Why Did Madagascar’s President Flee amid Gen Z Protests?
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country following mass youth-led protests that intensified over the weekend. According to opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, Rajoelina left on Sunday after parts of the military defected and sided with protesters demanding change. “We called the staff of the presidency and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters, adding that the president’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The president’s office, which had previously announced that Rajoelina would address the nation at 7:00 pm on Monday, did not respond to media inquiries. A military source revealed that Rajoelina departed aboard a French military aircraft, while French radio RFI reported that he had struck a deal with President Emmanuel Macron. The source added that a French Army Casa aircraft landed at Sainte Marie airport, where “five minutes later, a helicopter arrived and transferred its passenger into the Casa,” identifying the passenger as Rajoelina.
The protests began on September 25, initially sparked by severe water and power shortages. They quickly grew into a broader revolt over corruption, poor governance, and the rising cost of living. The unrest in Madagascar mirrors a global wave of Gen Z-led movements that have challenged entrenched leadership, similar to recent protests in Nepal and Morocco.
How Did the Army’s Defection Shift Power in Madagascar?
Rajoelina’s position weakened dramatically after losing the support of CAPSAT, an elite army unit that had helped him seize power in a 2009 coup. Over the weekend, CAPSAT refused to open fire on demonstrators and instead joined them in the capital’s main square, even appointing a new army chief. By Monday, a faction of the paramilitary gendarmerie also joined the movement, formally taking control of the gendarmerie in a ceremony witnessed by senior officials.
Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Antananarivo, chanting “the president must quit now.” Among them was hotel worker Adrianarivony Fanomegantsoa, 22, who told Reuters his 300,000-ariary ($67) salary barely covers food. “In 16 years the president and his government have done nothing except enrich themselves while the people stay poor. And the youth, the Gen Z, suffer the most,” he said.
Since the unrest began, at least 22 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, according to the UN. With Madagascar’s median age under 20 and three-quarters of its 30 million citizens living in poverty, frustration among the youth has been building for years. The country, while known globally for its vanilla, also relies on exports of nickel, cobalt, textiles, and shrimp, industries now at risk as the nation faces yet another power vacuum.
By Yockshard Enyendi