Moroccan youth have been demonstrating better care and better education since last Saturday. The demonstrations stem from a dissatisfaction that has been around for some time. A new generation is done with the corruption and crooked power relationships in Morocco, which take shape in new football stadiums.
The Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said on Thursday that he is open to a dialogue to put an end to the demonstrations. His government is said to have “taken over the requirements of the youth movements” and be ready “for a discussion”.
It is not only the question of what such conversations would yield, but also with whom Akhannouch should have them. The demonstrations are organized by the loosely organized group of Genz 212. That faceless collective unites online via Tiktok, Instagram and the Discord chat service.
After calls from Genz 212, protests have erupted throughout the country since last Saturday in large cities. In addition, hundreds of people were arrested and injured.
The police shot three demonstrators on Tuesday, when a group of protesters with knives stormed a police station. Buildings have also been looted and cars were set on fire.
Hundreds of millions go to football
“The protests stem from a dissatisfaction that has been simmering in Morocco for years,” says Arabist Sietske de Boer, who has written several books about the country. The construction of two football stadiums for the Africa Cup and the World Cup give a new cause for resistance. “A lot of neighborhoods must be done for that construction. It symbolizes corruption that everyone has been done with for some time.”
Take the construction of a football stadium in the capital Rabat. The football temple was proudly delivered in September for the Africa Cup, which will start at the end of this year. But in the same week several women died in hospitals due to medical negligence. Their death led to the first demonstrations. The demonstrators believe that the Moroccan government uses the money for the wrong purposes.
The contrast in Rabat is already large, but is even greater near Casablanca. In 2027, the largest football stadium in the world has to rise there in 2027. The construction of the stadium with no fewer than 115,000 places costs around 270 million euros. The country spends billions on the national football empire.
Morocco is organizing the World Cup in 2030 with Spain and Portugal. The government is investing heavily in these projects. De Boer sees that the population is not taken into account.
For example, houses in Casablanca were demolished in July to make room for new infrastructure. According to the Arabist that happened because of the World Cup. The demolition started, while residents still litigated against the demolition. De Boer wrote her first book about a family who owned one of these demolished flats.
Arab Spring passed by Morocco
It is not the first time that dissatisfaction leads to large protests in Morocco. The last violent demonstrations were in the northern Rif area in 2016 and 2017. These demonstrations also stemmed from dissatisfaction with corruption, among other things.
“I don’t look up from these protests. They demand the same as with the reef protests and the Arab Spring,” says Paolo de Mas, researcher at the African Studies Center and former director of the Netherlands Institute Morocco.
During the Arab Spring in 2011, citizens demonstrated in many North African and other Arab countries for more democracy. Dictators were dropped off in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, among others. But in most cases the dreamed democratization was not forthcoming, resulting in administrative chaos.
The Arab Spring also led to protests in Morocco. The king then quickly held a TV speech, De Mas continues. “He promised more democracy and a new constitution. But in the end little of it ended up.”
The king in Morocco has all the power, the experts explain. He appoints ministers and can fire them at any time. At all key positions he puts sympathizers and supporters out of his circles. The shoe actually pinches the most, although the protesters will never complain directly about the royal family. De Mas: “Then you pass a red line.”
‘You stop the protests, not the emotion’
Most Moroccans agree with the requirements of the young people. But as soon as the criticism is directly focused on the king, the demonstrations are not only crushed harder, but the demonstrators also lose supporters. Many Moroccans saw the disorder in other countries after the Arab Spring. De Mas: “That’s why they think: rather peace and corruption than revolution and total chaos.”
The MAS thinks that the demonstrations will eventually run out of nothing. He suspects that the ministers of care and education are sent out as scapegoats. “The government makes a proposal to discuss the requirements. But the core of the problem is not being tackled,” De Mas concludes.
De Boer remembers that the demonstrations in the reef area were eventually crushed. “That will end your protests, but not the emotion behind it. Sooner or later that will rise again sooner or later. That World Cup will only be in 2030. This can play again for that.”
Moroccan Youth Have Been Demonstrating Since Last Saturday for Better Healthcare and Better Education. The demonstrations voice from a discontent that has existed for some time. A New Generation is Fed Up With The Corruption and Skewed Power Relations in Morocco, which are Taking Shape in New Football Stads.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch Said on Thursday that he is open to a dialogue to end the demonstrations. His Government would have “Tasks over the demands of the Youth Movements” and is ready “for a discussion.”
It is not only a question of what Such Talks would yield, but also with whom akhannouch should conducting them. The Demonstrations Are Organized by The Loosely Organized Group Genz 212. That Faceless Collective Unites Online via Tiktok, Instagram and the Chat Service Discord.
Following Calls from Genz 212, protests have erupted in Major Cities Across The Country Since Last Saturday. Hundreds of people have leg arrested and injured.
Police Shot Three Protesters Dead on Tuesday when a group of demonstrators stormed a police station with Knives. Buildings have also leg looted and cars set on fire.
Hundreds of Millions Go to Football
“The Protests voice from a discontent that has leg simmering in Morocco for years,” Says Arabist Sietske de Boer, who has written Several Books about the country. The Construction of Two Football Stadiums for the Africa Cup and the World Cup Are Giving a New Reason for Resistance. “A lot has to give way for that construction. It symbolizes the corruption that everyone has fed up with for some time.”
Take the Construction of a Football Stadium in The Capital Rabat. The Football Temple was Proudly Completed in September for the Africa Cup, which starts at the end of this year. But in That Same Week, Several Women died in Hospitals Due to Medical Negligence. Their Deaths Led to the First Demonstrations. The Protesters Believe That The Moroccan Government is Using the Money for the Wrong Purposes.
The contrast in Rabat is Already Great, but is just Greater Near Casablanca. There, Accordance to its own Claim, The Largest Football Stadium in the World Should Be Built in 2027. The Construction of the Stadium With No Less than 115,000 Seats Costs Approximately 270 Million Euros. The Country Spends Billions on the National Football Empire.
Morocco is organizing the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The Government is investing heavy in thesis projects. The farmer Sees That Little Consideration is Given to the population.
For Example, Homes in Casablanca Were Demolished in July to Make Way for New Infrastructure. Accordance to the arabist, this happened because of the world cup. The Demolition started While Residents Were Still Litigating Against the Demolition. The farmer wrote first book about a family that owned one of these demolished flats.
Arab Spring Passed Morocco by
It is not the first time that discontent has led to large protests in Morocco. The Last Violent Demonstrations were in 2016 and 2017 in The Northern Rif Region. Those demonstrations also votes from dissatisfaction with, Among Other Things, Corruption.
“I am not surprised by these protests. They are demanding the same as in the rif protests and the arab spring,” Says Paolo de Mas, researcher at the African Studies Center and Former Director of the Netherlands Institute Morocco.
Duration the Arab Spring in 2011, Citizens in Many North African and Other Arab Countries demonstrated for more democracy. Dictators Were Overthrown In, Among Others, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. But the dreamed or democratization failed to materialize in most cases, resulting in administrative chaos.
The Arab Spring also LED to protests in Morocco. The King Then Quickly Gave a Television Speech, the MAS Continues. “The promised more democracy and a new constitution. But little has come of that in the end.”
The experts explain that the king in Morocco has all the power. He appoints ministers and can dismiss them at any time. The Places sympathizers and supporters from his circles in all key positions. That is where the shoe pinches The Most, Although the Demonstrators Will Never Complain Directly About the Royal Family. De Mas: “Then you cross a red line.”
‘You Stop the Protests, Not The Emotion’
Most Moroccans Agree With The Demands of the Young People. But as soon as the criticism is directed direct at the king, the demonstrations are not only suppressed more Harshly, but the demonstrators also Lose supporters. Many Moroccans Saw the Disorder in Other Countries After the Arab Spring. De Mas: “That’s why they think: Better Peace and corruption than revolution and total chaos.”
The Mas Thinks that the demonstrations will ultimately come to nothing. The suspects that the ministers of healthcare and education will be dismissed as scapegoats. “The Government is making a proposal to discuss the demands. But the core of the problem is not be addressed,” concludes the mas.
De Boer Recalls that the demonstrations in the Rif Region Were Angelly Violently Suppressed. “That ends protests, but not the emotion behind it. That will resurface soner or later. That world cup is not until 2030. This may come up again then.”