News Center -The protests, spearheaded by the "Gen Z" movement, have sparked wide reactions across social media platforms in Morocco. Some civil and political activists view the right to protest and demonstrate as guaranteed and legitimate, describing it as the most appropriate path to securing the people's rights and combating corruption.
In an unprecedented incident, local authorities in the prefecture of Inezgane-Aït Melloul (near Agadir, southern Morocco) announced that elements of the Royal Gendarmerie had used their service weapons under what was described as "legitimate self-defense," after groups of individuals attacked the station in an attempt to seize ammunition and weapons.
The intervention left two people dead and others injured, while a car and parts of the building were set on fire, according to the same source.
In a subsequent statement, the Presidency of the Public Prosecution said that public prosecutors would deal with such acts with the "utmost firmness and severity," noting that penalties could reach life imprisonment if accompanied by aggravating circumstances.
Vandalism and Fires in Several Cities
The city of Salé, near the capital Rabat, witnessed the torching of a bank branch and vandalism of another, along with the burning of two police cars. In Oulad Teima, in the Taroudant province in the south, a bank branch was stormed and its contents ransacked.
Meanwhile, in Sidi Bibi — a coastal area near Agadir — fires were set inside the civil registry offices located in the municipal building, and an explosion occurred in a seized-goods warehouse. In Marrakech, in the south-central part of the country, clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces in the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali neighborhood, while a march in the city center proceeded peacefully.
In Tangier, northern Morocco, marches began peacefully before escalating into stone-throwing at security forces.
Reactions and Movement Organization
The violent acts triggered widespread reactions across Moroccan social media, where many activists condemned the vandalism and attacks on public and private property, arguing that such actions undermine the peaceful nature of young people’s social demands.
On the other hand, many stressed that the right to protest and demonstrate is guaranteed and legitimate, but only within the framework of non-violence, considering it the most effective way to convey demands related to education, healthcare, employment, and fighting corruption.
In a related context, pages associated with the movement on social media, known as "GenZ 212," announced the suspension of protests on Thursday, October 2, in order to "reorganize and start again." The movement explained that the decision was made to avoid a repeat of "tragedies" like those witnessed in the town of Al-Qulay‘a near Agadir, where two people were killed during an attempted attack on a Royal Gendarmerie station. It emphasized that such acts do not represent the movement, describing them as "theft and violations of peacefulness," and called on young people to refrain from demonstrating in a chaotic manner.
Broader Context
The calls for demonstrations began on September 27 via social media pages, mobilizing protests in 13 cities including Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, and Tangier, before spreading to additional cities. Protesters are demanding urgent reforms in education, healthcare, and employment, in addition to combating corruption.