Morocco set for fresh protests after demonstrators killed
Africa
By
AFP
| Oct 02, 2025
Protests in Morocco calling for reforms to public services and an end to corruption were set to take place for a sixth day on Thursday, after two demonstrators were killed the night before.
The protests, which have convulsed several cities in the North African country, were called by the group GenZ 212, a recently formed collective based on the Discord web platform whose organisers remain unknown.
GenZ 212 has repeatedly urged demonstrators to remain peaceful, and announced Thursday on Discord that further "peaceful protests will be organised today, as part of a civilised and responsible expression of our demands".
The protests were set to begin in the afternoon (1600 GMT), the group said, adding that gathering points would be announced later in the day.
Since the demonstrations started, hundreds of mostly young people have been arrested, and two were killed on Wednesday night when officers opened fire on a group of demonstrators they said were attempting to "storm" a police station near Agadir.
READ MORE
M23 militia says will withdraw from key DRC city of Uvira
M23 consolidates control of DR Congo city, bodies in streets
What we know about M23's new advance in DR Congo
Haiti mission troops welcomed home, praised for bravery abroad
Rwanda set to reap peace dividends in Eastern DRC
Kenya, US sign Sh323.8 billion health aid agreement
Gender Identity: Pressure mounts on Parliament to pass National Intersex Persons Bill, 2023
How disputed SHA land, ghost project cost taxpayers Sh1.5 billion
Local authorities said demonstrators wielding "bladed weapons" had attempted to "seize ammunition, equipment and service weapons" from the police station.
Morocco's interior ministry said on Wednesday that more than 400 people had been arrested during the rallies, with nearly 300 people -- mainly from security forces -- injured.
Many, but not all, of the protests have been peaceful.
Violent clashes and acts of vandalism erupted in some cities, including in Sidi Bibi, also near Agadir, where demonstrators set offices of the local commune headquarters on fire, according to media reports and videos on social media.
"We assure the public and the authorities that our demonstrations will be entirely peaceful," GenZ 212 insisted, saying it "rejects all forms of violence, vandalism or rioting".
It reminded protesters "to respect the peaceful nature" of the movement.
On Wednesday, rallies in cities including Casablanca, Tangier and Tetouan were taking place with official authorisation for the first time since the gatherings began on Saturday.
Demonstrators called for "the fall of corruption" as well as "freedom, dignity and social justice", while some urged Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to step down.
The protests have also demanded reforms to the education and public health sectors, and come at a time of popular discontent over Morocco's social inequalities, which have disproportionately affected young people and women.
Recent reports of the deaths of eight pregnant women at a public hospital in Agadir have been a particular source of public outrage.