Morocco - September 2025

On 27 September, Morocco witnessed a rare wave of anti-government demonstrations, the most widespread since the 2011 protest movement, largely led by young people mobilized through social media. Large crowds took to the streets in cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier. The protests were sparked by public outrage over the deaths of several women at a public hospital in Agadir earlier in the month, attributed to inadequate maternity care, as well as anger over a draft higher education reform under parliamentary review, which had raised concerns about universities’ academic autonomy and access to education.  Demonstrators voiced widespread dissatisfaction with public services and questioned government spending priorities, including investments in sports infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Security forces intervened in multiple locations, using force to disperse crowds and detaining at least 200 people. The protest movement continued in the following days, extending into October.

Sources: Morocco World News, Al Jazeera, Committee for Justice, Reuters