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OPINION OCTOBER 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 11

hashtag (212 is Morocco’s telephone
country code). Demonstrations be-
gan after Morocco unveiled the US$
75 million Moulay Abdellah football
stadium in Rabat. Simultaneously,
various reports of medical negligence
from different parts of the nation
started to surface, raising questions
about Morocco’s development prior-
ities.
The youth feel disenfranchised
by Rabat’s public policies and in-
ternational ambitions, primarily
catering to external audiences and
tourists. The protests were Moroc-
co’s first demonstrations since the
Arab Spring and the February 2020
movement. The 2011 protests result-
ed in constitutional reforms limiting
the power of the Monarch. The re-
forms granted more authority to the
legislative and executive branches.
However, owing to the constitutional
reforms, it is now more difficult for
the King to dissolve the government, Moroccan authorities responded sternly to the latest demonstrations, with 500 people reportedly being arrested
as it requires a broader consensus and three people killed (File photo)
and action by the parliament. Some
protestors’ demands were political techniques (CAPSAT) unit of the the population lives below the pover- expanding, with the elites controlling
as they wrote a letter addressed to Madagascar Armed Forces began re- ty line, and half are under 18 years most of the power and resources.
King Mohammed VI, asking him to fusing to follow orders from the Ra- old. Since its independence in 1960, The recent protests in Morocco
dismiss the government and convene joelina government, urged the rest of the nation has had a history of insta- and Madagascar highlight how the
a government forum to hold public the military to join the protest, and bility, institutional weakness and per- young population, or ‘Gen Z,’ is re-
officials accountable. sided with the young demonstrators. sistent lack of access to basic services. defining activism by leveraging digi-
Moroccan authorities responded Media reports term the development Additionally, there has been linger- tal tools to mobilise people, amplify
sternly to the latest demonstrations, a “coup” reminiscent of the military ing resentment over the President’s voices and challenge political systems
with 500 people reportedly being takeovers in Sahel, West Africa. This reported French citizenship. on what they deem governmental
arrested and three people killed. is the same elite CAPSAT military corruption and the inability to de-
Morocco has a good track record in unit with whose help Rajoelina had COMMONALITIES BETWEEN liver public services. These protests
managing crises and will likely ab- assumed power in 2009 as head of THE PROTESTS were initially decentralised, had no
sorb the current protests and gradu- the transnational government follow- formal leadership, and were success-
ally return to normalcy. Nonetheless, ing a military coup. The same unit is ocial media platforms allow for fully mobilised using social media
the protests are a wake-up call and now rebelling against him. Most re- rapid communication, coordi- platforms. However, online enthusi-
point to the deep chasm between a cently, CAPSAT has announced the Snation and fast mobilisation. asm and energy have to translate to
young, digitally connected genera- overthrow of the Rajoelina govern- While the context and nuances with- sustained political engagement to
tion and Morocco’s governing elites. ment and the formation of a transi- in the ‘Gen Z’ protests in Morocco achieve systemic change.
tional government. and Madagascar may vary, they share Like during the Arab Spring,
MADAGASCAR PROTESTS Despite Rajoelina expressing his specific common root causes. In both when protests in Tunisia spread to
desire to have a dialogue with young nations, the political elites have done other Arab countries, the current
nlike in Morocco, Madagas- people and even dismissing Prime little to improve the economic plight protests in Morocco and Madagascar
car’s government has been Minister Christian Ntsay, protestors of their citizens. This is evident in could have ripple effects across the
Utoppled after President Andry are demanding his resignation. Now Madagascar, where income per cap- larger Middle East and North Africa
Rajoelina reportedly fled the country that he has fled the country, CAP- ita has fallen since its independence region.
on 14 October 2025 to “find a safe SAT has taken over. Will new elec- from France. Morocco’s lack of quali-
place to protect his life”. Malagasy tions take place? Only time will tell, ty public services was juxtaposed with Dr. Abhishek Mishra is an Associate
people protested his administration but for now, the CAPSAT unit has the government investing billions into Fellow with the Manohar Parrikar
for weeks due to a lack of water sup- declared that it commands the coun- building football infrastructure. So Institute for Defence Studies and
ply and repeated power outages in try’s armed forces and has appointed the question arose whether the Mo- Analyses
the capital, Antananarivo. The pro- a new military leader. The defence roccan government prioritised sports Views expressed are of the author and
tests began as a youth-led movement minister has reportedly accepted this infrastructure over basic public ser- do not necessarily reflect the views of
known as Gen Z Mada, which coor- move in Rajoelina’s absence. Some vices. the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
dinated over social media and tied reports indicate that Col. Michael Another common thread is the Government of India.
up with civil society groups and trade Randrianirina has assumed power, extreme imbalance of power and re-
unions. and he hinted that a possible refer- sources between a handful of elites The full version of this article first
The United Nations reported endum could be undertaken within and the rest of the population. The appeared in the Comments section of
that the unrest has led to at least 22 two years. gap between the rich and the poor the website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar
deaths. To make matters worse, the Madagascar, a former French is evident and growing in both coun- Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies
Corps d’administration des person- colony, has a per capita GDP of just tries. The rift between the governing and Analyses, New Delhi, on October
nels et des services administratifs et US$ 545. More than three-fourths of political class and ordinary people is 18, 2025

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