Violent Anti-Government Protests Spread in Morocco; Two Dead
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Reuters, at least two people were killed and several others injured after Moroccan security forces confronted anti-government protesters who tried to seize their weapons.
Local officials described the incident as a deadly turning point in protests that initially focused on social justice issues.
The demonstrations began last Saturday,demanding improvements in education and healthcare. They have been organized online by an anonymous group known as GenZ 212.
Authorities stated that security forces resorted to using firearms after failing to stop a group that stormed a gendarmerie center.
The GenZ 212 movement draws inspiration from youth protests in Asia and Latin America. Its Discord server membership surged from about 3,000 last week to more than 130,000,reflecting rapid growth of the protest movement.
Officials initially attempted to suppress gatherings, but by Tuesday night the protests escalated into widespread unrest. Reuters footage showed security forces surrounding demonstrators and forcefully loading them into vans. The Ministry of Interior reported that clashes on Tuesday resulted in injuries to 263 security personnel and 23 civilians.
Protesters have challenged Morocco’s government priorities,accusing it of neglecting healthcare and education sectors while allocating funds toward building stadiums and hosting international sporting events.
Reports note that despite facing mounting public health and education crises, this North African country is constructing stadiums for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Stadiums are here but where are the hospitals?”
The latest wave of large-scale demonstrations began after young people protested poor hospital conditions in Agadir before quickly spreading across other cities nationwide.
Protesters criticized inadequate medical services, staff shortages at hospitals and clinics, as well as lack of medical resources throughout morocco.
The Moroccan National Statistics Office reports an unemployment rate of 12.8 percent nationally with youth unemployment reaching 35.8 percent-19 percent of whom hold university degrees.
