Rabat, 01 October 2025 (SPS) – More than 400 people have been arrested and nearly 300 injured amid unprecedented protests that have swept Morocco since last Saturday, calling for improved public services in healthcare and education, social justice, and an end to institutional corruption.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday that 409 individuals were detained following violent clashes in Oujda and several other cities on the fourth day of demonstrations initiated by youth groups.
Clashes with police erupted on the fringes of rallies nationwide.
A viral video on social media captured a police van with flashing lights ramming into a young protester in Oujda before speeding through the crowd. The incident left the protester, identified as Amine, with severe injuries, including the loss of a leg; he was airlifted to Rabat for emergency treatment.
Violence extended beyond Oujda, with similar unrest reported in Inezgane, a low-income suburb of Agadir, as well as Beni Mellal, Aït Amira, Errachidia, and Temara, underscoring the nationwide escalation.
These events resulted in nearly 300 injuries, according to authorities, including 263 security personnel and 23 civilians.
However, Moroccan activists and human rights groups contend the actual number is significantly higher. Over the past few days, hundreds, including minors, have been arrested, with reports of arbitrary detentions and physical assaults by security forces.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) documented over 200 arrests in Rabat alone since the weekend, alongside charges against 37 protesters, most released on bail, with trials set to begin on October 7.
Organized via platforms like TikTok and Discord by anonymous youth collectives such as GenZ 212 and Morocco Youth Voice, the protests criticize government priorities, including billions spent on stadiums for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, amid crumbling healthcare and education systems, exemplified by the recent deaths of eight women at a public hospital in Agadir.
Demonstrators have chanted slogans like “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”
The unrest marks some of the largest anti-government demonstrations in Morocco in years, drawing support from figures like national team goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and rapper ElGrandeToto.
Amnesty International has urged authorities to address youth demands for social, economic, and cultural rights while curbing excessive force.
Protests continued into a fifth night on Wednesday, with heavy security presence in cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier and Oujda.
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