The situation escalated on Wednesday, when security forces opened fire during an attack on a gendarmerie post near Agadir
The Moroccan authorities have expressed openness to dialogue and constructive debate amid ongoing unrest that has swept across multiple cities in the country.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch told a weekly government meeting on Thursday that the authorities had “engaged with the demands expressed by the youth movements” and were prepared for “dialogue and discussion.”
“Once again, we reiterate that a dialogue-based approach is the only path to addressing the various challenges facing our country,” he said, according to Reuters.
According to the news agency MAP, the prime minister added that the government is closely monitoring the developments of the past few days in various cities where the protests have escalated into serious disturbances.
The situation reached a deadly peak on Wednesday night in Leqliaa, near Agadir, when security forces opened fire during an attack on a Royal Gendarmerie post. According to local officials, a group of protesters armed with bladed weapons and stones attempted to storm the post and seize ammunition and service weapons.
After tear gas failed to disperse the attackers, the crowd was reinforced by additional rioters, who managed to breach the facility, steal vehicles, and set parts of the building on fire. Security personnel then resorted to live ammunition in self-defense, resulting in three fatalities and multiple injuries, according to reports from national news outlets.
Following the events in Leqliaa, Agadir’s public prosecutor has launched a judicial investigation to establish the facts surrounding the attack. Abderrazak Fattah, Public Prosecutor at the Agadir Court of Appeal, stated on Thursday that the inquiry will determine the identity of those responsible and initiate legal proceedings.
“The public prosecutor’s office is committed both to ensuring citizens’ rights and freedoms within the law and to firmly addressing any violations that threaten public safety,” he briefed national media.
What began as youth-led demonstrations calling for better public services has grown into rioting, vandalism, and attacks on state institutions. Groups such as ‘GenZ 212’ have coordinated the protests via TikTok, Instagram, and Discord. Another network, Morocco Youth Voices, also urged people to take to the streets, framing the protests as peaceful assemblies intended to spark debate over social policy.
