Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved his government following three days of youth-led protests over widespread power and water shortages, which the UN says left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured.
The demonstrations, inspired by recent “Gen Z” movements in Kenya and Nepal, mark the largest unrest the island nation has witnessed in years and pose the most serious challenge to Rajoelina since his re-election in December 2023.
In a televised address on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy, Rajoelina apologised for his administration’s failures.
“We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them… 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,” he said.
The president announced that applications for a new prime minister would be received within three days, after which a fresh cabinet will be formed. He also pledged dialogue with young people and support for businesses affected by looting.
Thousands of protesters, many dressed in black and demanding Rajoelina’s resignation, marched through the capital Antananarivo last week. Security forces responded with teargas and rubber bullets, while the UN condemned what it called an excessive use of force. Madagascar’s foreign ministry, however, disputed the UN’s casualty figures, calling them unverified and based on “rumours or misinformation.”
The protests have drawn on symbols and tactics from regional movements, including adopting a flag used in Nepal where demonstrations forced the prime minister’s resignation earlier this month, and leveraging online mobilisation strategies seen during Kenya’s 2023 anti-tax protests.
Rajoelina, who first seized power in a 2009 coup before returning through elections in 2018 and 2023, now faces mounting pressure as the country grapples with economic hardship, deteriorating public services, and a generation of youth demanding accountability.
