ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (BN24) — Youth-led protests in Madagascar have intensified, even after President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the government in response to escalating unrest over the country’s ongoing water and electricity shortages. Despite the president’s concession on Monday evening, which he framed as an attempt to create space for dialogue, hundreds of young demonstrators took to the streets once more, clashing with security forces who deployed tear gas to disperse them.
In a nationally televised address, Rajoelina expressed a desire to address the grievances of the youth, many of whom have been demanding better access to basic services like water and electricity. He also promised measures to help businesses impacted by looting during the protests. However, his comments were met with defiance from organizers, who voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s response. They took to social media, criticizing the president for failing to provide concrete solutions and demanding apologies from him and the dismissed prime minister.
The protests, which have now entered their fourth day, reflect widespread frustration over years of inadequate infrastructure and public services. Demonstrators, many of them Gen Z, are calling for immediate improvements to the country’s water supply and electricity grid, which have long been unreliable. Placards reading “We need water, we need electricity, Rajoelina out” were seen in protests across the capital and other cities.
The United Nations has reported at least 22 fatalities and over 100 injuries from the violence, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madagascar has disputed these figures, claiming they were based on rumors rather than official data. Footage from the protests aired by the privately owned channel Real TV Madagasikara showed large crowds marching through the streets of Antananarivo, the nation’s capital, as well as in Fenoarivo, a town located 20 kilometers to the west. Demonstrations also spread to Mahajanga, located 510 kilometers to the northwest, and Diego Suarez, 950 kilometers to the north.
The protests, which have drawn comparisons to similar youth movements in Kenya and Nepal, mark the most significant challenge to Rajoelina’s leadership since his re-election in 2023. The four days of unrest have become the largest in years and underscore growing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the country’s basic needs. Rajoelina, who first rose to power in a 2009 coup, has been president since 2018, after a return to office in the wake of a contested election. His third-term victory in December 2023 was marred by allegations of irregularities, further fueling opposition to his rule.
As protests continue, the pressure on Rajoelina to deliver tangible results in addressing the country’s infrastructure challenges grows. The outcome of the ongoing unrest will likely have significant political ramifications as Madagascar faces mounting public demand for reform.
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