Opponents of the Madagascar government took to the streets in the capital Antananarivo on Saturday. The city has been surrounded by security forces and several roads since Friday, report AFP and Reuters news agency. That did not stop young people on the East African island, who have been protesting against the Malagassic government for more than a week.
Just like in other countries, such as Nepal and Kenya, young people from Generation Z cried online Up to protest. What started out of dissatisfaction with the constant water and electricity dropout grew into a call for better governance and an end of corruption, in one of the largest waves of unrest in the country for years. Protesters and opposition members now demand that President Andry Rajoelina and other members of the political elite resign. Several trade unions, such as those of the national water and electricity company, those of prison staff and those of customs officials, have called for a general strike in recent days.
A demonstrant waves the flag of Madagascar for a burning road blockade.
Photo Fita/AFP
The protests are crushed with a hard hand, and were also accompanied by violence. According to the United Nations At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured in ten days. The Malagassic Government disputes those figures. According to the UN, the victims fell through police violence, but also “during the subsequent widespread violence and the looting by individuals and gangs who had no ties with the demonstrators.”
After four days of protest, the president fired the entire government on Monday, but his opponents didn’t take enough for that. The protests went on. Protesters also demand control in the appointment of the new prime minister.
President Rajoelina said he was open to dialogue on Friday a video On his Facebook page. But he also said that demonstrators “want to provoke a coup”, and that they would be paid by not -mentioned actors in Madagascar and beyond to drop Rajoelina. “Our country is the victim of a cyber attack, of mass manipulation.” In response to Rajoelina’s speech, demonstrators say The Guardian That their president does not take them seriously.
Rajoelina, who was first mayor of the capital Antananarivo, came to power for the first time in 2009 after he had led large -scale protests against the then president. According to the French newspaper Le Monde He then promised to put an end to bad governance and corruption – Exactly what this new generation of protesters now blames him.
Protesters demand an end to poverty and corruption in their country.
Photo Fita/AFP
Madagascar is the largest exporter of the second most expensive spice in the world: Vanilla. The island also has enormous stocks of natural resources. Yet Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the World bank 80 percent of Malagassians lived in 2024 of less than 2.15 dollars a day. The economy of the country came under further pressure due to the rates announced by Trump.
The real income per head of the population has only been in recent decades decreased. According to the World Bank, this is partly because the economy in the country is largely governed by a small elite who opposes competition.
Protesters took to the streets again on Tuesday 30 September, a day after the president had fired the government.
Photo Mamyrael/AP
Malagassians throw barricades and run away for tear gas on 3 October.
Photo Rijasolo/AFP, Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
A demonstrant runs away from tear gas. Since 25 September, protests have been taking place against the government almost daily.
Photo Rijasolo/AFP
NEW: Give this article as a gift
As an NRC subscriber you can do every month 10 articles Give a gift to someone without an NRC subscription. The recipient can read the article directly, without a payment wall.