The Moroccan government said Thursday it would address the frustrations that promote youth-led protests the day after security forces killed three people during unrest.
Prime Minister Aziz Ahannoush said he grieved his death and praised law enforcement for his efforts to maintain order, showing that the government is ready to respond favorably to protesters demanding better public health and education.
Speaking before the government’s Council of Ministers, he did not elaborate on the reforms under discussion, but said that he was “prepared for dialogue and discussion within agencies and public spaces.”
“A dialogue-based approach is the only way to address the various issues facing our country,” Akhannouch said.
Authorities have renewed the death toll on three out of unrest this week, saying armed mobs stormed public buildings and disrupt the public order as young-led anti-government demonstrations show little indication of decline.
Security forces fired fire at demonstrators on Wednesday, killing three people in Reklira, a small town outside the coastal city of Agadir.
Morocco’s Home Ministry said three people were shot dead when they tried to seize police weapons, but eyewitnesses could not support the report.
The department said 354 people, primarily law enforcement, were injured. It said hundreds of cars were damaged, not just banks, shops and public buildings in 23 states in the country.
According to ministry estimates, around 70% of demonstrators across the country were minors.
The demonstrations, organized by a leaderless movement ruled by internet-savvy young people, surprised the country and emerged in a few years as part of Morocco’s biggest.
By the middle of the week they appeared to be spreading to new locations despite lack of permission from the authorities.
Those participating in the so-called Gen Z protests condemn what is considered widespread corruption.
Through chants and posters, they contrast with billions of investments in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, but many schools and hospitals lack funds and remain in a miserable state.
However, there were fewer chants as violence broke out in several cities on Wednesday evening. Then, days after mass arrests in more than dozens of cities, particularly in places with shortages of jobs and lack of social services.
The chaos came despite warnings from authorities, government parties, opposition parties and organizers themselves.
In a statement released on Discord, the Gen Z 212 protests on Wednesday pleaded protesters to condemn a “oppressive security approach” that remains peaceful.
“The right to health, education and dignified living is not a slogan of empty, but a serious demand,” the organizers said.
Still, protests escalated and became more destructive, especially in cities far from where development efforts are concentrated in Morocco.
Local outlets and footage, filmed by eyewitnesses, show protesters throwing rocks and setting vehicles in cities and towns east and south of the country.
The Moroccan Human Rights Association says more than 1,000 people have been arrested, including many who were arrested on video by local media and many who were detained by Plain Cross officials during live television interviews.
The Gen Z protests reflect similar unrest countries like Nepal, Kenya and Madagascar. Protesters use their anger towards hospital and school situations to express their anger over government spending priorities.
Pointing to new stadiums that are being built or renovated nationwide, protesters chanted, “The stadium is here, where is the hospital?” He then claimed corruption that ramped at the expense of everyday people.
As Morocco prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations football later this year and politicians prepare for the 2026 parliamentary elections, the link looks at how deep disparities endure in the Kingdom of North Africa.
According to some indicators, despite rapid development, many Moroccans feel disillusioned with local inequality, the state of public services, the lack of opportunities, especially for young people, and the lack of opportunities to be frustrated.