What led to the collapse of Madagascar’s government?
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has announced the dissolution of his government after days of youth-led protests over crippling power outages and water shortages.
The demonstration left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the UN.
The demonstrations, spearheaded by the country’s so-called “Gen Z” movement, made up of young activists born between 1997 and 2012, erupted on September 25 in Antananarivo before rapidly spreading nationwide.
Protesters erected barricades, torched vehicles, and looted shops, prompting a violent crackdown by security forces. The UN human rights office said casualties included both demonstrators and bystanders.
Rajoelina’s announcement removes Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and his cabinet but stops short of meeting protesters’ demands for his own resignation.
“I heard the call, I felt the suffering,” Rajoelina said in a televised address, while promising measures to stabilise businesses hit by unrest and to accelerate electricity and water projects.
Madagascar’s Foreign Ministry rejected the UN casualty figures, calling them based on “rumours,” but local civil society groups have confirmed widespread violence.
Gen Z leaders say the government shake-up is not enough and vowed to return to the streets on September 30 to intensify protests.
The unrest highlights deep governance challenges in the Indian Ocean nation, where nearly 80% of urban households face frequent power outages and water shortages.
Observers warn the crisis could escalate further ahead of upcoming local elections, with Rajoelina facing the most serious challenge to his rule since his 2023 re-election.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
