Protesters filled the streets of several Madagascar cities on Monday for the third consecutive week, demanding President Andry Rajoelina’s resignation amid growing public frustration over poverty, corruption, and poor governance.
Police in the capital, Antananarivo, fired teargas to disperse the marchers, according to a Reuters reporter. Many participants were university students who initially took to the streets last month to protest against frequent water and power cuts but have since expanded their demands to include government accountability and political reform.
Why Are Malagasy Citizens Protesting?
The demonstrations have drawn inspiration from “Gen Z” protest movements in Kenya and Nepal, marking the largest wave of civil unrest in Madagascar in recent years. Protesters accuse the government of mismanaging the economy and failing to address widespread hardship. Despite Madagascar’s rich mineral resources, fertile agricultural land, and unique biodiversity, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Between independence in 1960 and 2020, the nation’s income per capita dropped by 45%, worsening living conditions for millions.
Rajoelina attempted to calm tensions last week by dismissing his cabinet, but demonstrators insist the president himself must step down. “President Rajoelina remains committed to dialogue, to accelerating solutions that improve people’s daily lives,” a spokesperson from his office said over the weekend. However, protesters and civil society groups argue that dialogue without genuine reform is not enough.
What Is the Government’s Response to the Growing Unrest?
Television footage aired on Monday showed police confronting crowds in the southern city of Toliara and the northern city of Diego Suarez. The United Nations reported that at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the protests began, although the government disputes those figures.
During a national address on Friday, Rajoelina said he was “ready to listen to the protesters’ grievances” but dismissed calls for his resignation. Meanwhile, the presidency confirmed that some civil society organisations had met with him over the weekend, though others refused to participate, citing the continued arrest of protesters and lack of assurances for peaceful demonstrations.
As protests continue to grow, Madagascar faces an uncertain political future, with public frustration showing no signs of slowing down.
By Lucky Anyanje