Moroccan Youth Resume Protests as Government Announces Major Reform Plan
Moroccan Youth Resume Protests as Government Announces Major Reform Plan
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After a week of relative calm, young Moroccans have resumed protests across several cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier, while the government unveiled a comprehensive reform program aimed at addressing social and economic challenges.
According to Anadolu Agency, protesters gathered to voice concerns over rising living costs and weak public services. AFP reports that demonstrators emphasized the need for improvements in education and healthcare and called for the release of detained activists. The youth maintained their commitment to peaceful expression of social demands.
The renewed protests followed a speech by King Mohammed VI at the opening of the new parliamentary session, in which he highlighted economic and social challenges but did not directly address the youth demonstrations. Despite lower turnout compared to previous waves and organizational difficulties in southern and eastern regions, the protests have kept public debate about social justice and cost-of-living pressures alive.
Concurrently, the Moroccan government announced a reform plan with a budget of 140 billion dirhams for the coming year, aiming to create over 27,000 new jobs. The plan includes completing and equipping university hospitals in Rabat, Agadir, and Laayoune, renovating 90 hospitals, expanding pre-school education, and enhancing educational support in remote and mountainous areas (Anadolu Agency).
Experts suggest that the combination of street activism and government reform efforts has helped reduce social pressure and raised public optimism about improved access to services. The developments highlight how active civic engagement coupled with responsive governance can support sustainable development and social justice.
