Gen Z protests spreading across Africa

Gen Z protests, which have led to violent clashes, similar to the Arab Spring uprising and the anti-tax demonstrations in Kenya, are spreading in countries across Africa as anti-government sentiments grow, notes Legalbrief. Morocco is the latest country to be hit with protests, sparked by massive spending for the 2030 World Cup. Youth-led uprisings are driving thousands from their screens to the streets, demanding accountability, change and, in some cases, toppling governments, reports CNN. These Gen Z protesters come from disparate backgrounds and have different demands. But the throughline is clear: Growing inequality and marginalisation is destroying young people’s hopes for the future – and the only way forward is to confront a broken social contract head on. On consecutive nights last week, cities and towns across Morocco have pulsed with the anger of young people mobilised under the umbrella 'GenZ 212' – the country’s international dialing code.

Led by mostly students and unemployed graduates, the protesters are demanding sweeping reforms in healthcare, education and social justice – issues they say have been sidelined as the government pours billions into 2030 World Cup infrastructure. While stadiums and luxury hotels are erected, hospitals remain overcrowded and rural areas underserved, according to CNN. Morocco’s education system, long underfunded, is churning out graduates with few job prospects: Youth unemployment sits at 36% – and nearly one in five university graduates are out of work. The recent protests were triggered by the deaths of several pregnant women following routine C-sections in the coastal city of Agadir, spotlighting the crumbling healthcare system. The government’s response has been swift and brutal: three people were killed and hundreds of others injured, authorities said. Riot police have been deployed across major cities, using force and arresting dozens. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said Thursday his government had 'engaged' with the protesters’ demands and was ready for 'dialogue and discussion'. On Friday, GenZ 212 demanded the government resign. But protests aren’t fading.

Meanwhile, Madagascar’s President, Andry Rajoelina, has dissolved the government after youth-led protests over water and power cuts in which the UN says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured, reports The Guardian. Inspired by the ‘Gen Z’ protests in Kenya and Nepal, the three days of demonstrations are the largest the Indian Ocean island has seen in years, and the most serious challenge Rajoelina has faced since his re-election in 2023. ‘I understand the anger, the sadness and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life, Rajoelina said. Applications for a new Premier will be received before a new government is formed, he said. The President said he wanted to create space for dialogue with young people, and promised measures to support businesses affected by looting. Thousands of people, chanting for Rajoelina to resign, have marched in the capital Antananarivo since the demonstrations began last week. Police have responded with a heavy hand, firing teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. The UN’s human rights office blamed a ‘violent response’ by security forces for some of the deaths, with other fatalities caused by violence and looting by gangs not associated with the protesters. Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the casualty figures reported by the UN, saying the data did not come from competent national authorities, and were ‘based on rumours or misinformation’.

Gen Z-type movements have risen in countries such as Madagascar, Kenya, Peru and Nepal. They differ in origin but share in common a refusal to go through institutions like political parties or unions to be heard, reports PBS. Members debate strategy on Discord, a chat app popular with gamers and teens. The core group has about 180 000 members, but spin-offs have also sprouted, organising demonstrations in towns independently. And with opportunity lacking, more than half of Moroccans under 35 say they have considered emigrating, according to a June survey from Afrobarometer. When midweek demonstrations turned violent, officials said most participants were minors and rights groups say many detained were under 18. Morocco is Africa’s most visited country, appealing to tourists from around the world with its medieval palaces, bustling markets, and sweeping mountain and desert landscapes. But not far from tourist routes, the daily reality for most of Morocco’s 37m people includes soaring costs of living and stagnating wages.