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Rabat – Two demonstrations took place on Saturday afternoon in Paris and Marseille in support of GenZ212, the youth-led Moroccan movement that has sparked nationwide protests demanding better public healthcare and education services.
Organized by members of the Moroccan diaspora, the gatherings drew hundreds of participants. In Marseille, around a hundred people assembled peacefully near the Moroccan Consulate.
Protesters held banners reading “Corruption Stop” and “Anti-CAN,” the latter referring to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be hosted by Morocco in December.
In Paris, roughly 400 people gathered at the Trocadero, according to the Paris Police Prefecture, voicing solidarity with what they described as a “movement of dignity” led by Moroccan youth.
A movement born out of tragedy
The GenZ212 movement emerged in early September, following the death of eight pregnant women who died during cesarean deliveries at a public hospital in Agadir.
The tragedy sparked widespread outrage online, prompting spontaneous demonstrations across Moroccan cities organized by young people with no known political affiliation or leadership structure.
The protests, which began peacefully, have also taken an ugly turn when a group of rioters went berserk with extreme acts of violence and vandalism.
The GenZ212 collective completely detached itself from these riots, saying it condemns any acts of violence and will keep protesting peacefully for their rights.
Authorities reported that three people were killed overnight from Wednesday to Thursday when gendarmes, reporting self-defense, opened fire after a group allegedly tried to storm a gendarmerie post in Lqliaâ near Agadir.
Across both French cities, participants described the rallies as a gesture of solidarity with Morocco’s Generation Z, who, through digital platforms and peaceful mobilization, are calling for systemic reform and accountability in public institutions.
The Moroccan diaspora is also calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, police crackdowns, and acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators.
