MADAGASCAR, Oct 9: Youth-led protests have rocked Madagascar for a third straight week, marking the country’s most serious unrest in years. According to the Associated Press, the demonstrations, led by a group calling itself Gen Z Madagascar, began on September 25 over power and water shortages but quickly evolved into a broader movement against President Andry Rajoelina’s leadership.
The AP reported that civic groups and trade unions have joined the protests, prompting the government to impose nighttime curfews in the capital, Antananarivo, and several other cities. The United Nations said at least 22 people have been killed since the unrest began, while more than 100 others were injured. The government disputed that number but did not release its own casualty figures, AP reported.
In response to the uprising, Rajoelina dismissed his cabinet and appointed a new prime minister, an army general, a move the protesters described as a show of force rather than reform. The Associated Press quoted Gen Z leaders saying they rejected Rajoelina’s offer for talks, insisting he resign. “We do not reach out to a regime that crushes those who stand up for justice,” they said in a statement carried by AP.
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The protests initially focused on persistent electricity cuts and water shortages but have now expanded to include demands for lower living costs, better access to higher education, and investigations into alleged corruption and misuse of public funds. Protesters accuse senior officials and their families of embezzlement, a charge the government denies, the AP added.
The demonstrations have taken place almost daily, with Gen Z Madagascar urging a nationwide strike this week. President Rajoelina, 51, who first rose to prominence in 2009 after leading protests that ousted then-President Marc Ravalomanana, has faced growing frustration from young people who see little improvement in their lives despite his promises.
Madagascar, home to about 31 million people, has a long record of political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. The World Bank estimates that around 80 percent of its citizens live in poverty. The AP noted that repeated cycles of unrest and leadership changes have weakened the country’s institutions and economy.
According to the AP, protesters, most under the age of 30, have rallied around a pirate skull and crossbones logo from the Japanese comic One Piece. The symbol, also used in recent Gen Z-led protests in Nepal and elsewhere, has been adapted with a traditional Malagasy hat to reflect their identity.
The movement uses social media platforms, including Facebook and X, to coordinate rallies and raise funds online. Many of the protesters say they were inspired by youth uprisings in Nepal and Sri Lanka that forced political change.
As quoted by the AP, one of their slogans captures their frustration: “We’re tired of just surviving, we want to live.” Despite government reshuffles and security crackdowns, the protests show little sign of ending, signaling that Madagascar’s younger generation is no longer willing to stay silent.
