Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Friday vowed to prioritise education, healthcare, and youth employment but avoided direct mention of the nationwide protest movement demanding sweeping social change.
In his annual address to parliament, the monarch emphasised that “major national projects and social programmes should not compete,” urging a balance between development and equity.
The speech, anticipated by protesters who have filled streets since September 27, followed public outrage over the deaths of eight pregnant women in a public hospital in Agadir, seen as a symbol of systemic failure.
Demonstrators have called for the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and accused the government of neglecting citizens while spending heavily on infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.
Online collective GenZ 212, which organises the protests, declined to comment immediately. The group had asked followers to pause demonstrations on Friday “out of respect” for the king.
Raghd, a 23-year-old sound engineer protesting in Rabat, said she was “disappointed” by the absence of any reference to the movement. “I thought he would say something stronger,” she said.
Still, former Human Rights Council head Driss El Yazami described the monarch’s message as “a national mobilisation,” suggesting the king had “heard the call of the youth.”
The protesters’ demands include curbing corruption, modernising school curricula, and overhauling hospitals, especially in rural regions. They have also urged higher insurance reimbursements and more medical staff.
Authorities say the movement’s “message has been received” and promised rapid action to address “shortfalls.”
Though largely peaceful, protests have occasionally turned violent, leaving three dead and dozens arrested, as Morocco’s young generation presses for a more just and inclusive future.