The Moroccan youth movement “Gen Z 212” announced on Saturday a temporary suspension of its protests after two weeks of demonstrations demanding reforms in the health and education sectors.

In a statement, it said that halting protests during the weekend is a “strategic step aimed at strengthening organization and coordination and ensuring that the next phase is more effective and impactful, away from any improvisation or external exploitation.”

Gen Z 212 also affirmed that its demands remain firm, “primarily holding corrupt officials accountable and holding the government responsible for the deteriorating social and economic conditions,” adding that it will announce a new call for demonstrations later on Saturday. The upcoming protest “will be directed against the government and all corrupt individuals obstructing the realization of the Moroccan people’s demands for dignity, justice, and accountability.”

The movement started on the Discord platform to discuss health and education issues in mid-September, following the death of eight pregnant women at a public hospital in Agadir (south). The number of participants in its protests ranged from dozens to hundreds across several cities. It directly appealed to King Mohammed VI to implement reforms.

This comes hours after King Mohammed VI called in his Friday speech to accelerate development programs aimed at youth employment and advancing the health and education sectors, without directly mentioning the youth protests.

In his annual speech on the occasion of the opening of parliament sessions in Rabat, he said, “We expect a faster pace and stronger impact from the new generation of territorial development programs that we have directed the government to prepare.”

He specifically referred to priority issues identified, including encouraging local initiatives and economic activities and providing job opportunities for youth, in addition to “advancing the education and health sectors.” He emphasized giving “special attention to the most vulnerable areas.”

Meanwhile, Gen Z 212 announced it will not organize protests on Friday “out of respect and appreciation for His Majesty the King,” without this meaning “a retreat from its demands.”