Rabat – A new report by the association Citoyens (Citizens) has revealed a serious “crisis of trust” between Moroccan youth and elected institutions.
According to the report, seven out of 10 young people said they do not trust elected officials or public institutions. The report describes this as a clear sign of growing doubt in democracy, saying it could threaten the future of political participation among younger generations.
Titled “How Do Young People View Civic Engagement?”, the report shows that this lack of trust is not expressed through confrontation, but rather through silence and withdrawal. Many young people are stepping away from public life and showing little interest in politics, and feeling like their actions don’t make a difference.
One of the main reasons for this disinterest, the report explains, is the lack of real results in everyday life. Young people also say they find it difficult to reach out to elected officials and often feel like they are treated as a group that needs to be “sensitized” rather than being seen as equal partners in decision-making.
Young participants in the survey often expressed disappointment in public consultations that didn’t lead to real change. Others complained about projects being launched without their actual involvement. This creates a feeling that democracy in Morocco is more about appearances than about real participation.
The report also shows that Moroccan youth are very active online, especially on social media platforms. More than two out of three young people (68%) use digital platforms to express their opinions on political and social issues. However, they rarely see any engagement from public institutions in return.
According to the report, government communication on social media is “rare and one-sided,” with little to no response to comments or questions from citizens. This “digital silence,” the report warns, increases feelings of neglect and disrespect among youth, pushing them further away from official channels of participation.
Only half of young people reported using official participation tools such as petitions or public consultations. The reasons for this low usage include poor design, complicated interfaces, lack of mobile-friendly options, and no feedback from authorities.
