Gen Z Movements and Regime Stability in Africa: From Madagascar to Morocco

Executive Summary

The collapse of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina following a youth-led uprising has sent shockwaves across the continent. The movement, Gen Z Madagascar, succeeded in forcing regime change without political parties or traditional leadership structures—an unprecedented event in African political history.

At the same time, in Morocco, the emergence of Gen Z 212 represents another manifestation of this generational awakening: an organized, tech-savvy, and politically conscious youth movement challenging systemic inequality, corruption, and inefficiency.

Although the Moroccan monarchy enjoys deeper institutional roots and stronger security apparatuses than Madagascar’s fragile civilian system, both episodes illustrate a continental shift — the digital generation is redefining the terms of political legitimacy.

Madagascar: The Gen Z Uprising that Ended Rajoelina’s Rule

On 25 September 2025, the movement Gen Z Madagascar triggered a wave of protests that rapidly grew from localized anger into a nationwide revolt. Initially centred around rolling power and water shortages, demonstrations soon expanded to denounce corruption, nepotism, and the concentration of wealth within the ruling elite.

Despite attempts to calm the situation — including dismissing the government and calling for dialogue — President Andry Rajoelina failed to regain credibility. Security forces used live ammunition against protestors, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to UN sources.

The turning point came when the elite CAPSAT unit, long a loyal pillar of Rajoelina’s power, defected. Parliament followed by voting his impeachment. Under pressure, Rajoelina fled the country, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina took control, installing a transitional military-backed government.

This marked the first Gen Z-driven political overthrow on the continent — a victory born of horizontal organization, encrypted digital coordination, and a unifying message against entrenched corruption. The movement’s decentralized nature made repression nearly impossible.

Morocco: The Rise of Gen Z 212

In Morocco, a similar generational wave is gathering momentum. The movement known as Gen Z 212 (named after the country’s international dialing code) has emerged as a grassroots force of digital resistance. Unlike traditional opposition parties, it operates through social networks such as TikTok, Discord, and X, connecting thousands of young Moroccans around shared grievances rather than political ideologies.

The catalyst was a series of tragic deaths of pregnant women in Agadir, who were denied adequate medical care due to shortages in the public health system. The outrage spread rapidly, igniting discussions about the deterioration of public services, rising costs of living, unemployment, and endemic corruption.

While protestors refrain from direct attacks on King Mohammed VI, the criticism targets the broader functioning of state institutions — from local administrations to national ministries — perceived as out of touch, inefficient, and overly bureaucratic. The dissonance between lavish state-funded projects (stadiums, international expos, royal initiatives) and daily economic hardship has become a rallying symbol of frustration.

The movement insists on its nonpartisan character, claiming to act “for love of the nation, not against it.” Still, the underlying message challenges the social contract on which Morocco’s monarchy rests — that stability and loyalty are exchanged for progress and dignity.

Comparative Insights: From Antananarivo to Rabat

The experiences of Madagascar and Morocco reveal two faces of the same generational revolt, shaped by vastly different political systems but animated by shared aspirations for accountability and dignity.

In Madagascar, Gen Z Madagascar emerged in a fragile democratic context where state legitimacy was already eroded, institutions were weak, and loyalty within the military was divided. Once the protests escalated, Rajoelina’s regime lacked the structural cohesion to contain the crisis. The movement’s success lay not only in its digital mobilization but also in its ability to penetrate state institutions — winning sympathy from key parliamentary and military figures who ultimately sealed the president’s downfall.

By contrast, in Morocco, Gen Z 212 operates within a monarchical framework characterized by a far stronger administrative apparatus, robust internal security services, and a longstanding culture of political containment through co-optation and controlled reform. The Moroccan monarchy possesses what Rajoelina lacked: a reserve of institutional legitimacy and the capacity for tactical concessions without losing grip on power.

However, the comparison exposes a deeper regional trend. In both cases, the engine of mobilization is digital, with young people bypassing traditional intermediaries—parties, unions, or religious authorities—to voice demands directly. The connectivity, creativity, and decentralized structure of these movements make them highly adaptive and resilient.

While Madagascar demonstrates how state fragility can transform youth protest into regime collapse, Morocco illustrates a subtler but equally consequential evolution: the erosion of political deference among youth, even within stable monarchies. The emotional tone is shifting from fear to frustration, and from frustration to assertion.

The critical difference lies in the state’s capacity to absorb or channel this discontent. Where Antananarivo’s institutions fractured under pressure, Rabat still commands a cohesive security elite and an established monarchy capable of adapting. Yet, if social inequalities deepen and reforms lag, even the Moroccan model may find its durability tested.

African Security Analysis (ASA) Strategic Assessment

• Short-Term Outlook (Morocco): Stable but sensitive. The monarchy retains firm control, but protests could intensify if socioeconomic grievances remain unanswered. Expect limited concessions (government reshuffles, subsidy adjustments) to ease tension.
• Medium-Term Outlook: Emerging generational realignment. Increasing urban youth activism, unemployment, and cost-of-living pressures may strain Morocco’s traditional model of authority.
• Regional Ripple Effects: The Gen Z template—digital mobilization, horizontal coordination, moral outrage—could inspire similar movements in Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and potentially Egypt, where youth frustration intersects with economic hardship.

Indicators to Monitor:

1. Expansion of Gen Z 212 organizing networks into universities and professional associations.

2. Evidence of intra-elite debate within Moroccan institutions regarding protest response.

3. New regulatory moves targeting digital content or coordination platforms.

4. Increased online diaspora participation amplifying narratives of reform or regime critique.

Bottom Line

The fall of Rajoelina in Madagascar has inaugurated a new era of youth-driven political agency in Africa. For the first time, a connected generation has demonstrated that it can translate digital outrage into political change. Morocco’s Gen Z 212 is not yet revolutionary, but it embodies the same spirit — a generation demanding dignity, justice, and efficiency in governance.

For African leaders, the message is unmistakable: ignoring this generational pulse carries existential risk. The legitimacy of tomorrow’s governments will depend not on inherited authority, but on their ability to listen, reform, and deliver in real time.