Description: The anti – government protests in Morocco have spread to the city of Sole, where demonstrators clashed with police forces which according to several reports used live ammunition to suppress violence. At least two people have been killed in the city of Lqliaa after police forces, reportedly in self-defense, opened fire on people attempting to gain possession of arms and ammunition. Protesters, alike the other Gen Z movements across south Asia, organized through Discord with the chat group reportedly numbering 130 thousand members since the protests started last Saturday. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch commended the security forces for their actions with the exclusion of the deadly incidents and stated that the government was prepared to listen to the demands from the protesters.
Impact: The Moroccan Gen Z protests similar to other anti – government movements in recent months, which have tackled ample socio – economic issues within their governments, are contesting the credibility and the legitimacy of the government’s spending practices, the high levels of corruption and the poor state of the country’s health system. Unlike in Madagascar, where the President is doubling down on repression, the Moroccan Prime Minister has opened a channel for communication with the country’s youth population relatively quickly. The increased level of violence, the use of live ammunition and the considerable expansion in numbers by the protesters indicates continuation of the civil unrest. The level of public disapproval of the government’s practices in the country remains high and the measures necessary to address the demands by the anti – government movement are yet to be communicated. The situation would remain volatile and unstable in the short to mid – term period of time, while the government’s preparedness to establish dialogue could potentially result in constructive reforms addressing the wide spectrum of socio – economic issues outlined by the Gen Z movement.