Reuters

ANTANANARIVO: Organisers of Madagascar&#39;s youth-led anti-government protests suspended marches in the capital Antananarivo on Thursday for 24 hours, citing concerns over demonstrators&#39; health and strength, but marches continued in other parts of the large island nation. Inspired by similar youth-led &quot;Gen Z&quot; protests in Kenya and Nepal, the rallies mark the largest wave of unrest in Madagascar in years and pose a significant challenge to President Andry Rajoelina, who was re-elected in 2023. The United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured so far in the week-long protests. The government rejects those figures. &quot;This is not a retreat but a strategy: we will come back together more united, stronger,&quot; Gen Z Madagascar, the protest movement&#39;s main leadership, said in a Facebook post, announcing the temporary suspension of protests in Antananarivo. A government spokesperson did not respond to Reuters&#39; requests for comment. Public anger over water shortages, power cuts Rajoelina dissolved the government late on Monday, but the move has failed to quell public anger, which first erupted last week in the capital over worsening water shortages and power cuts. The protesters are demanding Rajoelina&#39;s resignation and the dissolution of the election commission, the upper chamber Senate, and the country&#39;s top court. Protests continued outside the capital on Thursday, with hundreds marching in Toliara, some 925 km south of Antananarivo, chanting &quot;Rajoelina Out&quot; and carrying banners denouncing the president, footage aired by privately-owned Radio T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Siteny showed. In Diego Suarez, 950 km north of the capital, protesters were also marching under police escort, according to privately-owned media outlet Fitaproduction. Reliant on agriculture and tourism, the Indian Ocean nation remains one of Africa&#39;s poorest. Entrenched poverty, unaccountable elites Since Madagascar won independence from France in 1960, income per capita had fallen by 45% by 2020, according to the World Bank, which blames the poor economic performance on tight control of the economy and government by a small, unaccountable elite and on a lack of competition and transparency. Some demonstrators have carried flags depicting a grinning skull wearing a straw hat, in reference to a pirate flag from a Japanese manga that has become a popular symbol among young protesters around the world. &quot;The protests are not merely about utilities or governance failures; they are a rejection of a political order that has remained fundamentally unchanged for decades,&quot; Ketakandriana Rafitoson, the global vice-chair of Transparency International, wrote in a briefing on the crisis. &quot;Elite networks continue to capture state institutions, siphon public resources, and weaponize poverty to maintain control,&quot; wrote Rafitoson, who is also Malagasy. The Senate convened on Thursday to discuss potential nominees for the post of prime minister after failing to reach consensus on a candidate during earlier deliberations

Protesters gesture in front of riot police officers during a demonstration against frequent power outages and water shortages, in the capital Antananarivo, Madagascar, October 1, 2025. (Reuters)

Africa

Youth-led protests in Madagascar demanding President Rajoelina’s resignation over water and power shortages have been paused in the capital, Antananarivo, but continue in other parts of the country.

Madagascar youth protesters suspend marches in capital for 24 hours

ANTANANARIVO: Hundreds of protesters across Madagascar demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina on Wednesday, taking to the streets for a fifth day of demonstrations that have shaken the government, local television broadcasts showed. Spurred by the so-called youth-led &quot;Gen Z&quot; protests in Kenya and Nepal, the demonstrations have been the largest the Indian Ocean island has seen in years, and the most serious challenge Rajoelina has faced since his re-election in 2023. The protests initially started in Antananarivo last week over nationwide water shortages and power blackouts but have since spread across the island, prompting Rajoelina to dissolve the government late on Monday. His move failed to assuage public anger. A message on the protest movement&#39;s Facebook page called for Rajoelina&#39;s resignation as well as the dissolution of the election commission, the senate and the country&#39;s top court. Protesters chant &lsquo;Rajoelina out&rsquo; The United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the protests started last week, figures the government rejects. On Wednesday, protesters took to the streets in the capital and towns including Toliara, 925 km (575 miles) south of Antananarivo, chanting &quot;get out&quot; and waving flags and banners with the words &quot;Rajoelina Out&quot;, footage broadcast by privately-owned Radio T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Siteny showed. They were escorted by security forces in vehicles, and other protesters in rickshaws, the footage showed. A government spokesperson did not respond to Reuters requests for comment, however the president&#39;s spokesperson Lova Ranoromaro said on social media that property had been destroyed and homes looted. &quot;We do not want a coup d&#39;etat, because a coup d&#39;etat destroys a nation, because a coup d&#39;etat destroys the future of our children,&quot; Ranoromaro wrote on her personal Facebook account. Opposition leader Rivo Rakotovao said the main opposition parties&#39; alliance Firaisankina would not join any new government with Rajoelina in power, and called on him to step down. &quot;We fully support this action to rescue the Malagasy people and rebuild the nation, led by the Malagasy people and driven by the youth,&quot; Rakotovao told a news conference. Rajoelina first came to power in a 2009 coup. He stepped down in 2014 but became president again after winning the 2018 election, and secured a third term in a December 2023 poll that his challengers said was marred by irregularities. In a message from the Vatican, Pope Leo said he was saddened by the violent clashes in the predominantly Christian nation. &quot;Let us pray to the Lord that every form of violence may always be avoided and that the constant pursuit of social harmony may be fostered through the promotion of justice and the common good,&quot; he said in his weekly address.

A protester kicks a tear gas canister lobbed by Malagasy riot police officers to disperse protesters during a demonstration against frequent power outages and water shortages, within Antaninandro neighborhood, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. (Reuters)

Protests entered fifth day in Madagascar as the public demanded President Rajoelina’s resignation over water shortages and blackouts. Over 22 have been reported dead even as government reshuffled.

Madagascar protesters demand president's resignation in fifth day of rallies

ANTANANARIVO: Madagascar&#39;s President Andry Rajoelina said Monday he had sacked his government following deadly protests against repeated water and electricity outages across the Indian Ocean nation. &nbsp;The days protest, led by mostly young demonstrators, has claimed at least 22 lives and left more than a hundred people injured, according to a United Nations tally.&nbsp;&quot;I have decided to terminate the functions of the Prime Minister and the government. Pending the formation of the new government, those in office will act as interim ministers,&quot; Rajoelina said in a televised national address.&nbsp;Applications for a new premier will be received over the next three days before a new government is formed, he said.&nbsp;Thousands, many dressed in black and chanting calls for Rajoelina to resign, have marched in the capital Antananarivo since the demonstrations began last week.&nbsp;Police have responded with a heavy hand, firing teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.&nbsp;The Indian Ocean island nation, among the world&#39;s poorest, has experienced frequent popular uprisings since gaining independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced former president Marc Ravalomanana from power.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina dismissed his government after deadly protests over water and electricity outages killed 22 and injured over 100. Demonstrators demand his resignation, while interim ministers hold office until a new cabinet forms.

Articles tagged with "Andry Rajoelina"

Madagascar youth protesters suspend marches in capital for 24 hours

Madagascar protesters demand president's resignation in fifth day of rallies

Madagascar president sacks government following deadly protests