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Marrakech – The European Union has urged “all parties to maintain calm” in Morocco as the country faces continued protests by the youth-led GenZ212 movement. The bloc’s call comes after nearly a week of demonstrations that began peacefully but have since seen isolated incidents of violence.
In a statement on Friday, October 3, EU Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stressed “the importance of the participation of young people in public life” while acknowledging the “openness to dialogue expressed by Moroccan authorities.”
The EU also expressed regret over recent violence and offered condolences to the victims’ families. Brussels reaffirmed its deep bilateral cooperation with Morocco, particularly in youth employment, vocational training, and skills development.
The protests, which started last Saturday, have now entered their seventh consecutive day. GenZ212, a newly formed youth collective with nearly 170,000 members on Discord, has called for demonstrations across Morocco from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time on Friday.
“We reaffirm that these demonstrations will be entirely peaceful and reject any form of violence, riot, or destruction of public and private property,” the movement stated, urging protesters to wear black “as a sign of mourning for the injured and dead.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also weighed in on the situation, deploring the violence that has reportedly resulted in three deaths and hundreds of injuries.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said Guterres called for protests to “take place in a peaceful manner, respecting life, property, and the rule of law” and urged “a prompt and impartial investigation with a view to ensuring accountability.”
Read also: Gen Z Protests: Amnesty International Urges Probe Into Deadly Crackdown
The demonstrations have now spread beyond Morocco’s borders, with solidarity protests organized by Moroccan diaspora communities. The first European gathering took place on Friday in Brussels, with additional demonstrations planned for Paris and Marseille on Saturday, and Montreal on Sunday.
These social protests, notable for their spontaneity, follow demonstrations that began in mid-September after eight pregnant women died at a public hospital in Agadir while admitted for cesarean sections. GenZ212 presents itself as a group of “free youth” without political affiliation.
The collective’s demands focus on reforms in the healthcare and education sectors. In a document addressed to King Mohammed VI, the group initially called for the government’s resignation, though they later clarified this was not the “final version” of their message.
Violence erupted Wednesday night in several small towns, with three people killed by gendarmes “in self-defense” as they allegedly attempted to storm a gendarmerie brigade in Lqliaâ, near Agadir, to seize weapons and ammunition, according to authorities.
Despite these incidents, Thursday’s gatherings marked a return to calm in several cities, with GenZ212 consistently distancing itself from violent acts and reaffirming its commitment to peaceful protests.
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