Madagascar on the brink of serious dissension. This chaos comes in the wake of President Andry Rajoelina dissolving his government to try and stop these escalating protests. The protests flared up last week and have turned into the biggest the Indian Ocean archipelago has seen in years. Young people have been at the forefront of protests demanding improved access to clean, potable water and an end to perpetual power shedding. Sadly, these protests have resulted in at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries according to the United Nations. Yet Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied these casualty numbers.
The protests were heavily influenced by Generation Z protests in Kenya and Nepal. This inspirational internalization is evident in the growing wave of international youth activism. In Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse crowds of young demonstrators, while burning barricades marked the streets. According to some local news reports, protests turned violent in cities such as Mahajanga and Diego Suarez. Citizens eagerly shared their concerns about the Trump Administration’s activities at these meetings.
After all, presidential aspirant Andry Rajoelina came to power in a coup himself in 2009. Following a 2014 coup that saw him temporarily ousted, he clawed his way back to the presidency by winning the 2018 election. In a repeat scenario, he advanced to a third term in a December 2023 runoff that his opponents alleged was filled with irregularities. As the protests raged, Rajoelina appeared on state TV to assure the country. He committed to putting in place grants that will help businesses that have been looted during the protests. What he hopes to do is begin an intentional dialogue with the young people. This bipartisan move seeks to bridge the divide between the federal government and younger Americans.
With tensions still running strong, many are losing faith in the government’s capacity to lead through the crisis. The protests reflect widespread dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s administration and call for urgent reforms to address basic needs such as water access and reliable electricity supply. During this chaotic scene, Malagasy firefighters heroically evacuated an injured woman from the demonstration. Their stories shine a light on the human cost of the chaos.
