Casablanca, Morocco
AP
–
Young-led protesters clashed with police over the weekend over some of Morocco’s biggest anti-government protests, denounced what they called the government’s false priorities.
Hundreds of young Moroccans have taken them to the streets of at least 11 cities in North African countries, blasting governments to denounce corruption and pour money into international sporting events while ignoring health and education.
They draw a direct link between the country’s struggling healthcare system and its investment in lead-up to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, shouting slogans like “The stadium is here, but where is the hospital?”
Morocco has built at least three new stadiums, renovated or expanded at least half a dozen other stadiums, and is preparing to co-host the event. We will also be holding the Africa Cup of Nations later this year.
Police at Plaincross and Riot Devices disrupted protests in several cities, including Rabat and Marrakech, and arrested protesters, including Casablanca, which Associated Press reporters witnessed.
For at least a decade, protests in Morocco have often centered around regional inequality and the priorities of the government in Rabat. This weekend’s national rally brought the waves from the fatal 2023 earthquake, combining the popular rage seen in isolated incidents across Morocco earlier this year. It has recently swelled after eight women died from the death of eight women who gave birth at a public hospital in Agadir, a large coastal city 300 miles south of Rabat.
The Moroccan Human Rights Association said dozens of people were arrested on Saturday, including those who were physically assaulted. The arrest added that it “confirms restrictions on the right to free voice suppression and freedom of expression.”
Unlike past protests promoted by unions and political parties, the Leaderless movement organising weekend protests has mainly made them public on social media platforms such as Tiktok and Discord, popular among gamers and teenagers.
The two groups, “Gen Z 212” and “Morocco Youth Voices,” urged “peaceful and civilized protests” and responsible debate, even as many supporters expressed more radical demands.
“There’s no hope,” said Yousef, a 27-year-old engineer who protests in Casablanca. “I don’t just want health and education reforms, I also want system-wide reforms.”
“I want a better salary, a better job, a lower price, a better life,” he added, refusing to reveal his full name due to fears of facing arrest for attending fraudulent protests.
In Morocco, people born between 1995 and 2010 made up the largest share of the population, and weekend demonstrations were called Gen Z protests. Moroccan youth are inspired by Nepal. In Nepal, youth-led protests have led to widespread outrage over opportunities, corruption and lack of nepotism.
Moroccans are demonstrating outside hospitals in urban and rural towns to condemn the decline of public services, local outlets reported.
Officials have refused to prioritize World Cup spending on public infrastructure, saying the issues facing the health sector are being carried over.
Earlier this month, Moroccan billionaire Prime Minister Aziz Ahannouch defended what he called the government’s “major achievement” in the health sector.
“We managed reforms and upgraded spending. We are building hospitals in every part of the country,” said Akhannouch, who is also the mayor of Agadir. “Agadir Hospital has been facing problems since 1962…and we are trying to solve them.”
After the protest, Moroccan health minister Amin Talawi fired the hospital’s directors and health authorities in the area.
2023 World Health Organization data showed that Morocco had only 7.7 health professionals per 10,000 residents, and far fewer than 4.4 per 10,000 people in certain regions, including Agadir. WHO recommends 25 per 10,000.
