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Violent anti-government protests in Morocco entered their fifth day on Thursday, after seeing their first fatalities the night before when police shot two demonstrators.
What began as a small protest two weeks ago outside a hospital in Agadir—where eight pregnant women recently died due to poor conditions and inadequate care—has on Saturday grown into nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to corruption and accusing the government of spending billions on infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup while neglecting hospitals, schools, and other public services.
Videos posted on social media show police officers using excessive force against unarmed citizens. In one instance, an officer on a motorbike appears to try to run over a young woman attempting to retrieve her phone, while another clip shows a protester tossing her phone into the air to prevent its seizure. Other footage shows a police car deliberately driving into protesters.
Since Saturday, demonstrators across Morocco have rallied under the slogans “freedom, dignity, and social justice,” while also calling for the prime minister’s resignation. The movement has grown nationwide under the name “GenZ212,” a reference to Generation Z and Morocco’s telephone code, which organizers say symbolizes unity and action for the country’s future.
Police have responded with mass arrests, and videos show clashes with officers as protesters demanded explanations for detentions.
Authorities said the two demonstrators shot Wednesday evening were attempting to storm a police station to allegedly “seize ammunition, equipment and service weapons,” according to state news agency MAP.
That claim could not be verified due to a government-imposed media blackout. Officials have restricted movement, blocked the dissemination of images, disrupted journalist interviews, detained those who spoke to media, seized mobile phones, and dispersed gatherings.
According to the Interior Ministry, more than 400 people have been arrested and nearly 300 injured, mostly among security forces, spokesman Rachid El Khalfi said. Over five days of protests, more than 140 police vehicles and 20 private cars have been set on fire.
