FLASH
Shkruar nga Barbara Gabel
From Kathmandu to Lima, Generation Z took to the streets in 2025 to denounce inequality, corruption, and political exclusion. Young people transformed scattered local protests into a collective moment of mobilization. By all indications, this movement will remain in the spotlight for the coming year...
Across continents and cultures, young people faced very different daily realities, from experiencing insecurity in Lima to living with constant power outages in Antananarivo. However, in 2025, one experience brought them together: protests.
Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, shared frustration and anger at elites who were seen as disconnected from reality, as well as a determination to be heard.
Across countries separated by thousands of kilometers, similar scenes unfolded, with young crowds, hand-painted banners, viral slogans born on platforms like TikTok or Discord.
"This is a generation that is not only acting for itself, but for everyone to have access to education, healthcare and housing, as well as to end corruption in power," says sociologist Michel Vieviorka, director of studies at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS).
"It is a wave of protest driven by universal values," he adds.
The sticky effect
The movement began in Indonesia in late summer. In Jakarta, the announcement of housing allowances for lawmakers, nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage, served as a trigger, prompting students to take to the streets.
One symbol quickly emerged from the marches: the pirate flag from the world's best-selling manga, "One Piece," which became the emblem of Generation Z's revolt.
In September, the movement gained dramatic momentum in Nepal. Viral videos on Instagram and TikTok exposed the luxurious lifestyles of “nepo-children” (children of the elite), while the government blocked about 20 digital platforms.
Great anger erupted in Kathmandu, where the parliament was set on fire.
For two days, the country was gripped by violent unrest. The shockwave then reached Africa. In Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, youth-led protests no longer just denounced water and electricity cuts, but also demanded the resignation of the president.
"We are not looking for luxury, but only the means to live with dignity! " chanted the demonstrators, many of whom were students or young workers in precarious conditions.
In Morocco, the mobilization took a different form. The Generation Z group, 212, a reference to the country's telephone code, organized itself on the Discord platform, coordinating calls to demonstrate and push forward its priorities, including education reform, access to healthcare, and social justice.
In the Americas, young Peruvians mobilized from Lima to Cusco against political instability, corruption, and record levels of insecurity. While the demands varied, the broader context was similar.
"These are countries where, even if it exists, democracy remains illiberal or slightly liberal. They are also more or less authoritarian regimes, where the government responds with repression, fueling a spiral of violence," says the sociologist.
The death toll was high: 12 people were killed in Indonesia, at least 3 in Morocco and 5 in Madagascar. In Nepal, at least 76 people died and more than 2,000 were injured, according to police.
Victories and disappointments
Despite the repression, Generation Z made progress. For example, in Nepal, the protest movement led to the overthrow of the government.
In an unprecedented move, an interim chief minister, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, was appointed after a vote organized on Discord.
A commission of inquiry was tasked with shedding light on the deaths of protesters. For Nepal's youth, this was a victory: for the first time, a mobilization born online and in the streets had sparked a tangible political transition.
In Madagascar, the result left a bitter taste in the mouth. After weeks of demonstrations, President Andri Rajoelina was overthrown in a military coup. However, the government that followed remained in the hands of a well-known actor in the country's political life: the military.
In Morocco, the protests did not shake the monarchy, but they forced the authorities to react. The royal cabinet announced modernization measures and investments in hospitals and schools, implicitly acknowledging the legitimacy of the demands. However, repression dampened the momentum of the movement. According to official figures, 1,473 young people were arrested, including 330 minors.
A steady surge or a short wave?
In Nepal, the mobilization has not abated. Early parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 2026.
"We are in the second phase of the movement," protester Jujan Rajhandari told AFP. Attention has shifted to voter registration and the fight against corruption.
"This movement could last and produce long-term effects, or it could disappear altogether. There are no rules," says Vieviorka. Recent history urges us to be cautious.
From the Arab Spring to the “indignados” movement in Spain, from “Occupy Wall Street” to the debut of “Nuit” in France, movements have come and gone, lost momentum, and sometimes left lasting marks and sometimes not.
“Social movements are not eternal,” says Vieviorka. However, one trait distinguishes Generation Z: its ability to organize, to impose its causes, and to gain concessions without seeking to immediately seize power.
"They do not have a fully formed political platform. But they have a clear horizon: that of profound change" - emphasizes the sociologist. / Taken from "France 24", adapted by "Pamphlet"
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