Now, violence erupts in Morocco by ‘Gen-Z’ protesters !

Opposition to billions of dollars being spent on the FIFA World Cup while the country faces unemployment!

(Gen-Z refers to the generation born between 1996 and 2010)

Rabat (Morocco) – The ongoing ‘Gen-Z movement’ in the North African country of Morocco — which began with demands for improvements in healthcare and education — has turned violent. In the capital city of Rabat, protesters set a bank on fire, while in Marrakesh, a police station was torched. The violence resulted in 40 police vehicles and 20 private cars being burned. Over 260 police officers and 20 protesters were injured.

The young protesters organized themselves through social media platforms like TikTok and Discord. In the city of Agadir, police opened fire, killing three youths and injuring 354 others. More than 1,000 people have been arrested so far. According to government data, 70% of the protesters are minors.

Reasons behind the protests :

1.Unemployment : The overall unemployment rate in Morocco is 12.8%, while youth unemployment stands at 35.8%. Around 19% of graduates remain jobless.

2.Healthcare crisis : There is only one doctor for every 1,430 citizens, which is 2.5 times below the global average. The country also suffers from a severe shortage of public hospitals.

3.Government spending priorities : Despite these issues, the Moroccan government plans to spend $10 billion (approx. ₹8.8 lakh crore) on hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations, which has sparked fierce opposition from the young protesters.