demanding improvements in healthcare and education, Rabat, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
AP Photo/AP
However, as the week progressed, the protests took a violent turn in several urban centers, coinciding with widespread arrests across more than a dozen cities-many of which suffer from high unemployment and inadequate social services.
In Sale, a less affluent city adjacent to the capital, an Associated Press correspondent witnessed hundreds of masked youths, predominantly teenagers, setting fire to vehicles, banks, and shops, smashing windows, and looting, all while law enforcement was notably absent.
This turmoil unfolded despite repeated cautions from government officials, political factions, and even the protest organizers themselves. Earlier on Wednesday, the Gen Z 212 movement issued a statement on Discord urging peaceful demonstrations and condemning “repressive security tactics.”
“Access to healthcare, education, and a dignified existence is not merely a slogan but a fundamental demand,” the statement emphasized.
Neglected regions channel frustration into unrest
The intensity and destructiveness of the protests surged on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially in cities distant from Morocco’s main development projects. Local media and eyewitness videos documented protesters throwing stones and setting vehicles ablaze in eastern and southern towns such as Inzegane and Ait Amira.
In Oujda, the largest city in eastern Morocco, a police vehicle reportedly struck demonstrators, injuring one person, according to local human rights organizations and the state news agency MAP.
In its initial official response since the protests began on Saturday, Morocco’s Interior Ministry declared the unauthorized gatherings unlawful and stated that law enforcement would respond firmly to any violations. The ministry confirmed that 409 individuals had been detained.
Furthermore, 263 police officers sustained injuries during the nationwide unrest, which also resulted in damage to 142 police vehicles. Twenty private cars were damaged, and 23 civilians were reported injured, the ministry added.
Detentions intensify public anger
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) in Oujda reported that 37 protesters arrested on Monday, including six minors, were scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
These detainees are part of over a thousand arrests documented by AMDH, many captured on video by local media or apprehended by plainclothes officers during live broadcasts.
Amnesty International’s regional office urged authorities to heed the legitimate social, economic, and cultural demands of the youth and to address concerns about corruption as protests continue.
A boy stands next to a burned police vehicle during youth-led protests demanding healthcare and education reforms, Sale, Morocco, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP
Youth-led movement channels frustration into action
These Gen Z-led protests echo similar movements seen in countries like Nepal and Madagascar, where young people have mobilized to challenge government neglect. In Morocco, the demonstrations have become some of the most significant anti-government actions in recent memory, fueled by grievances over the state of hospitals and schools and the government’s spending choices.
Protesters have highlighted the contrast between the construction of new sports stadiums and the dilapidated condition of healthcare facilities, chanting slogans such as, “Stadiums are built, but where are the hospitals?” The recent deaths of eight women in a public hospital in Agadir have further galvanized public outrage over the healthcare system’s decline.
As Morocco prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year and approaches parliamentary elections in 2026, these protests have spotlighted persistent inequalities. Despite some indicators of rapid development, many Moroccans feel left behind, frustrated by regional disparities, inadequate public services, and limited opportunities, especially for the youth.
Originating on platforms popular among teenagers and gamers, such as TikTok and Discord, the movement has gained momentum and widespread support on social media, including endorsements from Morocco’s renowned goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and celebrated rapper El Grande Toto, particularly after authorities began detaining protesters over the weekend.
Government officials have rejected claims that World Cup preparations take precedence over public infrastructure, attributing healthcare challenges to issues inherited from previous administrations. The ruling coalition announced plans to convene on Thursday under Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to discuss reforms in healthcare and hospital management.
