Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has expressed openness to dialogue to end the youth protests that have escalated into riots across the country, with hundreds of people arrested and injured, and buildings ransacked and cars torched.
The protests, which began on Saturday, were initially sparked by demands for better education and healthcare but have since taken on a broader tone, with protesters criticizing corruption and economic disparities.
Akhannouch stated that his government has engaged with the demands expressed by the youth movements and is ready for dialogue and discussion, emphasizing that a dialogue-based approach is the only path to addressing the country’s challenges.
The protests, organized by a loosely formed youth group called “GenZ 212” using online platforms, have turned violent in some areas, prompting authorities to vow to crack down on those participating in looting or vandalism, with potential penalties of 20 years to life in jail.
The violence has resulted in injuries to 640 people, including 589 members of the security forces, and damage to 413 law enforcement vehicles and 195 private cars. Seventy percent of participants in acts of vandalism and clashes with security forces have been minors.
Despite the GenZ 212 group’s denouncement of violence and call for peaceful protests, some clashes have occurred in smaller towns and cities where the group had not announced planned protests.
The escalating violence appears to have undermined popular support for the protest movement, with some Moroccans questioning the effectiveness of the protests in achieving their demands.
