Gen Z anger at the ruling elites is erupting across the world

The anger driving Morocco’s unrest stems from deepening inequality in a nation pouring billions into hosting the 2030 World Cup and building extravagances like Africa’s largest ice hockey rink, even as youth unemployment hovers around 60%. The ruling elite live in luxury, while a generation feels shut out of opportunity — a frustration increasingly shared by young people worldwide.

Across much of Africa and Asia, Gen Z demonstrators are taking to the streets to denounce corruption, entrenched political elites, and widening economic divides. Over the past year, protests have erupted in Madagascar, Indonesia, Kenya, and Mongolia as discontent over joblessness and living costs spills over, amplified by social media mobilization.

Public outrage has been intensified by conspicuous displays of wealth — from leaders flaunting watches worth several years of an average salary to the children of ministers showcasing lavish lifestyles on Instagram. Similar resentment fueled successful Gen Z–led uprisings in Nepal last month and Bangladesh last year, both of which led to the collapse of governments.

“What sets this wave of youth mobilization apart is how similar the conditions are across vastly different political systems,” said Bilal Bassiouni, head of risk forecasting at Pangea-Risk. “Young people are confronting surging living costs and weak job growth under aging leaders who’ve left little room for renewal.”

In Madagascar, protests continued Friday despite President Andry Rajoelina dismissing his government after police killed at least 22 people during clashes. In Morocco, three people have died and more than 1,000 have been detained — the country’s most serious unrest since the Arab Spring, which Morocco largely avoided at the time. The movement, led by a decentralized, tech-savvy network called GenZ212, accuses authorities of wasting public money on the World Cup while neglecting healthcare and education.