Gen Z-led protests shake Morocco, Madagascar amid growing economic frustrations

Prolonged protests in Morocco and Madagascar are the latest flashpoints in a growing wave of Gen Z-led unrest spanning countries from Indonesia to Kenya. Young people, disillusioned with political elites and economic stagnation, have taken to the streets in defiance of government crackdowns and heavy-handed responses.

In Morocco, demonstrations under the banner “GenZ 212”—a reference to the country’s telephone code—have spread to over a dozen cities, becoming the most expansive unrest since the 2011 Arab Spring. Protesters are calling on King Mohammed VI to dismiss the government, investigate corruption, and address a widening employment crisis, Foreign Policy writes.

The protests began in the southwestern city of Agadir following the deaths of several women during C-section operations, a tragedy seen by many as emblematic of the country’s crumbling public services. The anger has since escalated into broader outrage over a lack of job opportunities and economic stagnation.

Despite a more than 10 per cent increase in the working-age population over the last decade, employment has only grown by 1.5 per cent, according to the World Bank. Youth unemployment hit nearly 40 per cent last year. A February 2024 Afrobarometer survey found that more than half of Moroccans aged 35 and under had considered emigrating for work.

The government’s decision to invest $5 billion in infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup—co-hosted with Portugal and Spain—has only deepened public frustration. So far, three people have been killed and over 1,000 arrested during clashes with police. The government has announced the appointment of over 500 doctors in an effort to de-escalate tensions, but Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch—whose personal fortune is estimated at $1.6 billion—has not indicated any plans to resign.

Meanwhile, in Madagascar, protests that erupted on September 25 over frequent power cuts and water shortages have turned deadly, with at least 22 people killed. President Andry Rajoelina responded by dissolving the government last week, and on October 6 appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new prime minister—an apparent bid to secure military backing.

“The appointment of a high-ranking soldier has often been a choice of Malagasy leaders in times of political tension, in order to project this image of firmness but also to court the armed forces,” the Madagascar Tribune reported. Protesters, however, rejected a proposed national dialogue and issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Rajoelina to step down or face a nationwide strike.

Two-thirds of Madagascar’s population lives in extreme poverty, and the country’s key vanilla export industry has suffered under high US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act has also threatened approximately 120,000 jobs by ending duty-free access to US markets.

Experts warn that the ongoing unrest in Morocco and Madagascar could ignite similar movements across Africa. Risk advisory firm Solace Global noted that “economic frustrations, such as unemployment and a rising cost of living, are similarly felt” across the continent.

Pangea-Risk also highlighted Uganda as a potential flashpoint, where 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni is expected to seek a seventh term in January.

By Sabina Mammadli