Written by:Kevin Herbert

A look into the largest protest in Moroccan history, 2011-2012

On 20 February, thousands of Moroccans rallied in the capital, Rabat, to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers, chanting slogans such as „Down with autocracy” and „The people want to change the constitution”. They were heading towards the parliament building, and the police did not halt them, although Moroccan Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said that people should not join the march. A separate protest was underway in Casablanca, and one was planned for Marrakesh. On 9 March, King Mohammed VI responded with a televised speech promising constitutional reforms. A new constitution, drafted and approved in a July referendum, offered limited power-sharing but kept key powers with the king. Despite the reforms, protests continued through 2011 and into 2012. Thousands marched demanding more change, including full separation of powers, judicial independence, and economic justice. The death of protester Kamal Amari in June 2011 after police violence intensified calls for reform. Demonstrations remained regular, with rallies against unemployment, corruption, and rising living costs. Protesters also called out symbols of monarchy, such as the Bay’ah ceremony, demanding its abolition as outdated and submissive. In 2012, frustration over unmet promises and economic hardship led to more demonstrations. Tens of thousands gathered in Casablanca in May. Clashes between protesters and police continued, including in working-class districts. Activists targeted not only government policy but also the elite circle around the king, known as the Makhzen. Protests in Rabat and other cities persisted, with calls to release detained activists and fight corruption. By the end of 2012, protest activity had declined, but the movement had left a mark. The 20 February Movement’s actions forced a national conversation on democracy and reform. Although the monarchy remained dominant, the era had reshaped public expectations and political discourse in Morocco. One of the media platforms that advertised the movement was Mamfakinch, a collaborative website that published content mainly in French and Arabic, but also English. „Mamfakinch” means „no concession”. The website was started by young Moroccans who were excited by the 20 February demonstrations, which sought sweeping social, economic, and political reform in Morocco. The designers claim diverse political persuasions but share a common belief in the democratic values of freedom and human rights. The site is not afraid to be critical of the Moroccan government and promotes the rights to free speech and access to information. Mamfakinch is a citizen media source endeavouring to provide accurate information that other mainstream media sources misrepresent, intentionally distort, or completely ignore. On 20 February 2011, five bodies had been found in Al Hoceima, within a bank that had been destroyed by protesters who set it on fire during the 20 February protests. According to eyewitnesses, the bodies belonged to rioters who were trying to loot the bank. On 2 June 2011, a man died of injuries he had allegedly received during the riots the city of Safi had witnessed three days before. Official reports state that the man’s participation in the protest in precarious health conditions led to the complications which caused his death.

A historical reason why?

Morocco’s situation is unique, given that its monarchy, the Alawi dynasty, has been in power since 1631. After gaining its independence from France in 1956, the country reunited and put in place a semi-constitutional monarchy.

The Moroccan experience differs from its regional kin because it is considered a semi-authoritarian state – it maintains procedural democracy, such as elections, while adopting features of authoritarianism. Since independence, the King has held executive and legislative powers over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs. Unlike the other revolutions in the region, the people did not demand the outright resignation of King Mohammed VI. As one analyst put it, while Morocco’s security apparatus has been heavy-handed with its treatment of protesters, “its reputation has never been nearly as bad as that of its counterparts in Tunisia or … Egypt”.

To avoid a massive revolution, the Moroccan monarchy did not react as violently as other countries did to protests. Instead, he called for a referendum on 1 July over the proposed changes to the constitution. The monarchy also agreed to several political, economic and social reform projects, such as Amazigh as an official state language in addition to Arabic. The King retained decisive control over many of the country’s key political institutions.

While every country since the Arab Spring has gone back to its authoritarian ways – arguably a hardened version – Morocco’s encounter with its uprising forced the regime to make changes, which, in the long term, strengthened its hardiness.

The 2025 GEN Z protests

Hundreds of young protesters have taken to the streets across Morocco in what has been described as some of the country’s largest anti-government demonstrations in years, seeking better government services as well as an end to corruption. Demonstrators have demanded urgent investment in public health and education and denounced what they see as misplaced national priorities. The protests, organised by a grassroots movement calling itself GenZ 212, spread to at least 11 cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh and Agadir. Authorities moved quickly to contain the demonstrations, with police saying nearly 200 people were arrested since Saturday. Footage shared on the GenZ 212 Facebook account appeared to show police charging into crowds, seizing demonstrators and forcing a young woman into the back of a van. “Systematic violence [has been used] against a group of young people who were demonstrating peacefully,” Hakim Sikouk of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights told the AFP news agency. “Security forces responded violently. We condemn these arrests and deem it unacceptable to take a security-oriented approach to the social demands of a group of young people.” Opposition parties have urged the government to engage in dialogue with protesters, who are demanding employment opportunities, improved health services, and better schools. They drew a direct link between the country’s struggling health care system and its investments in the lead-up to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, shouting slogans including, “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” Morocco is building at least three new stadiums and renovating or expanding at least half a dozen others, preparing to co-host the event. It will also host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year. Analysts say the protests are in response to years of neglect in public services and urgent reforms in the education and health sectors. Earlier this month, the deaths of eight pregnant women at a public hospital prompted widespread outrage. “Today we came out to defend and demand the rights for my daughter,” one protester, whose name was not revealed, was heard as saying in a social media video shared online. “Our time has passed without any improvement. As you can see, the oppressive police are here today to beat and arrest protesters,” he said. The GenZ 212 movement emerged only two weeks ago but has quickly gained traction. It operates without leaders or formal ties to political parties or unions, relying instead on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Discord to mobilise supporters. “This is a decentralised, leaderless and fluid organisation, or let’s say, network,” said Mohammed Masbah, director of the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis. “They don’t have any leader and are not affiliated to any political party or union. That makes it difficult for authorities to negotiate or co-opt them because they don’t know who they are.” On its Facebook page, the group called for “peaceful demonstrations … to express popular demands related to health, education and social justice”. Earlier this month, Morocco’s billionaire Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch defended what he called the government’s “major accomplishments” in the health sector. “We managed reforms, upgraded the spendings, and we are in the process of building hospitals in all the country’s regions,” Akhannouch, who is also Agadir’s mayor, said. “The Agadir hospital has been facing problems since 1962 … and we are trying to resolve them.” After protests, Moroccan Health Minister Amine Tahraoui fired the hospital director as well as health officials from the region. World Health Organisation data from 2023 showed Morocco having only 7.7 medical professionals per 10,000 inhabitants and far fewer in certain regions, including Agadir, with 4.4 per 10,000. The WHO recommends 25 per 10,000.

Conclusion

Protests in Morocco can be traced back to the 2011-2012 Arab Spring, focusing on King Mohammed VI’s powers and possible concessions to the crown, resulting in constitutional reforms of barely any significance compared to the demands, leading some to predict the 2025 Gen Z uprising and the recent youth protests across 11 cities. These protests focus on the 2030 World Cup and the funds allocated to the health and education sectors, leading to neglect and corruption. Protests to claim back the resources allocated to the health and education sectors, leading to corruption and neglect in the funds secured for the World Cup 2030, resulted in hundreds of demonstrators clashing with the police and 200 arrests. Gen Z 212, the latest protest movement, is the first to rely on social media for coordination. The monarchy’s historical resilience to reforms has resulted in a semi-authoritarian state, yet the remaining unrest in Morocco is an indicator of economic and social service demands prioritising the political future of the country.

References

Gen Z Moroccans denounce government priorities in some of the largest protests in years
2011-2012 Moroccan protests
Moroccan protests
TVK Maanadu Madurai Video Vijay Speech TVK Second State ConferThe ‘gentle’ Moroccan revolution while neighbours endure coups – The Africa Report.com 
Gen Z protesters rally across Morocco demanding health, education reforms