Hundreds of Moroccans gathered once again in front of Parliament in Rabat on Sunday night as part of the ongoing GenZ212 protest movement, calling for urgent reforms in the education and healthcare sectors as well as greater transparency and accountability in governance.
Comprising Moroccans from different age groups, the demonstrators peacefully chanted slogans such as “Freedom, dignity, social justice,” and “What a shame, you stole our country,” while condemning corruption and mismanagement within state institutions. Members of the media were present to record statements, while police maintained a watchful but non-confrontational presence nearby.
The GenZ212 movement, which has been leading protests across multiple Moroccan cities for over a week, is demanding the dissolution of Parliament and sweeping reforms in vital sectors to restore citizens’ trust in government institutions.
“We are standing here on the eighth day of the ongoing protests, asking for basic citizens’ rights — particularly in the education and healthcare sectors,” one protester told Morocco World News (MWN).
Another activist said the demonstrations reflect the frustration of ordinary Moroccans over what he described as years of poor governance and corruption in critical areas of public life. He rejected claims that neighboring Algeria was behind the protests, insisting that the movement’s motivation stems from domestic grievances.
“No one is staging this from outside. It is the government’s mismanagement that has driven people to the streets to ask for their rights,” he said.
A female protester stressed that the group’s demands are straightforward — access to free and quality education and improved healthcare services.
“These are essential social needs that the government should prioritize,” she said, pointing to the recent death of eight women in the Hassan II Hospital maternity ward in Agadir as an example of the healthcare system’s failures.
She also cited the case of a protester injured in Oujda who had to be transferred to Rabat for treatment, calling it further proof of the disparities in Morocco’s healthcare infrastructure.
The GenZ212 movement, largely driven by young Moroccans, has gained momentum nationwide, spreading to several cities over the past week. Initially focused on social and economic reform, the movement has since escalated its demands, now calling for the dissolution of the government, citing what it describes as a complete erosion of public trust in political leadership.
While the protests began peacefully, they turned violent on the third and fourth days, with isolated incidents of vandalism reported in several cities. Authorities said three people were killed while allegedly attempting to break into a Royal Gendarmerie post in Lqliaa.
In response, the GenZ212 organizers publicly distanced themselves from the riots, reaffirming their commitment to nonviolent protest and urging demonstrators to remain peaceful.
In recent days, demonstrations have continued in a largely calm atmosphere, with participants voicing their demands freely. The Moroccan government has shown limited but cautious signs of willingness to engage in dialogue with the movement’s representatives.
Source:Africa Publicity
