Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina announced the dissolution of his government on Monday, following days of intense youth-led protests over persistent water and power shortages. The demonstrations, which began on Thursday in the capital Antananarivo, quickly spread to eight cities across the country, with thousands of predominantly Gen Z protesters rallying under the slogan, ‘We want to live, not survive.’
In a televised national address, Rajoelina acknowledged the government’s shortcomings, stating, ‘We apologize if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them.’ He revealed that the prime minister and the entire cabinet had been dismissed, and applications for a new premier would be accepted within three days. Rajoelina also expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with young people to address their grievances.
The protests, initially peaceful, turned violent, prompting the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Antananarivo. Security forces were accused of using excessive force, resulting in at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the ‘unnecessary and disproportionate force’ and called for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained protesters. However, Madagascar’s foreign ministry disputed the UN’s casualty figures, claiming they were based on ‘rumours or misinformation.’
The unrest marks the most significant challenge to Rajoelina’s leadership since his re-election in 2023. Madagascar has a history of political upheaval, including the 2009 protests that ousted former President Marc Ravalomanana and brought Rajoelina to power. The current crisis underscores deep-seated frustrations over the government’s inability to address basic infrastructure issues, fueling widespread discontent among the nation’s youth.