Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina announced on Monday that he has dissolved the government following three days of youth-led demonstrations over chronic water and power shortages. The protests, which drew inspiration from Gen Z movements in Kenya and Nepal, have left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the United Nations.
Why did President Rajoelina dissolve the government?
In a national address on Televiziona Malagasy (TVM), Rajoelina admitted government failures in addressing the crisis. “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” he said. He promised to create room for dialogue with young people while pledging measures to support businesses hit by widespread looting during the unrest.
“I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life,” Rajoelina told citizens, signalling his intent to ease tensions.
What sparked the deadly protests?
The demonstrations began as peaceful gatherings, with protesters waving placards, singing the national anthem, and demanding better living conditions. But security forces responded with tear gas, and violence soon spread. The UN reported that casualties included both protesters and bystanders, some killed by security forces and others during looting carried out by unaffiliated groups.
Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the UN’s casualty figures, claiming they were based on “rumors or misinformation” and not verified by national authorities.
The protests drew symbolic strength from similar youth movements abroad. Demonstrators adopted a flag used in Nepal, where protests forced the resignation of a prime minister earlier this month. Their tactics also mirrored Kenya’s Gen Z movement in 2024, which pressured the government to scrap controversial tax proposals.
Rajoelina, who first seized power in a 2009 coup before returning through elections in 2018 and again in 2023, now faces his most serious challenge since re-election. His response marks a rare admission of state failure in a country long plagued by poverty, corruption, and political unrest.
By Lucky Anyanje
