Morocco's opposition parties have urged the government to open dialogue with young protesters to defuse tensions after two days of demonstrations and dozens of arrests. While the government had faced widespread anti-normalisation protests over the past two years, which largely proceeded without major arrests, the Gen Z protests were met with a more forceful response. The protests come as Morocco heads toward parliamentary elections in 2026, organising the Africa Cup (AFCON) in December, and co-hosting the World Cup in 2030. Officials have denied prioritising World Cup spending over public infrastructure, saying problems facing the health sector were inherited from past governments. Gen Z: a generation in crisisMorocco's Generation Z – those aged 15 to 29 – number about 8.2 million, nearly a quarter of the population.