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Paris – Protest has always been a fundamental tool through which societies ensure that human rights are recognized and upheld in institutions of power. It is, for all its upheaval, a collective conscience that is generally peaceful but periodically becomes agitated; it is a means through which citizens unite to express collective grievances and aspirations of justice and dignity.
Roots of political mobilization
Historically, protest dates back to the 16th century. As noted by Hans Hillerbrand in “The Protestant Reformation,” protests were initially described as an obstinate public acknowledgment. In the year 1529, six European princes and fourteen Holy Roman Empire imperial cities protested against Emperor Charles V’s laws that limited religious changes. Thus, those protestors became known as Protestants, marking the dawn of the Protestant Reformation.
Over time, the meaning of protest evolved. By 1641, as noted by Mark Kishlansky in “A Monarchy transformed: Britain 1603-1714,” members of the English parliament adopted the “Protestation Oath” (a promise by Parliament members to protect religion and their rights against the king) and the “Grand Remonstrance” (a list of complaints from Parliament against King Charles I’s actions) denounced the abuses of King Charles I. This represented one of the first instances where protest took on its modern sense of political objection, extending beyond the religious domain.
Protest in the modern era is a public and organized opposition. Its greatest moment came with the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, when 250,000 and more marched for African-American economic and civil rights. Organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose “I Have a Dream” speech continues to transcend time, this peaceful mobilization was the power of mass action to build a more just and equal world.
Protest today is more than a political act; it is a declaration of courage. At the forefront of this declaration stands youth, or in other terms, Generation Z, the first generation to grow up fully online. Gen Z is known for being digitally native, globally connected, and diverse, and guided by a language of rights, justice, and equality.
Morocco’s history with protests
In the local context, Morocco’s Gen Z is the cohort born between the Government of Alternance (1998) and the promulgation of the 2011 Constitution. The Government of Alternance was a political transition in which King Hassan II appointed Abderrahmane Youssoufi to lead a coalition government – including opposition parties – which redistributed executive power while the monarchy retained control over key ministers such as Interior, Justice, and Islamic Affairs. The promulgation enshrined political freedoms, reinforced the separation of powers, and expanded civil liberties, marking a symbolic period of Morocco’s gradual passage from political closure to democratic consolidation. This generation inherited a human rights-based national narrative, transitional justice, and participatory governance. They are the bridge between the legacy of transition and the expectations of an open, just, and democratic future.
One of the most critical episodes in recent Moroccan history was the February 20 Movement in 2011, which was inspired by the wave of the Arab Spring. Thousands of Moroccans marched across the country, calling for constitutional change, transparency, and accountability, in light of socioeconomic concerns. From labor strikes in the phosphate sector to demonstrations in marginalized regions like Rif, the protests highlighted unemployment, regional inequalities, and inadequate public services. The movements compelled King Mohammed VI to announce a revised constitution, which expanded civil liberties, strengthened parliamentary power, and promised to guarantee protection for human rights. This event demonstrated the capacity of civic mobilization to influence governance while maintaining stability beyond large-scale political movements.
While Morocco has generally managed to avoid large-scale violent upheaval, protests remain an important and necessary mechanism for citizen engagement, political negotiation, and societal reform. This has been clear since late September 2025, when Morocco witnessed a surge in youth-led protests primarily organized by Generation Z activists under the banner of GenZ212. These demonstrations reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the public service as a whole, including in the health and education services in particular, and with government priorities and corruption.
GenZ’s grievances and the domino effect
Among the most fundamental causes of the demonstrations was the terrible deaths of eight pregnant women in a public government hospital in Agadir. This event drew national attention to the state of public services. The movement has gained momentum through digital platforms, especially the GenZ 212 Discord server, which now counts over 150,000 members. Protesters are using social media to coordinate demonstrations and articulate their demands:
-Improved quality and accessibility of public education and healthcare.
-Reduction of corruption and increased government accountability.
-Re-prioritization of funds from international events, such as the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, to essential public services.
Activists have also called for the resignation of Head of Government Aziz Akhnnouch, criticizing his government’s inability to address urgent social issues. Demonstrations occurred across various cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech. Some protests turned violent, leading to confrontations between the demonstrators and security forces, resulting in injuries, arrests, and at least two deaths, revealing the depth of collective societal frustration.
The protests claim that this generation is not a repetition of the past, nor is it one that bows to fear the authority of “al-Makhzen” (a term referring to the Moroccan state, particularly the monarchy, and its adjoining apparatus). It is a generation that grew up with the liberty of expression enabled by social media, where a comparison with other nations and political systems happens unconsciously and constantly. Unlike their predecessors, these young Moroccans have developed critical thinking and a strong sense of social awareness. When they took to the streets, their intention was clear: a peaceful protest for dignity, better education, and health services. However, what they faced was a violent response from authorities through arrests, beatings, and intimidation – an attempt to silence the movement.
Yet, as sociology teaches us through the theory of the “backfire effect”, repression often produces the opposite of what it seeks: rather than fear, it fuels resistance. Out of solidarity and anger, even more youth joined the demonstrations in the following days. The government’s silence and lack of communication in the face of such unrest raise serious questions about its responsiveness, legitimacy, and willingness to engage with the real concerns of its citizens. What is happening in Morocco is something far greater than a wave of protests; it is the emergence of a generation that cannot be muzzled but must be made responsible. It does not seek chaos; it acts with shared awareness and purpose. These are the voices responding to the failure of a system that had promised change but delivered stagnation.
Calling the GenZ movement simply “unrest” is to ignore the larger sociopolitical transformation happening right in front of us. A youth who has inherited the language of reconciliation and pacification is now calling for the materialization and application of that promise. The state should see its mobilization as a mirror that reflects both the urgency of reform and the resilience of hope. This generation is no longer a silent observer; instead, they are shaping the country’s political and social future. But the real question now is whether the government will continue to rule through fear, or whether it will finally open its doors to the voice of its own future – not only by listening to its youth, but by acting upon their aspirations and turning their hopes into reality.
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