Anti-government protests in Madagascar intensified on Monday, entering their third week as demonstrators across multiple cities called for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina amid growing discontent over poverty, corruption, and public service failures.
In the capital, Antananarivo, police fired teargas to disperse protesters, many of whom were university students. Demonstrations also erupted in the southern city of Toliara and the northern city of Diego Suarez, where local television footage showed security forces confronting marchers.
The protests initially began over water and electricity shortages but have since evolved into a broader youth-led movement, inspired by similar “Gen Z” protests in Kenya and Nepal. Protesters now demand political accountability and systemic reforms in a country long plagued by inequality and misgovernance.
Despite Madagascar’s vast natural wealth—including minerals, agricultural land, and biodiversity—it remains one of the poorest nations globally. Since gaining independence in 1960, the country has seen a 45% decline in income per capita as of 2020.
President Rajoelina, who dismissed his entire cabinet last week in response to public anger, has so far refused to step down. In a speech on Friday, he acknowledged the protesters’ grievances but dismissed growing demands for his resignation.
“President Rajoelina remains committed to dialogue, to accelerating solutions that improve people’s daily lives,” a spokesperson for his office told Reuters over the weekend. The spokesperson also accused unnamed political actors of hijacking the movement to destabilise the government.
The United Nations reported that at least 22 people were killed and over 100 injured in the early days of the protests, although the Malagasy government disputes these figures.
On Saturday, the presidency said Rajoelina met with some civil society organisations, but others declined to attend, citing the lack of government guarantees for protester safety and the release of those detained.
“We refuse to legitimise dialogue without conditions,” a joint statement by several civil society groups read. “We demand the protection of the right to protest and the immediate release of unlawfully detained demonstrators.”
As the unrest continues to gain momentum, the coming days will likely test Rajoelina’s grip on power — and determine whether public anger can translate into concrete political change in the island nation.
