Moroccan security blocks youth protests over health, education
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Heavy security blocked Morocco’s youth-led protests demanding better health and education, with dozens arrested as unemployment and discontent fuel unrest.
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A boy is detained while taking part in a youth-led protest calling for education and health reforms, in Casablanca, Morocco, Monday, September 29, 2025 (AP)
A heavy security presence stopped Morocco's youth-led protests on Monday evening, as demonstrators took to the streets for the third consecutive day to demand improvements in the country’s health and education sectors.
Authorities moved quickly in cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier, and Oujda, where a youth collective called Gen Z 212 had mobilized protests online through TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms.
Reuters reported that dozens of young people were arrested in different cities, though Moroccan authorities have not yet commented officially. In Rabat, plainclothes security officers detained protesters attempting to chant or speak to journalists.
Despite the crackdown, a group briefly chanted “Freedom, dignity, social justice” in central Rabat, a slogan that recalls the 2011 Morocco protests, which pushed for constitutional reforms.
Escalating demonstrations
On Sunday night, demonstrators in Casablanca blocked a main highway, while videos shared on social media showed security forces dispersing students near a university campus in Agadir.
The youth-led protests began in Agadir after anger over poor hospital conditions and soon spread nationwide, with demands highlighting shortages of healthcare staff, resources, and broader dissatisfaction with the education system.
The unrest comes amid persistent economic challenges. Morocco’s unemployment rate stands at 12.8% overall, soaring to 35.8% among youth and 19% among university graduates, according to the National Statistics Agency.
