Youth-led protests organized by the Gen Z movement entered their second week across Moroccan cities, demanding reforms in education, health, employment, and anti-corruption measures, and calling for the resignation of the government.
Despite government invitations for dialogue, Gen Z submitted a memorandum directly to King Mohammed VI, signaling diminishing trust in political institutions.
In an exclusive interview with Hespress AR, Minister of Economic Integration, Small Business, Employment, and Skills Younes Sekkouri addressed the protests and government actions.
“From the very beginning, the government has been following youth demands and engaging with them,” Sekkouri said. “They are asking for health, education, and anti-corruption. These priorities are clear, and we acknowledge them.”
On accountability, he added: “Being in government is accepting responsibility. There is no governance without accountability. Whoever works must be able to account for their actions.”
Sekkouri acknowledged structural challenges in the labor market. He emphasized government programs such as the Awrach initiatives, which temporarily employed 235,000 people in difficult economic circumstances. “These programs were a necessary stopgap,” he said.
“They gave professional activity and income at a time when the economy could not generate sustainable jobs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the successive droughts we faced.”
Regarding health care, Sekkouri highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at addressing longstanding deficiencies. “Even with significant budgets, many regional and local hospitals still lack personnel and essential medicines,” he said. “We are working on a unified information system to prevent delays and corruption. We are also implementing a human resource strategy to ensure staff are present where they are most needed.”
On the private sector’s role in health care, he noted, “We are not against private contributions. The private sector can help, but integration must respect equality in access and complement public services.”
Responding to criticism that political actors might exploit youth movements for their own benefit, Sekkouri was firm: “No one can co-opt the intelligence or organization of these young people. They know what they want and communicate it clearly, respecting our nation’s values. Their demands are legitimate and cannot be instrumentalized.”
He concluded by emphasizing transparency and honesty: “Our goal is not to preserve positions of power, but to deliver what society expects. Morocco has always had the capacity to solve its problems, and we are part of that solution.”
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