In the wake of rising social tensions, the #GENZ212 movement has emerged as a symbol of Moroccan youth rebellion against what they perceive as systematic neglect of their basic needs.
This movement, initiated by Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), began as a digital campaign on social media platforms like Telegram and X and quickly evolved into peaceful protests in major cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, and Tetouan.
The number “212” refers to Morocco’s international calling code, reflecting the movement’s national identity aimed at reshaping state priorities towards health, education, and social justice instead of large sporting projects like hosting the 2030 World Cup.
GENZ212 emerged in mid-September 2025 in response to accumulated economic and social frustrations. With rising prices of essential goods such as potatoes, meat, and fish, and youth unemployment at 30%, this generation feels entirely overlooked. The movement has announced plans for nationwide protests on September 27 and 28, demanding “basic rights” and positioning itself as “the voice of the people” against neglect and corruption. It recalls the 20 February movement of 2011, but is more digitally organized and focused on social issues without traditional party leadership, firmly rejecting any involvement from political parties or candidates.
Key Demands
The priorities of the people take precedence over sports and corruption. The demands of #GENZ212 focus on tangible issues reflecting the daily realities of Moroccan youth, who constitute about 30% of the population, including:
Improved Healthcare: The health system suffers from a shortage of doctors and medicines, with chants like “Health first, we don’t want the World Cup,” indicating that billions allocated for stadium construction come at the expense of hospitals.
Quality Education: A reduction in dropout rates and improved quality to provide real job opportunities, as education is viewed as “essential for life and progress.”
Corruption Eradication and Price Reducation: Lowering food prices and ensuring fair jobs, with statements like “Potatoes are expensive, tomatoes are expensive, meat is expensive, fish is expensive, even hashish is expensive.”
Freedom and Social Justice: Rejecting repression and arbitrary arrests, emphasizing independence from political parties and calling for national unity from north to south.
Activists assert that these demands are “clear reforms” and warn that repression “increases tensions,” stressing that “this generation fears nothing and has nothing to lose.”
Events of September 27 and 28
The protests peaked on September 27 and 28, with the movement calling for peaceful demonstrations in 11 cities. In Casablanca, thousands gathered at Saraghna Square, but security forces cordoned off the area, using tear gas and batons, resulting in dozens of arrests, including the host of the podcast “M’talata” during coverage.
In Rabat, authorities prevented the demonstration in front of Parliament and enforced a “prohibition option,” temporarily closing the Israeli embassy out of fear of escalation. In Tangier, authorities restricted gatherings in the Square of Nations and arrested protesters, while participants in Agadir and Tetouan faced similar repression.
Youth chanted slogans like “The spark of protests ignites from Casa to all of Morocco,” with artists like rapper Onzi participating and declaring “Present at peaceful demonstrations.”
Nepal
In the context of increasing global youth protests, the September 2025 protests in Nepal stand out as a significant example of Generation Z’s rebellion against corruption and governmental neglect, closely resembling the #GENZ212 movement in Morocco.
The protests in Nepal erupted in response to the government’s decision to ban 26 social media platforms on September 4, 2025, outraging youth who relied on these tools for organization and expression. This quickly transformed into a widespread movement led by youths aged 13 to 28, demanding an end to corruption and nepotism and political reform, resulting in the ousting of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli within just 48 hours and the establishment of a caretaker government.
Similarities to #GENZ212
The fundamental connection between the protests in Nepal and #GENZ212 lies in both being part of a global wave of Generation Z protests, challenging ruling elites using social media as a double-edged sword: facilitating rapid coordination yet making them susceptible to governmental bans.
In Nepal, the ban intensified protests, with thousands of youth gathering in Kathmandu and other cities like Maitighar and Ratna Park, rallying behind slogans like “We will decide the future of the country,” demanding radical reforms in the economy and politics. This mirrors #GENZ212, which launched in Morocco in mid-September 2025 via Telegram and X, advocating for improved health and education, coupled with anti-corruption sentiments, and chants such as “Health first, we don’t want the World Cup,” in response to massive budgets allocated for sports projects over essential services.
Both movements reflect Generation Z’s frustration with high unemployment (30% in Morocco and similar in Nepal), rising prices, and social inequality, with youths feeling “crushed” under a “broken system.”
In Nepal, protests escalated into violence, including clashes with police and injuries, described as “the worst unrest in decades,” while in Morocco, #GENZ212 experienced shocking arrests, such as that of a father and his infant daughter. Both movements reject traditional party leadership, favoring digital self-organization, marking them as a “turning point” in local politics.
