Day: October 2, 2025

GENZ212 Calls for New Peaceful Demonstrations as Unrest Spreads, Leaving Two Dead and Hundreds Detained

On October 1, 2025, youth-led protests in Morocco intensified for the fifth consecutive day, following the deaths of two individuals who attempted to storm a gendarmerie post in Laqliaa, near Agadir, fueling widespread unrest, reports 24brussels.

The situation escalated on Wednesday night, marking the first fatalities of the protests. In addition to the two deaths, many others sustained injuries while trying to breach the Royal Gendarmerie post. Security forces, facing overwhelming numbers, resorted to live fire to disperse the crowd.

Protests that began peacefully on Saturday in significant urban areas such as Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier, quickly turned violent from Tuesday evening. Demonstrations spread to both urban and rural regions, leading to clashes with security personnel, resulting in dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests. Reports indicate property destruction, with demonstrators vandalizing vehicles and setting banks on fire.

On Wednesday, the Moroccan Interior Ministry reported that police captured 409 individuals for their alleged involvement in violent actions during the protests. As of Tuesday, 263 security personnel and 23 civilians had been reported injured due to the unrest, with numerous vehicles damaged or destroyed.

The Moroccan prosecutor’s office announced its intention to prosecute 193 individuals for “acts of violence, destruction, and incitement.” The authorities have vowed to respond with “maximum firmness,” announcing potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison and life sentences for severe offenses.

The youth collective known as GENZ212, which organized the demonstrations, reiterated its commitment to non-violence. The group, comprised of politically unaffiliated Generation Z members, focuses on issues such as healthcare improvement, education reform, anti-corruption measures, and increased job opportunities.

In response to the violence, GENZ212 announced peaceful protests set for Thursday, describing them as “a civil and responsible expression” of “legitimate demands.” The group emphasized their protests would be conducted in an orderly manner, establishing clear start and end times. “We confirm to public opinion and the authorities that our demonstrations will be entirely peaceful and we reject any form of violence, vandalism, or disorder,” GENZ212 stated after a comprehensive internal discussion.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s governing coalition has signaled its willingness to engage in dialogue with the youth to explore realistic and viable solutions within institutional and public forums. On Wednesday night, Moroccan Health Minister Amine Tahraoui was summoned by a parliamentary committee to address the ongoing health sector concerns raised by the protests, affirming the government’s reform plans as essential to addressing youthful grievances.

As unrest grows, Moroccan authorities now face significant pressure to respond to the demands of the youth while maintaining public order and safety. The protests have not only highlighted public frustration over social issues but have also raised questions about the government’s responsiveness to citizen needs.

An Electronic Queue Management System (e-QMS) has been launched at the Dostuk border crossing, the primary checkpoint between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan along the Osh-Andijon road.

The initiative, developed through cooperation between the Kyrgyz government, the European Union, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), is part of the “Ready4Trade Central Asia” project (2024-2028), which aims to streamline trade procedures and boost economic competitiveness across the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Funded by the European Union, the project is designed to simplify cross-border operations and improve conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The e-QMS platform, developed by the ITC in collaboration with Kyrgyzstan’s State Customs Service and Ministry of Economy and Commerce, allows transport operators to pre-book border crossing times online or via a mobile app.

The system is expected to reduce waiting times, ease congestion, and improve the predictability of border transit, benefiting both carriers and customs authorities through greater transparency, efficiency, and safety.

“For Kyrgyzstan, the implementation of e-QMS is a cornerstone in creating a business-friendly environment for exporters. The new system simplifies procedures, reduces costs for exporters and carriers, and makes trade more transparent and efficient,” said Iskender Asylkulov, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce.

The system was initially piloted at the Kyzyl-Kiya border crossing in November 2024, where it processed more than 12,000 vehicles in its first six months. Following positive feedback from transport operators and significant reductions in wait times, the system has now been expanded to Dostuk, one of the region’s busiest crossings. In 2024 alone, over 87,000 vehicles passed through Dostuk, including more than 21,000 import consignments, nearly 8,000 export shipments, and over 58,000 transit movements.

The deployment of the e-QMS is expected to further boost trade between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which reached $846 million in 2024. From January to June 2025, bilateral trade turnover totaled $430.2 million, $50 million more than during the same period in 2024, according to data from Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee.