Z 212 Group Concludes First Phase of Protests, Announces Plans for Second Phase
The Z 212 group, which ignited widespread protests earlier this year, has announced the conclusion of the “first phase” of its peaceful campaign, declaring it a “foundational success” that has revived political awareness among thousands of youth.
In an official statement published on Discord, the movement confirmed it is entering a reorganization phase to launch “the second phase,” warning that the struggle “has not stopped and will not stop.”
The “Gen Z 212” movement began as an informal group on the Discord server on September 18, where its membership grew from under 1,000 to approximately 250,000 by October 7, fueled by youth anger over rising unemployment rates, which reached 13.3% in 2024, as well as poor public services and corruption.
Digital calls quickly transformed into on-the-ground protests in several Moroccan cities, demanding fundamental reforms, including the release of political prisoners, the guarantee of basic rights in health and education, and accountability for “public fund embezzlers.” However, the protests escalated violently in early October, resulting in hundreds of injuries and at least two deaths due to security forces, who described the incident as “self-defense.”
In the official statement, signed with encrypted digital signatures for security, movement leaders characterized the first phase as a “success that demonstrated the existence of a youth generation aware of its country’s issues, and succeeded in igniting a genuine national debate about the priorities of Moroccans.” They added, “We managed to break the wall of silence, convey our voices and suffering nationally and internationally, and most importantly, we revived the spirit of political and activist awareness among thousands of young people in this nation.”
The statement noted that the upcoming period will be dedicated to “reorganizing ranks, deep collective reflection, and constructive self-criticism,” aimed at launching a second phase “that is stronger, more effective, and more organized.” In a message directed at “those betting on our retreat,” the movement emphasized: “This organizational pause is only for us to return stronger and more impactful. Our struggle continues, our determination is unwavering, and we will keep working on all fronts until all our just and legitimate demands are met, foremost among them the release of all detainees, and ensuring the rights to health, education, and dignity, as well as tackling corruption and holding embezzlers accountable.”
This announcement comes amid a significant decline in the demonstrations called by the movement, which have been reduced to only a few dozen participants.
