Is Morocco using sports to mask reform failures? - Video
A wave of youth-led protests has erupted across Morocco against the government’s decision to pour billions of dollars into building new stadiums, while hospitals and schools fall into disrepair.
The unrest, which spread from Casablanca to other major cities, was triggered by anger over billions of dollars allocated for sports infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Protesters carried banners asking, “Where are the hospitals?” and condemned what they called misplaced priorities.
According to Reuters, more than 260 security personnel were injured in clashes, while 23 civilians were wounded and over 400 people arrested nationwide. The Interior Ministry confirmed that two protesters were killed in Lqliaa after security forces opened fire when a gendarmerie post was attacked.
International agencies report that Morocco continues to face chronic shortages in healthcare, with just 4.4 doctors per 10,000 people, which is far below the World Health Organisation’s standard.
Protesters also point to repeated tragedies, including maternal deaths in understaffed hospitals, as evidence of state neglect.
Authorities defended the stadium projects, saying they would boost Morocco’s global profile and tourism sector. Government officials also promised to convene parliament to discuss health sector reforms in response to the protests.
Morocco has long been considered a relatively stable country in North Africa, with strong ties to Europe and the United States. But the latest protests raise concerns that deepening social discontent could undermine the country’s carefully cultivated image as a hub of modernity and reform.
For now, the question hangs in the air: are Morocco’s grand stadiums monuments to progress, or symbols of a government papering over cracks in its social fabric?
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
