Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Madagascar on Monday as police used tear gas to disperse crowds, deepening a crisis that the UN says has already left at least 22 people dead in less than a week. The protests, largely driven by young people organizing online through a movement called “Gen Z,” erupted over widespread power and water shortages that have worsened frustrations in one of the world’s poorest countries.
The movement quickly gained momentum, with demonstrators marching in the capital, Antananarivo, and other cities. Many wore black and carried placards reading, “We want to live, not survive,” as they demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina. Social media footage showed police detaining an opposition lawmaker during the protests, sparking outrage and calls for his release. At least one other protester was also arrested.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk strongly criticized the security forces’ handling of the demonstrations. He condemned Madagascar’s “violent response” to the protests, noting that more than a hundred people had been injured. Turk urged authorities to “ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
Why are young people leading Madagascar’s protests?
The Gen Z movement, named after the generation born in the late 1990s and early 2010s, has become the face of the protests. Organizers adopted the pirate flag from the Japanese anime One Piece as their rallying symbol, mirroring other youth-led anti-regime movements in countries like Indonesia and Nepal.
Demonstrations last Thursday in the capital spiraled into widespread looting, though the movement accused “anonymous individuals” of being paid to discredit their cause. Still, the protests remain the largest since 2023, when unrest broke out ahead of disputed presidential elections.
How has President Rajoelina responded?
Rajoelina, who first rose to power during a 2009 coup, has faced mounting calls to step down. In a video address on Friday, he announced the dismissal of his energy minister, saying he had failed to deliver on his duties. He also described the violence as “acts of destabilisation.” On Sunday, while visiting a working-class neighborhood, Rajoelina promised citizens he would “fix everything, to be even closer” to the people.
Despite its natural wealth, Madagascar remains among the poorest and most unequal nations globally. According to the World Bank, nearly 75 percent of its population lived below the poverty line in 2022. Transparency International ranks it 140th out of 180 countries in corruption perception, underscoring the governance challenges fueling unrest.
With protesters demanding resignations of top officials, including the prime minister and businessmen close to the presidency, the Gen Z-led movement shows no signs of slowing. The crisis marks yet another turbulent chapter in Madagascar’s post-independence history, where nearly every decade has seen uprisings shape the nation’s political path.
By Lucky Anyanje
