Deadly Clashes Erupt in Morocco Amid Youth-Led Protests

Two people were killed and several others injured in Lqliaa, near Agadir, after security forces opened fire on Wednesday night.

According to local authorities, the violence broke out when a group of individuals attempted to seize weapons from a gendarmerie facility. Tear gas failed to deter the group, prompting officers to respond with live ammunition in self-defense.

The incident marks a deadly escalation in a wave of anti-government protests that began on Saturday, initially focused on demands for improved education and healthcare.

The demonstrations have been organized online by an anonymous youth movement known as “GenZ 212,” which uses platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Discord to rally support.

The group reportedly saw its Discord server grow from 3,000 to over 130,000 members in just one week.

Local authorities reported the attackers were armed with knives and set fire to parts of the gendarmerie facility and a vehicle. They did not specify how many people were injured during the clash.

Inspired by similar Gen Z-led protests in Asia and Latin America, the movement in Morocco has rapidly grown, fueled by widespread youth frustration over poor public services and corruption.

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Tuesday night saw widespread unrest, with clashes in multiple cities. According to the Interior Ministry, 263 security personnel and 23 civilians were injured in that night’s violence. Reuters images showed officers surrounding protesters and forcibly detaining them.

Unrest Spreads Across the Country

On Wednesday, violence expanded to Salé, near Rabat, where young men threw stones at police, looted stores, torched police vehicles, and set banks on fire, witnesses said. In Tangier, protesters clashed with police near the Strait of Gibraltar.

In the Souss region near Agadir, unrest intensified for a second night. In Sidi Bibi, masked youths burned local government offices and blocked roads. In Biougra, a bank was looted and several shops vandalized.

“I was in a café watching the PSG vs Real Madrid match when young men started throwing stones at nearby shops,” said local activist Abdeslam Chegri. “We stayed inside the café to finish the game.”

In Marrakech, local media reported protesters set fire to a police station. Meanwhile, the protests—originally sparked by complaints about poor hospital conditions in Agadir have spread to several other towns and cities.

In Taroudant, usually a quiet town, demonstrators clashed with police, vandalized stores, and set vehicles ablaze.

However, not all protests turned violent. Peaceful rallies were held in Casablanca, Oujda, and Taza, where demonstrators called for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to resign and chanted, “The people want an end to corruption.”