Mass protests erupted in Morocco in October 2025, driven by anger over corruption, high unemployment, and a failing healthcare system. The demonstrations began in the city of Agadir after several pregnant women died during C-sections at the same hospital within weeks, and quickly spread to Marrakech and other cities.
Imad Zoukanni, a 28-year-old artist who joined the protests, said young people were furious that the government was spending money to host upcoming football tournaments while hospitals lacked basic resources and graduates could not find jobs. 'Instead of investing in people’s lives, in education, in healthcare, Morocco has tried to build a nice image for people outside [to build tourism],' he told the Guardian.
Morocco's protests are part of a wider wave of gen Z-led demonstrations across Africa and Asia in 2025, which also toppled governments in Nepal and Madagascar. Activists from five countries, including Morocco, spoke to the Guardian about their motivations, citing corruption as the root cause of economic hardship and lack of opportunities.
In Morocco, unemployment among young people is particularly acute. 'A lot of young people have a good education but there are no doors open to work in the fields they spent years studying,' Zoukanni said. 'Work is not just about money, it’s also about dignity, independence and hope.'
