Day 8: Morocco Youth Protests Erupt Over $5bn World Cup Spending, Demand Investment in Health and Education
For the eighth straight day, thousands of young Moroccans have continued to flood the streets, voicing their anger over the government’s massive spending plans for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Protesters are demanding that national funds be redirected toward urgent priorities like healthcare, education, and public welfare.
PulseNets learnt that the protests, which began on September 27, were triggered by a government budget projection of nearly $5 billion (£3.7bn) earmarked for a new 115,000-capacity stadium and other football-related infrastructure. The announcement, widely circulated on social media, fuelled outrage among citizens who described the move as “a luxury Morocco cannot afford.”
By Sunday morning, PulseNets obtained reports confirming that the demonstrations had spread across Rabat, with large gatherings forming outside the Moroccan Parliament. The movement, largely coordinated via social media by a youth-led group known as Gen Z 212, has sustained momentum despite government warnings and arrests.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “No World Cup, health comes first!” and “We want hospitals, not stadiums!”, echoing through the streets of the capital.
According to local media sources who spoke to PulseNets, at least three protesters have lost their lives, while hundreds have been arrested since the demonstrations began. Yet, the protests show no signs of waning. Several youth leaders have reportedly called for the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, accusing him of being “out of touch with the realities of struggling citizens.”
In a nationally televised address, Prime Minister Akhannouch urged restraint, stating that the government was open to “dialogue and discussion within institutions and public spaces.” However, PulseNets learnt that his remarks have done little to ease public anger, as thousands still poured into major cities late into Sunday evening.
Analysts told PulseNets that Morocco’s protests mirror a rising wave of youth discontent across several developing nations. This comes just weeks after youth-led demonstrations in Nepal turned violent, leading to the collapse of the government as protesters hunted down officials accused of corruption and neglect.
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The Moroccan government has yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the mounting casualties and the calls for accountability. But observers fear that if the situation is not de-escalated soon, the unrest could morph into a broader political crisis in the North African nation.
