Madagascar Protests: Mass Unrest Puts Pressure on President Rajoelina
For more than a week, Madagascar has been gripped by its largest wave of protests in over 15 years. What started as public frustration over chronic shortages of electricity and water has exploded into a nationwide movement demanding sweeping political change.
The unrest has become the most serious challenge yet to President Andry Rajoelina, who has led the Indian Ocean island nation since 2018 in his second stint in power. On Monday, in a bid to ease tensions, Rajoelina dismissed his government, accusing ministers of negligence. But the decision failed to calm the anger on the streets. Now, many protesters say nothing short of his resignation will satisfy them.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured during the demonstrations. The Malagasy government, however, has dismissed these figures, claiming they are based on “rumours and misinformation.”
Spark of the Movement
Tensions erupted after the arrest of two prominent city politicians on 19 September. They had planned a peaceful protest in the capital, Antananarivo, over daily blackouts and water shortages caused by the state-owned utility company, Jirama. Residents have endured hours-long outages, which many blame on mismanagement and corruption.
The arrests were widely seen as an attempt to silence dissent. Instead, they ignited a wave of outrage that quickly spread across civil society. Youth activists, under the banner of an online movement called Gen Z Mada, took to social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok to mobilise supporters.
Within days, demonstrations spilled beyond Antananarivo into at least eight other cities, marking a rare and large-scale uprising. Protesters waved banners condemning government failures and accused leaders of neglecting citizens’ basic rights.
A Diverse Protest Movement
Although young people spearheaded the movement, it has since grown to include labour unions, civil society organisations, and opposition leaders. Madagascar’s largest union, the Malagasy Trade Union Solidarity, has pledged its support.
Church leaders have called for dialogue to prevent “chaos or civil war,” while opposition figures, including Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko and former President Marc Ravalomanana, issued a joint statement backing the protests. Both men rejected offers to join Rajoelina’s cabinet, calling it a “betrayal of the Malagasy people.”
What Protesters Demand
The demonstrations began over water and electricity shortages, but they have since evolved into broader political demands.
Protesters accuse President Rajoelina of mismanaging the economy, failing to deliver jobs, and cracking down on free expression. Many young people, facing insecure and poorly paid work, want him to step down.
In Antananarivo, demonstrators carried flags and banners with the words “Rajoelina Out.” Activists from Gen Z Mada have also called for a sweeping “clean-up of the National Assembly,” accountability for deaths linked to security forces, and reforms to the election commission and top courts.
Government Response
Authorities have deployed heavy security in the capital and other cities. Police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds, while a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed following incidents of looting and arson, including a fire at the finance ministry.
President Rajoelina has blamed some of his ministers for failing to do their jobs and promised to tackle the energy crisis with help from World Bank funding. He has also pledged compensation for businesses affected by the unrest and called for dialogue with the youth.
Yet these promises have done little to ease the anger. For many, the government’s crackdown—marked by mass arrests and heavy-handed policing—has only fuelled resentment. Schools in the capital remain closed, and trust between the authorities and citizens continues to erode.
Life in Madagascar
The crisis highlights deeper struggles in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank, 75% of the population lives below the poverty line, and only a third of the country’s 30 million people have access to electricity.
Public frustration has been mounting as living conditions worsen. “The situation is unbearable,” one protester told AFP. “Every day life gets harder.”
A History of Political Upheaval
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has been plagued by political instability and repeated uprisings. In 2009, mass demonstrations forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana to resign, paving the way for Rajoelina—then a young mayor of Antananarivo—to seize power.
Rajoelina later returned to office through elections in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023 in polls boycotted by much of the opposition. But accusations of corruption, mismanagement, and authoritarian tactics have dogged his leadership.
What Comes Next?
Analysts say the government’s response could determine whether the unrest fizzles out or escalates into a deeper crisis.
Human rights activist and political scientist Ketakandriana Rafitoson warned that relying on repression could backfire. “The outcome risks political fragmentation, rising nationalist rhetoric, and possible economic fallout,” she said.
Much depends on the military, which has historically played a decisive role in Madagascar’s politics. If the armed forces refuse orders to suppress protests, the balance of power could shift dramatically.
For now, the government appears intent on doubling down. Officials have rejected UN casualty figures and portrayed protests as illegal gatherings threatening public order. But protesters insist their demands are legitimate.
A spokesperson for Gen Z Mada said: “We are not anti-national. We want accountability and a better future.”
A Nation at a Crossroads
Madagascar’s political fate hangs in the balance. The combination of worsening living conditions, a frustrated younger generation, and deep mistrust of government institutions has created a volatile mix.
Whether President Rajoelina can weather this storm remains uncertain. If the protests continue to grow, Madagascar could be on the brink of its most significant political upheaval since the 2009 uprising.
For many Malagasy citizens, however, the struggle is about more than politics. It is about securing reliable access to water, electricity, jobs, and dignity in daily life—basic needs that have gone unmet for far too long.