From Nepal to Peru, Morocco, and Madagascar, youth-driven uprisings defined the global protest landscape in 2025. Carrying a distinctive skull-and-crossbones emblem topped with a straw hat inspired by the iconic Japanese manga series One Piece members of Generation Z confronted authorities across continents, in some cases even toppling national governments.
Though “Gen Z” typically refers to individuals born between the late 1990s and late 2000s, the label took on new meaning this year as young people mobilized against unemployment, inequality, corruption, and deteriorating living conditions. Demonstrations erupted across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, regions where nearly 60 percent of the population is under 25, according to UN data. AFP reporters documented the widely adopted pirate-like symbol at protests in more than a dozen countries.
In Madagascar and Nepal, youth-led movements culminated in the collapse of their respective governments.
“I grew up watching One Piece, like most people my age. It became our symbol,” said Kai, a 26-year-old protester in Madagascar, adding that the emblem now represents resistance against “oppressive governments.”
While previous youth uprisings such as Spain’s Indignados in 2011 or the 2010 Arab Spring left a significant mark, analysts say the 2025 Gen Z wave stands apart for its sophisticated use of social platforms such as Discord, Instagram, and TikTok. These tools enabled real-time coordination, rapid escalation, and cross-border inspiration, noted University of Montreal sociologist Cecile Van de Velde. What began as disparate national grievances evolved into a collective identity and a shared aspiration for global generational change.
From local grievances to global momentum
Madagascar’s uprising followed shortly after Nepal’s September 2025 protests.
“Nepal set the tone the symbol emerged, the connections to One Piece were clear,” said Elliot Randriamandrato, spokesperson for the Madagascar movement. “We saw it and said: enough.”
The triggers varied by country:
• In Indonesia, anger over low wages, unemployment, and police brutality.
• In Nepal, corruption within the ruling elite and restrictions on social media.
• In Madagascar, chronic electricity and water shortages.
• In Morocco, inequities in health and education.
• In Kenya, new taxes sparked renewed Gen Z demonstrations.
According to Van de Velde, these movements shared a common thread: young people demanding basic rights, dignity, and protection from political and economic exploitation.
Mixed outcomes and ongoing challenges
As the protest waves subsided toward year-end, outcomes differed sharply by country.
In Madagascar, the president fled and the military assumed control, installing a government dominated by political insiders a move that frustrated Gen Z organizers.
In Nepal, an interim prime minister was selected through a Discord-based vote and has since launched a commission to investigate the deaths of dozens of young protesters.
In Morocco, authorities made limited commitments to improve health and education, but more than 2,400 people including over 1,400 held in detention now face prosecution related to the demonstrations.
Despite their impact, the movements’ loose structures, lack of centralized leadership, and reliance on spontaneous mobilization have hindered the development of long-term political platforms. Many groups have also faced aggressive crackdowns.
In Nepal, however, activists say the struggle continues. “We’ve entered the second phase of the movement ahead of the March 2026 elections,” said protester Yujan Rajbhandari. The focus now includes voter registration and renewed anti-corruption efforts. “We are not stopping,” he said.
